|
Don Alejandro
|
| fenian_1234 |
Posted on 29-11-2008 13:09
|
Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4790
Joined: 06-12-2006
PCM$: 200.00
|
Giro D'Italia
Stage 9 - Sunday, May 18
Today is probably Freire's last chance to get into the Maglia Rosa and the race along the coast looks as if it may finish in a sprint.
Only the strongmen have any chance on a day like today. The riders fight winds that do not drop below 45kmph all day. A break gets away, but never comes together to work because of the wind.
Fragmented the escapees have no chance against the pack. Gutierrez is careful to stay up front in case there is a split and with just under 35k to go it happens.
The group do not really work together - LPR have the numbers, but Petacchi is back in the main group, so they do not make any contribution. Despite this, as the race enters the final 10k, this group has a lead of about 45 seconds on the pack.
Gutierrez loses patience with the others and decides to go alone with 8.5k to the line. He pedals hard and has a gap.
Can he TT to the line solo?
4k to go and he is struggling against the 54kmph wind. Rabobank are driving the pack along and the gap is closing.
With less than 2k to go, the fastmen have him. Petacchi is leading out the sprint. Hunter and Bennati are there. Freire has Ciolek's wheel.
Robert Hunter is the rider with most in his legs after the day in the wind and he takes a big win for Barloworld. Freire takes 3rd and enough bonus seconds to take the Maglia Rosa from us.
Cunego and Dekker both take Top 5 slots and show good form as the mountains get closer.
Two former Giro winners - Savoldelli and Garzelli really suffer in the wind today and lose over 4 minutes to the leaders.
Stage 9 Result
1 Robert Hunter Barloworld 4h22'30
2 Gerald Ciolek Team Columbia s.t.
3 Óscar Freire Rabobank s.t.
4 Damiano Cunego Lampre s.t.
5 Thomas Dekker Rabobank s.t.
6 Alessandro Petacchi LPR Brakes - Ballan s.t.
7 Daniele Bennati Liquigas s.t.
8 Saïd Haddou Bouygues Télécom s.t.
9 Andrei Kunitski Acqua e Sapone - Caffè Mokambo s.t.
10 Tom Boonen Quick·Step s.t.
13 José Iván Gutiérrez Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
78 David Arroyo Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
122 Paolo Savoldelli LPR Brakes - Ballan + 4'08
130 Stefano Garzelli Acqua e Sapone - Caffè Mokambo s.t.
Overall
1 Óscar Freire Rabobank 38h48'23
2 José Iván Gutiérrez Caisse d'Epargne + 3
3 Daniele Bennati Liquigas + 41
4 Paolo Bettini Quick·Step + 49
5 Sergio Marinangeli LPR Brakes - Ballan + 51
6 Stuart O'Grady Team CSC - Saxo Bank + 54
7 Robert Hunter Barloworld + 57
8 Jussi Veikkanen Française des Jeux + 58
9 Matteo Carrara Quick·Step + 1'01
10 Grischa Niermann Rabobank + 1'04
12 Thomas Dekker Rabobank + 1'09
14 Fränk Schleck Team CSC - Saxo Bank + 1'15
16 Levi Leipheimer Astana Cycling Team + 1'26
20 Damiano Cunego Lampre + 1'37
25 David Arroyo Caisse d'Epargne + 1'47
76 Stefano Garzelli Acqua e Sapone - Caffè Mokambo + 5'46
79 Paolo Savoldelli LPR Brakes - Ballan + 5'54
Points
1 Óscar Freire Rabobank 16 98
2 José Iván Gutiérrez Caisse d'Epargne 3 68
3 Robert Hunter Barloworld 25 64
4 Gerald Ciolek Team Columbia 20 60
5 Alessandro Petacchi LPR Brakes - Ballan 10 58
KOM
1 Karsten Kroon Team CSC - Saxo Bank 0 22
2 Fränk Schleck Team CSC - Saxo Bank 0 10
3 Martin Elmiger AG2R La Mondiale 0 9
Tomorrow is a rest day and then there is a fairly long time trial - so we expect Gutierrez to take the leader's jersey back again. He is very strong now and will look to beat the likes of Dekker and Leipheimer to the stage victory. |
| |
|
|
| Gutierrez |
Posted on 29-11-2008 13:57
|
Stagiare
Posts: 246
Joined: 05-10-2008
PCM$: 200.00
|
If you don't win the TT tomorrow you will certainly be in pink!
|
| |
|
|
| alexkr00 |
Posted on 29-11-2008 14:01
|
World Champion
Posts: 13915
Joined: 05-08-2008
PCM$: 300.00
|
Gutierrez wrote:
If you don't win the TT tomorrow you will certainly be in pink!
