Giro Stage 14 *spoiler*

iainf72

It's going to be cold and rainy according to the forecasts.

TheStone

iainf72 wrote:

It's going to be cold and rainy according to the forecasts.

Who does that suit the most?

Amazing final week ahead.

LeicesterLad

FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OffTheBackAdam

Finishing in Cervinia, my favourite European ski resort!

Le Commentateur

Brrrrr.

The first big climb is pretty steep too.

knedlicky

Le Commentateur wrote:

The first big climb is pretty steep too.

The descent from the Colle di Joux looks a bit technical too.

Apparently Pozzovivo thinks it's his best chance of a(nother) stage victory and no doubt most GC contenders will be there, but the secret tip I've been given is Eros Capecchi. (I admit I didn't know the name and had to look him up)

tailwindhome

Fireworks or a damp squid?

What's it going to be?

iainf72

TailWindHome wrote:

Fireworks or a damp squid?

What's it going to be?

Wearing down process. It should be Liquigas making it very hard and shredding the field. Probably not fireworks but should tell us a lot.

IMO.

iainf72

As someone pointed out yesterday, Basso is looking lean

inkyfingers

I'm with Iain, think we'll see a typical first big GT mountain stage today with no big winners but some of the deadwood getting cut from the top of the GC and probably a couple of surprise losers.

Looking back to the Vuelta last year this is the kind of stage (long, but not particularly steep climbs) where J Rod lost time to the Wiggins/Froome diesel machine. With bad weather expected I can imagine Liquigas might fancy the opportunity to do some damage. Only snag is that they aren't forecasting much wind, but weather can obviously be very different to the forecast near the summits.

tailwindhome

inkyfingers wrote:

I'm with Iain, think we'll see a typical first big GT mountain stage today with no big winners but some of the deadwood getting cut from the top of the GC and probably a couple of surprise losers.

Looking back to the Vuelta last year this is the kind of stage (long, but not particularly steep climbs) where J Rod lost time to the Wiggins/Froome diesel machine. With bad weather expected I can imagine Liquigas might fancy the opportunity to do some damage. Only snag is that they aren't forecasting much wind, but weather can obviously be very different to the forecast near the summits.

Does the Giro classify climbs differently? I don't see any HC climbs on the profiles.

RichN95.

TailWindHome wrote:

Does the Giro classify climbs differently? I don't see any HC climbs on the profiles.

Yes. They don't have HC. Cat 1 is the hardest possible. The Stelvio is probably harder than anything you'll ever find in the Tour.

blazing_saddles

Been watching RAI's morning show. It is a bit on the grey side.
Just to upset BB and Cornymeade: The Italians are very impressed
with Cavendish attempting stay in the race and not pulling a "CipoTour".
Paying the Giro mucho respecto.
They are really quite fond of our British export.

Anonymous

In a cafe 5.5 km from finish.
Cool, but brightening up and a few bits of sunshine.
It's a long old final climb. There's a pretty bit 5km to go, with a couple of hairpins - might go out to watch it there.

Rusty + Kay are at 1.5km to go.

knedlicky

Blazing Saddles wrote:

Just to upset BB and Cornymeade: The Italians are very impressed
with Cavendish attempting stay in the race and not pulling a "CipoTour".
Paying the Giro mucho respecto.

He probably looks even better now, with the news that fellow sprinters Goss, Renshaw and Haedo didn't start this morning! Nor did Lancaster.

knedlicky

knedlicky wrote:

...the secret tip I've been given is Eros Capecchi.

Another outsider tip I've heard (from a Swiss former Profi) is Tom Slagter

knedlicky

Over 70 km gone, a quickish pace so far but "peloton groupée".
I think I'll go out for a ride for an hour or so.

inkyfingers

No breaks going so I imagine Cavendish will be looking to pick up points at the intermediate sprint?

greasedscotsman

iainf72 wrote:

Not sure about the Liquigas team bag on the table to his left...

hammerite

Been looking forward to this stage as I was in Cervinia for Christmas skiing. If the clouds clear expect gratuitous shots of the Matterhorn (Monte Cervino), surprised it's not windy, Cervinia usually suffers with horrendous wind when the weather closes in.

Long but relatively gentle climb, so I'll go with the diesels keeping the pace high and shelling people out the back tactic.

blazing_saddles

RAI live. Break already on the Col de Joux, cos it's been + 46kph.

wiffachip

did that lad in his underpants just score for a free bike ?

jerry3571

Puncture and a man in his pants holding the bike.
More pants men again. Yikes!
-Jerry

wiffachip

aye but when the team car set off he was left holding the bike, even looked he was trying to tell them, but they just nicked off

emadden

1.5km to top of col de joux

emadden

Rujano attacks and Cunego chases

inkyfingers

I was seriously considering picking Frank Schleck for the overall in PTP, one of my better decisions (assuming Basso doesn't go the same way on the next climb).

Rujano attacks, Cunego goes after him and is about to catch.

emadden

wow... Rujano is riding hard... Cunego having difficulty bridging

EDIT: They are together but cunego finding it hard to hold the wheel

smithy21

Rujano goes again. Cunego struggling to hold on.

emadden

I wonder if Frank is just bluffing.... riding at the back of the peloton

inkyfingers

emadden wrote:

I wonder if Frank is just bluffing.... riding at the back of the peloton

No.