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Giro d'Italia 2011 - Week 2
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 24-11-2024 20:38
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| Waghlon |
Posted on 21-05-2011 17:57
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sam1196 wrote:
That exploding motorbike made me think this was a movie.
Michael Bay presents: EXPLOSIVE CYCLING
As for the stage itself? i shrugged.
THE THOMAS VOECKLER PROPHET OF PCM DAILY
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| Lorkan |
Posted on 21-05-2011 18:08
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Stagiare
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SportingNonsense wrote:
Lorkan wrote:
SportingNonsense wrote:
Lorkan wrote:
SportingNonsense wrote:
Lorkan wrote:
Nice climb, but I didn't understand Scarponi and Nibali... why doing the pace for Contador?
Its quite simple. Nibali and Scarponi arent racing Contador, theyre racing each other - and Anton.
Yes I know that answer and I guess you're right about their minds but it's just... you know what I mean, it's Giro, they're both Italian, for the first time since the start of Giro, there's an attack Contador isn't able to answer... I mean being second or third... nobody will remind it in five years, so at least try to attack him and become the one who isn't afraid of Contador...
Or they're both fan of Moreau way of life...
I dont understand how you can criticise them? They were both riding as well as they could. They couldnt do any more! The simple fact is that Contador is better than them.
Don't misunderstand me, I agree they ride really well, and for sure they suffered to get those positions, I don't talk about courage or strength, but about tactics.
Had they attacked him, there would have probably be a winner and a looser between Scarponi and Nibali. Riding this way, I only see two loosers (in the primary sense, for me they're both great champions).
There was a winner today between Scarponi and Nibali. That was Nibali - and he did so by keeping a fairly constant pace throughout. Had he tried to be ridiculous and attack Contador, as you are suggesting, the attack would not have worked and he would have gone further into the red in the process, thus doing a worse climb as a result.
If Scarponi hadn't his mechanical problem, the gap wouldn't have been that important, and I tend to think that Nibali is anyway better than Scarponi in TT so he'd better choose the Lampre rider as an ally rather than an enemy.
We never see Contador making the pace, he always drops the others by attacking, so what if for once he had to make the pace on such hard percentages? Wouldn't he be tired at last, or at least attackable? (excuse me for my bad english by the way).
It reminds me Castilla y leon '10, when Anton also won. On that day, we saw that Contador is not able to answer to every attack when the percentages are so high, because he's an excellent climber, one of the best, but he's not extremly superior to other top climbers like Anton today.
Guys like Menchov or Basso aren't able to accelerate enough to drop Contador on an attack, but Nibali and Scarponi have punch for sure and were today able to follow Contador, so I just find it's a shame that they didn't let him work...
What I saw today is: when Saxo team begins to show sign of fatigue, Liquigas does the job for them (why? who was dangerous ahead?), when Anton goes away, and Contador is alone, the one who work are Lampre and Liquigas... In the end the one who's happy is Contador, and neither Nibali nor Scarponi did a great operation today.
I understand my comments are irritating because those guys did their best in terms of effort, but they both told that they came here to win the Giro, not to be 2nd or 3rd.
Anton for sure was the smartest: he wanted a stage, he now has the Zoncolan. |
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| kumazan |
Posted on 21-05-2011 18:12
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You're missing something in your reasoning Lorkan. You can't wheelsuck in Zoncolan. Nibali would have done the same work letting AC to put the pace. |
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| SportingNonsense |
Posted on 21-05-2011 18:15
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Contador went into the stage with a 3 minute GC lead. He has no need to relay. If Nibali were to refuse to relay it would be utterly pointless, because Contador is in no hurry, so the pace would slow, and back comes Scarponi - no gap at all.
Contador is going to win this Giro. Accept it. You might not like to think he is far superior to them, but as the first 2 mountain stages have shown, he is!
The only possible way Nibali or Scarponi can win the Giro is by taking 2nd place in GC, with Contador later losing victory due to a ban.
Thus, Scarponi working when Nibali was dropped was not only the correct option for Scarponi, but the only option. Likewise Nibali when the roles were reversed and he was ahead of Scarponi.
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| Lorkan |
Posted on 21-05-2011 18:32
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Stagiare
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kumazan wrote:
You're missing something in your reasoning Lorkan. You can't wheelsuck in Zoncolan. Nibali would have done the same work letting AC to put the pace.
I'm not a top cyclist I agree, but when I ride in a climb, I still prefer to follow someone than being in front. It's not really a question of wheelsuck, it's a question of not being the one who "hangs" the other in his rear wheel.
SportingNonsense wrote:Contador went into the stage with a 3 minute GC lead. He has no need to relay. If Nibali were to refuse to relay it would be utterly pointless, because Contador is in no hurry, so the pace would slow, and back comes Scarponi - no gap at all.
Contador is going to win this Giro. Accept it. You might not like to think he is far superior to them, but as the first 2 mountain stages have shown, he is!
The only possible way Nibali or Scarponi can win the Giro is by taking 2nd place in GC, with Contador later losing victory due to a ban.
Thus, Scarponi working when Nibali was dropped was not only the correct option for Scarponi, but the only option. Likewise Nibali when the roles were reversed and he was ahead of Scarponi.
He was superior to them, it's true. But today not. I mean, to win a GT is only "win the first mountain stage with one minute and it's ok, we won't try to take you back"?
