Giro Stage 14 ***Spoiler***

eiger30

frenchfighter wrote:

eiger30 wrote:

I have been very disappointed with Nibali this Giro, will Liquigas regret saving Basso for Le Tour (especially when Bertie gets the frigger all clear from CAS)?

He is 2nd to the best Stage racer for decades. Pretty good eh?!.......

But not in the same league, that is my disappointment. When Bertie has wanted to leave him on a climb he has and all to easily. Nibali targeted the Giro as a win this year and really do you think he has ever looked like he has stood a chance?

Best stage racer for decades? Better that Armstrong or Indurain (that covers the last 2 decades and they were as dirty as he is.)

peterst6906

Now to think about the hell of tomorrow.

Don't imagine Igor could back up, but he rode so well for that last 8 km after he started chasing.

LangerDan

frenchfighter wrote:

ddraver wrote:

peterst6906 wrote:

I can understand the boo's for AC. I wouldn't imagine the crowd would appreciate him riding away from Nibali like that. But hey, it's racing.

Yeah I'm no AC fan but Italians booing a Spanish rider for doping (presumably) is a little bit ironic, did have a minor chuckle to myself...

Purely because of Nationality, nothing to do with doping.

How come they didn't boo Igor Anton, then?

peterst6906

LangerDan wrote:

How come they didn't boo Igor Anton, then?

Because anyone can appreciate the way he attacked from a long way out.

Contador clearly sat on Scarponi and then Nibali and just rode away at the end. Italians in particular don't like that style of riding and when it's against their own, the booing is pretty understandable, even without the drug issue.

inkyfingers

frenchfighter wrote:

ddraver wrote:

peterst6906 wrote:

I can understand the boo's for AC. I wouldn't imagine the crowd would appreciate him riding away from Nibali like that. But hey, it's racing.

Yeah I'm no AC fan but Italians booing a Spanish rider for doping (presumably) is a little bit ironic, did have a minor chuckle to myself...

Purely because of Nationality, nothing to do with doping.

I take it you are there to ask them are you? I wouldn't be too pleased to see my national tour being made a joke out of by a guy who may get banned in two weeks.

Great ride from Anton. Contador rode smart.

mroli

Did people really not enjoy that? I thought it was fantastic. Highlights for me:

1) Harmon and Kelly on good form - including Kelly talking about Nibs almost veering off the road which Harmon obviously missed, Harmon opining strongly on Armstrong and having a good chuckle about steak fishing man;

2) Steak fishing man;

3) Anton taking it on bravely;

4) Contador sitting in and playing the "long" game, but then toying with Nibali

5) Nibali trying all he could

6) Menchov dragging himself back in to podium contention

7) Exploding motorbike

8) Vicious horrible rain for the also rans on the horrible steep hill

9) unexplained (apart from on Twitter) course alterations.

10) idiot marshal sending a rider the wrong way.

Good stuff I thought - oh yeah - and full PTP points!

blazing_saddles

Beef boy gets his comeuppance from the Tifosi.
Absolutely no class, today, with his impression of Levi Leipheimer.
The beef on the fishing rod will be a lasting impression of today's screwball comedy.

I watched RAI's early live coverage and they are absolutely steaming about the Crostis.
Hence the protest and I get the impression that they feel Riis is a main protagonist in the politic.

peterst6906

Yes, all within the last 10 km.

Pretty pedestrian up until the final climb, but very entertaining finish.

blazing_saddles

One for frenchie's ever expanding library? :P

ddraver

frenchfighter wrote:

ddraver wrote:

peterst6906 wrote:

I can understand the boo's for AC. I wouldn't imagine the crowd would appreciate him riding away from Nibali like that. But hey, it's racing.

Yeah I'm no AC fan but Italians booing a Spanish rider for doping (presumably) is a little bit ironic, did have a minor chuckle to myself...

Purely because of Nationality, nothing to do with doping.

How do you know? Did you ask them all?

Cleat Eastwood

that battle for second place is going to be amazing. 1 second between his nibs and anton. cor

frenchfighter

Attack solo from several km out and put very good time into your opponents - you guys dont like that and dont find it exciting.

