Giro 2014 - Stage 16: Val Martello *Spoilers*

1…2122242627

Comments

  • Macaloon
    Macaloon Posts: 5,545
    The Domestique wrote:
    Even though I’m amazed by Swifty's ride yesterday and have total respect for it. I still think it was a bit dumb, surely it will have a negative effect on his ride today?
    RichN95 wrote:
    It's more a cry for help.
    ...a rare 100% loyal Pro Race poster. A poster boy for the community.
  • Give me more
    Give me more Posts: 487
    It's all kicking off at the team meeting this morning apparently. Very tense and lots of raised voices. Then Tinkoff rolls up on his bike and in full kit and starts getting into it and saying the result should be cancelled.
  • r0bh
    r0bh Posts: 2,436
    The Domestique wrote:
    Even though I’m amazed by Swifty's ride yesterday and have total respect for it. I still think it was a bit dumb, surely it will have a negative effect on his ride today?

    Jeez, who'd be a Sky rider eh? Criticized for rolling round in the laughing group, criticized for riding "too hard"... :roll:
  • Paulie W
    Paulie W Posts: 1,492
    There was clearly a problem with the communication but cancelling the results would be disastrous for the sport and surely wont happen (whatever protests are made).
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    Give me more wrote:
    It's all kicking off at the team meeting this morning apparently. Very tense and lots of raised voices. Then Tinkoff rolls up on his bike and in full kit and starts getting into it and saying the result should be cancelled.

    BotkPg2IEAAQNnl.jpg:large
    Contador is the Greatest
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    Follow this link:
    https://twitter.com/AntoinePlouvin

    Riis told Tinkoff to calm down!
    BotmTf8IUAEUy0W.jpg
    Contador is the Greatest
  • fleshtuxedo
    fleshtuxedo Posts: 1,858
    OCDuPalais wrote:
    frenchfighter wrote:
    The last climb was mano a mano between the GC guys.

    Really?
    I saw Rogers pulling for Majka for large chunks of it and Landa doing what he could for Aru - that was just after the bit where Izaguirre rode himself into oblivion in the service of Quintana...

    FF needs to watch more racing
  • fleshtuxedo
    fleshtuxedo Posts: 1,858
    FleshTuxedo wrote:
    OCDuPalais wrote:
    frenchfighter wrote:
    The last climb was mano a mano between the GC guys.

    Really?
    I saw Rogers pulling for Majka for large chunks of it and Landa doing what he could for Aru - that was just after the bit where Izaguirre rode himself into oblivion in the service of Quintana...

    FF needs to watch more racing

    In fact, at one point yesterday you asked who the Tinkoff & Astana riders pulling on the front on the last climb were, and I told you. Your memory's failing you, or you just make up whatever suits your argument.
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,252
    The Domestique wrote:

    Even though I’m amazed by Swifty's ride yesterday and have total respect for it. I still think it was a bit dumb, surely it will have a negative effect on his ride today?
    He spent half an hour less in the cold than his rivals. I'm sure he was just going his own pace. He's a good climber and does better on the longer harder days.
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • The Domestique
    The Domestique Posts: 5
    r0bh wrote:
    The Domestique wrote:
    Even though I’m amazed by Swifty's ride yesterday and have total respect for it. I still think it was a bit dumb, surely it will have a negative effect on his ride today?

    Jeez, who'd be a Sky rider eh? Criticized for rolling round in the laughing group, criticized for riding "too hard"... :roll:

    I'm not criticizing him. Swifty is actually my favourite sprinter, I was just confused that's all. Today is probably the best chance he will get to win a stage now at this Giro and surely he should be 'resting' to go 110% today for the stage today :?:
  • ocdupalais
    ocdupalais Posts: 4,317
    Macaloon wrote:
    The Domestique wrote:
    Even though I’m amazed by Swifty's ride yesterday and have total respect for it. I still think it was a bit dumb, surely it will have a negative effect on his ride today?
    RichN95 wrote:
    It's more a cry for help.

    Is it fair to quote other forum members out of context like that?
    Next thing, you'll be mentioning things like...
    RichN95 wrote:
    An epic stage in which nothing relevant to GC will happen until the 14% bit 5km from the end
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    Deignan's diary:
    http://www.stickybottle.com/blogs/deign ... -in-today/
    Contador is the Greatest
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,725
    Looks like there's trouble brewing.
    May not race today's stage.
    Meeting at Camp Tinkoff, atm.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • fleshtuxedo
    fleshtuxedo Posts: 1,858
    Today's stage doesn't look hard enough for Swift for my money - I can't see where the remaining 'proper' sprinters are getting dropped. Getting in the break is possible but it will surely be very competitive for that today.
  • The Domestique
    The Domestique Posts: 5
    Blazing Saddles wrote:
    Looks like there's trouble brewing.
    May not race today's stage.
    Meeting at Camp Tinkoff, atm.

    Bit unfair to the sprinters if they do. Hauling themselves over the stelvio only to not be able to take one of their last chances to win a stage.
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,547
    edited May 2014
    FleshTuxedo wrote:
    Today's stage doesn't look hard enough for Swift for my money - I can't see where the remaining 'proper' sprinters are getting dropped.


