Professional Cycling - Giro - Stage 17 79 km, Chieti → Blockhaus, Wednesday, May 27

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this is going to be a shredfest! really love how the giro strives to mix it up every year vs.
a usually predictable tour de france course (tho gotta give prudhomme points for trying
to put his stamp on the race instead of continuing jean-marie blanc's same as it ever was,
generally unimaginative routes). the giro-hands down-has featured the better route the last
couple of years. it would be nice for a change to see all the teams make this their main
gt focus instead of le tour. ain't gonna happen with the money involved but here's hoping.

If I have it right, that final climb (starting at Crocifisso) is a 6.5% grade over 25km. Yeah, that looks like a nice chunk of unmitigated agony. ;)

yes-short and (not so) sweet! penultimate chance for the overall contenders to shuffle the
standings barring crashes, illness or...gulp...non-negatives. vesuvio on stage 19 could be
a carbon-copy bloodbath. hopefully, we'll get some riders high up overall with chutzpah
looking to eliminate others vs. advanced podium wheelsucking 202 on both stages.
personally hoping either di luca, simoni or pellizotti are close enough to the podium at this point since
all are pot-stirrers/instigators and will undoubtedly force the other big boys to race vs.
ride to the finish.

Extra points and motivation as the Cima Coppi is right at the finish line. Triple prize for someone in GC and KOM contention.

If I have it right, that final climb (starting at Crocifisso) is a 6.5% grade over 25km. Yeah, that looks like a nice chunk of unmitigated agony. ;)

It's just been mitigated somewhat. They shortened the stage by 4km.

http://www.podiumcafe.com/2009/5/6/867402/centenary-giro-block-haus-climb

Nice translation here btw.

that is a bummer! not that it won't be a pivotal stage anyway but sheesh! you think they could
outsource some of the production trucks/stuff to lower areas, maybe downsize some of the
viewing area at the finish (thus increasing the crowds along the climb) to increase the space for a finish...well...at the (natural) finish. seem to recall the tdf doing just that at luz-ardiden last time they visited. gotta be a way with all the technology to restore some of these historic mountaintop finishes such as blockhaus & puy de dome to their full glory.

that is a bummer! not that it won't be a pivotal stage anyway but sheesh! you think they could
outsource some of the production trucks/stuff to lower areas, maybe downsize some of the
viewing area at the finish (thus increasing the crowds along the climb) to increase the space for a finish...well...at the (natural) finish. seem to recall the tdf doing just that at luz-ardiden last time they visited. gotta be a way with all the technology to restore some of these historic mountaintop finishes such as blockhaus & puy de dome to their full glory.

I've heard politics were the bigger factor. Kind of odd that in recent history they were bringing back compressed dirt goat paths and now this is too small of a space?

+1. way! got the feeling that we'll all be begging for those "missing" 4 km to clarify the gc once that climb starts...

+1. way! got the feeling that we'll all be begging for those "missing" 4 km to clarify the gc once that climb starts...

4k is an awful long way at 15km per hour.

A little bird told me that Sastre will take this stage as well, followed by Basso, Menchov, and Di Luca.

thinking that garzelli would love to solidify his lead in the kom competition, so he's my pick.
sastre, menchov, diluca and even basso (holding up surprisingly well in spite of team tactics)
all podium-worthy. leipheimer will have to ride as well as he did on the angliru in september
to vault back into any possibility of contention. possible?-yes. likely?-no.

Whomever wins, it will be interesting coming after a rest day.

thinking that garzelli would love to solidify his lead in the kom competition, so he's my pick.
sastre, menchov, diluca and even basso (holding up surprisingly well in spite of team tactics)
all podium-worthy. leipheimer will have to ride as well as he did on the angliru in september
to vault back into any possibility of contention. possible?-yes. likely?-no.

Levi is cooked. I think you've identified all the likely suspects. I wonder if Soler will finally come out to play.

Levi is cooked. I think you've identified all the likely suspects. I wonder if Soler will finally come out to play.

Agreed, Levi is cooked. If Lance finishes higher on the GC than Levi, not sure how many more chances Levi will have as a Team Captain.

Agreed, Levi is cooked. If Lance finishes higher on the GC than Levi, not sure how many more chances Levi will have as a Team Captain.

That isn't going to happen here.

Levi is cooked. I think you've identified all the likely suspects. I wonder if Soler will finally come out to play.

Looks like Soler abandoned...

http://www.velonews.com/article/92390/sastre-conquers-monte-petrano

What just happened to Deignan (Cervelo) - just looked like his front wheel came under him...

Missed that. Perhaps we can see on the replay.

And Levi stinks it up again. Constantly amazed that anyone sees him as a possible GT winner.

And Levi stinks it up again. Constantly amazed that anyone sees him as a possible GT winner.

He's a solid PT (Petit Tour) racer.

That isn't going to happen here.

It isn't, but it could have been close if Lance wasn't obligated to help Levi the last few stages.

This Giro has been a huge disapointment for Astana. No stage wins, no GC threat, no young riders inspiring hope for the future. They have the overall team wrapped up, but this doesn't mean a lot. I just hope it doesn't hurt their chances to lock-up sponsorship for the Tour because they we will the top team there, no doubt. With all this said, I would be willing to bet that Levi wins the final TT handily.

It isn't, but it could have been close if Lance wasn't obligated to help Levi the last few stages.

This Giro has been a huge disapointment for Astana. No stage wins, no GC threat, no young riders inspiring hope for the future. They have the overall team wrapped up, but this doesn't mean a lot. I just hope it doesn't hurt their chances to lock-up sponsorship for the Tour because they we will the top team there, no doubt. With all this said, I would be willing to bet that Levi wins the final TT handily.

