Road Bike Racing - If only...looking to Giro 19

I know it won't happen because they just don't do it in pro cycling (unless you've got nothing to lose like Floyd on stage 17) but wouldn't it be cool if Simoni, Piepoli and Ricco attacked super early on stage 19 and kept away the whole time to try and get Simoni the Maglia Rosa? It'd be so crazy it might work.

Plus, what's he got to lose? He's not the best at TT's so without gaining time tomorrow, he might not even be on the podium.

The reason the peleton mistakenly let Floyd go was because the interval of 8 minutes was too large to make up in one day. They did not think he was a thread for the yellow jersey anymore. DiLuca and his team will mark any move by Schleck and Simoni because the time difference is too small.

There was no peleton when Floyd attacked. There was the yellow jersey group of about 20 riders half of which had no interest in chasing Floyd. The remaining riders were pretty much GC contenders who did not want to set tempo for the rest of the group. They did what they could, but there was not enough manpower.

Richard


The reason the peleton mistakenly let Floyd go was because the interval of 8 minutes was too large to make up in one day. They did not think he was a thread for the yellow jersey anymore. DiLuca and his team will mark any move by Schleck and Simoni because the time difference is too small.

The reason the peleton mistakenly let Floyd go was because the interval of 8 minutes was too large to make up in one day. They did not think he was a thread for the yellow jersey anymore. DiLuca and his team will mark any move by Schleck and Simoni because the time difference is too small.

Don't forget to add in that in the Tour the guys in second and third still had a chance at the Yellow. They wanted to froce the leader to work and make up the time on him. In general, but even more so for the G.C. lead, breaks work when other riders have more than the break to worry about.

Sure, that's all true but it's happened and been done before (Merckx has done it) like in 2004 when Floyd rode the Peleton to pieces for Lance Armstrong and even though Lance was in Yellow and the "marked man" they still weren't caught.. And like I said, I know it'd never be done but if he could surprise them, there's a chance with Ricco/Piepoli riding themselves into the ground that he could catch up a few minutes. It's a small chance but he's got no others.

I know it won't happen because they just don't do it in pro cycling (unless you've got nothing to lose like Floyd on stage 17) but wouldn't it be cool if Simoni, Piepoli and Ricco attacked super early on stage 19 and kept away the whole time to try and get Simoni the Maglia Rosa? It'd be so crazy it might work.


You seem to forget that after 18 days of riding, and Zoncolan, these guys may be a little tired.

I know it won't happen because they just don't do it in pro cycling (unless you've got nothing to lose like Floyd on stage 17) but wouldn't it be cool if Simoni, Piepoli and Ricco attacked super early on stage 19 and kept away the whole time to try and get Simoni the Maglia Rosa? It'd be so crazy it might work.

Plus, what's he got to lose? He's not the best at TT's so without gaining time tomorrow, he might not even be on the podium.

I remember Joop Zoetemelk doing it against Hinault in the very last stage of Tdf before even arriving on the Champs Elysees. Hinault (then in yellow) followed him, and both arrived minutes in front of the peloton. I think Hinault won the stage. Nice image of a guy (Zoetemelk) always considered as a "sheepish" rider trying to "shake the coconut tree" (French expression, :) ) and disturb the boss.

There was no peleton when Floyd attacked. There was the yellow jersey group of about 20 riders half of which had no interest in chasing Floyd. The remaining riders were pretty much GC contenders who did not want to set tempo for the rest of the group. They did what they could, but there was not enough manpower.

Richard

incorrect.

you must be thinking of another stage, or perhaps another race.

I know it won't happen because they just don't do it in pro cycling (unless you've got nothing to lose like Floyd on stage 17) but wouldn't it be cool if Simoni, Piepoli and Ricco attacked super early on stage 19 and kept away the whole time to try and get Simoni the Maglia Rosa? It'd be so crazy it might work.

Plus, what's he got to lose? He's not the best at TT's so without gaining time tomorrow, he might not even be on the podium.

Other one, this time 1987. Stephen Roche won the Tour back then. 3 riders, Jef Bernard, Delgado and Roche chasing each others from stage to stage, before Roche made things clear on the very last TT, winning the Tour by 50 seconds. I remember watching that Tour every day live on French TV, wondering who would be the guy getting out of the pack first. Even Fignon, who finished the Tour 18 minutes behind Roche was looking like getting the yellow jersey 4 or 5 days before the end.

^

until the tapeworm kicked in.

^

until the tapeworm kicked in.

Sorry, "no comprendo"

my bad.

i confused his '87 tour with his '88 tour, where he pulled out thanks to a tapeworm.

Incorrect you must be thinking of another stage.

Richard


incorrect.

you must be thinking of another stage, or perhaps another race.

Better late than never, I suppose.

Better late than never, I suppose.

LMAO!

It was just a pause for dramtic effect.

Richard

It was just a pause for dramtic effect.

Richard

didnt work.

later.

It was just a pause for dramtic effect.

Richard

which means that not only are you incorrect and late, you also have no sense of timing.

Hey I don't gurantee results, only effort.

Richard