Tirreno-Adriatico *SPOILER*

[Flying_Monkey]

While Paris-Nice is heading south, the rest of the Pro-Tour crowd (and more) are heading east across Italy in the Tirreno-Adriatico. Stage 1 today was a TTT, and form team of the year so far, Rabobank, took it quite well, leaving Lars Boom in the lead. It probably won't mean much by the end though...

All the big sprinters are here, but you've got to fancy Basso or Gilbert for this one overall. Cadel Evans has also appeared as if from nowhere, but apparently he's taking it deliberately easy until the TdF.

 

[raindog]

27ks to go. I'll go with Cav for this. So that means he's buggered for a start. I'm going to stop FPing I think.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Cav messed that up! Farrar led out by Hushovd... that is quite a scary combination.

 

[raindog]

Eh? I'm still watching - so it's all over? Yeah, we knew Hush would be leading out Farrar this season and as you say, what a combination. Still I doubt that Cav is 100% yet.

 

[raindog]

OK I've seen it - Jesus, that was some lead out!! Cav was too far back and seemed a bit isolated to me.

 

[rich p]

I'm not going to write him off but Cav lost Renshaw and Eisel seemed to bail a bit early - I suspect Cav would have expected more than one win this year so far.

 

[oldroadman]

I'm not going to write him off but Cav lost Renshaw and Eisel seemed to bail a bit early - I suspect Cav would have expected more than one win this year so far.

Renshaw ended up 4th according to the provisional result on TV. Cav seemed isolated in the last 500 or so, did what he could, then seeing a win was not on, simply sat up. Crossed the line freewheeling. Not the most organised HTC finishing effort, then maybe the Cav lags are a bit off at the moment.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Same again today as far as Cav was concerned. He just doesn't seem to be there psychologically right now. Mind you today, Hushovd and Farrar messed up too, so that combination isn't quite perfect just yet.

 

[Noodley]

Lots of cheats at the fore...

 

[Flying_Monkey]

But it is was still a fun final few km to see, with great attacking riding - and Evans did well to get past Di Luca for third place.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

And Evans is now in the lead - so much for a the quiet build-up to the TdF he said he was going for. What a great finish by Gilbert today though to take the stage - seriously, see if you can find it on YouTube later, it was brilliant, although exploiting tactical mistakes by those ahead of him in leaving the gap.

 

[rich p]

A really tough ride towards the end with Scarponi and Cunego looking good, then Nibali and Visconti having a dig. Cadel was brilliant on the steep slopes thouh holding enough to outkick them all.

Maybe it'll be Cuddle's year after all.

 

[raindog]

Sounds like he won that in style. Can't wait to see the vid.

EDIT
and I finally got to see the vid of yesterday's stage - Gilbert made it look so easy.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Evans was clearly playing games early on when he said he was going to be taking it easy until the TdF. He is riding like a man who wants to stamp his mark on this season, while he is still in good health and young enough. The aggression he has shown on the last couple of stages has been really pleasing to see, especially as he is taking on and beating some rather dodgy geezers.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Just watched this finish now - excellent ride by Evans, and a great stage finish all round - reminiscent of the Strade Bianchi the other day.