I also think that Levi was the only GC contender available from Astana for the Giro.
They couldn't have assigned it to Armstrong, he's just coming back.
Contador is preparing for the TDF.
Kloden is nowhere to be found.

Horner started off like he might have been the fallback, but after crashing out...

Horner started off like he might have been the fallback, but after crashing out...

Good point, I forgot about Horner.

Wow, nobody is troubled by this?

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2009/may09/may28news

Giro leader Menchov denies Vienna blood bank rumours

By Gregor Brown in Blockhaus, Italy
Denis Menchov remains the race leader
Photo ©: Roberto Bettini (http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2009/giro09/?id=/photos/2009/giro09/giro0917/bettiniphoto_0039536_1_full)
Giro d'Italia race leader Denis Menchov denied seeking treatment at a Vienna blood bank, Humanplasma. Un-named reports associated the team Rabobank Russian with an ongoing Austrian investigation Wednesday, four days prior to the end of the Giro d'Italia.
"I gave explanations last year, I have nothing to do with it - I don't want to speak about it again," Menchov said after the Giro d'Italia stage to Blockhaus (http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2009//giro09/?id=results/giro0917). "We're in a race now, I'd rather speak of the race."









Maybe that's why he doesn't look all that happy. Ok, back to discussing strategy.

So based on rumors, since Di Luca was named in "oil for drugs", this would make Pelizotti the race leader? :rolleyes:

I leave the investigating to the investigators. I hope anyone who has truly cheated gets caught, but face it. Anyone can make an allegation.

Also, you forgot to mention that Menchov is apparently not under investigation at this time. Until that happens, I don't see this as a cause for concern for Menchov; definitely for Rasmussen and Kohl though.

If Menchov does't look happy, it may be because he cracked at the end of a long climb on a short day. ;)

Go way, Reid. You have nothing to say about the Giro until some doping accusations come up. You're just a troll.

Post reported for trolling.

Wow, nobody is troubled by this?

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2009/may09/may28news

Giro leader Menchov denies Vienna blood bank rumours

By Gregor Brown in Blockhaus, Italy
Denis Menchov remains the race leader

Giro d'Italia race leader Denis Menchov denied seeking treatment at a Vienna blood bank, Humanplasma. Un-named reports associated the team Rabobank Russian with an ongoing Austrian investigation Wednesday, four days prior to the end of the Giro d'Italia.
"I gave explanations last year, I have nothing to do with it - I don't want to speak about it again," Menchov said after the Giro d'Italia stage to Blockhaus (http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2009//giro09/?id=results/giro0917). "We're in a race now, I'd rather speak of the race."









Maybe that's why he doesn't look all that happy. Ok, back to discussing strategy.



Fixed

So based on rumors, since Di Luca was named in "oil for drugs", this would make Pelizotti the race leader? :rolleyes:
.

Everyone knows the killer is also a doper. I don't know why you're rolling your eyes. Well, if you want to believe in the Tooth Fairy, Santa Clause and the Easter Bunny, knock yourself out.

Go way, Reid. You have nothing to say about the Giro until some doping accusations come up. You're just a troll.

Post reported for trolling.

Cyclingnews are trolls? Watch the name calling pal.

"In Internet slang, a troll is someone who posts controversial, inflammatory, irrelevant or off-topic messages in an online community, such as an online discussion forum or chat room, with the primary intent of provoking other users into an emotional response or to generally disrupt normal on-topic discussion."


That's you to a t, pal. You're a troll. You only show up to try and start yet another protracted doping debate and to try to rain on everyones parade. You have no real interest in bike racing other than doping.

You're just another garden variety troll. Go away and start your own message board where you can talk about nothing but doping and leave everyone here alone.

"In Internet slang, a troll is someone who posts controversial, inflammatory, irrelevant or off-topic messages in an online community, such as an online discussion forum or chat room, with the primary intent of provoking other users into an emotional response or to generally disrupt normal on-topic discussion."


That's you to a t, pal. You're a troll. You only show up to try and start yet another protracted doping debate and to try to rain on everyones parade. You have no real interest in bike racing other than doping.

You're just another garden variety troll. Go away and start your own message board where you can talk about nothing but doping and leave everyone here alone.

Apparently the moderators don't agree.

First of all, it's on topic as I pointed out.

Obviously it's controversial and inflamatory, but that's not my fault.

You obviously don't get it. The sport and competition of cycling is basically meaningless with the rampant doping going on.

Then the real informed fans are subjected to nonsense like Armstrong's speech in 2005 from the podium at the TdF castigating those who don't believe while he's standing next to Basso and Ullrich.

You keep lapping it up though.

"with the primary intent of provoking other users into an emotional response..."

That's why you post this stuff, troll.

"You obviously don't get it. The sport and competition of cycling is basically meaningless with the rampant doping going on. "

Seriously, why do you bother with it then? Like someone else pointed out, you do seem bitter. What happened to you?

Apparently the moderators don't agree.

Because they haven't banned you yet? Dude, you're tempting fate.

Or maybe it's just getting to the end of the event and you're running out of troll-opportunities.

Shut the hell up, please.

Everyone knows the killer is also a doper. I don't know why you're rolling your eyes. Well, if you want to believe in the Tooth Fairy, Santa Clause and the Easter Bunny, knock yourself out.

I think we all have our suspicions, but until race results get changed, we all need to HTFU.