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2015 Giro d'Italia - Week One (9th - 15th May)
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 10-05-2015 16:16
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Serry looked horrible 
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| gotlandrules |
Posted on 10-05-2015 16:25
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Modolo was in such a great position before he got tangled up with Nizzolo |
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| Strydz |
Posted on 10-05-2015 16:28
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Pozzovivo lost 1:09
Hells 500 Crew and 6 x Everester
Don Rd Launching Place
Melbourne Hill Rd Warrandyte
Colby Drive Belgrave South
William Rd The Patch
David Hill Rd Monbulk
Lakeside Drive Emerald
https://www.everesting.cc/hall-of-fame/ |
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| Squire |
Posted on 10-05-2015 16:31
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gotlandrules wrote:
Modolo was in such a great position before he got tangled up with Nizzolo
Very annoying for my Velogames team. Modolo had a great lead-out.
The post-stage analysis guy asking Flecha questions on Eurosport is terrible. They discussed Pieter Serry's abandon, whereupon he asked "is this now the end of Rigoberto Uran's GC hopes?" Cringe.
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| gotlandrules |
Posted on 10-05-2015 16:42
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Squire wrote:
gotlandrules wrote:
Modolo was in such a great position before he got tangled up with Nizzolo
Very annoying for my Velogames team. Modolo had a great lead-out.
The post-stage analysis guy asking Flecha questions on Eurosport is terrible. They discussed Pieter Serry's abandon, whereupon he asked "is this now the end of Rigoberto Uran's GC hopes?" Cringe.
Very annoying for my wallet aswell, had a bet on Modolo |
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 21-11-2024 23:26
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| Stromeon |
Posted on 10-05-2015 17:35
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Are they using the same mountains/points classification rules from last year? I read somewhere that they were reverting back to the old system but it looks from PCS as if they have retained last year's rules. I do hope so, as it was so so much better last year than previous years where you had ridiculous things like Purito winning the points jersey.
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| Riis123 |
Posted on 10-05-2015 17:58
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Time losses for possible GC-conteders:
Anton, 19 sec
Pozzovivo, Szmyd, Niemiec, Atapuma, Ulissi and Reichenbach, 1,09 sec
Could have been much worse for some of the guys considering the crashes today. Looking forward to tomorrow, looks like more or less the whole stage will be broadcasted which always is fun on short, hilly stages. |
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| Malkael |
Posted on 10-05-2015 18:07
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Stage 3: Rapallo - Sestri Levante (136km)
(Click image to enlarge)
The 2015 Giro d'Italia continues with a hilly 136 kilometre-long stage, the first of eight medium mountain classified stages, from Rapallo to Sestri Levante.
What Stage 3 may lack in length it assuredly compensates for through sheer accumulated elevation gain, with the riders tackling two categorised climbs and several other uncategorised ascents. However, with 43 kilometres to stage a recovery if distanced over the Category 2 climb to Barbagelata, today's stage should on paper see many of the sprinters in contention for the stage victory.
Fatigue could be a crucial factor in deciding who will be in the running for the stage victory however with the climb to Barbagelata nothing to sneer at with an average gradient of 8.1 percent, featuring a maximum gradient of 12 percent, over a distance of 5.7 kilometres. Regardless of the final result, the climb to Barbagelata could see the Maglia Azzurra quickly change hands if Bert-Jan Lindeman (LottoNL-Jumbo) fails to join the breakaway of the day and score points.
(Click image to enlarge)
Passing by the towns of Chiavari and Lavagna, the final seven kilometres of the stage closely follows the Ligurian coastline to reach Sestri Levante. With approximately two kilometre remaining the peloton will enter a tunnel, which protects against rockslides from above, and shortly after emerge approximately 1200 metres from the finishing line.
Exposed to the sea to their right, with current weather forecasts predicting a cross-tailwind ~10 kilometre per hour in strength, the peloton will have to navigate a lone roundabout before hitting today's 850 metre-long, 6.5 metre wide finishing straight. Knowing the fastest route through the roundabout could offer the slightest of advantages ahead of the sprint to the line, with those lead-outs who choose the slower route liable to lose position in the pack.
Isolated and having to freelance his way to the line shadowing the rear wheels of his rivals Andre Greipel and Lotto Soudal will be disappointed with yesterday's chaotic finale. The German proved he was strong in the sprint but was forced to burn his own matches too soon making up positions in the pack and came up short in the sprint as a result to finish third.
After winning yesterday's stage Team Sky's Elia Viviani will be at a minimum the Italian favourite for the stage victory. The Italian sprinter has previously been considering a tier below Cavendish, Kittel and Greipel; however, adding more victories over the “big three” to his palmares could change that opinion in time.
Despite missing out after a bit of a dispute during the sprint with Trek Factory Racing's Giacomo Nizzolo, an annoyed Sacha Modolo could again be a contender for today's predicted sprint finish. Before pulling out of the sprint and protesting the racing line taken by Nizzolo the Lampe – Merida lead-out train had placed Sacha Modolo in a great position to contest the stage victory.