Dont attack from far out, ride as one should with the GC jersey after a large effort yesterday and a large effort tomorrow - you guys dont like that and dont find it exciting.

Maybe you would like him to escape with 50km each mountain stage, solo to victory, putting in 15mins each time, then a couple of days to blow up completely and lose 30mins. Basically just like a guy taking drugs before each 'performance'.

I will sit here and really enjoy a champion racer in action. I couldnt care less about what you think and no amount of provocation will get a rise out of me unless I feel like eliminating your comments - I am totally numb to any comments regarding Contador. Totally. A total waste of time; in fact it makes me laugh.

Reuters

ddraver

I enjoyed it very much indeed! The attacks and replays of AC and Nibs? the will they won't they catch Anton? Will Anton put enough time into Nibs? the crowd were on good form!

A good stage, looking forward to tomorrows...I just don't like the people racing much, which is a shame!

mididoctors

nibali did the most measured ride there and performed real well

bertie looked not that much capable of too much more... even when he went nibs kept coming back to him,,

hard to judge ho much time contador could have put into nibs if he had gone earlier

anton is getting stronger as is nibs

nibali always looks good in the third

smithy21

frenchfighter wrote:

Attack solo from several km out and put very good time into your opponents - you guys dont like that and dont find it exciting.

Dont attack from far out, ride as one should with the GC jersey after a large effort yesterday and a large effort tomorrow - you guys dont like that and dont find it exciting.

Maybe you would like him to escape with 50km each mountain stage, solo to victory, putting in 15mins each time, then a couple of days to blow up completely and lose 30mins. Basically just like a guy taking drugs before each 'performance'.

I will sit here and really enjoy a champion racer in action. I couldnt care less about what you think and no amount of provocation will get a rise out of me unless I feel like eliminating your comments - I am totally numb to any comments regarding Contador. Totally. A total waste of time; in fact it makes me laugh.

Reuters

I think a lot of people would like to enjoy it, myself included, but there is just something that spoils it for them. Can you think what it might be?

rebs

to be fair contador doesn't need to be attacking now. it maybe boring but its common sense. He has done the hardwork to get the lead. Why not make sit on wheels ot make others work.

Steak fishing man was quality. Shame the route got shorten down. Am worried going into the next few stages the giro will get boring because of contador having a fairly comfortable lead.

Am gutted that Nibali really isn't on form yet but. The whole leagygas team dont seem to be up for it as they were last year when they towed the race virtually from start to finish.

gattocattivo

I didn't watch this live as I spent the afternoon driving nearly 60 miles to take part in a road race in which I punctured after just 11 miles and then driving all the way home again only to discover that for no apparent reason my skybox had failed to record the Giro on Eurosport, even though it's on series link and has recorded every previous stage and is set up to record tomorrow's stage. :evil:

sonny73

Igor Anton was a joy to watch, great win and a great stage.

knedlicky

mroli wrote:

Highlights for me.
9) unexplained (apart from on Twitter) course alterations.
10) idiot marshal sending a rider the wrong way.

About (9), I don't know what was on Twitter, but I heard at the time that the later route alteration was because workers who erected the safety nets, etc, on the Crostis were annoyed that their work was 'wasted effort' and therefore blocked the Tualis.

About (10), the marshal in question was apparently one of the above protesters, who wanted the peloton to head toward the Tualis, so the riders would get so far then find it blocked.

rick_chasey

Was watching it in a bar/pub/cafe place, and I didn't feel it was particuarly spectacular.

Something about seeing top prose almost being taken down by nature and crawling up doesn't quite do it for me. Even the attacks don't look exciting.

Just feels like a bunch of amateurs crawling up. Really reminded me of my exploits in the Pyrenees - similar speeds ( with me on much lower gradients) and the way it panned out felt very similar too.

There's only so much "phwoar, tough gradient" you can do before you start to drift.

Anyone else feel the same?

Give me the mortirolo any day.

rick_chasey

Also, is it bad form to properly shout and be animated about riders you like in public?

I was getting quite excited by Tankink's exploits today and, well, no-one seemed to be appreciating my noisy encouragement.

frenchfighter

Rick Chasey wrote:

Was watching it in a bar/pub/cafe place, and I didn't feel it was particuarly spectacular.

