Professional Cycling For the Fans - Giro - Stage 16 237 km, Pergola → Monte Petrano, Monday, May 25

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http://www.gazzetta.it/Speciali/Giroditalia/2009/altimetrie/img/T16_Petrano_alt_FIN.jpg

ouch! which gc contender that doesn't show well in the big time trial goes on a flyer here? good
opportunity for someone to get back in the game. god, i love mountaintop finishes!

Fireworks here for sure.

Lance and Levi will gain time here.

Lance? He better be working his butt off for Levi which means he will lose time. This will be Levi's big chance, better take some time from Menchov.

Franco Pellizotti to win stage 16 again this year.

I think Levi will loose time to Menchov, he just doesn't seem to react well to the accelerations.

My money is on Sastre; he's due.... man I can't wait!

Garzelli - Basso - Sastre

Menchov and Levi might take some time out of Di Luca.

Cow horn guy almost gored Bosisio

Have I yet mentioned how much I despise Di Luca?

Nice ride Carlos and Menchov. Hopefully both of them will finish ahead of Danilo.

Have I yet mentioned how much I despise Di Luca?

Nice ride Carlos and Menchov. Hopefully both of them will finish ahead of Danilo.

Yes, something about a fork...?

http://web.ukonline.co.uk/nicole-kidman/scansk/kidman/pitchfork.jpg

Wow. Levi stunk it up a bit. Menchov sealed the deal. Lance getting better and better.

I really thought Popo was going to pull it out, but after 7 hrs in the saddle, 2 km from the end and you end up losing by 3 mins +, that last climb was just too much.

I really thought Popo was going to pull it out, but after 7 hrs in the saddle, 2 km from the end and you end up losing by 3 mins +, that last climb was just too much.

Yeah, his look of disgust when Sastre passed him was priceless...he lost over 3 min in less than 2K...completely demoralized.

I've never seen a reaction like that in a race before. I was cheering the guy for 2 hours and was squeezing the side of the chair I was sitting on when he was passed. I was pissed. Amazing ride by Satre though......

Too bad about Levi, Lance shouldn't have left his side though....(although I wanted him to)

It is going to be an interesting TdF, Lance is getting stronger, Levi is failing, and Alberto is prepping for TdF. Should be interesting to see how much help Lance give Alberto now.

It is going to be an interesting TdF, Lance is getting stronger, Levi is failing, and Alberto is prepping for TdF. Should be interesting to see how much help Lance give Alberto now.

Where's Catlin now that it gets interesting?

Too bad about Levi, Lance shouldn't have left his side though....(although I wanted him to)

My thinking was that Lance was supposed to get up to that group and try to slow it down a little so that Levi could catch on. While it might be nice to have a little draft, Lance being there wasn't doing much for Levi since they were going so slow.

When they put in the big acceleration, Lance couldn't match it and then he dropped back to Levi for whatever help he could give, but on both accounts, I think he was doing what he was told.

I think he was doing what he was told.

Did they have audio video in the team car?

Possibly. They can put on the race coverage if Johan wants to hear it - maybe video too.

But Lance didn't need instructions in that instance. It wouldn't have helped anything if he'd gone with the leaders (assuming he could, and I thought he looked pretty good). Instead all he could really accomplish was limiting Levi's losses.

He kept looking back for Levi wondering where the hell he was. I just figured he faded back to help him to the top.