Giro Stage 17 *spoiler*

frenchfighter

General Classification after Stage 17
1 RODRIGUEZ OLIVER, Joaquin (KATUSHA) 74:46:46
2 HESJEDAL, Ryder (GARMIN-BARRACUDA) + 0:30
3 BASSO, Ivan (LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE) + 1:22
4 SCARPONI, Michele (LAMPRE - ISD) + 1:36
5 URAN URAN, Rigoberto (SKY PROCYCLING) + 2:56
6 INTXAUSTI ELORRIAGA, Benat (MOVISTAR) + 3:04
7 POZZOVIVO, Domenico (COLNAGO - CSF INOX) + 3:19
8 TIRALONGO, Paolo (ASTANA) + 4:13
9 DE GENDT, Thomas (VACANSOLEIL-DCM) + 4:38
10 HENAO MONTOYA, Sergio Luis (SKY PROCYCLING) + 4:42
11 TSCHOPP, Johann (BMC RACING) + 4:46
12 GADRET, John (AG2R LA MONDIALE)
13 MORENO FERNANDEZ, Daniel (KATUSHA) + 4:55
14 CATALDO, Dario (OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP) + 4:59
15 CUNEGO, Damiano (LAMPRE - ISD) + 5:07
16 NIEVE ITURALDE, Mikel (EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI) + 5:42
17 BRAMBILLA, Gianluca (COLNAGO - CSF INOX) + 6:29
18 PARDILLA BELLON, Sergio (MOVISTAR) + 6:53
19 CASAR, Sandy (FDJ-BIG MAT) + 12:25
20 KREUZIGER, Roman (ASTANA) + 12:53

Kind of feel bad for Kreuziger.

alan_a

frenchfighter wrote:

Kind of feel bad for Kreuziger.

Why? He was the first of the GC to properly crack today. Didn't even make it to the bottom of the final climb with the pack.

jonginge

TBH I thought Kreuziger might struggle in week 3. He was showing too much good form in Romandie

lostboysaint

jibberjim wrote:

lostboysaint wrote:

As we know from experience, as long as there's enough riders in there it doesn't matter what time they rolled in

But a 25 point penalty would end his chances unless J-Rod go no more points on any of the finishes. So it still matters if he wants to win the jersey as opposed to simply finishing.

Granted.

tailwindhome

Does Cav have a decent TT in him if the points jersey was at stake/possible on the last day?

I know he has done some decent prologues

jibberjim

TailWindHome wrote:

Does Cav have a decent TT in him if the points jersey was at stake/possible on the last day?

I know he has done some decent prologues

Not good enough for a top 15 no.

Pross

Cracking stage. Can't remember so many people exploding so early on a final climb. The front group's descending was poor though, had a chance to bury the rest and even put substantial time into Scarponi. Some gutsy rides, Henao did OK aftr looking like losing a lot of time. Kreuziger looked like a full on case of the bonk. Can't wait for Friday and Saturday now to see how Pozzovivo gets on. Hopefully they'll all lose their team mates early again as the free for all is far better to watch

iainf72

Good stage. My inner Basso fan is pleased he got through without losing any time.

I'd suggest Liquigas need to try get someone up the road on Friday. Still, Sly had a nice rest today so hopefully his legs will be working better.

Ryder looked good. Still expecting J-Rod to have a bad day. Knowing my luck it'll be tomorrow.

mididoctors

iainf72 wrote:

Good stage. My inner Basso fan is pleased he got through without losing any time.

I'd suggest Liquigas need to try get someone up the road on Friday. Still, Sly had a nice rest today so hopefully his legs will be working better.

Ryder looked good. Still expecting J-Rod to have a bad day. Knowing my luck it'll be tomorrow.

has a habit of only having 1 good week in GT's sly.....no?

TMR

TailWindHome wrote:

Does Cav have a decent TT in him if the points jersey was at stake/possible on the last day?

I know he has done some decent prologues

Cav does have a good TT.

zippypablo

iainf72 wrote:

Good stage. My inner Basso fan is pleased he got through without losing any time.

