Giro d'Italia 2015 Stage 20 ***Spoilers***
Comments
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I know what you are saying TT and I am strongly disagreeing with you. Just because Mikel 'eyebrow' Landa had a decent kick in the last few hundred m of stages and was on a better day then Aru on one day it doesnt make him all conquering. Far from it. And coming into the race no DS worth paying would have put him as leader. There are going to be more than several heads scratching themselves after this race asking how Landa is able to place so so kuch better than ever before. I mean its worse than Porte placing 3rd.
Furthermore for today. Would he have taken KOM jersey had he placed 1st? Is a Landa or Aru stage win better - Aru x100. Landa was in front about 40'' when he stepped off and was noticeably suffering. So lets say he somehow amazingly managed to hold onto that 40'' lead (it sure as sh*t wasnt going to expand, he even had a break, rode on the front (as he would be doing anyway) and then got smoked) what benefit does that serve? He maybe moves into 2nd.
Vs. Reducing Aru's deficit to Contador even further.
No brainer.Contador is the Greatest0 -
greasedscotsman wrote:ugo.santalucia wrote:Contador's greatest GT win... no longer at his best, without a team... still manages to bring the jersey home... he has all the reasons to celebrate on a "bad day"... what a great champion!
Don't agree. 2009 was his best, most of his team trying to undermine him.
He was in his prime though in 2009, almost invincible uphill... while now he is getting old and he clinched this Giro with class and experience... and a superb time trial.
There is nothing like an old dog with a new trick... loved it!left the forum March 20230 -
frenchfighter wrote:Is a Landa or Aru stage win better - Aru x100.
Why? Other than you like Aru.
And didn't you say in the Aprica stage thread that you should deserve your win? Don't think asking a team mate to sit up when he has a 40 second makes is very deserving.0 -
frenchfighter wrote:I know what you are saying TT and I am strongly disagreeing with you. Just because Mikel 'eyebrow' Landa had a decent kick in the last few hundred m of stages and was on a better day then Aru on one day it doesnt make him all conquering.
Decent kick? He was never dropped in the last 1½ week when they gave him a free role instead of working for Aru. In fact, he had no trouble whatsoever following Contador - quite the contrary actually, Contador couldn't keep up with Landa.frenchfighter wrote:And coming into the race no DS worth paying would have put him as leader. There are going to be more than several heads scratching themselves after this race asking how Landa is able to place so so kuch better than ever before. I mean its worse than Porte placing 3rd.
Are you sure you want a doping vs doping talk between Landa and Contador? I'm not saying Landa is or isn't doping but only one of them is a proven doper, so do go on.
Eh, what?frenchfighter wrote:Furthermore for today. Would he have taken KOM jersey had he placed 1st? Is a Landa or Aru stage win better - Aru x100.
frenchfighter wrote:Landa was in front about 40'' when he stepped off and was noticeably suffering. So lets say he somehow amazingly managed to hold onto that 40'' lead (it sure as sh*t wasnt going to expand, he even had a break, rode on the front (as he would be doing anyway) and then got smoked) what benefit does that serve? He maybe moves into 2nd.
Absolute b'ollocks. Suffering? He was just interviewed saying he was disappointet that he was called back. He was the strongest in the group when he got back and even Aru had problems following him.
Heck, he gained time on them when he went full gas so what are you on about?frenchfighter wrote:"What benefit does that serve?"
Eh, a certain stage win, KOM win and a shot at the overall victory VS a chance for Aru to win the stage which by no means was certain. I know it's a difficult one but what would you pick?..
It's shame you make Contador harder to like with your constant nonsense in here because he is quite a bike rider.0 -
frenchfighter wrote:Would he have taken KOM jersey had he placed 1st?
Yes. After today's stage Visconti has 125 points, Landa 122. Aru got 7 points for 1st and Landa got 1 point for 4th for the final climb today.0 -
ThomThom wrote:
It's shame you make Contador harder to like with your constant nonsense in here because he is quite a bike rider.
I feel the same. I enjoy watching Contador but all the crap just puts me off him.“You may think that; I couldn’t possibly comment!”
Wilier Cento Uno SR/Wilier Mortirolo/Specialized Roubaix Comp/Kona Hei Hei/Calibre Bossnut0 -
ugo.santalucia wrote:greasedscotsman wrote:ugo.santalucia wrote:Contador's greatest GT win... no longer at his best, without a team... still manages to bring the jersey home... he has all the reasons to celebrate on a "bad day"... what a great champion!
Don't agree. 2009 was his best, most of his team trying to undermine him.
He was in his prime though in 2009, almost invincible uphill... while now he is getting old and he clinched this Giro with class and experience... and a superb time trial.
There is nothing like an old dog with a new trick... loved it!
Also quite possibly 'assisted' in 2009.Napoleon, don't be jealous that I've been chatting online with babes all day. Besides, we both know that I'm training to be a cage fighter.0 -
If Contador wins tomorrow, both of his Giro wins will have no stage wins in them.
