contador will start tomorrow
it seems like it was nothing more than it was dislocated and I have to be very careful to be sure it doesn’t happen again, so now I’ve got to try to have a good night’s rest and immobilize my shoulder at all times, and cross my fingers it doesn’t come out [dislocate] again and I can handle the pain.” Contador said.
Asked if he was feeling optimistic, Contador answered, “Optimistic? I’m going to do everything I can to stay here. I’ve been working a lot since last winter for this race and I want to continue in it. I will see tomorrow [Friday] if I can or can’t continue, but I hope so.”
Edited by deek12345 on 14-05-2015 20:53
While Alberto Contador might be a doubt to continue the race must go on, as the 2015 Giro d'Italia continues rolling on with Stage 7. Clocking in at 264 kilometres the seventh stage of the race from Grosseto to Fiuggi just happens to be this year's longest.
The route starts out rather flat for the first 95 kilometres before the parcours begins to undulate all the way to our finish in Fiuggi some 169 kilometres later. Despite featuring just a single Category 4 climb there are at least one or two others climbs arguably worthy of classification.
(click image to enlarge)
Classified as a sprint stage the severity of the final 20 kilometres, especially the last 10 kilometres, tilts the stage towards the puncheurs and lighter weight sprinters. However, it could end up being a day for the breakaway to steal the spotlight if a situation arises where the break is allowed significant time and few teams have the desire and firepower to bring the race back together.
Passing close to the town of Piglio, the road will begin to ascend to reach Fiuggi with just 11 kilometres remaining. Beginning with a steady incline five kilometres-long at an average gradient of 4.4%, the next 4.5 kilometres undulates slightly at an average of 1% before a moderate kick up to the finishing line.
The kick up to the line, located within the 350-500 metres of the stage, will be at a gradient of between 3-4%; with the stage finishing on a 7m wide, 350 metre long finishing straight. Steep enough to just begin falling in to the playground of the puncheurs, with Philippe Gilbert marking this stage down, the finish favours sprinters like Sacha Modolo and Michael Matthews.
Stage Contenders
The final 20 kilometres of the stage could make it hard for the likes of Andre Greipel and Matteo Pelucchi to stay in contact, especially if ridden at a quick tempo, but even if they do the incline at the finish may rule them out of contention in the end. So assuming the breakaway isn't formed by the teams who would have a reason to contribute to the pace-making in the peloton; look to Lampre - Merida, Orica - GreenEDGE, Trek Factory Racing, BMC and Movistar to try and chase the breakaway down.
Someone who will be eager to get in a breakaway and steal the stage honours that happens to reside in Piuggi is Stefano Pirrazi. Coincidentally the Bardiani - CSF team are partially sponsored by Piuggi so the Italian team will be extra eager to impress their sponsors today, and they pack options for both a breakaway victory and a sprint finish.
As mentioned previous BMC's Philippe Gilbert has been eying this stage off as one to target during the race and while the Belgian would probably appreciate a slightly harder incline up to the line he will still be a strong contender for the stage. With today's stage a strong contender to see a breakaway victory due to its length and a number of variables, such as Tinkoff - Saxo wanting an easy day for Contador's shoulder, Gilbert may first attempt to get in the breakaway of the day before BMC decide whether it is worth chasing.
Meanwhile, Team Movistar's Juan Jose Lobato appears to be finally riding himself in to a bit of a rhythm after being involved in yesterday's sprint finish in Castiglione Della Pescaia. The Spaniard launched his sprint too soon then but the finish at Fiuggi should suit him after seeing him take out similar stages already this year, such as the customary Tour Down Under stage to Stirling.
Orica - GreenEDGE will have a few different cards to play now that they have been freed up from having to protect the Maglia Rosa. Today's stage suits Michael Matthews for a sprint but I expect the Australian team might try to get someone in the breakaway again in case no one wants to bring back the breakaway of the day. A prime candidate for this kind of stage could be Simon Gerrans, or possibly Simon Clarke if he is feeling rejuvenated from his previous days in the breakaway.
There are is a litany of other possible contenders we could talk about, so here is just a short list of some other names to potentially keep an eye on... Southeast's Francesco Gavazzi; Heinrich Haussler of IAM Cycling, who likes a tougher stage; Diego Ulissi or Sacha Modolo of Lampre - Merida; Simon Geschke or Luka Mezgec of Giant Alpecin; and Tom-Jelte Slagter of Cannondale - Garmin.
I knew that I shouldn't have gone to bed before the podium, now I wake up to this. He can certainly finish the race with this injury but he will pay a price for it, all it takes is one slip up and he will do more damage. If it as bad as is being reported then he should pull out now and concentrate fully on the Tour, I had my doubts he could do the double but if he pulls out now he will have a better shot at the tour. Knowing Contador he will win this like last years Vuelta
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Kirchen_75 wrote:
Ok Giro has better racing mainly because of the geographical reasons it's easier to make a fun parcours. But if I was a pro rider, give me a Tour stage win over Vuelta and Giro any day of the week. Tour is something special which is why it's my favourite GT.