I'd suggest Liquigas need to try get someone up the road on Friday. Still, Sly had a nice rest today so hopefully his legs will be working better.

Ryder looked good. Still expecting J-Rod to have a bad day. Knowing my luck it'll be tomorrow.

J-Rod's bad day will be Sunday in the time trial.
He's usually poor in TTs and makes Andy Schleck look like a specialist (not getting involved in the AS thread!)
Judging by today I reckon he'll also get dropped on the Stelvio if there's a hard pace set early on the climb.
Ryder for the overall with Basso second?

ilm_zero7

that was one of the best stage finishes of the year so far - makes you think that Scarponi wouldnt have put in that finish if with the group, it was as if catching them was the sole motivation - absolutely gripping stuff

Mad_Malx

The Mad Rapper wrote:

TailWindHome wrote:

Does Cav have a decent TT in him if the points jersey was at stake/possible on the last day?

I know he has done some decent prologues

Cav does have a good TT.

But there aren't points for the TT anyway are there?

inkyfingers

I enjoyed that, not sure we're any closer to knowing who's going to win though.

RichN95.

Mad_Malx wrote:

The Mad Rapper wrote:

TailWindHome wrote:

Does Cav have a decent TT in him if the points jersey was at stake/possible on the last day?

I know he has done some decent prologues

Cav does have a good TT.

But there aren't points for the TT anyway are there?

I expect there are. There were points for the Stage 1 TT.

mididoctors

inkyfingers wrote:

I enjoyed that, not sure we're any closer to knowing who's going to win though.

its not going to be kreuzinger

afx237vi

Regulations re points jersey:

a) at the arrival of each stage, exception made for the team time trial stage, the first 15 Riders
in the finish ranking will be awarded with the following point scale: 25, 20, 16, 14, 12, 10, 9, 8,
7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1;
b) at the arrival of each intermediate sprint, the first 6 Riders will be awarded with the following
point scale: 8, 6, 4, 3, 2, 1.

If Cav wins tomorrow he'll be 26 ahead... a big break could go away on one of the mountain days, so he still has a slim chance. How about putting him in the break on Saturday to go for the intermediates :twisted:

tailwindhome

afx237vi wrote:

Regulations re points jersey:

a) at the arrival of each stage, exception made for the team time trial stage, the first 15 Riders
in the finish ranking will be awarded with the following point scale: 25, 20, 16, 14, 12, 10, 9, 8,
7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1;
b) at the arrival of each intermediate sprint, the first 6 Riders will be awarded with the following
point scale: 8, 6, 4, 3, 2, 1.

If Cav wins tomorrow he'll be 26 ahead... a big break could go away on one of the mountain days, so he still has a slim chance. How about putting him in the break on Saturday to go for the intermediates :twisted:

WWTD

alan_a

WWTDD, not talk about it!

cal_stewart

well looks like sky need to keep it together till the tv sprint tomorrow and then cav needs the sprint. then get in a break in one of the two final stages and get a tv sprint. which would leave j rod needing 2 wins

No_Ta_Doctor

As Iain is apparently neglecting his duties here I'll just point out that the ability to time trial well in the 3rd week of a GT isn't all that strongly linked to the ability to time trial well in general.

That couts double when you've got Mortirolo and The Stelvio in your legs from the day before, I reckon.

Gazzetta67

Just watching today's stage - This pace being made by basso is insane

Am sure thats Carlos Puyol in the sky jersey and not uran 8)

greasedscotsman

Now that was a good stage! Wasn't it? Anyone not enjoy that, there's bound to be someone.

Still think Rodriguez looks the favourite, didn't really look in any kind of difficulty all day. Pozzovivo looked really, really strong, when he finally went for it, but just can't see him taking back enough time. Definately a stage win though? Basso still not really impressing me yet. His team does so much work, drops him off at just the right place in the stage and he doesn't take any time from anyone. Is it now all about the TT for him? Can't see either Uran or Scarponi doing anything now think we'll see the same thing that happened today happen again on Friday and Saturday.

And I have my fingers crossed big time for Hesjedal!

