Giro d' Italia 2014

['Dale]

3km to go, gap 30 secs. Evans in great position.

 

Loads of skin missing

 

Svein Tuft too, looking like the Incredible Hulk popping out of his kit.

Ow!

 

 

['Dale]

Michael Matthews, what a worthy Maglia Rosa

['Dale]

This one is for Cuddles to lose...

 

I reckon it's up to the remainder to fight for podium spots.

 

Then again, it's a long time to Milan.

[T-Bob]

What a great finale to a mundane stage. Cuddles drilled the hell out of that one and good on Bling for upping my fantasy league points!

 

Reports in that JRod came in 7+ minutes down. Far from over but cuddles is a cunning old dog and building up a good buffer for the big stuff. Love to see the leaders jersey get out there and race. Go the Aussies!

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHrvod-sRgk

[T-Bob]

Mayhem

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuGHSuPbUaE

['Dale]

Well, after the drama of Stage 6, the Tour continues

 

[Matts 300]

Dale and the rest of the guys with the knowledge, why is Niaro not doing better?!

['Dale]

Dale and the rest of the guys with the knowledge, why is Niaro not doing better?!

 

Lost time with his team in the time trial as they were quite affected by the rain

He's also a climber and the big long climbs are still coming which could enable him to gain tens of secs on other challengers.

 

Today's splintered peloton after the crash must've really harmed his chances even more.

['Dale]

Wonder what's the weather gods are up to tomorrow....

Edited May 15, 2014 by ' Dale

[Matts 300]

Ok cool, can't follow the racing as close as I want to, but hope he'll get some stage wins and maybe a shot at a podium! Fingers crossed! Go Nairo!!!!!

['Dale]

Shaken up !!!!!

 

Cuddles in the pound seat.

His team can sit back somewhat, sip cuppa teas in the bunch and stay near the front.

 

 

2 Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team 0:00:21

3 Rigoberto Uran Uran (Col) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team 0:01:18

4 Rafal Majka (Pol) Tinkoff-Saxo 0:01:25

7 Ivan Santaromita (Ita) Orica Greenedge 0:01:47

10 Ivan Basso (Ita) Cannondale 0:02:06

11 Nairo Alexander Quintana Rojas (Col) Movistar Team 0:02:08

12 Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team 0:02:11

14 Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale

16 Robert Kiserlovski (Cro) Trek Factory Racing 0:02:24

17 Michele Scarponi (Ita) Astana Pro Team 0:02:28

18 Samuel Sanchez (Spa) BMC Racing Team 0:02:34

24 Pierre Rolland (Fra) Team Europcar 0:03:01

26 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre-Merida 0:03:13

39 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin Sharp 0:04:39

50 Sebastian Henao Gomez (Col) Team Sky 0:06:15

60 Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Team Katusha 0:09:40

80 Nicolas Roche (Irl) Tinkoff-Saxo 0:15:55

106 Julian David Arredondo Moreno (Col) Trek Factory Racing 0:19:50

 

[tombeej]

Well, we'll, well. What looked like a pretty innocuous stage on paper has just torpedoed the plans and aspirations of a whole bunch of hopefuls.

 

What a difference a day makes.

 

Advantage Evans.

[jcza]

I was watching without sound but from what I could gather is that the crash caused chaos and BMC took advantage & put the hammer down. Evans had 2 teammates that set the pace. Matthews & 2 teammates stayed with them. Quintana was in the chase but only had 1 teammate and chase wasn't organized. AG2R also tried chasing but Aussies were gone. I'll be surprised if Evans lose it from here.

[Cav']

Yeah Evans is sitting good.

 

But

 

This is a grand tour and the big stages are still to come. Would be a nice retiring win for evans.

['Dale]

Yeah Evans is sitting good.

 

But

 

This is a grand tour and the big stages are still to come. Would be a nice retiring win for evans.

 

Cuddles and BMC is being hauled over the coals in other social media chats for racing on and gaining an advantage after the mass crashing.

That's racing though as they've worked consistently on positioning themselves near the front.

 

If someone has a technical, that's another matter.

Chain drop - hmmmmm?

Edited May 15, 2014 by ' Dale

[T-Bob]

 

2 Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team 0:00:21

3 Rigoberto Uran Uran (Col) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team 0:01:18

4 Rafal Majka (Pol) Tinkoff-Saxo 0:01:25

7 Ivan Santaromita (Ita) Orica Greenedge 0:01:47

10 Ivan Basso (Ita) Cannondale 0:02:06

11 Nairo Alexander Quintana Rojas (Col) Movistar Team 0:02:08

12 Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team 0:02:11

14 Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale

16 Robert Kiserlovski (Cro) Trek Factory Racing 0:02:24

17 Michele Scarponi (Ita) Astana Pro Team 0:02:28

18 Samuel Sanchez (Spa) BMC Racing Team 0:02:34

24 Pierre Rolland (Fra) Team Europcar 0:03:01

26 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre-Merida 0:03:13

39 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin Sharp 0:04:39

50 Sebastian Henao Gomez (Col) Team Sky 0:06:15

60 Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Team Katusha 0:09:40

80 Nicolas Roche (Irl) Tinkoff-Saxo 0:15:55

106 Julian David Arredondo Moreno (Col) Trek Factory Racing 0:19:50

 

That is carnage! Nice to see my dark horse of Wilco is hanging in there!

 

I think Cuddles is going to still be hard fought as soon as the mountains come. There are still a lot of class guys and mountain goats in the 2 - 3 minute range. Cuddles is a war horse but he's not a 60kg specialist. Jeez, Dennis put 24 seconds onto Wiggins on 500 meters in the TdUSA.

 

Thing is that cuddles knows the pressure of a GT, he knows his form and he is tactically heads and shoulders above most of the contenders. He also knows he's going to get slammed on a fair few stages in that last week so needs to make a buffer. Best believe he's going to one out and give all in the 2 ITTs uphill or not.