    The 1 km long, 15% climb, 20 kms from the finish?
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,252
    OCDuPalais wrote:

    Is it fair to quote other forum members out of context like that?
    Next thing, you'll be mentioning things like...
    RichN95 wrote:
    An epic stage in which nothing relevant to GC will happen until the 14% bit 5km from the end
    I was wondering when someone was going to bring that up. I thought I'd got away with it. In my defence no-one could have predicted the descent fiasco.
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • fleshtuxedo
    fleshtuxedo Posts: 1,858
    andyp wrote:
    FleshTuxedo wrote:
    Today's stage doesn't look hard enough for Swift for my money - I can't see where the remaining 'proper' sprinters are getting dropped.


    The 1 km long, 15% climb, 20 kms from the finish?

    I think that's too far out and it'll come back together
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    Blazing Saddles wrote:
    Looks like there's trouble brewing.
    May not race today's stage.
    Meeting at Camp Tinkoff, atm.

    Finally decided to go. There will be discussions this evening.
    Contador is the Greatest
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,462
    The Domestique wrote:
    frenchfighter wrote:
    BenSwifttunnel_3148850.jpg

    Even though I’m amazed by Swifty's ride yesterday and have total respect for it. I still think it was a bit dumb, surely it will have a negative effect on his ride today?

    He's positioning himself as Sky's next British GT contender :wink:
  • ocdupalais
    ocdupalais Posts: 4,317
    RichN95 wrote:
    OCDuPalais wrote:

    Is it fair to quote other forum members out of context like that?
    Next thing, you'll be mentioning things like...
    RichN95 wrote:
    An epic stage in which nothing relevant to GC will happen until the 14% bit 5km from the end
    I was wondering when someone was going to bring that up. I thought I'd got away with it. In my defence no-one could have predicted the descent fiasco.


    Can't fault the logic: diminishing expectation on the apparent "epic" stages gives every stage a greater potential "excitement ceiling".
    I do much the same every day I go to work.
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,725
    frenchfighter wrote:
    Blazing Saddles wrote:
    Looks like there's trouble brewing.
    May not race today's stage.
    Meeting at Camp Tinkoff, atm.

    Finally decided to go. There will be discussions this evening.

    Yes.
    Very interesting to see the various reactions to "Pink" Quintana at the signing on.
    Definite rift for some, others fine.
    OPQS icy. Savio and co warm.
    So, too Aru, who seems in good spirits.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    Blazing Saddles wrote:
    "Pink" Quintana

    quintagiro_zps656ad70f.jpg
    Contador is the Greatest
  • Macaloon
    Macaloon Posts: 5,545
    OCDuPalais wrote:
    Macaloon wrote:
    The Domestique wrote:
    Even though I’m amazed by Swifty's ride yesterday and have total respect for it. I still think it was a bit dumb, surely it will have a negative effect on his ride today?
    RichN95 wrote:
    It's more a cry for help.

    Is it fair to quote other forum members out of context like that?
    Next thing, you'll be mentioning things like...
    RichN95 wrote:
    An epic stage in which nothing relevant to GC will happen until the 14% bit 5km from the end

    No. It's not. And I wasn't making an entirely serious point, just failing to amuse. Again. I wouldn't have done this with a poster I have no history with.
    (I doubt Rich thinks I'm trying to twist his words. That would incur his 20 Ton sh1thammer.)
    ...a rare 100% loyal Pro Race poster. A poster boy for the community.
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,694
    Quintana should lose time just for the full on pink effect :(
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • DeadCalm
    DeadCalm Posts: 4,249
    In all this hysteria over bad weather, neutralisation controversies and the like, people seem to have overlooked the truly important consequence of yesterday's stage, namely the magnificent way that AG2R managed to convert a near 2 minute deficit over OPQS into a lead of almost 37 minutes in the team competition.
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,694
    TwitterTalk about removing the time gap gained on the descent. Have to say that given how much time they drew out on the final climb that sounds fair to me. I don't think the smaller gap at the foot of the climb would have enough of a carrot to really alter anything
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    Full transcript of race race communication:
    http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/giro-di ... he-stelvio

    Removing the gap gained on the descent would seem the sensible thing although how you do that fairly I dont know.
    Contador is the Greatest
  • DeVlaeminck
    DeVlaeminck Posts: 9,104
    Trouble is we have no idea what the outcome would have been had Quintana et al not got a gap on the descent. It's reasonable to think Rolland and even Hesjedal would have lost time to some of those behind and Quintana might have won by maybe 30 seconds as Rich predicted.

    The Giro organisers/commisaires need to be straight about what the situation was. Did Quintana overtake a motorcycle when he or his team had been ordered not to - if yes then removing a minute is insufficient - if not then he's broken no rules so the result stands. Enough riders, Deignan, Pozzo etc, have said they knew nothing about any neutralisation that there has to be some doubt.
    [Castle Donington Ladies FC - going up in '22]
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    Rolland:
    Rolland rode into a scrum of reporters immediately on crossing the line, and when asked if he had been aware of any talk of neutralisation on the descent of the Stelvio, he was adamant: "No, not all. Some riders were talking about going up the Gavia at a steady pace alright but within a couple of kilometres there were some attacks. And from there on, the race had started."
    "Up there with the rain and the snow, it was like the conditions I have when I train in the Jura and that allowed me to do a good descent and get back up to the escapees," Rolland said.
    "I barely ate or drank anything all day, and in the end I just didn't have anything left in my legs," Rolland admitted. "It was a crazy stage: even this morning we didn't know what would happen. We were all afraid of the cold and the snow and it was very cold."
    Contador is the Greatest

Categories