Anonymous

Feel for Cav - hope he can find a way to keep the red. Would be a superb performance if he did.

iainf72

greasedscotsman wrote:

Basso still not really impressing me yet. His team does so much work, drops him off at just the right place in the stage and he doesn't take any time from anyone.

He was easily the strongest guy today. But yeah, he's not making the difference.

I guess if you're Basso, and the finish is at the bottom of a mountain, how hard are you going to try to dump everyone just to be caught on the downhill.

greasedscotsman

iainf72 wrote:

He was easily the strongest guy today. But yeah, he's not making the difference.

I guess if you're Basso, and the finish is at the bottom of a mountain, how hard are you going to try to dump everyone just to be caught on the downhill.

You don't win races by looking the strongest, it's about taking time on your rivals. How much time did Basso take from Rodriguez, Hesjedal or Pozzivio?

Anyway, Rodriguez looked the strongest today. Just sat at the back, didn't do any work he didn't need to and won the stage!

And if I was Basso I would be looking to take as much time as I could on a climb, even if it has a downhill finish. He didn't lose any time to Rodrifuez, Pozzivio or Hesjedal on the descent today, but was caught by Uran and Scarponi. So if Uran and Scarponi had been with him they might have taken time from him on the descent? So best be ahead of them on the road before the descent starts!

knedlicky

greasedscotsman wrote:

Anyway, Rodriguez looked the strongest today. Just sat at the back, didn't do any work he didn't need to and won the stage

Don’t agree Rodriguez looked the strongest – the flatter last few 100 m don’t count – many can find that last bit of adrenalin then. Even if he made sure no one took time off him.

Like you wrote, he just sat at the back, and didn't do any work.
Still, now and again his facial expression suggested he was close to his limit – but his being at the back meant the likes of Basso up front didn’t know that.
Whether they could have taken advantage is another topic.

Rodriguez’s two stage wins have been ‘chipper’ level (small accelerations towards the end) - if he wants to be a worthy victor, I feel he needs to show something more to convince the Tifosi.

richard wants a baum

Basso is waiting for stages 19 and 20, making sure his not losing time before then. Attacking today wouldn't have gained him enough time not to get caught on the decent. Scarponi cramped and still managed to get back on, Basso is making sure he hasn't wasted any energy before the two deciding stages.

J-Rod looked comfortable today, though the pace was high at points i don't think Basso was trying to shell anyone so I still reckon J-Rod will have his customary bad day and lose a bunch of time. Ryder is surprising everyone i reckon, he was on the only one that attacked today so hopefully that means his feeling pretty strong. If he is there up the Stelvio, Basso and Co. are going to have to start attacking him pretty hard to get the time they need

alwaystoohot

Superb stage, the leading 6 were unbelieveably gritty, its a shame all six couldn't get on the podium. Riders blowing up all around them - great viewing! Nice to see Uran showing what he can do as well.

Couldn't help but feel Wiggins might have won that stage with something to spare though.

frenchfighter

J-Rod (a really good guy)

Post-race Rodriguez said: “I didn’t need to win the stage to show I’m strong. I did well throughout the stage. Today I was on good form even if I wasn’t better than Basso. I think he was especially strong on the climb and I think we’ve got to congratulate him on his performance too.”

“I’m happy with how my teammates performed. Danny (Moreno) was dropped on the last climb and (Alberto) Losada was there with me till the last minute. When there are a lot of attacks, its up to us (team leaders) to move. I felt protected with Losada and Daniel with me for most of the stage.”

“If Hesjedal stays with us, then the Giro d’Italia is his. I hope he cracks and I’ll do everything I can to make him crack. But Ryder is strong. We’ll see what happens in the final stages. But if someone wins because they’re stronger than you, you can only congratulate them.”

Rodriguez raced with a black ribbon on the sleeve of his jersey to remember fellow Spain rider Xavier Tondo, who died exactly a year ago today.

“It’ll remember him for the rest of my life, not just today. I don’t like to talk about him in public because I prefer to remember him privately. I knew Xavier as a child, while other people other talk about him but they never really knew him. I don’t like to talk about him. It’s a thing I keep inside my heart.”

AP