Caretaker

Another day of fantastic climbing in this years Giro d'Italia.

Well done to Nieve and Euskaltel. Two wins in a row for the Basque team.

Felt sorry for Garzelli with all the hassle from over eager fans on the climb. Some of those guys are more interested in getting their stupid faces on TV than anything else.

Contador 3rd. and looking more unstoppable as each stage passes.

Error

Well to me looks like Contador rides just enough to keep pink jersey, is he realy so superior ? will be sam on TdF (hope not but i dont see any one can go against him)? i watched last night Andy Schleck and don't look like he can go against Contador or can some other rider ?! . Great ride for Nieve and Euskaltel it is nace to see smaller teams (or not favorits) to win so hard stage ....

skyrider

It seems everybody is were they should be based on their conditioning and talent, Conti I think can do the tour and win. This stage was epic 7.5 hrs of riding, unbelievable. A major catastrophe is only thing stopping him. Finishing in the top 5 is not a dissappointment in my books.

Chaco

It's incredible when you compare this to other sports. I'm sure they're putting out the same level of power per hour that a marathoner would. So this stage was like doing 3 1/2 marathons, after doing 2 1/2 marathons each of the two days before that! Absolutely unbelievable. It takes me a couple of days to recover from a century with just 6,000 feet of climbing.

Caretaker

Tifosi attack.
https://www.steephill.tv/players/yout...SCOMfQ&yr=2011

Not being in the U.S. I'm blocked from viewing this Universal clip but you probably will be able to.

Saw the action live earlier on Eurosport.

Dolomiti

I wonder what the longest grand tour stages have been in recent decades? 140 miles, 7.5 hours, four Cat1 climbs, the Cima Coppi... wow. What a ride by Nieve, and Garzelli too!

OrionKhan

Yes, AC is so superior. He's doing more than riding just enough to keep the pink. He's been the one attacking and dropping his GC rivals. He's put them on the defensive. Something that is unusual in a grand tour. He hasn't need much assistance from his team. He's had no problem covering attacks. And he's counter attacked at will. He's already out to a 3:20 lead and there are still 2 time trials to go with one being all climbing. And AC is excellent tt rider. So that will probably get bigger. In a grand tour, that is superior riding.

As for A. Schleck, he's looking to peak in July. But based on how AC looks, AS has a lot to improve over his performance last year to top AC. Its looking more and more like AC wasn't on top form for last years Tour. Especially, if you compare the year prior and this year so far. Of course, we don't know if AC will be able to ride the TdF yet. But he does look very good for the double. If so, I would love to see him try the Vuelta too. That would be epic.

Kind of Blued

I love what Contador is doing with his 52/36 crankset and 11-32 cassette (not sure if he used it today). I really think the pro peloton needs to wake up and realize that grinding up an HC climb at 40rpm is just stupid. Use your brain, and your lungs... get some more gears.

There's a reason that Contador makes everybody look like they're way more tired than he is; it's because they ARE.

nvrlnd7

Keep in mind when Bert is attacking he goes to his big ring.If Bert rides the tour i dont think shleck could keep up,alberto wasnt top form form last year,he didnt have the kick,this year he is on fire,with shlecks poor TT/bike handling skills he wont be a factor,look for Horner,Basso,Evans and some others to really be on fire there.

guadzilla

^^^ I can give it to you in writing that Horner will be a non-contender for the GC podium. He'll be riding for a top 10 spot, and that's about it.

gear

The only aspect of Contador's climbing that I find extraordinary is his ability to accelerate on climbs, combine that with an extraordinary ability to recover from one day to the next and this is what gives him an edge in climbs.

OrionKhan

That ability to accelerate on climbs is exactly what makes Contador extraordinary. It doesn't just give him an edge. Its what makes him the best grand tour rider in the world and one of the best all time.

Kind of Blued

Agreed, and his real strength is on 15+% grades, whereas A. Schleck and others shine more on long gradual inclinces it seems.

I still stand by the point that mashing away at 40rpm for the better portion of an hour is not good for you, and makes recovery for the next day even harder. Contador doesn't do this, and as far as recovery goes, I think he has a more shallow hole to dig himself out of as a result.

OrionKhan

First off, they're not grinding out at 40 rpm on climbs. That's less than a pedal stroke a second. Nobody is going that slow. They're going more like 70-75 rpm. Secondly, the high cadence idea isn't an unknown. The easier the gear the faster one has to spin it to maintain the same speed. Its not easy to spin a decent gear at 100+ rpm up the side of a mountain for a long time. The rider still has to be built for it. When AC hits those accelerations, he's in a pretty big gear. Nobody has demonstrated the ability to spin or mash with him when he goes.

Its easy to sit on the couch watching guys ride up and down mountains for 3 weeks straight and wonder why everyone doesn't do what Contador does. If everyone could do it, they would.

pedex

Horner is way out on the razor at the moment, him keeping that kind of form or regaining it again in July is pretty unlikely. When you can see ribs thru a jersey and a rain jacket and a face like his that is all drawn in and gaunt you know they are on the edge.

OrionKhan

As much as I like Horner and would like to see and American in the running, I gotta agree with both of you. A top ten finish would be great for him. Contending for the win, no way.

Kind of Blued

It'll be interesting to see if Nibali can make something of these upcoming mountain stages not ending at the summit. The amount of time he made up on the descents a couple days ago was amazing, but I'm sure Contador will do what he can to have a buffer by the apex if it comes to that.

gear

I disagree with you, the acceleration is what gets him a stage win or time gain on an opponent, the quick recovery keeps him from loosing time after he has won a stage (and/or gained time), that is what brings the grand tour wins.

Both aspects make him extraordinary but its the recovery part that wins the races. And that is what can smell fishy.

guadzilla

To be honest, even if he is on peak form in July, I dont see him being a real threat to Andy Schleck, Basso, Cuddles or even a post-Giro Contador.

collegeskier

Putting Horner and Levi name in the ring is just the Radioshack way of trying to build interest with Americans. People who follow cycling know this, but will watch because we are cycling fans. A potential American winner has draw that Versus, and Radioshack have an interest in portraying. Remember Let Levi Ride, when people knew that Alberto would be team leader if they rode.

OrionKhan

Actually, I think both aspects can smell fishy.

I could argue that without the acceleration ability he's just another Basso or Menchov. They recover well day in and day out.. But they aren't good enough to get the big time gaps over other riders of their caliber on the mountain stages. Its the accelerations that does it. But it doesn't really matter. I don't necessarily disagree with your statement. Contador is an extraordinary cyclist no matter how fishy he smells.

pedex

anybody ever tested Contador's VO2Max? I'd say for him to perform like he does it has to be in the 90's