Agreed.
Seems like ppl getting overexciting sucking Giro d' Italia's penis the last cppl of years. Honestly, the 2012, 13 and 14 editions of the Giro havent been that exciting, allthough its cool to state so in order to be a cycling-alternative and hack the Tour at every possibilty.
Still, to this day, there is a freaking reason EVERYONE, literally everyone is racing the Tour and not the Giro. Everything is just bigger, more exciting, more fun, more everything.
Kirchen_75 wrote:
Ok Giro has better racing mainly because of the geographical reasons it's easier to make a fun parcours. But if I was a pro rider, give me a Tour stage win over Vuelta and Giro any day of the week. Tour is something special which is why it's my favourite GT.
Agreed.
Seems like ppl getting overexciting sucking Giro d' Italia's penis the last cppl of years. Honestly, the 2012, 13 and 14 editions of the Giro havent been that exciting, allthough its cool to state so in order to be a cycling-alternative and hack the Tour at every possibilty.
Still, to this day, there is a freaking reason EVERYONE, literally everyone is racing the Tour and not the Giro. Everything is just bigger, more exciting, more fun, more everything.
VIVA TOUR DE FRANCE
Nobody is disputing that the Tour is bigger and the one riders want to win at but that alone doesn't make it a better race, the tour route has been lacking the last few years with 2011 being the last good route I can remember. This years route does look very promising so I am expecting a good race. I can't lie and do think the Giro is a better race, don't really care if the riders rate the Tour as better but to me there is just something a little bit special when it comes to the Giro
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This man is a hero, he never gives up without at least trying, let's see what the outcome will be. For the sake of better GC battle I hope he can be back to full fitness by ITT and 3rd week MTFs.
People arguing over what's better is so unproductive. Just like hating on riders. Or hating on races in general. Only good thing to hate on in cycling is doping, and the UCI. And probably Gerrans' style of racing, just kidding.
To me, I like to enjoy what cycling has to offer and fortunately both Tour and Giro are successful and are a big part of cycling. Other sports can only dream of such prestigious events.
Plus, all three Grand Tours offer plenty of racing. Tour had roubaix and two, three interesting stages plus that amazing atmosphere in Great Britain, which more or less kickstarted an own tour of yorkshire; Giro had that amazing cobbled mountain finish <3 & the Stelvio fiasco; and Vuelta had an overload of Froome vs Contador. Come to think of it, not that much actually going on in Grand Tours last year... maybe best to just hype up flandriennes classics more.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
Kirchen_75 wrote:
Ok Giro has better racing mainly because of the geographical reasons it's easier to make a fun parcours. But if I was a pro rider, give me a Tour stage win over Vuelta and Giro any day of the week. Tour is something special which is why it's my favourite GT.
Agreed.
Seems like ppl getting overexciting sucking Giro d' Italia's penis the last cppl of years. Honestly, the 2012, 13 and 14 editions of the Giro havent been that exciting, allthough its cool to state so in order to be a cycling-alternative and hack the Tour at every possibilty.
Still, to this day, there is a freaking reason EVERYONE, literally everyone is racing the Tour and not the Giro. Everything is just bigger, more exciting, more fun, more everything.
VIVA TOUR DE FRANCE
Nobody is disputing that the Tour is bigger and the one riders want to win at but that alone doesn't make it a better race, the tour route has been lacking the last few years with 2011 being the last good route I can remember. This years route does look very promising so I am expecting a good race. I can't lie and do think the Giro is a better race, don't really care if the riders rate the Tour as better but to me there is just something a little bit special when it comes to the Giro
2012-route was crap, but 2014 and especially 2013 were good routes. Froome went Froome in 2013, but that doesnt change the fact that still was a freakin good designed route IMO - start in Korzika, a TTT + two medium long ITTs, many big mountain stages (both finishing uphill and downhill) including finishes at Ax-3-Domaines, Ventoux, Alpe d Huez and Annecy Semnoz. Funny fact: Mont Ventoux had the lowest average gradient at 7,5% of all finishing climbs that year while the toughest climb (gradient wise) they are finishing at this year is Campitello Matese at 6,9% in the Giro. Close to godlike and still the best route I can remember - unfortunately Contador wasnt great that year and Quintana wasnt a real thread afterall, but the route itself couldnt have been made better.
Shonak: I dno if its unproductive, it maybe is when you drank beers in Randy-esque tempo and just wanna troll a bit before going to sleep (yup, thats my life), but I cant see why it shouldnt be debated. I like the Giro, but still, people in here (many, at least....) doesnt seem to see any flaws what so ever. Still, quite disturbing some might say, the Vuelta was the best GT in 2012 and 2014 allthough all the trashing. In 2012, the Giro was almost at thrash as the Tour that year (freaking Ryder Hesjedal won the race and the mountain stage were just... boring), but was overshadowed by the worst route design ever, Sky's Super Petrolisimo and other contenders just sucking, crashing or being suspended 2 months later in what is going to go down as the biggest joke of a GT evah.
