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2015 Giro d'Italia - Week Two (16th - 23rd May)
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| Malkael |
Posted on 19-05-2015 19:50
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Thatguyeveryonehates wrote:Not the comissaire, the race jury president. At this race the president is Ingo Rees of the Bund Deutscher Radfahrer.
Let the Italo-German conspiracy theories begin! 
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| cio93 |
Posted on 19-05-2015 19:52
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World Champion
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Well Germany really hates dopers 
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| Shonak |
Posted on 19-05-2015 20:04
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Tour de France Champion
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@Malkael How do you rate Landa's chances for podium now? Probably he'll lose massive chunks of time against Porte and Uran Uran in the TT but he has the lead on them now... still long way to go till Milan.
It'd be massive for basque cycling. *dream big*
Edited by Shonak on 19-05-2015 20:08
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| Malkael |
Posted on 19-05-2015 20:34
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@Shonak Down with the Italian team leader Fabio Aru, up with the Basque wonder Mikel Landa!
It will be interesting to see how Landa does in the individual time trial considering there will be more at stake for him this time round compared to some of the past ITT performances he has put in. Considering the number of flat kilometres that have to be ridden I fear he could lose a couple of minutes though.
The Dolomites could be interesting depending on whether Landa's form holds, how much work he has to do earlier on in stages for Aru, those kinds of things. If he can look after himself a bit I could see him compensating well for the ITT in the mountains again.
With some of the victories Basques\Euskaltel\Euskadi riders have managed to snatch lately I do wonder if Landa finishing on the podium would spark a resurgence of sponsorship dollars in to Basque cycling. I don't know what plans or contract Astana have for Landa but I could see a few ambitious Basques thinking of a reborn Euskaltel Euskadi with Landa at it's core\head.
Either way Venga Murias Taldea!...
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| AdamHansen |
Posted on 19-05-2015 20:39
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Instead of Aru attacking and Landa following, they should just let Landa attack solo. He obvously has the legs so why not use the advantage of having number 2 and 3 in gc. (Would rather see Landa pull of the gc than Steakman or mr Dysentery) |
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| Shonak |
Posted on 19-05-2015 20:59
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Yeah I'm with on the racing. Hope he holds this amazing form and Astana take use of the numeric advantage a bit and let him ride. He won't endanger Contador much I guess but if he can ride he can only profit from it. He certainly is the better option than Cataldo, although he'll be way down on Cataldo after the TT I imagine.
As much as I'd love a new Euskaltel Euskadi outfit again, I don't think any of the current basque riders will end up there unfortunately except for maybe good old Antón <3 Movistar, Astana and others just pay better than Euskaltel ever could afford (at least I read about it like this) but maybe I underestimate the boys and their home-love a bit.
I certainly wouldn't mind Murias Taldea to increase their funds and turn up investment though, maybe get a few talents up in the ranks too. 
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| Tafiolmo |
Posted on 19-05-2015 21:15
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I know it has kind of spoilt the race now that Porte is more than 3 mins down, but on the other had I kind of agree with the sanction, because you can hardly have a member of another team giving a wheel or similar help to a rider from another team. If this kind of thing was let go, you'd end up with all kinds of agreements like this between certain teams.
Porte easily could've taken a wheel from a teammate but by doing so he would've had one man less to help him back and I guess he knew this. |
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| deek12345 |
Posted on 19-05-2015 21:17
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just seen a photo of portes wheel change he had a team mate 5feet away atleast, but took clarkes wheel instead WTF
Edited by deek12345 on 19-05-2015 21:19
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| Tafiolmo |
Posted on 19-05-2015 21:24
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deek12345 wrote:
just seen a photo of portes wheel change he had a team mate 5feet away atleast, but took clarkes wheel instead WTF
Stupidty really this was his golden opportunity to take a GT and I think had he avoided his bad day he could've won the Giro. Largely because he's very good at TT and would've taken I'm sure time from Contador and then defended in the mountains, he also would've taken a lot of time from Aru in the TT.
This is now great for both Contador and Aru as their biggest threat has been removed, but also if Uran can put out a great TT he could put himself back in the picture a bit, but of course that is all maybe on my part.
All I will say if Porte were able to pull back these 3 minutes and win the Giro it will be one of the all time great victories.
Edited by Tafiolmo on 19-05-2015 21:25
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| Malkael |
Posted on 19-05-2015 22:18
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Stage 11: Forli to Imola (153km)
(click image to enlarge)
Where the Giro d'Italia goes controversy often follows, or so it seems, but with a race still to run the peloton must still mount their bikes for the 153 kilometre journey from Forli to Imola. A grand stand finish on a famous motorsport circuit awaits the peloton and who can take out today's stage victory.
If ridden at a high tempo today's eleventh stage has the potential to cause just as much damage to the peloton as Stage 4 did during the first week of the race. Climbing over 2000 metres in accumulated elevation gain, Stage 11 features several tough categorised and uncategorised climbs.
