Giro 2019 SPOILERS ! (provided by rich p)

[mjr]

14s @ 800m

 

[Crackle]

I think Ackerman wasn't pleased.

 

[mjr]

Well, that was close! Well done Cima, with Ackermann chasing his heels. Demare down in 8th.

 

[nickyboy]

Sprint stages are either a complete borefest or absolute edge of the seat stuff. This one was the latter. Really good

 

[mjr]

I think Ackerman wasn't pleased.

Looks from the pics like the third-place rider nearly got punched in frustration! I wonder what the penalty would be for that...

 

[Jimidh]

That was a brilliant finish was on the edge of my seat for that last few hundred metres.

 

[rich p]

Do we think that Carapaz will have enough to beat Roglic on the ITT or does he need some more the next 2 days?
17km ITT with one 4th cat lump in the middle on Sunday.
I think Roglic will stay close tomorrow but lose a bit more on Saturday.
Carapaz should have enough in hand with 2m 30s on the TT.
I think!

 

[Adam4868]

Do we think that Carapaz will have enough to beat Roglic on the ITT or does he need some more the next 2 days?
17km ITT with one 4th cat lump in the middle on Sunday.
I think Roglic will stay close tomorrow but lose a bit more on Saturday.
Carapaz should have enough in hand with 2m 30s on the TT.
I think!

Nibali ? Landa ? I think Carapaz is strong enough to hold on (baring any crashes ect) but I do like Roglic and would love him to win it.Great temperament as well as rider.Its going to be hard,but can it be done ? I hope so.

 

[BalkanExpress]

Gripping finish,

at about 12km to go and 1.20ish ahead, French Eurosport reaconed the break would be caught 3km from the line. For some reason I have it in my head that the peloton will gain on the break at a rate of 1 minute every 10km if everyone is going flat out and I’m now tempted to believe that I know something about this cycling lark...I don’t.

 

[rich p]

Nibali ? Landa ? I think Carapaz is strong enough to hold on (baring any crashes ect) but I do like Roglic and would love him to win it.Great temperament as well as rider.Its going to be hard,but can it be done ? I hope so.

I don't think Nibali has got it in him apart from a couple of heroic but futile attacks...
...and Landa really ought to play the support role to Carapaz (he will, won't he?) and he's shite at TTs!

 

[Adam4868]

I don't think Nibali has got it in him apart from a couple of heroic but futile attacks...
...and Landa really ought to play the support role to Carapaz (he will, won't he?) and he's shite at TTs!

It looks a easy ish stage tommorow.Till near the end at least.Cant see many attacking.exept Nibali and like you say probally not got it in him by this point in the race.Landa could....he won't though will he ? It would make for a good stage at least.

 

[rich p]

It looks a easy ish stage tommorow.Till near the end at least.Cant see many attacking.exept Nibali and like you say probally not got it in him by this point in the race.Landa could....he won't though will he ? It would make for a good stage at least.

I think that the best chance of rescuing this bore-fest of a race is for Landa to try and steal the win from his team-mate. And Carapaz punches his lights out. Bring it on!
Or Roglic wins the whole thing by a second after the TT

 

[nickyboy]

Do we think that Carapaz will have enough to beat Roglic on the ITT or does he need some more the next 2 days?
17km ITT with one 4th cat lump in the middle on Sunday.
I think Roglic will stay close tomorrow but lose a bit more on Saturday.
Carapaz should have enough in hand with 2m 30s on the TT.
I think!

Current time gap should be plenty. I'm not expecting big gaps today but tomorrow is a whole different ball game. Form suggests Carapaz walks it but....you never know. All it takes is a bad day and the Shark will bite!!

 

[Crackle]

Carapaz's biggest threat is his own team mate, Landa. Not that he'd take the GC but he'll just go for it when he shouldn't and leave him isolated, if not and he maintains his form, then he's got it. Over 17K i can only see Roglic clawing back a minute or so.

Yates for stage win today or tomorrow.

 

[Adam4868]

But we know we'd all really like Landa to go for it ! I've not really got into the Giro so to speak this year.It seems it's been over before it began.Probally just me as work has only let me catch up with highlights at night.I should have gone as planned !
To cheer myself up booked flights last night to go to the Tour of Lombardy at the end of the year.My favourite race to go to.Food and wine with a glimpse of cyclists.Even Mrs Adam will suffer bikes for Lake Como.