Come on, there's still a lot of difficulties, you cannot just only aim at the 2nd place when you told that you were here to win the Giro.
I repeat what I said in my previous comment, if you can't beat him on 1vs1, then do it with the others, and Anton and Soler already showed it was possible. Or attack him on a field he's not used to... |
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| SportingNonsense |
Posted on 21-05-2011 18:42
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Today, he was still better than Nibali and Scarponi, and I do think he could have followed Anton had he decided to. But that last point is more speculation.
And theres a massive difference between a Grand Tour and a .1 stage race in April - where Anton beat Contador by 13 seconds only for Contador to win the race overall the very next day with a comfortable tt win.
Sure, you aim to win whenever possible - but not to the extent that its detrimental. If 1st is out of reach, then definately better to be 2nd than 3rd, especially considering Contador's current circumstances.
Edit: And also, to be fair to Scarponi. On Etna and Glossglockner, Scarponi did try to challenge and attack Contador. It didnt work.
Edited by SportingNonsense on 21-05-2011 18:47
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| kumazan |
Posted on 21-05-2011 18:56
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Lorkan wrote:
kumazan wrote:
You're missing something in your reasoning Lorkan. You can't wheelsuck in Zoncolan. Nibali would have done the same work letting AC to put the pace.
I'm not a top cyclist I agree, but when I ride in a climb, I still prefer to follow someone than being in front. It's not really a question of wheelsuck, it's a question of not being the one who "hangs" the other in his rear wheel.
Of course, but what if that other guy doesn't want to put the pace? Would you just stop so one of your rivals get a big gap on you, while others close the gap you've opened on them?
Edited by kumazan on 21-05-2011 18:57
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| fenian_1234 |
Posted on 21-05-2011 19:00
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Really pleased to see Contador boo-ed at the top of the climb. More please. 
Looking forward to seeing how this year on the Zoncalon compared to last year, which I enjoyed more. |
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| niconico |
Posted on 21-05-2011 19:16
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jona777 wrote:
for me one thing is sure: Sastre will not be able to follow with, let's say the 50 best climbers...
HAHA. Sastre walking all up and down y'all 
47 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Geox-TMC 0:09:14
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| CrueTrue |
Posted on 21-05-2011 19:56
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Tour de France Champion
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About the Crostis:
"They claimed a motorbike per team as mechanical support was not enough to make the racing fair for all the riders."
Wasn't that what happened on Zoncolan? |
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| doddy13 |
Posted on 21-05-2011 19:58
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uhh... thats just a dumb reason.
Now teams, go back and think about what you said.
There's no point slapping a schleck - Sean Kelly on "Who needs a slap"
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| Kirchen_75 |
Posted on 21-05-2011 21:26
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Giro d'Italia Stage 14 Awards
The most exhausted rider: Gianluca Brambilla
Top missing thing: Mont Crostis
Rollercoaster award: Vincenzo Nibali
Stevie Wonder award: John Gadret (Prize: GPS system by Garmin)
Biggest loser: David Arroyo feat. Roman Kreuziger
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| Alakagom |
Posted on 21-05-2011 21:29
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Man taunting Contador today with you should have guessed it by now... a piece of fablous steak.
Edited by Alakagom on 21-05-2011 21:30
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| Talleyrand |
Posted on 21-05-2011 21:33
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If you ask me, that was a pretty disgusting ride by Contador.
So please don''t ask me...
Fair players don't cheat
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| Crommy |
Posted on 21-05-2011 21:36
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World Champion
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Talleyrand wrote:
If you ask me, that was a pretty disgusting ride by Contador.
So please don''t ask me...
I think Vincenzo sums it up himself, although I'm sure he would have liked to have used some less media friendly words https://www.cyclin...respect-me
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| kumazan |
Posted on 21-05-2011 22:07
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I don't think Clentador did anything wrong. He took it easy, and attacked in the last km to get the bonification. Smart ride. |
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| SportingNonsense |
Posted on 21-05-2011 22:09
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kumazan wrote:
I don't think Clentador did anything wrong. He took it easy, and attacked in the last km to get the bonification. Smart ride.
Well in the last km he attacked from Nibali, then Nibali pretty much caught him - next we saw he was some way ahead again. Taunting Nibali maybe?
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| lagetcher |
Posted on 21-05-2011 22:27
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Just seen the stage. Wow, talk about entertainment.
Very pleased for Antón. Just the best on the day, and he could easily end up with a Giro win in his palmarès if Mr Steak is banned. Smart ride by Nibali too - a much better performance than last year on the cilmb.
It's a real shame Crostis was taken out, but the Zoncolan was inevitably brilliant all the same. Bring on tomorrow  |
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| hillis91 |
Posted on 21-05-2011 22:46
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SportingNonsense wrote:
kumazan wrote:
I don't think Clentador did anything wrong. He took it easy, and attacked in the last km to get the bonification. Smart ride.
Well in the last km he attacked from Nibali, then Nibali pretty much caught him - next we saw he was some way ahead again. Taunting Nibali maybe?
He is a d-bag, so it wouldnt suprise me hehe
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| Eden95 |
Posted on 22-05-2011 03:24
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I read somewhere a couple of weeks ago that Anton wasn't racing for the GC, he was just there for a stage win,
Indosat - ANZ HQ
"This Schleck sandwich is going to cause serious indigestion for Evans" - Phil Liggett |
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