Giro d'Italia 2012

[Cav']

Is Cav still in the Points jersey?

Yes, he finished 159th out of the 163 riders today

Still has red at 138 pts and Rodriguez follows with 125pts

[Cippo]

Die blerrie Dstv! Hulle mors weer met my nou moet ek krieket kyk. Waar is my Giro highlights?

[Cippo]

Ja nee. Hulle het my gehoor. Giro Stage 19 on Ch 202 on now.

[GrumpyOldGuy]

Another super stage in the Giro tradition.

 

Excellent ride by Kreuziger to win the stage, such a pity he bonked so badly on Wednesday, he has shown his form is good and he would most certainly have been a contender, I really felt for him, but what a ride today, fantastic.!!

 

Basso cant respond to the explosive attacks of the real climbers like Scarponi who attacked and attacked and attacked until he got away and only Hesjedal could go with, but it was all worth it as he has knocked Basso off the podium and we still have another day for him to grab some more time, it looks like thats going to be the podium, Rodriguez, Hesjedal and Scarponi in no particular order yet.

 

I was also quite impressed to see Cunego come in pretty close to the front, it should move him up the standings tonight as well.

 

Gonna be a cracker tomorrow - GO SCARPONI.!

[GrumpyOldGuy]

I really cannot see anyone apart from Hesjedal and Rodriguez winning this Giro, Scarponi did his best to match Hesjedal and failed.Basso does not seem to have it, he is not terrible but not at his best either.

 

Pozzovivo was dropped came back, looked reasonably strong but Rodriguez was able to finish stronger. I just do not seem him winning.

Uran is doing brilliantly to be up there in the climbs but he is the 6th of the big 6 but not a winning chance.

 

It would take both Hesjedal and Rodriguez to have a bad day tomorrow, and I really doubt it is going to happen to them both, to bring the next three back into the picture.

 

It might happen that Rodriguez gains a little bit of time tomorrow on Hesjedal but Hesjedal overtakes him in the final ITT.

 

When its less than 90 secs over the top three and you have a stage like the Stelvio coming up you dont need a bad day, you only need a bad five minutes to lose chunks of time.

 

Rodriguez didnt impress me much, he wasn't doing well and couldn't respond to the accelerations of Scarponi, of all of them Scarponi was the only one who attacked to get away, that Hesjedal was able to respond is a good sign for him, but Scarpo is a superb climber, one of the best around, and he wants to win, anything can happen, I wouldn't write anyone off just yet.

[Cav']

but Scarpo is a superb climber, one of the best around

I agree, plus I would much rather see Scarpo win than Hesjedal.

[petatodd]

Have been waiting for today for some time, 1:30 must hurry along.

 

This is seriously one of the most exciting stages we will see in a Grand Tour, so many contenders in uncharted territory: The Stelvio.

 

http://images2.gazzettaobjects.it/static_images/ciclismo/giroditalia/2012/tappa_dettagli_tecnici_altimetria_20.jpg?v=%3C!--%20%5Ban%20error%20occurred%20while%20processing%20this%20directive%5D%20%20--%3E

Look at it, what a beast. Not so much steep, but long and high and I suspect very unforgiving. After 219km with very little flat roads. Awesome, cycling at it's best.

 

Eurosport (in english) coverage from 13:30 at http://sports-livez.com/channel/ch-6.php.

 

Another exciting prospect, Cav can win Red without being seen all day, depending on what a climber Rodriguez does. This situation has not been seen in a Grand Tour for at least a decade.

 

Bring it on

[petatodd]

Some graphics on the climbs

http://images2.gazzettaobjects.it/static_images/ciclismo/giroditalia/2012/tappa_20_S01.jpg?v=20120420134452

http://images2.gazzettaobjects.it/static_images/ciclismo/giroditalia/2012/tappa_20_S02.jpg?v=20120420134452

http://images2.gazzettaobjects.it/static_images/ciclismo/giroditalia/2012/tappa_20_S03.jpg?v=20120420134452

http://images2.gazzettaobjects.it/static_images/ciclismo/giroditalia/2012/tappa_20_S04.jpg?v=20120420134453

http://images2.gazzettaobjects.it/static_images/ciclismo/giroditalia/2012/tappa_20_S05.jpg?v=20120420142803

[chris_w_65]

Please someone post the link to stream today's stage in English.

Edited May 26, 2012 by chris_w_65

[chris_w_65]

Please someone post the link to stream today's stage in English.

 

Thanks petatodd, I see you posted the link at 8:32am

[nochain]

Lance Armstrong:

It's a terrible climb.. It's perfect for a mountain bike. On the hardest parts, I was riding a 39X27 and I was hurting. The Mortirolo is the hardest climb I've ever ridden. My time up the climb? It's not important.

[GrumpyOldGuy]

I agree, plus I would much rather see Scarpo win than Hesjedal.

 

- Yeah, now you are talking my language, somehow I cant take American (or in this case Canadian) riders seriously, maybe I am just old school, but to me the European's have a passion for the sport, so I will always root for them over a Yank. Sad I know, but thats just how I roll.!

[chris_w_65]

Does anyone know approximately how much bandwidth I will use streaming this stage from EuroSport? My ADSL is useless outside of office hours so I am forced to use 3G

[GrumpyOldGuy]

Doesn't this pic just tell a story?.................

 

[GrumpyOldGuy]

..............and this one...........!!

 

[Kranswurm]

- Yeah, now you are talking my language, somehow I cant take American (or in this case Canadian) riders seriously, maybe I am just old school, but to me the European's have a passion for the sport, so I will always root for them over a Yank. Sad I know, but thats just how I roll.!

 

????

That is unfortunate because they have produced some fine riders.

Funny enough thats how I feel about Saffas....but only in terms of ability and effort.With a few exceptions of course.