[Other Sport] Cycling geeks

[Stat Brother]

Cracking racing today.

Sagan is a beast for getting over that climb.
Nib's descends like a b*****d.
As said earlier on this page, nobody can control races when there's 27% climbs.
Froome did well to peg back and ordinary Contador.
Pretty much the best he could have hoped for once the 3 got away.

Nibali can't throw 30+ seconds away in a 10km ITT.
I would even contemplate putting a tiny amount of money on a Schleck holding the lead!

 

[Stat Brother]

That climb at 16km to go was mental! Sky don't win pretty, so seeing a bit of 'every man for himself' is nice for a change. Froome certainly needs to work on his descending though!

You can't judge CF against Nibali, he came down well enough v Contador, who was half a dozen bike lengths in front of him, at the top.

But some of the aerial shots of Nibs made everyone else look like they were going uphill.

 

[teaboy]

You can't judge CF against Nibali, he came down well enough v Contador, who was half a dozen bike lengths in front of him, at the top.

But some of the aerial shots of Nibs made everyone else look like they were going uphill.

And to be fair I'd have got off and walked down in that weather.

 

[1066familyman]

Now that's more like a bike race! As much as I like Sky, it's certainly more exciting without the choo choo train able to control things.

Nibali is a bloody nutter that's for sure

I'm sure they imported Robertsons Hill into that stage today. Reassures me that my local nemesis must be over 20%.

 

[Stat Brother]

And to be fair I'd have got off and walked down in that weather.

Did you notice the Blanco fella who stopped riding at the crucial bend by the building.
After a couple of failed attempts he managed to get back on and ride off

 

[teaboy]

Did you notice the Blanco fella who stopped riding at the crucial bend by the building.
After a couple of failed attempts he managed to get back on and ride off

On the way up? Yeah - there were a few guys struggling to get restarted. I'd rather ride up that in the rain than down it, but then I'm a triathlete, so bike-handling and cornering are not strong points of mine!

 

[Stat Brother]

 

[Cranky]

A much more exciting finish without the Sky train setting the tempo chasing the leaders down. Actually think Froome did well to catch back on to the group he finished with on a stage that doesn't really suit him. Great ride by Nibali on that descent.

Respect to Taylor Phinney who was the only rider in the Grupetto not to abandon and rode 130km on his own only to finish just outside the time limit!

 

[Motogull]

What sort of funk, just tired or stiff, achy, disorientated?

All over aching as it goes. Thanks and to others as well for your comments. Its probably age related.

I've kinda got hooked on all this now. I can see the plus box getting plenty of use.

 

[Bold Seagull]

View attachment 40198

I've just seen the Sky gallery of that...http://www.teamsky.com/gallery/0,27401,28563_8557595,00.html#photo=0

When professional riders deem it walking only, then you know that was one hell of a climb!*






*although I'm also tempted to say 'get back on your bikes you bloody pussies!'....

 

[Pogue Mahone]

I've just seen the Sky gallery of that...http://www.teamsky.com/gallery/0,27401,28563_8557595,00.html#photo=0

When professional riders deem it walking only, then you know that was one hell of a climb!*






*although I'm also tempted to say 'get back on your bikes you bloody pussies!'....

Why haven't they got a 'granny wheel'? A peleton full of triple sets - that's what I'd like to see.

 

[Horton's halftime iceberg]

To be fair lots of riders push because someone has crashed/held them up and when your on the real step parts you just cant get started, unless someone wants to try and push you up at speed for a re start (not easy either).

 

[Indurain's Lungs]

Why haven't they got a 'granny wheel'? A peleton full of triple sets - that's what I'd like to see.

I think contador had a 30/28 on for the vuelta steep bits last year.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

I think contador had a 30/28 on for the vuelta steep bits last year.

Add them together and you've got his haematocrit after a nice sirloin.

 

[teaboy]

I think contador had a 30/28 on for the vuelta steep bits last year.

Just when I thought I couldn't respect him any less...

 

[Stat Brother]

As said in post 5545 what are we like!

There was a Blanco rider behind Froome at the very steepest section who did actually get back in the pedals and ride off.
It took a couple of failed attempts and I didn't notice any help.

That's pretty serious cojones.



I'll now see if I can find the footage.
Edit - That didn't take long.
You can't quite see him ride away but he definitely does @ 1:42

[video]http://www.steephill.tv/players/720/gazzetta/?title=Stage+6+Report/Highlights&dashboard=tirreno-adriatico&id=0b11e20e-8a75-11e2-bc5c-838ef8f87b52&yr=2013[/video]

 

[1066familyman]

Real shame Purito can't time trial. He's just thrown another podium spot away because of it

 

[Pantani]

Real shame Purito can't time trial. He's just thrown another podium spot away because of it

I kind of like that there are riders like that. It means he has to animate the race on every uphill finish, every descent and take every breakaway chance. It makes for great racing.

 

[1066familyman]

I kind of like that there are riders like that. It means he has to animate the race on every uphill finish, every descent and take every breakaway chance. It makes for great racing.

That of course is very true. It's just that I'd like to see him on the podium more often as I enjoy watching him race. I feel a tautology coming on here.

 

[1066familyman]

I see MSR fantasy comp is now open. Interesting rider prices. Some under priced and some over priced. All riders listed though so a lot of whittling down to do before they get to the final startlist.