Giro d'Italia 2013, 4th-26th May - [Spoilers]

[woohoo]

Most web sites are showing the bunch as getting the same time, so it looks like no change overall (so far!).

 

[thom]

I heard Wiggins has lost more time and has dropped back to 90th?? Is just pre stewards adjustment?

General Classification after Stage 5
ITA 1 PAOLINI, Luca (KATUSHA) 19:56:39
COL 2 URAN URAN, Rigoberto (SKY PROCYCLING) + 17
ESP 3 INTXAUSTI ELORRIAGA, Benat (MOVISTAR TEAM) + 26
ITA 4 NIBALI, Vincenzo (ASTANA PRO TEAM) + 31
CAN 5 HESJEDAL, Ryder (GARMIN SHARP) + 34
GBR 6 WIGGINS, Bradley (SKY PROCYCLING)
ITA 7 CARUSO, Giampaolo (KATUSHA) + 36
COL 8 HENAO MONTOYA, Sergio Luis (SKY PROCYCLING) + 37
ITA 9 SANTAMBROGIO, Mauro (VINI FANTINI - SELLE ITALIA) + 39
AUS 10 EVANS, Cadel (BMC RACING) + 42

 

[tigger]

Thats the last time I listen to my mate

 

[AndyRM]

Thats the last time I listen to my mate

The Beeb reckoned the rain had affected the timing equipment.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

The Beeb reckoned the rain had affected the timing equipment.

Maybe it was the pond in the transponders.

 

[montage]

Interesting that Bradley has reverted from oval chainrings to standard ones "in order to deal with the steeper climbs" - thought the opposite was supposed to be true

 

[thom]

Interesting that Bradley has reverted from oval chainrings to standard ones "in order to deal with the steeper climbs" - thought the opposite was supposed to be true

Based on that quote, I would guess it's due to stability with gear changes. When you change to the inner ring on an uphill without momentum due to a steep pitch, I'm imagining your chain will be taut and perhaps the irregular shaped target inner ring is a harder target to hit. That might have caused the bike parking incident, i dunno...
More speculation : osymmetric rings give a minor efficiency gain when you are really on top of the gear, so steep climbing is not the scenario.

 

[AndyRM]

I thought he only used the oval rings for TT? Or am I massively wrong?

 

[smutchin]

Interesting that Bradley has reverted from oval chainrings to standard ones "in order to deal with the steeper climbs" - thought the opposite was supposed to be true

The commentators were suggesting the reason for the standard chainrings was compatibility issues with Shimano 11spd electronics. Are they wrong? Is the steeper climbs quote direct from Brad?

 

[montage]

The commentators were suggesting the reason for the standard chainrings was compatibility issues with Shimano 11spd electronics. Are they wrong? Is the steeper climbs quote direct from Brad?

From Team Sky's webchat - the 11spd electronics sounds like a more plausible explanation though

 

[triangles]

The commentators were suggesting the reason for the standard chainrings was compatibility issues with Shimano 11spd electronics. Are they wrong? Is the steeper climbs quote direct from Brad?

I'm fairly sure I've read this earlier this year

 

[woohoo]

IIRC, the smallest Osymetric rings are 36 or 38 but a compact will be 34, so it might be a gearing issue and 11 speed (chain rather that electronic, per se) might be a compatibility issue.

Happy to be corrected.

(... and as for gearing in the Giro, it was only a few years ago that some of the teams were fitting triples for the really steep stages.)

 

[Crackle]

I heard Wiggins has lost more time and has dropped back to 90th?? Is just pre stewards adjustment?

Results show 90th, same time as winner.

 

[Rob3rt]

If they (Sky) wanted him on Osymetrics or if he wanted them, then they would have him on them. Regardless of "compatability", they would get round it. People have modified them (including making them thinner) to suit various setups. Not sure of the UCI reg's on modifying things though? BTW, the new Shimano 11spd uses a different spider arrangement, only 4 bolts, yet he was riding on a 5 bolt SRM power meter so he may still be on a 10spd chainset so there would be no issue anyway.

Most people who use Osymetrics report improved recovery and less fatigue, rather than improved speeds and power output and many of those reporting increased power output may well be misunderstanding the data, as some power meters will provide inflated readings when using non-round rings even if there is no actual increase in rider power output. The use to minimise fatigue makes sense from a GC rider stand point.

Lots are speculating that it is the case that Shimano simply did not want him on those rings and said he should be using their products. Others speculate that the fad is over. Who knows, or indeed cares all that much, it's just a "silly ring" as Wiggo puts it!

 

[ColinJ]

Who knows, or indeed cares all that much, it's just a "silly ring" as Wiggo puts it!

The one thing it proves is that Wiggins has been silly - either he was silly in the first place for thinking that the rings worked but they didn't, or they do work and he is silly now for thinking that they don't!