Giro d'Italia (with *SPOILERS*)

[smutchin]

I do hope you're right. I'm excited already.

d.

 

[lukesdad]

Scarponi will show his hand tomorrow I think, and Gadret has to do something as well.

 

[Strathlubnaig]

keeping hejsedal and uran in my pool for tomorrow, but may well see some less known names going for it, like the net-app guys. Should be fun.

 

[smutchin]

Scarponi will show his hand tomorrow I think, and Gadret has to do something as well.

Yeah, Scarponi is looking very comfortable, so it would be good to see him go on the attack. And Gadret has been so anonymous that I'd forgotten about him, so definitely time for him to come out of his comfort zone. Franck Schleck too.

Am I imagining it or has everyone been far too content to make life easy for Basso so far? When Rodriguez attacked in the last 2km yesterday, it looked like he was only after doing enough to keep Hesjedal within arm's reach, with no intention of doing any damage to Basso - or of really closing Hesjedal down. Kreuziger too should have been well and truly blown out of the water but he's still in contention, although Tiralongo looks a much better bet for Astana - I wonder if he might attempt something today. And I hope FM is right about Uran and Henao - would love to see them do some damage today.

What do we think of Hesjedal? I can't work out if the rest of the contenders let him attack yesterday because they don't consider him a real threat overall or if they were genuinely unable to counter it. But will Hesjedal be able to keep in touch if the race really does open up today? He showed in the stage to Assissi that he's climbing very strongly. Maybe he is a genuine contender after all?

d.

 

[raindog]

As a team, Leaky look really strong, but where Basso stands in the great scheme of things, who knows? Mind you, he's the local lad today. I would've thought Gadret would've shown himself before now, but maybe he's just waiting for everyone else? Or maybe he's on the limit? Frank Schleck? hhmmmm.... Kreuziger? hhmmmm....Scarponi?
all will be revealed in a few hours.
Hesjedal impressed yesterday when no-one else made a move, and I quite like the bloke - I'd love to see him stay in pink.

 

[smutchin]

As a team, Leaky look really strong

Yeah, I've been particularly impressed with Szmyd and Agnoli but they're very strong throughout the team.

d.

 

[Noodley]

Frank Schleck? hhmmmm....

He obviously had the same reservations, and quit early on in today's stage.

 

[raindog]

Yeah, just seen that on radiocorsa

 

[smutchin]

Wuss.

Is that Henao in the chasing group? They only put up five of the six names and there's definitely a Sky rider in there. Just heard the commentator mention Flecha's name.

d.

 

[raindog]

Yes, Flecha's up there in a break, but I can't figure out which one.

Love the sponsor's ad - "Skoda, seemply clever"

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Hesjedal impressed yesterday when no-one else made a move, and I quite like the bloke - I'd love to see him stay in pink.

Me too. But like Basso and and Wiggins he tends to prefer steady pressure rather than changes of pace, which is why it surprised me a little that he stayed away yesterday. But not too much - I think the other main contenders realised that he wasn't going to get very far with such a short distance to the finish, and that the next day he would be vulnerable anyway.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Flecha will be a marker, up the road to help Uran and / or Henao later on.

 

[Strathlubnaig]

good to see Italy has shi*e weather too, not just Ecosse !

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Terrible, isn't it? BTW, I don't think any of what's going on now is going to matter - the final two climbs will sort everything out. Cunego has made a big mistake, I think.

 

[smutchin]

Yeah, the peloton's reaction to Cunego's break seems to be the cycling equivalent of "Face? Bothered?"

Anyway, aren't Cunego and the other Lampre rider there for Scarponi's benefit when he decides to attack?

d.