(click image to enlarge)
Upon leaving Forli the road will begin ascending slowly to the foot of the Category 3 rated Passo del Trebbio (6.3km at 6.3%), which the peloton will reach 17.7 kilometres in to the stage. The initial four kilometres of the ascent will be the toughest at an average grade of 7.2%, with the gradient lessening to a more bearable 4.6% for the remaining 2.3 kilometres to the summit.
Almost immediately after the descent the peloton will begin the ascending up to Monte Casale, an uncategorised climb on today's parcours. Unofficially 4.3 kilometres in length, the climb to Monte Casale features an average gradient of 2.2% for the first kilometre, 10.1% for the next two kilometres and 5.9% for the final 1.3 kilometres to the summit.
(click image to enlarge)
There will be a roughly five kilometre long gap between the conclusion of the descent down from Monte Casale and the next uncategorised climb to La Valletta. Featuring an average gradient of 9.8% over a short distance of 2.7 kilometres with sectors as high as 14%, the ascent up to La Valletta will be painfully difficult.
After cresting the summit of the La Valletta a 3.1 kilometre-long descent follows, leading the peloton right in to the beginning of the ascent to Monte Albano. Another uncategorised climb, the Monte Albano is unofficially 4.6 kilometres in length at an average gradient of 6.1%, with some early sectors reaching a maximum of 9 percent.
The climbs keep coming thick and fast for the peloton as 6.5 kilometre-long descent, and slight ascent near the end, leads the riders in to the Category 3 rated Valico del Prugno. Also known as the Passo del Prugno, the ascent is officially listed as being 5.6 kilometres in length at an average gradient of 6.2%, with some sectors reaching a maximum grade of 9%.
(click image to enlarge)
Another descent beckons for the peloton after cresting the summit of the Valico del Prugno as the race turns in a clockwise direction towards Imola. Upon reaching Imola with 57.9 kilometres of the stage remaining the peloton will begin three laps of a 15.4 kilometre-long circuit which uses parts of the famous Autdromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari.
Approaching the finishing line for the first time and during the subsequent three laps after the peloton will climb the Category 4 rated Tre Monti. Officially 4.4 kilometres long according to race organisers RCS the climb features an average gradient of 4.1%, however, that figure is deceptive due to the irregular nature of the slope with some sectors averaging 7-8% and reaching a maximum grade of 10%.
(click image to enlarge)
Being distanced over the climb could prove costly with just 7.6 kilometres from the summit of the Tre Monti down to the finishing line in the Autdromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari. Occurring on weaving, winding two-lane country roads the 6.7 kilometre-long descent will be technical, with some of the tougher corners possibly catching out weak descenders.
The final 700 metres of the stage will be on the home straight of the Autdromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, so the riders can expect to be fighting for the stage honours on a eight metre wide, well surfaced, perfectly level tarmac surface. Which could be an important factor due to current weather forecasts predicting a 50% chance of precipitation during the stage, with a poor road surface the last thing the rider will want during rainy weather.
A challenging stage to call due to the number of different scenarios which could play out over the course of the stage. Just how hard will the teams of the general classification contenders ride the stage? Will Astana look to move Fabio Aru in to the Maglia Rosa ahead of the individual time trial?
The favoured scenario involves at least some of the breakaway of the day surviving all the way to the line in Imola. A number of teams will be desperate to get involved in their search for a prestigious stage victory and the breakaway presents their best option in lieu of an option for any possible reduced bunch sprint.
Michael Matthews or Simon Gerrans, Fabio Felline, Juan Jose Lobato, Diego Ulissi and Philippe Gilbert are just some of the favourites to claim the stage honours. However, in such an unpredictable stage there are a number of other names who could find themselves in contention for the stage victory; such as Adam Hansen, Enrico Barbin, Simon Geschke and Stefano Pirazzi.
While Stage 11 of the 2015 Giro d'Italia may not be a high mountain stage I expect it to cause some unexpected casualties and it may be even harder than some have predicted. So in the PCM.Daily fantasy betting stakes the Other Rider option at odds of 4.00 is looking pretty appetising.
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| cactus-jack |
Posted on 19-05-2015 22:29
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I can agree on 2 minutes being quite harsh (or is that the norm?), but it's a difficult situation. Of course, teams collaborate on reeling in breakaways and sometimes trade food and water, but helping out on a mechanical is different. Energy bars might be effective, but I'd rather go racing with 2 wheels rather than 2 bars of chocolate and peanuts.
Porte had riders there, but didn't they help? Probably because he would have been a man short whilst getting back. Also, saying this is okay is problematic because it condones a whole new level of collaboration among teams. What if both Porte and Contador had been stranded with a flat, and someone from some other team gave either one of them a new tire meaning he gained minutes on the other one; how would that be fair?
What about in sprints? Say two riders are fighting for the point jersey and rider A needs a win to take it from Rider B. Rider C is leading the sprint, but slows down to let rider A pass him and take the win.
