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2015 Giro d'Italia - Week Two (16th - 23rd May)
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| Shonak |
Posted on 21-05-2015 18:39
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15615
Joined: 16-07-2013
PCM$: 350.00
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Aru two times in a row weak, does his performance drop that much in rain/cold conditions? Someone remember last year?
Contador is so much fun to watch. Third week will be amazing.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| Malkael |
Posted on 21-05-2015 19:30
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Sprinter
Posts: 1697
Joined: 02-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Since even the finest can bonk it like an amateur, dope or no dope. 
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| Stromeon |
Posted on 21-05-2015 19:31
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3507
Joined: 06-10-2012
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Shonak wrote:
Aru two times in a row weak, does his performance drop that much in rain/cold conditions? Someone remember last year?
Contador is so much fun to watch. Third week will be amazing.
He was pretty good on the Val Martello stage iirc and that was the very definition of bad weather! It's probably reading far too much into it if one was to say that his two best performances (Montecampione and Grappa) came on very sunny and hot days? 
Maybe, as on the two days on which he has looked a little unsure it happens to have rained, it's just a convenient excuse for simply being inferior to Contador?
EDIT: Or what Malkael posted above me
Edited by Stromeon on 21-05-2015 19:32
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| deek12345 |
Posted on 21-05-2015 19:57
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 2761
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PCM$: 360.00
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stage 13 great day for a snooze  |
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 24-11-2024 15:09
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| Guido Mukk |
Posted on 21-05-2015 20:05
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Tour de France Champion
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Shit Kangert would have been nice..he has been great team mate last 3 years.
Just 300m short today..damn. Yeaah he riding in Astana..great person..who was thinking at the age 19 that career is over after over training with Ag2r
Aru does not like/ take bad weather or he's slowing down? |
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| Omloop |
Posted on 21-05-2015 20:45
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Domestique
Posts: 433
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Guido Mukk wrote:
Shit Kangert would have been nice..he has been great team mate last 3 years.
Just 300m short today..damn. Yeaah he riding in Astana..great person..who was thinking at the age 19 that career is over after over training with Ag2r
Aru does not like/ take bad weather or he's slowing down?
Perhaps both. |
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| Shonak |
Posted on 21-05-2015 20:55
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15615
Joined: 16-07-2013
PCM$: 350.00
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Nice to see how the Italians still remember and pay respects to Wouter. https://www.youtu...p;t=11m26s
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| Malkael |
Posted on 21-05-2015 21:05
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Sprinter
Posts: 1697
Joined: 02-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Stage 13: Montecchio Maggiore - Jesolo (147km)
(click image to enlarge)
'Il Garibaldi' gives the sprinters another rare shot at glory on Stage 12 with a 147 kilometre-long pancake-flat parcours from Montecchio Maggiore to Jesolo. Rolling through the Venetian plains, the weather is forecast to be wet and windy yet again with 15-20 km\h northerly winds and a 60% chance of precipitation.
Unless the wind and some aggressive teams get involved there probably will not be much of note occurring before the stage finish in Jesolo, with the two intermediate sprints the only points of interest. Depending on the size of the breakaway, it remains to be seen whether Giacomo Nizzolo and Elia Viviani will contest the points available in their fight for the Maglia Rossa (Red Jersey) of the Points Classification.
The run in to the finishing line in Jesolo is rather straight forward for the peloton beyond a few scattered bends, with roundabouts the largest obstacle of the day. The finishing straight, a few blocks back from the beach, is approximately seven metres wide, on a well asphalted road surface, and 500 metres long.
The sheer number of roundabouts littered within the final two kilometres, and further beyond, of the stage means today's stage victory will be decided by the sprint trains. Racing line and position in peloton going in to and out of the last four roundabouts will be especially crucial at high speeds, with the pack liable to be strung out. Being right near the front of the pack coming in to the finishing straight will be vital in the fight for today's stage honours.
While Lotto Soudal do not have their best lead-out here for German sprinter Andre Greipel, the outright favourite for today's stage for most people is still Greipel. Keeping Greg Henderson and Andre Greipel well positioned close to the front of the pack going in to the final 500 metre straight could decide whether the 'Gorilla' smashes his way to a second stage victory at the 2015 Giro d'Italia.
Still empty handed so far this Giro d'Italia the inexperienced but promising sprint train of Trek Factory Racing will challenge Lotto Soudal for pole position going in to the final 500 metres. With opportunities to snatch a stage victory via the sprints running out the American outfit need to fire on all cylinders soon, with a stage victory also moving Giacomo Nizzolo closer to the coveted Maglia Rossa.
Likely working again for Sacha Modolo, Lampre - Merida will be another team to watch out for during the finale. What they might lack in pure numbers they compensate for with the experience and horsepower of lead-out men Maximiliano Richeze and Roberto Ferrari. While the pure power advantage arguably lies with Andre Greipel the German can be put on the back foot if Sacha Modolo begins the sprint in a better position.
Losing Reinardt Janse van Rensburg to MTN - Qhubeka in the off-season has possibly proven costly for Giant – Alpecin's reserve sprint train at the 2015 Giro d'Italia. The B-Team have failed so far to really perform in the sprints to the standards expected of them as the German registered outfit look to secure at least one stage victory with sprinter Luka Mezgec. However, you cannot discount the Slovakian sprinter if his team mates can finally deliver Mezgec in to a better position.