And if you included the races he's been stripped of winning, that's 3 Grand Tours he's won without taking a stage. That must be some kind of record.Fckin' Quintana … that creep can roll, man.0 -
iainf72 wrote:If Contador wins tomorrow, both of his Giro wins will have no stage wins in them.
And if you included the races he's been stripped of winning, that's 3 Grand Tours he's won without taking a stage. That must be some kind of record.
The record is winning the Giro without a team... that's a first...
Saxo contribution to Contador's win has come in the form of a 10 miles TTTleft the forum March 20230 -
ugo.santalucia wrote:The record is winning the Giro without a team... that's a first...
Saxo contribution to Contador's win has come in the form of a 10 miles TTT
Nah, 2005 Giro for il Falco had bugger all team
Lemonds 89 TdF dwarfs this in terms of no team support.Fckin' Quintana … that creep can roll, man.0 -
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I'm on a 9.0
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ugo.santalucia wrote:The record is winning the Giro without a team... that's a first...
Saxo contribution to Contador's win has come in the form of a 10 miles TTT
What do you mean, he had Kruijswijk.0 -
Also, who DID have a team besides Astana?0
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Contador's bike for tomorrow.0 -
I think saxo team tactics were a bit odd. They left their legs on the road in the first week. Astana well
how did they lose with that team?
8.56/10 for the race. contador's best GT. he won a lot of people over"If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm0 -
greasedscotsman wrote:frenchfighter wrote:Would he have taken KOM jersey had he placed 1st?
Yes. After today's stage Visconti has 125 points, Landa 122. Aru got 7 points for 1st and Landa got 1 point for 4th for the final climb today.
Thanks. That is a better reason then any to let Landa ride.Contador is the Greatest0 -
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iainf72 wrote:If Contador wins tomorrow, both of his Giro wins will have no stage wins in them.
And if you included the races he's been stripped of winning, that's 3 Grand Tours he's won without taking a stage. That must be some kind of record.
He is the MASTER tactitian. Many of his wins were very close because he is not some guy that just beasts everyone else it is because he is consistent and very clever in addition to (this Giro especially) being a mature bike rider.Contador is the Greatest0 -
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Press conference. No hunger knock, a hydration knock.Question: Have you now won the Giro d’Italia but you afraid today?
Alberto Contador: Bueno. This is a victory that achieved by controlling things well and analysing the situation carefully. I knew that I had a big time gap in my favour was in my favour and I also knew that the final part [of the stage] was not that difficult. I knew that I had a cushion. I didn't have any hunger crisis, and luckily I was able to keep the jersey.
Q: You promised that at the end of the Giro you’d say what Aru should have done in the race if you’d been his age and in his shoes.
AC: Well perhaps in 24 days time we’ll be in the same race again… But seriously, I want to congratulate him. Some days he suffered a lot. Yet he was able to come back and he rode a fantastic end to the Giro. He’s got an incredible future ahead of him but he’s already good. In the bad moments of a race, you have to take advantage against him because he’s so good at recovering and fighting back.
Q: Were you afraid of losing the Giro d'Italia today?
AC: No. I was never afraid losing the Giro. Perhaps it was a self-control mechanism that kicked in. Because when you think you might lose, you need to regain the gap quickly, in a kilometre, but then it can turn in to a big crisis. I did what I had to do on the descent. I pushed a big gear at a good cadence all the way to the finish and so things turned okay.
Q: Was winning the Giro harder than you imagined? After this effort, are you now more optimistic about the Tour de France?
AC: This Giro d'Italia was very demanding but I knew it was going to be very demanding. The mountain finishes weren't steep, which perhaps created the impression that the Giro wasn’t that hard, but we accumulated a lot of fatigue. For example we always chased after the breaks and so it was a fast race. We used a lot of energy, more than I'd have liked. But when I decided to do the Giro and Tour, I knew I'd expend a lot of energy. Now it’s time to rest up as well as possible, starting tonight. I’m already thinking about being as good as possible for the Tour. We’ll see what level I can be at.”
Q: You shown you’re very strong but it’s perhaps right to say you won alone against a very strong Astana team. Which of your teammates will you take to the Tour de France?
AC: When I have teammates who give 100 per cent for me, and work the way they have at training camps before the Giro d'Italia and the Tour, I can only say thanks to them three times. Without them I wouldn’t have this [pink] jersey. There were moments when I went mano a mano with the Astana riders but you have to understand that the Astana team was at a superior level to everyone else. When we were in a group of 10 riders, five were from Astana, in a group of eight, there were four of them. In this Giro d'Italia. I can only say thanks to my team, and whatever things may have looked like from the outside, without my team I wouldn't have this jersey.
Q: You’ve always looked very strong on the climb but what kind of crisis did you have today?
AC: It was a hydration crisis. It sounds like I’m lying because it didn't seem hot but this morning my weight was a bit down after yesterday's stage. I didn't give it much importance but perhaps I didn't drink as much as I should. I think it was that, not hunger knock.
