Giro d'Italia (with *SPOILERS*)

[Flying_Monkey]

I'm really pleased a break finally succeeded... but sad for Sandy Casar, who's one of my favourite (well, everyone's favourite) riders.

 

[Noodley]

I thought it might come down to a fight between Bak and Casar and I am disappointed that Casar didnae get it...but I reckon he has another breakaway attempt in him; he's a stubborn bugger!

 

[Keith Oates]

Casar is in my team so I got a few points from him today. It was a good ride by Bak doing a TT ride to the finish!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Last chance for the sprinters today for a while...

 

[smutchin]

"There's me and then there's the rest."

It's not arrogance when you can back up your words so convincingly.

d.

 

[raindog]

Good train today, but it was a mess at the finish and he nearly got boxed in, but he still found a way through. Amazing.

That finish was fast and scary - don't know how these guys do it, but they earn every penny they make.

Renshaw was third - didn't even see Goss, don't know where he was.

 

[smutchin]

They're all incredible bike handlers, hats off to the lot of them, but Cav seems to have that extra bit of ability to read the situation and respond at astonishing speeds. He really is a class apart.

Goss finished about 6th, I think.

d.

 

[raindog]

brilliant description of Cavendish getting himself out of that tight corner....

"With two Sky riders still ahead of him but not able to allow him past as Goss’s train steamed by, Cavendish moved across onto the wheel of Garmin’s Robbie Hunter as the sprint was launched. The world champion then jumped into a gap that opened up alongside the left-hand barriers, freewheeled momentarily as the gap closed, then once again saw daylight ahead and was off towards it in an instant."

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Yeah, that was by far the best spint finish of the Giro so far - no crashes but plenty of tactical action and the best sprinter won. That Kristoff is a monster though, isn't he?

 

[iLB]

So if Cav makes it to MIlan and takes the maglia rossa as he said he wants to after todays stage, does it lay the ground for him to pull out midway through Le Tour? There won't be many/ (any?) contenders for the Olympic RR finishing both the tour and giro surely? And there will be fierce competition from Gilbert, Cancellara and Boonen trying to spoil the sprint finish party- Boonen has already said he is missing the tour to focus on the Olympics.

 

[redcard]

That was some overhead shot on Eurosport when Cav started giving it some.

 

[Strathlubnaig]

"There's me and then there's the rest."

It's not arrogance when you can back up your words so convincingly.

d.

Maybe, but a bit too 'murican if you ask me. Did put the chough on my picks today though, so that was good.

 

[smutchin]

Maybe, but a bit too 'murican if you ask me.

I don't get this. Tyler Farrar is American and he's as insipid as yer average Premier League footballer. Why not just enjoy the fact that Cav *is* the best, and is well and truly one of ours, and that part of what makes him the best is his self belief and passion for the sport. As criticisms go, "too American" is a bit lame.

d.

 

[Noodley]

I love cav.

 

[Strathlubnaig]

We shall agree to disagree then. I personally do not enjoy hearing folk blawin' their ain bugles. He is good enough to let results speak for him.