Except if he will lose 1'07" at Thomas Dekker
|
| |
|
|
| Ad Bot |
Posted on 23-11-2024 23:37
|
Bot Agent
Posts: Countless
Joined: 23.11.09
|
|
| IP: None |
|
|
| Halvor |
Posted on 29-11-2008 14:05
|
Sprinter
Posts: 1951
Joined: 18-09-2007
PCM$: 200.00
|
Well, congratulations! The pink will hold on a looong time  |
| |
|
|
| Gustavovskiy |
Posted on 29-11-2008 14:12
|
Team Leader
Posts: 6036
Joined: 20-07-2008
PCM$: 200.00
|
Well, congratulations! The pink will hold on a looong time
definitely agreed
|
| |
|
|
| Gutierrez |
Posted on 29-11-2008 15:48
|
Stagiare
Posts: 246
Joined: 05-10-2008
PCM$: 200.00
|
You think Dekker can take 1'07"
I doubt he could take more than 20" |
| |
|
|
| elloto |
Posted on 29-11-2008 16:29
|
Free Agent
Posts: 112
Joined: 07-10-2007
PCM$: 200.00
|
Although I don't know Gutierrez's TT stat in this database it'll surely be similar to Dekker's. More rosa please.
Team Alpro - Cord Blood America
|
| |
|
|
| alexkr00 |
Posted on 29-11-2008 18:15
|
World Champion
Posts: 13915
Joined: 05-08-2008
PCM$: 300.00
|
Gutierrez wrote:
You think Dekker can take 1'07"
I doubt he could take more than 20"
You never know, maybe a headache or some problems with the stomach
Edited by alexkr00 on 29-11-2008 18:16
|
| |
|
|
| Halvor |
Posted on 29-11-2008 18:18
|
Sprinter
Posts: 1951
Joined: 18-09-2007
PCM$: 200.00
|
Or if it is a fly on Gutierrez's leg, and he crashes because he's so scared of those! |
| |
|
|
| alexkr00 |
Posted on 29-11-2008 18:20
|
World Champion
Posts: 13915
Joined: 05-08-2008
PCM$: 300.00
|
Dessel wrote:
Or if it is a fly on Gutierrez's leg, and he crashes because he's so scared of those!
Or on his glasses, he can't see anything and so he crashes
|
| |
|
|
| Gutierrez |
Posted on 29-11-2008 18:39
|
Stagiare
Posts: 246
Joined: 05-10-2008
PCM$: 200.00
|
alexkr00 wrote:
Gutierrez wrote:
You think Dekker can take 1'07"
I doubt he could take more than 20"
You never know, maybe a headache or some problems with the stomach
He won't because he is in form
And Caisse has good doctors
So except it
Gutierrez will be in pink
Edited by Gutierrez on 29-11-2008 18:40
|
| |
|
|
| alexkr00 |
Posted on 29-11-2008 18:44
|
World Champion
Posts: 13915
Joined: 05-08-2008
PCM$: 300.00
|
Gutierrez wrote:
And Caisse has good doctors
Am I thinking at are you thinking?
|
| |
|
|
| chrica04 |
Posted on 29-11-2008 21:51
|
Breakaway Specialist
Posts: 853
Joined: 23-10-2007
PCM$: 200.00
|
Fenian!!! Keep the posts coming man, this is gonna shape up for you because of the TT's! |
| |
|
|
| fenian_1234 |
Posted on 30-11-2008 09:51
|
Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4790
Joined: 06-12-2006
PCM$: 200.00
|
Volta a Catalunya
Hola - it is Alejandro here. It seems like a long time since I have written anything. I hope U.E. has been keeping you entertained with his tales of the Giro. Gutierrez is having a fantastic time and I am pleased for him.
I am feeling good and very serene after my win last month at LBL. I hope to do well in this race and win the mountain stage. I will keep my reports from this race brief however, even if this is more important to our sponsors than the Giro.
The team.
Stage 1
A TTT and I am afraid we do not have the riders here to compete in this kind of test. I also feel a bit of a nonce in my ProTour leader's jersey.
I will not be sorry when Cunego takes it from me at the end of the Giro.
Team Columbia blitz the time trial and only Rabobank, Astana and Team CSC are able to get within 30 seconds of them. We are 12th best, 1'13 behind Columbia's time of 18'09.
Stage 2
The second stage is a hilly test, and I am one of the favorites.
There is a break, but it never looks like winning as ourselves, Columbia and CSC share the pace setting at the front of the pack. The break's lead peaks at around 7'30 before the gap starts to come down.
The final climb of the day comes with about 35k of the stage remaining. The break still has about 1'30 on the pack and my main rivals attack. Contador and Kirchen go, so I do too. Cobo and Sammy Sanchez hitch a ride on my wheel, and Rojas digs deep to follow.