Q: There was a lot of support for you when you were suffering on the Finestre, what did you think of that? Also what vote [mark of 10] would you give Fabio Aru?
AC: The public really cheered me on and I can only thank them for their support. I have to say that I won the Giro for them, not for my own palmares. That's why I'm here in Italy and that’s why I rode the Giro.
As for Fabio, I have to give him 10 out of 10. He had some difficult moments, some crisis when he suffered incredibly. But he bounced back to finish second, win two stages and the best young rider prize. What more could you ask for?
Q: You seemed a much more mature rider than in other races. The way you managed the race was important. But there seemed to be a grudge between you and Landa, you seemed to be racing against each other, even today. Is that true?
AC: Well on my part, there’s absolutely no resentment against Landa. The first day when he won, we were talking at the start about the time trial when I passed him, and he wasn’t angry. As for the Mortirolo stage, I think everyone can draw their own conclusions about what happened.
As for the following day, at Verbania, from my point of view, it was a completely different day to the Mortirolo day. On the day of the Mortirolo, when I punctured, they attacked. But at Verbania we were already pulling at the head of the race. They did what they had to do. He [Landa] was closest to me in the classification.
I decide my own tactics and I think they were good, they allowed me to win. I tried to waste as little energy as possible so an argument with Landa wasn't something I could allow myself to get involved in. Indeed, I'm happy for him and for Spanish cycling. He’s riding well and he’s on the way again. That’s good. There’s no kind of resentment from me.
Q: On the podium you held up three fingers, do you believe you’ve won the Giro d’Italia three times?
AC: For me, I think I’ve won the Giro d'Italia three times. I think all the people who have watched that race [2011] on television and all the riders who raced against me, know I think I’ve won the Giro three times.
Note how he has just said what I tell you often. He rides for the fans; the Tifosi LOVE him. Additionally that he has one three Giro's and the riders know that too. Note again, how much respect he has for Aru - the boy is golden; pure and raw talent like Quintana but with a more fiery application of his passion.
Contador is the Greatest0 -
I wasn't going to post this link up as it's a bit of a party-pooper but since Bertie gave a three-finger salute on the podium today (see above), it is probably OK.
http://www.stickybottle.com/blogs/opini ... ing-again/
It's two Giri Bertrand, not three. TWO I tells ya!
DD.0 -
Gruber's photos of the Finestre (non race day)
http://stories.strava.com/finestreContador is the Greatest0 -
Dolan Driver wrote:I wasn't going to post this link up as it's a bit of a party-pooper but since Bertie gave a three-finger salute on the podium today (see above), it is probably OK.
http://www.stickybottle.com/blogs/opini ... ing-again/
It's two Giri Bertrand, not three. TWO I tells ya!
DD.
Contador, more than most other riders, sums up the dilemma faced by cycling fans.
What 'fans' is he talking about? Certainly not the vast majority of people in the heartlands of cycling, eg/. Spain, Italy, France, Belgium. He is loved by cycling fans, you just don't hear it much as the English spoken countries and press don't write about it, not least as they are haters, don't understand it and have little appreciation of greatness of his ilk.Contador is the Greatest0 -
Haha, I knew it. Another excuse. He just can't have a bad day where his opponents are better than him. It's always the allergy, hydration or something else.. So predictable.0
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I don't know if this is true or not, but I know you can't speak as the voice of all 'real fans'.frenchfighter wrote:Dolan Driver wrote:I wasn't going to post this link up as it's a bit of a party-pooper but since Bertie gave a three-finger salute on the podium today (see above), it is probably OK.
http://www.stickybottle.com/blogs/opini ... ing-again/
It's two Giri Bertrand, not three. TWO I tells ya!
DD.
Contador, more than most other riders, sums up the dilemma faced by cycling fans.
What 'fans' is he talking about? Certainly not the vast majority of people in the heartlands of cycling, eg/. Spain, Italy, France, Belgium. He is loved by cycling fans, you just don't hear it much as the English spoken countries and press don't write about it, not least as they are haters, don't understand it and have little appreciation of greatness of his ilk.
I was in a bar in the centre of Ghent when your man Valverde won Flèche and I can tell you the atmosphere was not pretty!0 -
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This was contadors off day, and I've got to say he managed his losses as well as he could. Really odd that landa was pulled back, I'd say he'll have lots of offers from other teams after this giro.
Final word for hesjedal, monster performance on today's stage. Kruijswick as well.0 -
iainf72 wrote:ugo.santalucia wrote:The record is winning the Giro without a team... that's a first...
Saxo contribution to Contador's win has come in the form of a 10 miles TTT
Nah, 2005 Giro for il Falco had bugger all team
Lemonds 89 TdF dwarfs this in terms of no team support.
That's not true, he had the Lotto team."In many ways, my story was that of a raging, Christ-like figure who hauled himself off the cross, looked up at the Romans with blood in his eyes and said 'My turn, sock cookers'"
@gietvangent0
