Giro Stage 10 - Spoiler thread

calvjones

words fail.

prawny

disgruntledgoat wrote:

Oh Adam Blyth...

Thank god Nike only make shoes for pros

knedlicky

Danlikesbikes wrote:

knedlicky wrote:

Danlikesbikes wrote:

knedlicky wrote:

The problem might not be people trying to get past Wiggins, but if Wiggins is dropped on the climb, and has regained some descending confidence, him trying to get past others.

Really you can't see a pro rider overtaking on a descent. Personally I don't see any issue in overtaking on a descent if your going faster than someone in front of you.

You misunderstand me. It’s not the overtaking which might be a problem but the limited opportunities to overtake on a technical descent (which you’ve also called a ‘farm track’). It has about 12 hairpins along its length and when in the woods there often isn't sufficient view ahead to risk an overtaking manoeuvre.

A quality rider with proper descending head on will have no issues, often into & out of the hairpins where the road surface is poor. On the second half no issues at all as the road is much wider. Agree that it could be a bit dappled light though which reminds me of Tommy V's attempts and his CX skills ending up in someones driveway!!!

I’ve no problem with what you’re basically saying, just there’s no much width to overtake anyone on hairpins like these unless you’ve got a slow descender in front of you.
And even then such riders are a problem because they become unpredictable in their movements.

The second picture also shows the dappled light problem well. I feel sympathy for riders who have a problem with dappled light, because it’s a problem I sometimes have.

Crozza

also, I had in mind that Wiggo would be surrounded by his troops as far as possible, meaning that Nibs/Cadel wouldn't just have one rider to get past, but a few all descending quickly and erratically. In fact I'd like Sky to ride 4 abreast on the front to stop anyone getting past, wonder what FF would have to say about that

rick_chasey

Pozza should do alright.

milton50

PuttyKnees wrote:

TheBigBean wrote:

Can anyone think of a GT where a much fancied GT contender looked out of form at the beginning, and then actually improved and won it?

Contador at the Vuelta last year?

He didn't improve though. He took the lead due to a massive mistake from his main rival and then just about hung on during the final mountain stage.

I suppose the question we might actually be able to answer today is how out of sorts is Wiggins? He's lost time so far due to crashes and descending really badly but he hasn't really had his legs tested. Until now.

Le Commentateur

Break: Tjallingii, Jackson Rodríguez, Bennati, Ligthart, Dehaes, Viviani, Dekker, Brutt, Machado, Millar, Pauwels, Gatto, Popovych.
5'20" up.

Daz555

Wiggo says he thinks they may lose one or two mountains to the weather. Will this encourage him to try something today?

thamacdaddy

I think people are forgetting Astana and BMC have to mark three Sky riders not one as Uran and Henao are too high up on GC and too dangerous to let get any gap go or not mark them as well.

Sky should use this to maximum effect with multiple attacks from the two leaving wiggins to stick with the other GC guys and possibly another guy to support (Cataldo?). The aim should be to isolate nibali and evans because on his day we know wiggins can drop them with a high constant effort - what we don't know is if he has the form to do it.

markwb79

thamacdaddy wrote:

I think people are forgetting Astana and BMC have to mark three Sky riders not one as Uran and Henao are too high up on GC and too dangerous to let get any gap go or not mark them as well.

Sky should use this to maximum effect with multiple attacks from the two leaving wiggins to stick with the other GC guys and possibly another guy to support (Cataldo?). The aim should be to isolate nibali and evans because on his day we know wiggins can drop them with a high constant effort - what we don't know is if he has the form to do it.

Blanco are also in that position. Some really interesting times I think.

jotko

Only posting so we can get onto page 5 and I dont have to look at those shoes any more

thamacdaddy

This is what I was saying basically but better perhaps as it's from david walsh:
https://twitter.com/DavidWalshST

Question for Team Sky likely to be answered today: one or two leaders? All for BW or do they end up needing to play two cards: BW and Henao?

If I tweet about Sky, it is because I have some insight to offer. Today, with two cat one climbs, there will be no wait-and-see approach.

They don't have jersey and don't believe in defending places in top 10. Their plan is to make it hard today, though the terrain does that.

Roads on both climbs are crazily narrow, descent from Cason di Lanza (1st climb) so dangerous that no sane rider would take risks.

Uran is highly rated climber and unlucky not to get jersey on Friday but he doesn't TT as well as other two. Henao, plan B so Uran plan C!!!

Guilherme, should I tell Dave B he's getting it wrong? Seriously, team thinks Henao stronger, though still believe in Wiggins.

thomthom

jotko wrote:

Only posting so we can get onto page 5 and I dont have to look at those shoes any more

Doping is more acceptable than wearing those.

Le Commentateur

Epic backdrop: the view at the finish.

Squaggles

jotko wrote:

Only posting so we can get onto page 5 and I dont have to look at those shoes any more

They'd look quite nice without the Nike swoosh on

Richmond Racer

ThomThom wrote:

jotko wrote:

Only posting so we can get onto page 5 and I dont have to look at those shoes any more

Doping is more acceptable than wearing those.

I'd have to be pumped full of mind-altering drugs to wear them

No_Ta_Doctor

Richmond Racer wrote:

ThomThom wrote:

jotko wrote:

Only posting so we can get onto page 5 and I dont have to look at those shoes any more

Doping is more acceptable than wearing those.

I'd have to be pumped full of mind-altering drugs to wear them

I thought I was pumped full of mind altering drugs when I saw them.

joelsim

wtf are Eurosport doing at the moment?

thomthom

Squaggles wrote:

jotko wrote:

Only posting so we can get onto page 5 and I dont have to look at those shoes any more

They'd look quite nice without the Nike swoosh on

above_the_cows

Saw a woman with leggings to match Blythe's shoes on the cycle to work this morning. :shock:

Some beautiful pictures of the descent up the page. I like a nice mountain road. I miss hills.

Le Commentateur

Mechanical

Squaggles

So are we expecting fireworks today or a bit of a damp squib ?

oneof1982

disgruntledgoat wrote:

Oh Adam Blyth...

Unsubtle tactics are easily thwarted.......Welcome to page 5

Le Commentateur

Wiggins looking comfortable so far; 73kms to go.

disgruntledgoat

The velonews piece reported that those shoes got so wet on Stage 5 that they failed to dry out... So he went back to his awful black and white dalmation look.

A lost cause.

Le Commentateur

Weather at finish: cloudy, no rain, 10°C

danlikesbikes

knedlicky wrote:

Danlikesbikes wrote:

knedlicky wrote:

Danlikesbikes wrote:

knedlicky wrote:

The problem might not be people trying to get past Wiggins, but if Wiggins is dropped on the climb, and has regained some descending confidence, him trying to get past others.

Really you can't see a pro rider overtaking on a descent. Personally I don't see any issue in overtaking on a descent if your going faster than someone in front of you.

I’ve no problem with what you’re basically saying, just there’s no much width to overtake anyone on hairpins like these unless you’ve got a slow descender in front of you.
And even then such riders are a problem because they become unpredictable in their movements.

Think I've just bolded the pertinent part of my logic

Le Commentateur

Break: 8 mins @ 65.5km to go

The steeper second section of the climb begins now for the breakaways.

blazing_saddles

Starting the first ramp. Nice and narrow.

Le Commentateur

15kms of tougher climbing now, punctuated by about 3kms of descent midway.