Professional Cycling For the Fans - 2011 Giro Stage 6

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/cycling/livematch/429399.html


185km - Other big news this morning is that Mount Etna is erupting. Owing to the ash, Catania airport has been closed. Race director Angelo Zomegnan says there is no need to worry ahead of Sunday's stage in Sicily - which included two ascents of Etna. Firstly, the eruptions are only little; second, the airport should be open again; third, the roads used by the riders are currently unaffected. Should the situation worsen, alternative transfer methods will be put in place.

Are they serious lol :speedy:

What did you think of the finish of this stage?

Petacchi seemed set to win but then stopped pedalling with 40m to go. Even Ventoso said he thought Petacchi would win.

Petacchi said he ran out of gas, "there was nothing I could do".

The strangest sprint finish I've ever seen. You do a full stage, set yourself up to win and then give up with 40m to the line.

If this were a horse race there'd be a stewards inquiry.

That was a bizarre finish. It looked like petacchi gifted him the stage. He was hammering, appeared to have the lead, looked over and then sat up????

Remember that petacchi is not a climber so he might have been struggling with cramps for a few miles. Sprinters can generate way more power than a climber but the issue is that in the climbs they get cramps big time. My guess is that petacchi got cramps in his quads, at that point u cant pedal any longer, u have to stop because the pain is really bad.

You can see right before he stops pedaling that his last stroke has absolutely no power at all. He was either cramping or he just sprinted from too far out, ran out of gas, and could tell Ventoso was going to beat him.

He stopped right at the last few meters. I dont buy the " ran out of gas".

Why? Wish to know why let Ventoso win.