GIRO TT Final Stage 21 *SPOILER*

[John the Monkey]

I'd not thought of Will's point until he mentioned it, but I found the race as a whole hugely exciting. Some great stages, and twists on familiar formats made lots of stages tricky to predict, and exciting to watch.

The only downpoint(s) for me are the shadows over Menchov, and the performances of some of the "former" dopers, that gave me pause. Still a great race though.

Sastre rode a great race - seeming the creep up the GC almost un-noticed, until launching his attacks on the big climbs - I'd have liked to have seen him with a podium spot, but I guess it wasn't to be.

Anyone else surprised to see Astana top the team classification? I thought they had a poor race, personally - whether the sponsorship situation affected them, or the apparent lack of clarity over leadership did it, I'd not expected them to figure highly at all. Interesting also to see that the nay-sayers over Leipheimer's abilities on the Italian climbs were proven right. Slightly less of a surprise to see Columbia up there - seems to me that they have a great team, with some really promising young riders in there.

 

[montage]

when does the TdF begin?

 

[iLB]

when does the TdF begin?

july 4th

 

[Alembicbassman]

The course was nuts, I walked it before the TT started. The cobbles were horrendous, and when wet, down right dangerous.

I was stood atop the Spanish Steps watching the action, first live pro-race I've ever seen. Really crazy stuff, I must say.

The OH so nice bikes too.

 

[Skip Madness]

I think the only negative thing is that the route wasn't ever going to allow a sprinter to wear the maglia ciclamino - there were not that many pure flat stage finishes as the Tour. As far as sprinters go, Bennati won it last year and Bettini in 2005+6 (although he was more capable in uphill finishes). It seems to switch between favouring a GC contender and a proper sprinter every few years. Not awarding points on the mountain finishes would be fairer.

There is a debate to be had about who/what the points classification is there for. But by tradition the Giro and the Vuelta have their competitions more open to classics style riders and even, on occasions (and particularly in the case of the Vuelta) GC riders. Personally, I don't see why there should be fewer points for mountain finishes. It is an incentive for sprinters to get into breaks. The fact that they quite often don't seems to confirms the notion that to most riders stage wins are bigger than any jersey except the leader's.