Sure, that is taken to the extreme, but it's the same principle; different teams collaborating for the benefit of only one. It might be a seemingly stupid rule, but it stops a potentially slippery slope.
Edited by cactus-jack on 19-05-2015 22:31
There's a fine line between "psychotherapist" and "psycho the rapist"
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| Stromeon |
Posted on 19-05-2015 22:30
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Hilarious that only three climbs are categorised tomorrow. Looks a deceptively hard stage, not sure if we'll see another Aru attack on the last climb or not, but the fight for the stage win should be interesting, whether from a break or from the pack.
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| Bikex |
Posted on 19-05-2015 22:41
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cactus-jack wrote:
I'd rather go racing with 2 wheels rather than 2 bars of chocolate and peanuts.
Well said.  |
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| Croatia14 |
Posted on 19-05-2015 23:00
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now Astana should just let Landa attack and place aru on the backwheel of contador...
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| wogsrus |
Posted on 19-05-2015 23:03
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Riders showing sportsmanship gets Porte a 2 min penalty. What a pisstake. 30 seconds l can understand, but 2 mins? Utterly pathetic. People ride through a closed train gate at Roubaix which is death-defying yet those morons don't get any sort of penalty. Complete and utter wank. |
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| Malkael |
Posted on 19-05-2015 23:09
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Well, not a race penalty that is... A penalty from the French police and legal system for breaking the law is an entirely different matter I suppose.
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| Kirchen_75 |
Posted on 19-05-2015 23:11
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This penalty is utterly ridiculous. Although I think the riders know of this rule or at least I think so.
Anyway too bad that 2nd year in the row something insanely dumb happens in the Giro. Last year Quintana neutralisation now this. This one is not organisers fault though. |
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| Shonak |
Posted on 19-05-2015 23:15
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Tafiolmo wrote:
All I will say if Porte were able to pull back these 3 minutes and win the Giro it will be one of the all time great victories.
Yes, I hope he'l fight for the win. It's a stupid time loss but riders have come back from much worse like crashes. He still is in the (possibly?) best shape ever of his career. Think tomorrow I'll finally stay at home to watch the race midweek, smthg I've been planning to do since Giro started. ^^
Edited by Shonak on 19-05-2015 23:16
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| Paul23 |
Posted on 19-05-2015 23:32
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cactus-jack wrote:
I can agree on 2 minutes being quite harsh (or is that the norm?), but it's a difficult situation. Of course, teams collaborate on reeling in breakaways and sometimes trade food and water, but helping out on a mechanical is different. Energy bars might be effective, but I'd rather go racing with 2 wheels rather than 2 bars of chocolate and peanuts.
Porte had riders there, but didn't they help? Probably because he would have been a man short whilst getting back. Also, saying this is okay is problematic because it condones a whole new level of collaboration among teams. What if both Porte and Contador had been stranded with a flat, and someone from some other team gave either one of them a new tire meaning he gained minutes on the other one; how would that be fair?
What about in sprints? Say two riders are fighting for the point jersey and rider A needs a win to take it from Rider B. Rider C is leading the sprint, but slows down to let rider A pass him and take the win.
Sure, that is taken to the extreme, but it's the same principle; different teams collaborating for the benefit of only one. It might be a seemingly stupid rule, but it stops a potentially slippery slope.
Isntz something like this already done? Vino, Conta-Tiralongo?
Also this is the stage i waited for. Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, here we go. Nice to see Imola back in action after F1 left them(I know, that there are still races).
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| wogsrus |
Posted on 19-05-2015 23:42
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Paul23 wrote:
cactus-jack wrote:
I can agree on 2 minutes being quite harsh (or is that the norm?), but it's a difficult situation. Of course, teams collaborate on reeling in breakaways and sometimes trade food and water, but helping out on a mechanical is different. Energy bars might be effective, but I'd rather go racing with 2 wheels rather than 2 bars of chocolate and peanuts.
Porte had riders there, but didn't they help? Probably because he would have been a man short whilst getting back. Also, saying this is okay is problematic because it condones a whole new level of collaboration among teams. What if both Porte and Contador had been stranded with a flat, and someone from some other team gave either one of them a new tire meaning he gained minutes on the other one; how would that be fair?
What about in sprints? Say two riders are fighting for the point jersey and rider A needs a win to take it from Rider B. Rider C is leading the sprint, but slows down to let rider A pass him and take the win.
Sure, that is taken to the extreme, but it's the same principle; different teams collaborating for the benefit of only one. It might be a seemingly stupid rule, but it stops a potentially slippery slope.
Isntz something like this already done? Vino, Conta-Tiralongo?
Also this is the stage i waited for. Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, here we go. Nice to see Imola back in action after F1 left them(I know, that there are still races). Im also keen for this. Are the riders going around the whole circuit. Would be quite a up-and down final if so. |
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