Giro Stage 9 - Spoiler thread

above_the_cows

Danlikesbikes wrote:

Above The Cows wrote:

DeadCalm wrote:

Astana go to the front the gap to Wiggins goes down. Millar goes to the front, the gap goes up.

Payback for Wiggins' defection to Sky?

No hes looking after his team leader

Yes, I should have added a one of these.

MrT

Maybe DB needs to get them practising descending in the wet a la England football squad and penalties.
It's all going to go pear shaped on the next descent too.

Jez mon

Well according to the time gaps at the top of the screen, the wiggins group should be back in the same place as the pink jersey group

DeadCalm

MrT wrote:

Maybe DB needs to get them practising descending in the wet a la England football squad and penalties.
It's all going to go pear shaped on the next descent too.

and it looks like he's going to be short of team mates to help him then as well.

kleinstroker

Descending is all about controlling the fear though isn't it? How would they train for that?

above_the_cows

OK that last time check had Wiggins and Nibali on the same time both at 6'15" back from Belkov.

Pross

ALIHISGREAT wrote:

Pross wrote:

These time gaps don't appear reliable, looked like Wiggins was virtually back and then back to 40 now back down. If Wiggins makes it back he owes his team a huge debt (and possibly needs to thank Nibali who didn't seem to push as hard as he could(.

His team are all compensated with very healthy wages? I think that should cover it :roll:

I don't think they expected to be having to work so hard on a stage like today though or if they did it was probably in anticipation of defending the jersey not trying to keep him in contention for a podium place. It's all looking a bit Vuelta 2011 with team mates sacrificing potentially better overall places to support his diminishing chances.

Jez mon

The two Colombians weren't sent back with Wiggo though

Vino'sGhost

The irish guy commentating is really good!

Pross

OK time to move right to the front and stay there!

islwyn

Would be nice if Millar drops off to recover and then brings TS group up Olympic style!

Pross

Jez mon wrote:

The two Colombians weren't sent back with Wiggo though

Fair enough, I thought the whole team were with him.

danlikesbikes

Pross wrote:

OK time to move right to the front and stay there!

Problem with that is he needs to recover for the next climb, unless he was to attack himself up it. Now that would put the cat amongst the pigeons.

MrT

Needs to show some cajones and get straight on Nibali's wheel and stay there. And it's stopped raining on the hill

Jez mon

Wiggo back in the main group, but is sitting on his own at the back

oneof1982

Wiggins is back on. Wearing blue jacket, moving up.

above_the_cows

kleinstroker wrote:

Descending is all about controlling the fear though isn't it? How would they train for that?

The more you practice it in variable conditions the more confidence you get in your abilities and your fear reduces because you know you can do it. Plus you develop better skills for handling the bike through practice, it isn't all about handling fear, you can also learn how to do it better which in turn gives you better confidence. I spent many a summer holiday in various mountain ranges with my father teaching me how to descend and at first I was next to useless through a combination of fear and incompetence but as I developed the skills to descend I increased in confidence.

DeadCalm

Danlikesbikes wrote:

Pross wrote:

OK time to move right to the front and stay there!

Problem with that is he needs to recover for the next climb, unless he was to attack himself up it. Now that would put the cat amongst the pigeons.

If he has the energy it could be his best option.

inkyfingers

kleinstroker wrote:

Descending is all about controlling the fear though isn't it? How would they train for that?

It maybe different for a pro, but it is possible to improve your bike handling with practice. A few years ago I realised that my cornering was holding me back so I found a quiet housing estate with lots of wide roads and roundabouts and spent ages just riding round, gradually pushing it harder and harder as I got more confident. It really helped with my confidence in the bike and the tyres, though I'm still nervous in the wet.

alihisgreat

I'm starting to get bored of all this crap weather racing.

MrT

Who was the Lampre rider with the 70s porn star 'tache that Nibs just had a pop at?

danlikesbikes

DeadCalm wrote:

Danlikesbikes wrote:

Pross wrote:

OK time to move right to the front and stay there!

Problem with that is he needs to recover for the next climb, unless he was to attack himself up it. Now that would put the cat amongst the pigeons.

If he has the energy it could be his best option.

Its 3.5kms length with 6/9% average and a max of 18%, perhaps he should try it.

Vino'sGhost

ALIHISGREAT wrote:

I'm starting to get bored of all this crap weather racing.

I bet theyre more fed up of it

above_the_cows

MrT wrote:

Who was the Lampre rider with the 70s porn star 'tache that Nibs just had a pop at?

I don't know* but does Degenkolb know that someone's stolen his schtick?

*70s porn star and Lampre makes me want to say Pozzato but it looked a little bit like Cunego, is Cunego even riding this? And the thought of the Little Prince with a 70s porn star tache is just all levels of wrong.

Paul 8v

OK, turned on just as Wiggins was getting back on the main group, what happened, not another crash/mechanical!?

kleinstroker

inkyfingers wrote:

kleinstroker wrote:

Descending is all about controlling the fear though isn't it? How would they train for that?

It maybe different for a pro, but it is possible to improve your bike handling with practice. A few years ago I realised that my cornering was holding me back so I found a quiet housing estate with lots of wide roads and roundabouts and spent ages just riding round, gradually pushing it harder and harder as I got more confident. It really helped with my confidence in the bike and the tyres, though I'm still nervous in the wet.

I'm sure Sir Bradders is technically proficient as most pro's must be, but what happens when that belief in your abilities goes, as it seems to have done here? I'm sure a part of it is fear of missing the tour as well.

above_the_cows

Paul 8v wrote:

OK, turned on just as Wiggins was getting back on the main group, what happened, not another crash/mechanical!?

Got dropped on the rainy descent.

danlikesbikes

Paul 8v wrote:

OK, turned on just as Wiggins was getting back on the main group, what happened, not another crash/mechanical!?

Not to sure hard to say as no cameras able to stay with him to say either way

above_the_cows

kleinstroker wrote:

inkyfingers wrote:

kleinstroker wrote:

Descending is all about controlling the fear though isn't it? How would they train for that?

It maybe different for a pro, but it is possible to improve your bike handling with practice. A few years ago I realised that my cornering was holding me back so I found a quiet housing estate with lots of wide roads and roundabouts and spent ages just riding round, gradually pushing it harder and harder as I got more confident. It really helped with my confidence in the bike and the tyres, though I'm still nervous in the wet.

I'm sure Sir Bradders is technically proficient as most pro's must be, but what happens when that belief in your abilities goes, as it seems to have done here? I'm sure a part of it is fear of missing the tour as well.

Then you have to practice and practice and practice to get it back. Some of that practice has to come in race conditions because as much as you try in training you cannot simulate race conditions. Wiggins has had very few race days this year.

MrT

Oh oh downhill coming up