Edited by Riis123 on 15-05-2015 10:28
Kirchen_75 wrote:
Ok Giro has better racing mainly because of the geographical reasons it's easier to make a fun parcours. But if I was a pro rider, give me a Tour stage win over Vuelta and Giro any day of the week. Tour is something special which is why it's my favourite GT.
Agreed.
Seems like ppl getting overexciting sucking Giro d' Italia's penis the last cppl of years. Honestly, the 2012, 13 and 14 editions of the Giro havent been that exciting, allthough its cool to state so in order to be a cycling-alternative and hack the Tour at every possibilty.
Still, to this day, there is a freaking reason EVERYONE, literally everyone is racing the Tour and not the Giro. Everything is just bigger, more exciting, more fun, more everything.
VIVA TOUR DE FRANCE
Nobody is disputing that the Tour is bigger and the one riders want to win at but that alone doesn't make it a better race, the tour route has been lacking the last few years with 2011 being the last good route I can remember. This years route does look very promising so I am expecting a good race. I can't lie and do think the Giro is a better race, don't really care if the riders rate the Tour as better but to me there is just something a little bit special when it comes to the Giro
+ 1
Tour is bigger; Giro is better.
Admittedly recent editions of the Giro haven't been stellar, but then neither has the Tour. People seem to hype up the 2011 Tour as some sort of Grand Tour nirvana but forget that apart from three stages - Manse, Izoard and Alpe, absolutely nothing happened. Giro was better that year imo.
In recent years, I'd say Tour wins 2013, Giro wins 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2014, and 2012 they were both so abysmal that they don't merit winning anything.
Riis123 wrote:
Funny fact: Mont Ventoux had the lowest average gradient at 7,5% of all finishing climbs that year while the toughest climb (gradient wise) they are finishing at this year is Campitello Matese at 6,9% in the Giro. Close to godlike and still the best route I can remember - unfortunately Contador wasnt great that year and Quintana wasnt a real thread afterall, but the route itself couldnt have been made better.
If you measure Ventoux from Saint-Esteve, where the climb actually starts, rather than from Bédoin as the organisers insist upon doing by including a few km of false flat, it comes out at more than 8.5% (can't remember the exact figure) and Semnoz, Alpe and Bonascre are all lower than that. Ventoux is probably the hardest climb in regular use in the Tour; it is truly brutal. The reason that the Giro can get away with its hardest MTF being Campitello Matese (which is not something I endorse btw, there should be a proper big MTF somewhere along the route) is because of the existence of Mortirolo and Finestre. ASO don't seem to understand the 'penultimate climb theory' (with the exception of the Pra-Loup stage this year), in the process actively discouraging attacks from far out.
Cossack wrote:
Contador officially confirmed to start today.
This man is a hero
How is Contador a Hero? If anything he is an example of what not to do when it comes to succeed in life, lying and cheating your way to the top is in noway Hero status.
Admire that he is a racers racer but they guy is a little bit false
Edited by Strydz on 15-05-2015 13:12
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Riis123 wrote:
Funny fact: Mont Ventoux had the lowest average gradient at 7,5% of all finishing climbs that year while the toughest climb (gradient wise) they are finishing at this year is Campitello Matese at 6,9% in the Giro. Close to godlike and still the best route I can remember - unfortunately Contador wasnt great that year and Quintana wasnt a real thread afterall, but the route itself couldnt have been made better.
If you measure Ventoux from Saint-Esteve, where the climb actually starts, rather than from Bédoin as the organisers insist upon doing by including a few km of false flat, it comes out at more than 8.5% (can't remember the exact figure) and Semnoz, Alpe and Bonascre are all lower than that. Ventoux is probably the hardest climb in regular use in the Tour; it is truly brutal. The reason that the Giro can get away with its hardest MTF being Campitello Matese (which is not something I endorse btw, there should be a proper big MTF somewhere along the route) is because of the existence of Mortirolo and Finestre. ASO don't seem to understand the 'penultimate climb theory' (with the exception of the Pra-Loup stage this year), in the process actively discouraging attacks from far out.
It was more for the sake of making the case of the route as spectacular and it is indeed the hardest climb in the Tour imo.
Croix-de-Fer before La Touissuire and Galibier before Alpe is decent as well, I would say. And stage 13 with Aspin and Tourmalet, kinda of mini Mortirolo-Aprica combo.
Edited by Riis123 on 15-05-2015 13:16
Probably been mentioned before somewhere, but the finale of today's stage is the same of Stage 5 of the 2011 Giro (but the stage this year is nearly 50km longer and with a more difficult penultimate climb)
As you can see a real mix of names (including our old friend Tiralongo mixing it up in the sprint again ) so not really sure what to expect - but a rider similar to Ventoso like Lobato would be my best bet.
