Giro 2014 - Stage 18: Rif Panarotta *Spoilers*

knedlicky

Turfle wrote:

Pretty good stage.
The break all looked utterly shattered.

ddraver wrote:

He's a teeny little boy isnt he...

RonB wrote:

Arredondo at the finish though. It didn't look like he had anything left in the tank.

Yep to all the above. Pozzovivo must feel tall next to Arredondo.

I’m not yet convinced that Arredondo is going to be bigger in the future; Rolland and Cataldo continue to impress me; I’d have liked to see Aru try a bit farther out, like Rolland did; Respect to Basso even if it didn’t work out.

frenchfighter wrote:

TDF hasnt got anything on the Giro

Certainly sometimes true in the “several good days after each other” category, a rare thing nowadays in the Tour, I think (although their different routes because of their different geographies certainly play a role in this).

milton50

Fair play to Arredondo. It seemed like he had cracked over the last few days but I guess he was just saving himself for this stage.

knedlicky

Above The Cows wrote:

P.S. I do like Alessandra de Stefano's specs.

She’s wearing what was predicted last October to be fashionable this year. And one certainly notices them. I don’t remember seeing her in glasses last year.

Since others are commenting on clothing (being in pink), I’ll comment on something Alessandra had on last year and which I liked – it was a top, and had the word SLURP on it, the letters being placed in a vertical line slightly on the right side. Worn with a couple of those (imo great) long necklaces which one associates with flapper girls of the 1920s (Alessandra went in for such necklaces on some other days last year too)

Slurp is a reference to certain Acrostic poems which have been popular in Italy the last half-a-dozen or more years (a bit like Haiku has been popular in the UK and USA).
In Italy, a Slurp acrostic is one in which you indicate a like of some food or dish. The opposite type, in which you indicate a dislike of some food or dish, is called a Bleah acrostic. This is a typical Slurp one:

Penne
Al
Salmone
Tanto
Amate

RichN95.

Here's Nairo in his hotel deciding what ot wear tomorrow:

above_the_cows

RichN95 wrote:

Here's Nairo in his hotel deciding what ot wear tomorrow:

SLURP! I shall lend him my horse if he so wishes.

knedlicky wrote:

Above The Cows wrote:

P.S. I do like Alessandra de Stefano's specs.

She’s wearing what was predicted last October to be fashionable this year. And one certainly notices them. I don’t remember seeing her in glasses last year.

Since others are commenting on clothing (being in pink), I’ll comment on something Alessandra had on last year and which I liked – it was a top, and had the word SLURP on it, the letters being placed in a vertical line slightly on the right side. Worn with a couple of those (imo great) long necklaces which one associates with flapper girls of the 1920s (Alessandra went in for such necklaces on some other days last year too)

Slurp is a reference to certain Acrostic poems which have been popular in Italy the last half-a-dozen or more years (a bit like Haiku has been popular in the UK and USA).
In Italy, a Slurp acrostic is one in which you indicate a like of some food or dish. The opposite type, in which you indicate a dislike of some food or dish, is called a Bleah acrostic. This is a typical Slurp one:

Penne
Al
Salmone
Tanto
Amate

You see you just don't get this level of insight at that other place.

Macaloon

RichN95 wrote:

sjmclean wrote:

Congratulations on being appointed head of the "what the fans want in procycling" board.

Sky would call him 'Head of Marginal Opinions'

'Margo', in the lingo

above_the_cows

Macaloon wrote:

RichN95 wrote:

sjmclean wrote:

Congratulations on being appointed head of the "what the fans want in procycling" board.

Sky would call him 'Head of Marginal Opinions'

'Margo', in the lingo

But then who is Jerry?

mroli

Interestingly Arredondo was best young rider at the Tour of Japan last year. This year it was a guy called Hugh Carthy riding for Rapha Condor JLT who looks as though he could have something about him....

ugo.santalucia

Apparently you only need to be 5 foot 10 to get a job in a Colombian circus... :roll:

ITMC...

wombly_knees

mroli wrote:

Interestingly Arredondo was best young rider at the Tour of Japan last year. This year it was a guy called Hugh Carthy riding for Rapha Condor JLT who looks as though he could have something about him....