Some other sprinters to keep an eye on at long odds include Team Sky's Elia Viviani, IAM Cycling's Heinrich Haussler, Orica – GreenEDGE's Michael Matthews, Bardiani – CSF's Nicola Ruffoni, Movistar's J.J Lobato and LottoNL – Jumbo's Moreno Hofland.
So a nailed-on second stage victory for Andre Greipel? Thing are never that easy in the Giro d'Italia. Also, in (PCM$) fantasy betting remember to not back Manuel Belletti as the Southeast rider retired on Stage 12.
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| Kirchen_75 |
Posted on 21-05-2015 23:25
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7702
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Stromeon wrote:
Shonak wrote:
Aru two times in a row weak, does his performance drop that much in rain/cold conditions? Someone remember last year?
Contador is so much fun to watch. Third week will be amazing.
He was pretty good on the Val Martello stage iirc and that was the very definition of bad weather! It's probably reading far too much into it if one was to say that his two best performances (Montecampione and Grappa) came on very sunny and hot days?
Maybe, as on the two days on which he has looked a little unsure it happens to have rained, it's just a convenient excuse for simply being inferior to Contador?
EDIT: Or what Malkael posted above me
Aru is from Sardegna I believe so chances are he prefers hot and sunny weather |
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| Spilak23 |
Posted on 22-05-2015 01:13
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Team Leader
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Just seen this. Happy he is ok.
Edited by Spilak23 on 22-05-2015 01:13
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| Squire |
Posted on 22-05-2015 03:04
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Protected Rider
Posts: 1404
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Squire wrote:
Good day for Contador, putting more seconds into Uran, who apparently has a cold. I wouldn't write the Colombian off yet. Also nice to see Landa showing more of his potential. Aru confirms that he's strong.
Edit: Intxausti 9 mins down on Contador today. Looks like he's preparing to stage hunt!
I wrote this after stage 5. I tipped Uran for 2nd overall from the start, and I still believe he will be 2nd. Although today's result doesn't mean much for Aru, it shows some of the reason why I thought Uran would beat him, namely experience. If the Tiralongo quote is true, it shows lack of experience, not weakness. I think Aru needs this Giro in order to learn what it takes. I think Aru will surprise everyone with a good time trial, but Uran will deliver a great one. Contador will be best, though. Porte always finds a way to avoid the podium, and in that regard he's started well already.
I'm very happy I was right about Beñat
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| Strydz |
Posted on 22-05-2015 04:47
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Team Leader
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Squire wrote:
Porte always finds a way to avoid the podium, and in that regard he's started well.
I'm confused by this statement, what do you mean by it? The guy wins races or are you talking about GT's? If that's the case this it's an even more confusing statement. He has led a team in a GT once, in last years TDF whilst out of condition and in horrible form after his team leader dropped out of the race 5 stages in. I'm no Porte fan but think this is a bit harsh
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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| Gino_Bartali |
Posted on 22-05-2015 05:00
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Junior Rider
Posts: 40
Joined: 16-06-2012
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Paolo Tiralongo says lost blood bag caused Fabio Aru to lose time today. #giro |
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| Smowz |
Posted on 22-05-2015 06:08
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Team Leader
Posts: 6479
Joined: 09-04-2009
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Yeah Aru's cooked. Bring in his doppelgänger Nibali and we jus might have a race, Conta easy winner now imo. Uran and Porte too far down. Aru ain't ready and no one else.
Astana, sky and gmc need to do team job send Koenig, cataldo, Landa atapuma up road on big mountain stages and hope their team leaders don't go poop.
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| clamel |
Posted on 22-05-2015 13:32
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Another tragic ending for a great kid that will be really good.
Out some 4 months for Stefan Kung
https://www.cyclin...ash-173118
Edited by clamel on 22-05-2015 13:33
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“We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.” 
"If thou gaze long into an abyss, the abyss will also gaze into thee."
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 22-05-2015 13:34
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Tour de France Champion
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That is bad news for him  |
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| clamel |
Posted on 22-05-2015 13:40
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Protected Rider
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And then Simon Gerrans jump off after last days crash ....
but then Matthews perhaps will be a bit more happy than he was yesterday (finding out Gerrans was the main ma for yesterday stage)
Now Bling will be no 1
It's a hard Giro
Edited by clamel on 22-05-2015 13:42
____________________________________________
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“We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.”
"If thou gaze long into an abyss, the abyss will also gaze into thee."
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| cactus-jack |
Posted on 22-05-2015 14:22
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3936
Joined: 31-07-2009
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Todays profile looks like it was made with a ruler Is there any hope for hurricane-force winds?
By the way; how come all teams have black raincoats, instead of raincoats with the team colours? It annoys me as I'm not one of those who can identify each Continental-rider from posture and chin strap alone.
Edited by cactus-jack on 22-05-2015 15:39
There's a fine line between "psychotherapist" and "psycho the rapist"
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| Eden95 |
Posted on 22-05-2015 15:59
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4505
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Contador down outside of the 3km barrier!
Edited by Eden95 on 22-05-2015 15:59
Indosat - ANZ HQ
"This Schleck sandwich is going to cause serious indigestion for Evans" - Phil Liggett |
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| cactus-jack |
Posted on 22-05-2015 15:59
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3936
Joined: 31-07-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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Was Porte one of those who went down?
There's a fine line between "psychotherapist" and "psycho the rapist"
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