Giro d'Italia **Spoilers**

[jifdave]

michelle cound getting involved

1. Mikkel Condé v2.0 ‏@mrconde 2h
   About yesterday. Quintana says Rolland and a team mate attacked on the descent. Then he followed. Rolland says it was the other way around.

Michelle Cound‏@michellecound
@mrconde one attacked during a nature break & the other started pulling after a crash (Contador & Froome) in the #TDF13 #justsaying

Michelle Cound‏@michellecound
@mrconde I wouldn't say either have the best reputation of playing by the unofficial rules of the peloton...



Michelle Cound‏@michellecound
@slimbuster @mrconde He attacked on Alpe d’Huez when he thought Chris punctured & also pulled when Contador took Chris down on a descent.

 

[IDMark2]

UCI have made a statement now, race organisers 'did the right thing but should have communicated it better' is the gist I think. Which, I think, is where we were, ie something was rumoured to have been done but no one seems to know...

 

[jifdave]

according to the tv coverage, apparently quintana said he saw no red flag. there are pictures of him behind it.

also he apparently was asking the bike escorting him down to go faster, when it didnt he overtook....

my feelings for quintana are quickly changing

 

[Flying_Monkey]

according to the tv coverage, apparently quintana said he saw no red flag. there are pictures of him behind it.

also he apparently was asking the bike escorting him down to go faster, when it didnt he overtook....

my feelings for quintana are quickly changing

The motos were apparently there for guidance, but riders were not *required* to ride behind them. The stage was not neutralized, not even the descent was neutralized.

The problem was that the race organizers did not seem to have communicated what was going on to all the teams.

 

[Crackle]

The motos were apparently there for guidance, but riders were not *required* to ride behind them. The stage was not neutralized, not even the descent was neutralized.

The problem was that the race organizers did not seem to have communicated what was going on to all the teams.

Pretty ambiguous though

“Attention: A communication to directeur sportives. The management of the organisation have planned to put ahead of the head of the riders, depending on the situation, of course, after the top, to place in front of various groups an organisation moto with a red flag. All to avoid having attacks on the descent and after this to ensure that the riders remain in their positions and to prevent taking big risks and, for all, to remain in this position until the security agents lower the red flag.”

 

[jifdave]

Pretty ambiguous though

“Attention: A communication to directeur sportives. The management of the organisation have planned to put ahead of the head of the riders, depending on the situation, of course, after the top, to place in front of various groups an organisation moto with a red flag. All to avoid having attacks on the descent and after this to ensure that the riders remain in their positions and to prevent taking big risks and, for all, to remain in this position until the security agents lower the red flag.”

added to that they tweeted the descent was neutralized then later deleted that.

 

[biking_fox]

Cycling news "Belgian TV are reporting that all the teams have put forward a suggestion to the UCI to take away the time gained on the Stelvio descent. That would be around 2 minutes and would hand Rigoberto Uran the pink jersey back, albeit by a small margin."

Which is more sensible than neutralising the stage or the whole time gap, but still maybe a bit harsh. Although it's unclear to me at the moment how many riders saw motorbikes with red flags and how many then ignored them. Some had stopped at the top to change into warm clothes, which I'm sure they wouldn't normally do.

 

[Beebo]

Pretty ambiguous though

“Attention: A communication to directeur sportives. The management of the organisation have planned to put ahead of the head of the riders, depending on the situation, of course, after the top, to place in front of various groups an organisation moto with a red flag. All to avoid having attacks on the descent and after this to ensure that the riders remain in their positions and to prevent taking big risks and, for all, to remain in this position until the security agents lower the red flag.”

I dont think that is ambiguous, that says to me dont overtake the bikes with red flags.

 

[RecordAceFromNew]

Of uncertain provenance, but quite a cool pic... from https://twitter.com/vamosalberto

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Woo, Pirazzi! Really nice win. Attacked at just the right time to avoid the sprint.

 

[LarryDuff]

I dont think that is ambiguous, that says to me dont overtake the bikes with red flags.

The problem arises if the bikes don't all go the same speed. Quintana et al didn't overtake because their bike accelerated.

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

Pretty ambiguous though

“Attention: A communication to directeur sportives. The management of the organisation have planned to put ahead of the head of the riders, depending on the situation, of course, after the top, to place in front of various groups an organisation moto with a red flag. All to avoid having attacks on the descent and after this to ensure that the riders remain in their positions and to prevent taking big risks and, for all, to remain in this position until the security agents lower the red flag.”

It seems fairly clear to me, if it's an accurate translation.

I still think Evans will win.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

I still think Evans will win.

If Quintana and Uran both meet with unfortunate accidents, that could happen... however, I suspect that not only will they stay ahead of him, but Rolland, Majka, Aru, Pozzovivo and possibly others will all overtake him too.

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

If Quintana and Uran both meet with unfortunate accidents, that could happen... however, I suspect that not only will they stay ahead of him, but Rolland, Majka, Aru, Pozzovivo and possibly others will all overtake him too.

They'll all fall off.

 

[rich p]

They'll all fall off.

Face the truth Marmy. Your 50p is gone.