Arredondo was second only because his teammate was Baliani. The Tours of Japan and Kumano were not really a race till this year and Nippo's end (more a pre race decision as to who would be 1st and 2nd).

frenchfighter

"I’ve been working really hard for this and I’d like to thank my team and everyone in Colombia," said a beaming Arredondo. "Although the race isn’t over until Sunday, this is a very big step towards the mountains jersey, which was my main goal when I got into the break today."

"I have to give a big thanks to my director and coach Josu [Larrazabal]. I wanted to attack at the bottom of the last climb but he told me from the team car, 'no, no no! take it easy, not yet!' Then with four kilometer to go he said, 'Julian now!' I won this stage to a great degree from his advice."

frenchfighter

frenchfighter

“It was a relatively calm climb, but with plenty of attacks,” Quintana said. “I controlled what was important to me, the others were fighting for what was important for them. My team was working well and things went pretty well.”

“Physically I’m feeling better every day. The illness is passing and I think I can do a good time trial tomorrow. I think I can continue in the maglia rosa without losing time.”

“It’s a time trial I like. There’s a big change in altitude and I think it suits me, but the important thing is not to lose time to my rivals,” Quintana said. “Uran did a time trial on a good level last week and others can do well too, like Pozzovivo and Pierre Rolland. I think those are the riders who can do a good time trial.”

Uran’s current deficit, of course, is roughly equivalent to the time that he conceded to Quintana on the descent of the Stelvio on Tuesday, when he was under the impression that the race had been temporarily neutralised. The fact that the two Colombians were briefly roommates in Spain when Quintana first raced in Europe adds another layer of significance to their battle at the top of overall standings.

Speaking at Rifugio Panarotta, however, Quintana said that he had no difficulty in separating their personal and professional relationships. “We have a good rapport. We lived together in Pamplona, they were good times. I like Rigo’s way of being,” Quintana said.

“But, personally, it doesn’t affect how I race because that’s my work. I’m the leader of the team when the team says I am. We’re good friends outside of racing but we’re rivals on the bike, by necessity.”

iainf72

I wonder if the "Rigo" is part of the translation, or if he said that? (as it appears he hates being called that)

frenchfighter

“We had Rovny in the first group and our plan was to make him stop taking turns up there while we wanted to put on the pressure on the penultimate climb. But as Rafa was suffering from stomach pain throughout the stage, we cancelled the move. On the final climb, it was all about limiting the losses to his rivals but in fact, he’s now only two seconds away from third place. Tomorrow, it’s every man for himself and there’s nothing else to do but to give full gas,” said DS, Lars Michaelsen after the stage.

“When the pace dropped during the final climb, I thought to give it a try,” said Kelderman. “It was a risk, but if I’d managed to stay clear and maybe grab thirty seconds or so, I could have moved up a few places in the GC. I had more to gain than to lose, especially when you look at the differences in the overall. Unfortunately, the others caught me and I blew up a bit.”

--

Interesting that Team Colombia didnt want to sign Arredondo.

“I felt good today," Arredondo added. "I thought it could be my day. After all the difficult moments in this race - like two days ago over the Stelvio when Josu had to put me in the car to warm me up – and being in Italy away from home the last six years, this stage has repaid all my hard work.

"Today is the beginning, I hope, of great things for me. I want to dedicate this win to Josu, and to my team who stayed around me at all the difficult moments. We are very much a family.

“I have had difficult times during this Giro. I have even thought of abandoning. Two days ago, on the Stelvio, I thought I’d finish last. Josu put me in the car, warmed me up, and gave me the courage to restart.

"The path to glory: I’ve been through difficult periods in my career. I was 6th in the U23 standings in Italy, but no one wanted to sign me. I called Team Colombia, who said they’d call me back, but never did.