I feel good on the climb and am happy to see I am stronger than Contador. I have the strength to open a gap if I want, but decide not to. The run in to the finish is too long to ride alone.
Cobo tries to get away close to the summit, and I am quick to chase him down.
On the descent a group of around 20 riders forms with all the big names present. Rojas has made it too - and he is probably the best sprinter in the bunch.
With 3k to go, we are in the perfect postion to take the stage.
No-one wants to make the first move and as we go under the 1k banner, Monfort on the front opens up the sprint.
He is strong - and I cannot believe that Rojas cannot come around him in the final kilometer. We were both feeling strong.
It brings back memories of the Basque country in April, when I could not come around Contador in the finale.
If there is a next time, then I will not wait for the final kilometer. Today we should have attacked further out - but we were too confident of winning in the sprint.
Stage 2 Result
1 Maxime Monfort Cofidis, Le Crédit par Téléphone 4h01'26
2 José JoaquÃn Rojas Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
3 Alejandro Valverde Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
4 Juan José Cobo Scott - American Beef s.t.
5 Denis Menchov Rabobank s.t.
6 Cadel Evans Silence - Lotto s.t.
7 Christian Knees Team Milram s.t.
8 Samuel Sánchez Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
9 Alberto Contador Astana Cycling Team s.t.
10 Thomas Lövkvist Team Columbia s.t.
Overall
1 Thomas Lövkvist Team Columbia 4h19'35
2 Denis Menchov Rabobank + 5
3 Alberto Contador Astana Cycling Team + 15
4 Iñigo Cuesta Team CSC - Saxo Bank s.t.
5 Maxime Monfort Cofidis, Le Crédit par Téléphone + 21
6 Juan José Cobo Scott - American Beef + 33
7 Juan Manuel Gárate Quick•Step + 41
8 Christian Knees Team Milram + 51
9 Cyril Dessel AG2R La Mondiale + 59
10 Ezequiel Mosquera Xacobea - Galicia s.t.
12 José JoaquÃn Rojas Caisse d'Epargne + 1'01
13 Alejandro Valverde Caisse d'Epargne + 1'05 |
| |
|
|
| Gutierrez |
Posted on 30-11-2008 09:55
|
Stagiare
Posts: 246
Joined: 05-10-2008
PCM$: 200.00
|
It is unfortunate you could not win the stage
But I have a feeling you will do well |
| |
|
|
| Halvor |
Posted on 30-11-2008 09:58
|
Sprinter
Posts: 1951
Joined: 18-09-2007
PCM$: 200.00
|
Just love your pictures
Nice 2-3, I think you will win overall  |
| |
|
|
| chrica04 |
Posted on 30-11-2008 16:38
|
Breakaway Specialist
Posts: 853
Joined: 23-10-2007
PCM$: 200.00
|
Nice ride by Rojas!
Keep up for the GC |
| |
|
|
| fenian_1234 |
Posted on 01-12-2008 11:20
|
Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4790
Joined: 06-12-2006
PCM$: 200.00
|
Giro D'Italia
Stage 10 - Tuesday, May 20: Pesaro - Urbino (Individual Time Trial), 39.4km
The Pesaro to Urbino 39.4-kilometre time trial is the second of four timed tests in the 2008 Giro d'Italia and will be a chance for those gifted in clocked-runs to take as much time as they can on the general classification before the high-mountains start.
As we expected it is Leipheimer and Dekker who are the men setting the pace. Thru' the first time check and Gutierrez is 3rd, already 24' seconds down on the American.
Gutierrez is really going for it, and with 11k of the test left he passes Bennati. We, in the team car, think he is going too fast and tell him to slow down.
Through the second time check and Gutierrez is faster than Dekker. He is 51' down on Leipheimer at this point, and clearly worried that the Astana rider will end the day in the Maglia Rosa.
The final 5k up into the beautiful old city of Urbino will be crucial.
1500 meters to go and Gutierrez is starting to rock and roll a little in the saddle. He has given too much and we can see that Bennati behind him, is starting to gain time.
It looks as if Astana once again have prepared their riders perfectly for a time trial.
Over the line and Gutierrez has lost just over 1'30 to Leipheimer. The American is the new race leader. Oscar Freire has just one day in the pink.
Stage 10 Results (For some reason they failed to export)
Overall after Stage 10
 |
| |
|
|
| Gustavovskiy |
Posted on 01-12-2008 11:43
|
Team Leader
Posts: 6036
Joined: 20-07-2008
PCM$: 200.00
|
oh bad luck on that one...12 f***ing seconds
the next TT is before the mountains??
|
| |
|
|
| Gutierrez |
Posted on 01-12-2008 15:52
|
Stagiare
Posts: 246
Joined: 05-10-2008
PCM$: 200.00
|
Lots of bad luck |
| |
|
