Saw [MENTION=11738]Spreadbetting Seagull[/MENTION] yesterday as I limped helplessly back to Steyning from Partridge Green. Thanks mate for giving me your wheel and slowing for a chat, much appreciated. He did let me know he'd completed 7 repeats of Ditchling Beacon in quick succession a few days before - made me feel sick just thinking about it...
An opportune day off. Anyone watching? This needs to be a classic day of cycling for anyone other than Dumoulin to win this Giro.
Annual leave needs to be used very wisely these days. I'm hoping I've acted wisely today.
Thank God for Eurosport player and rewind facility though, as still have an afternoon school run to do right when things should be at their best.
It is looking well set for Quintana, with three Movistars in the break. Four Sky up there as well. Not sure this break can be brought back with this much strength up there.
Good thing with this break is that Quintana early attack is now guaranteed. Nibs will be disappointed having missed the first break, reeled it in then failed to get anyone in this break either
Interesting to see Kuijswijk in this break. He's either feeling super strong or hanging on, because he's having a massive GC gamble here...could gain time or lose an awful lot of time this way. Glad to see Hirt isn't just content for a top 20 on GC. Interesting KoM battle too with Fraile (nice touch on the Cima Scarponi to let Lulu over first) and Rolland. Possibly Landa might take that jersey by default now though if he picks up the stage win today.
So no attacks first time up the Stelvio. Thought one was coming when Anacona dropped back a bit from the break, but alas, nothing yet.
I really hope any attacks don't wait until the final 3km on the last climb. Quintana, Nibs & Pinot all need to gain as much time today as possible, even with more hard days to come. This is a different Tom D to previous years and anything less than 3 minutes on him going into that final ITT is probably not going to be enough.
I'd actually be quite happy with a 3 minute gap going into that final ITT as then we have real Fignon vs Lemond excitement again.
They are blowing it. The Shadow riding like he always does in grand tours, he just waits until he cannot wait anymore.
Yeah, there's a good chance that that conservative style could blow his chances. Still, some hard back to back days yet to come.
Coming Soon!!
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If Quintana were either 3 inches taller or lived 500m further down that mountain he wouldn't be a pro cyclist.
Quintana is actually a bit shite - there I said it.