"Then Andrea Tonti called me and said, “Trust me, come and ride for my team.” Little by little, the path has led me to moments of glory. After years of struggle and hard work, I’m finally with a team that provides me calm and security. I’ve shown that I can perform and I have put my trust in the right people.”#

--

Anonymous

frenchfighter wrote:

"I’ve been working really hard for this and I’d like to thank my team and everyone in Colombia," said a beaming Arredondo. "Although the race isn’t over until Sunday, this is a very big step towards the mountains jersey, which was my main goal when I got into the break today."

"I have to give a big thanks to my director and coach Josu [Larrazabal]. I wanted to attack at the bottom of the last climb but he told me from the team car, 'no, no no! take it easy, not yet!' Then with four kilometer to go he said, 'Julian now!' I won this stage to a great degree from his advice."

So he's not a heavy weight racer? You've spent the last two years critising Sky for only being able to ride from what they are told by power meters or the DS.

smithy21

Jesus you are relentless. Do you have some sort of alert system for when Frenchfighter posts?

Anonymous

smithy21 wrote:

Jesus you are relentless. Do you have some sort of alert system for when Frenchfighter posts?

No today/tonight I've been putting off doing tour advancing. So i've sent lots of time on here and playing football manager.

I find him infuriating and like calling him up on his idiotic nonsense, but does this alert system exist, to make sure I don't miss anything.

rick_chasey

Disappointing stage tbh.

Pleased to see TdG more like his old self.

I'm sure Iain was tenting if not downright climaxing at the close ups and slow mos of a good old Basso grimace.

Really enjoying the live gradient graphic. A good additon and well used.

Richmond Racer

I enjoyed the stage.

Nairo 'in the careful embrace' of his MOV gang (Seeing that full pink get-up for in the flesh is quite something, I can tell you)

TDG giving glimmers of the Good TDG

GREAT rides by Arrendondo, Duarte and Deignan for the top spots.

Not my favourite rider by any means but grimacing pain face Hesjedal still up there.

Nairo - serene.

frenchfighter

The Giro really knows how to exploit the most beautiful parts of their country. Some beautiful scenery.

frenchfighter

If you want an avi of this shot lmk.

frenchfighter

iainf72 wrote:

I wonder if the "Rigo" is part of the translation, or if he said that? (as it appears he hates being called that)

After I posted this:

frenchfighter wrote:

As an aside:

During the last stage of the Giro last year, I met Rigoberto's girlfriend and spent some time with her and Sergio Henao's significant other. In speaking with them, I quickly learned that Rigoberto's girlfriend does not like him to be called "Rigo". In fact, she corrected me a couple of times. I still can't help myself.
-Cycling Inquisition

I was surprised to then notice Quintana, OPQS twitter and another say it. Either it could be because they are not aware of it, because Uran is not the sort of man to correct mistakes like that, his partner just prefers that or some other reason. I don't know whether shortening names is disrespectful in Colombia (doubt it) or some other pertinent reason other than just preference. I am not too fussed either way but shortening names should only be done if it sounds cool. Rigo is cool. Bert is not.

frenchfighter

Le Commentateur

Molto dolore

Le Commentateur

L'ultimo attacco




Another tribute to the Pirate in this Giro? Addio Basso.

frenchfighter

frenchfighter

adr82

frenchfighter wrote:

I am not too fussed either way but shortening names should only be done if it sounds cool. Rigo is cool. Bert is not.

Congrats on finally learning who Bert is!

frenchfighter

It was a classic contrast of styles – the steady but graceful rhythm of Deignan faced against the punchy, stop-start tempo of the two Colombians – and eventually the constant changes of pace took their toll.

“I think they were just playing with us to be honest, they’re just so good at that – all the accelerating and slowing down and accelerating again,” Deignan said. “That’s what really killed me in the end. I was able to respond a few times but the last time when he went I just couldn’t go.

“I knew that if I kept my own tempo and didn’t go too far into the red then I could get back but at the same time you could see Arredondo was just playing with us. He could have gone whenever he wanted really, I think, but I never gave up and kept going until the line.”