Professional Cycling For the Fans - Giro - Stage 9 155 km, Circuit race in Milano, Sunday, May 17

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http://www.gazzetta.it/Speciali/Giroditalia/2009/altimetrie/img/T09_Milano_alt_FIN.jpg

OK, there's no big climbs or snow to deal with, but I'm looking forward to this one. It's just so out of place that it can't help but be interesting.

I do think they missed the boat a little. It should be in Rome around the Colosseum in rush hour traffic, but Milan will do.

Try no climbs at all!

Rome has the Time Trial on the final day of the race. I believe finishing in Rome is a departure for the Giro.

Try no climbs at all!

Rome has the Time Trial on the final day of the race. I believe finishing in Rome is a departure for the Giro.

What I like about Milan is that all the GC guys are just going to try to stay alive. The chances of any time gain/loss here is nill, except if you go down. That means that some unknowns are going to try a bunch of crazy moves and ill-fated breaks. It won't be an epic stage or anything, but I bet it makes good theater.

It's just my stupid sense of humor, but I want them to have to deal with the traffic. Cars going every direction, scooters, vendors, tour buses, etc. and _no one_ obeying any sort of traffic law.

i'm with you Fat Boy. maybe we won't have to rely on phil & paul to tell us who's a great bike handler.
whomever survives a true roman triumvirate of zippity-zip manny-tranny fiats, overloaded scooters from
hell and tifosi busses in a real life game of asteroids frogger deserves the maglia rosa. and the riders
grumble about the difficulty of the courses lately...perhaps we could get a demo version on xbox live???

High Road is on a roll. I'm calling Cavendish today. :D

Now this is a route I could ride and possible stay with the pack.......for about 5 mins. This looks like where I live.

Now this is a route I could ride and possible stay with the pack.......for about 5 mins. This looks like where I live.

I think I could hang for 8 or 9. The hills here have helped my legs. :lol:

Total sprinter's stage. There will be some ill fated breaks that the pack will run down while the sprinters hide from the sind only t be pulled to the front for a buch sprint finish from hell.

Cavavendish may call it a Giro after this one. He doesn't have much longer left until it's climbg after climg after climb. I predict Columbia-High Road will be trying to drive the train get Cav the win and trim a few secons for the Swede.

OK, yawn....

Looks like a parade.

Apparently nobody picked up on the stage being neutralized. The sprinters may have a go at the end. The riders have been hollering about the layout for a while. This is how they respond...don't listen to us, no race.

Apparently nobody picked up on the stage being neutralized. The sprinters may have a go at the end. The riders have been hollering about the layout for a while. This is how they respond...don't listen to us, no race.

ok - so I could have finished with the same time as all the pros today. Whoo-hoo. I've never done a formal race in my life, and today, I'm as good as a professional. :D

Now this is a route I could ride and possible stay with the pack.......for about 5 mins. This looks like where I live.

Damn, I could have stayed with them the whole race. :lol:

ok - so I could have finished with the same time as all the pros today. Whoo-hoo. I've never done a formal race in my life, and today, I'm as good as a professional. :D

But first, you'd have to get there...

:twitchy:

;)

What a waste of a stage. :rolleyes:

... Brad

Well, I got exactly the stage I wanted. Dangerous as hell. Be careful what you wish for, huh?

yes you did, Fat boy. if it had only been raining...