Trek Factory Racing will be eager to improve upon Giacomo Nizzolo's sixth place finish if the team can keep the peloton within sight over today's categorised and uncategorised climbs. With a finale which should suit the use of sprint trains and hopefully see fewer disruptive crashes happen, the potential power of the Trek lead-out could see the Italian go five places better.
Giant – Alpecin's Luka Mezgec will once again be an ever present threat, with the Mezgec finishing just outside the podium positions yesterday in fourth. A cleaner, less scrappy finale could enable the Giant – Alpecin team to properly bring their sprint expertise and lead-out power to bare and potentially deliver the Slovenian to victory.
Two riders who could spring a surprise today are Moreno Hofland of LottoNL – Jumbo and Matteo Pelucchi of IAM Cycling. As long as Moreno Hofland can once again find the right rear wheel to shadow the young Dutchman will again be competitive in the sprint. Contrastingly, IAM Cycling may first need to assess the damage caused by being involved in not one but several disruptive Stage 2 crashes.
Despite the profile of the finish arguably not suiting them the other sprinters will need to be mindful of Orica – GreenEDGE's Michael Matthews, Movistar's J.J. Lobato and Etixx - Quick-Step's Tom Boonen or Giani Meersman. While since quantity can be a quality in its own right some Italian sprinters to keep a watchful eye out for are Manuel Belletti or Alessandro Petacchi for Southeast, Daniele Colli for Nippo – Vini Fantini, Nicola Ruffoni of Bardiani – CSF and Davide Appollonio of Androni Giocattoli.
Edited by Malkael on 10-05-2015 20:32
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| Riis123 |
Posted on 10-05-2015 18:45
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I pictured this to be a much more hilly affair which will eliminate the pure sprinters like Viviani, Nizzolo and Greipel, much like the stage to Ajaccio in 2013. I could be proven wrong and it obviously depends on how hard the riders choose it to be, but I cant see a 'regular' sprint finish like today happen tomorrow. I think he should look much more, as you point out in the end, to the likes of Matthews, Lobato, Meersman etc.
At least thats what I am hoping for |
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| Stromeon |
Posted on 10-05-2015 19:34
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Just trawling through the PCS results and... how did I miss this? Betancur 31st! By far his best result of the season 
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| Malkael |
Posted on 10-05-2015 19:51
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Sprinter
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He's peaking for the third week I tell you, everyone else beware! 
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| Shonak |
Posted on 10-05-2015 20:26
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What's up with J.J. Rojas instead of Lobato in your previews, Malkael? 
Thanks for the service though, always a pleasure to read! 
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| Riis123 |
Posted on 10-05-2015 20:30
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Shonak wrote:
What's up with J.J. Rojas instead of Lobato in your previews, Malkael?
Thanks for the service though, always a pleasure to read!
J.J, spanish, Movistar..... they are virtually the same riders.  |
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| Malkael |
Posted on 10-05-2015 20:32
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Silly brain must have been constantly interpreting J.J. Lobato as J.J Rojas consciously unbeknownst to me at the time. I guess trying to fit as much stuff in to my schedule alongside university and Mother's Day in Oz has it's drawbacks... 
Edited by Malkael on 10-05-2015 20:35
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| Riis123 |
Posted on 10-05-2015 20:41
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Malkael wrote:
Silly brain must have been constantly interpreting J.J. Lobato as J.J Rojas consciously unbeknownst to me at the time. I guess trying to fit as much stuff in to my schedule alongside university and Mother's Day in Oz has it's drawbacks...
Anything less than a preview of each stage is unacceptable!
By the way, arent you watching this shit at night down under? |
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| Malkael |
Posted on 10-05-2015 20:58
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At a totally more acceptable time though compared to the east coast people fortunately. If there is one advantage to being on the west coast it is earlier, more reasonable start and finish times for European sporting events.
It being Lobato and not Rojas changes the equation slightly, but Lobato still has pretty decent climbing legs for that far out from the line. Maybe over rating some sprinters but Greipel has always been fairly good at the hillier stuff when he pushes himself and reportedly even sacrificed a little to gain some more in that area this year.
Could get real interesting if a few opportunists want to get involved at a later stage to force a higher tempo that is harder to come back to. Though I'd rate tomorrow the better chance for anyone wanting to have a late dig tomorrow in a Luis Leon Sanchez frame of thought.
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| Riis123 |
Posted on 10-05-2015 21:22
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Stromeon wrote:
Are they using the same mountains/points classification rules from last year? I read somewhere that they were reverting back to the old system but it looks from PCS as if they have retained last year's rules. I do hope so, as it was so so much better last year than previous years where you had ridiculous things like Purito winning the points jersey.
Would it be too bold to predict a top-10 and a stage victory? Guess its still too soon? Anyways, Im kinda hoping he will go to the Tour as he is scheduled to do the Vuelta now and everyone and their grandma know that that wont work. |
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 11-05-2015 11:29
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Turn out yesterday's crash was caused by some idiot wanting to ride along with the pro's.
https://sporza.be/cm/sporza/wielrennen.../1.2335874
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 11-05-2015 11:30
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This is why we can't have nice things!
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| cio93 |
Posted on 11-05-2015 11:34
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Did they catch this guy? Because I would sue the fuck out of him.
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![imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg](https://imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg)