Something about seeing top prose almost being taken down by nature and crawling up doesn't quite do it for me. Even the attacks don't look exciting.

Just feels like a bunch of amateurs crawling up. Really reminded me of my exploits in the Pyrenees - similar speeds ( with me on much lower gradients) and the way it panned out felt very similar too.

There's only so much "phwoar, tough gradient" you can do before you start to drift.

Anyone else feel the same?

Give me the mortirolo any day.

Interesting point. I agree somewhat that speed will make things more exciting but at the same time the damage it creates, the different approaches and varying fortunes of the riders and the fact this climb is unique is good for me.

You have seen the video of Angliru with Contador, Joaquim and Valverde, a climb of similar difficulty, and how that was fun to watch.

It is also great for the fans to watch the pros suffering slowly in front of them.

Btw, where you watching in London, if so where? I keep trying to find good places to watch a few stages here but so far have been unsuccessful and dont like LMNH.

frenchfighter

photo:Kei Tsuji

frenchfighter

Great ride by Sivtsov to finish only 2mins down. Not sure whats up with Garzelli but he came in 17mins down.

1 Igor Anton Hernandez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 5:04:26
2 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Saxo Bank Sungard 0:00:33
3 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale 0:00:40
4 Michele Scarponi (Ita) Lampre - ISD 0:01:11
5 Denis Menchov (Rus) Geox-TMC 0:01:21
6 John Gadret (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:01:38
7 Mikel Nieve Ituralde (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 0:01:52
8 Hubert Dupont (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:01:55
9 Kanstantsin Sivtsov (Blr) HTC-Highroad 0:02:05
10 José Rujano Guillen (Ven) Androni Giocattoli 0:02:11
11 Joaquím Rodríguez Oliver (Spa) Katusha Team 0:02:24
12 Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team 0:02:40
13 Przemyslaw Niemiec (Pol) Lampre - ISD 0:02:57
14 Paolo Tiralongo (Ita) Pro Team Astana 0:03:29
15 Peter Stetina (USA) Team Garmin-Cervelo
16 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Pro Team Astana 0:03:32
17 David Arroyo Duran (Spa) Movistar Team 0:03:39
18 Matteo Carrara (Ita) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 0:03:55
19 Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Team Garmin-Cervelo 0:04:00
20 Dario Cataldo (Ita) Quickstep Cycling Team 0:04:03
21 Tiago Machado (Por) Team RadioShack
22 Vasili Kiryienka (Blr) Movistar Team 0:04:30

1 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Saxo Bank Sungard 54:45:45
2 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale 0:03:20
3 Igor Anton Hernandez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 0:03:21
4 Michele Scarponi (Ita) Lampre - ISD 0:04:06
5 John Gadret (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:05:23
6 Kanstantsin Sivtsov (Blr) HTC-Highroad 0:05:37
7 Denis Menchov (Rus) Geox-TMC 0:06:06
8 Hubert Dupont (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:06:12
9 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Pro Team Astana 0:06:40
10 David Arroyo Duran (Spa) Movistar Team 0:06:43
11 Joaquím Rodríguez Oliver (Spa) Katusha Team 0:07:29
12 José Rujano Guillen (Ven) Androni Giocattoli 0:07:47
13 Matteo Carrara (Ita) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 0:08:09
14 Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team 0:08:44
15 Dario Cataldo (Ita) Quickstep Cycling Team 0:08:57

frenchfighter

Bettini


Just read that Anton made history yesterday by being the first ever Euskaltel rider to win a stage in the Giro!

frenchfighter

rick_chasey

frenchfighter wrote:

Btw, where you watching in London, if so where? I keep trying to find good places to watch a few stages here but so far have been unsuccessful and dont like LMNH.

I was at look mum no hands with my girlfriend.

frenchfighter

“The media put words into my mouth that I never said about Crostis. I want to repeat to Enzo Cainero (Giro technical director): I was never against racing down the Crostis,” Contador said. “I heard the boos, but overall, people have been applauding me during this Giro.”

frenchfighter

photo:Kei Tsuji