Due to Popular Demand: 2013 Giro Thread

[alfy!]

8 degrees at the start, -2 degrees up the top of the mountain - jesus that's cold. Insane conditions. Have managed to stay away from stage 15 result reports all day, good effort from me.

3km left, Visconti is out front by 2.15. It's brutal conditions, snow and rain it looks like. I can't even imagine what that mixture of freezing cold + burning pain in the legs feels like.

Nibali attacks with 1.7km left, what a warrior this guy is. Evans makes it over the gap, lots are pushing with him. Nibali just seeing what the others have got it seems.

Betancur attacks with about a kilometre to go, love this guy. Has such good climbing legs and is very exciting.

But this is Visconti's day, a huge effort in the weather. All the kudos to him.

Evans comes across with the Nibali group, good job by all.

 

[alfy!]

An odd profile tonight - the sprinters won't make it over that category 3 in contact, or will they? Breakaway victory probably most likely.

 

[Bond.ShaneBond]

Yeah, should be a breakaway here. This stage looks like Sagan bait.

It was pretty cool seeing the next generation duke it out in the last km up the Galibier.

 

[blue gunslinger]

weird old day

 

[alfy!]

Well I didn't expect all that attacking, that was quite an enjoyable stage. Santambrogio loses 2.10 to his rivals, big loss for him.

Tonight:

 

[Arsene Wenger]

Reading reports of changes to fridays stage and possibly no Gavia or Stelvio... this weather is killing the poor Giro....

 

[Bond.ShaneBond]

Well that was a really good race! Pirazzi is my hero, he is nuts.

 

[alfy!]

Good win from Visconti.

Tonight's uphill TT:

 

[Freakie]

Hello steephill!! Looking forward to tonight's stage!

 

[Mint Condition]

This time trial should suit Cadel to a tee. Hopefully he can all but secure a podium. And if he has any chance of winning the pink jersey I think he'll have to gain a little bit of time from Nibali tonight. Tough ask though.

 

[alfy!]

This time trial should suit Cadel to a tee. Hopefully he can all but secure a podium. And if he has any chance of winning the pink jersey I think he'll have to gain a little bit of time from Nibali tonight. Tough ask though.

Yeah that's the thing, this course suits Nibali perfectly too. Be difficult for any of the top 5-7 to take time away from Nibali, who could potentially win the stage.

 

[Vader]

Hello steephill!! Looking forward to tonight's stage!

It's live on SBS2 from 11pm (at least it will be after the talking heads do their bit).

 

[sblack]

Am I imagining things, but I could've sworn Uran won or podiumed in a GT Mountain Time Trial a few years back? I am positive he did, especially when he used to use Uran Uran as his official name? Or am I getting confused with someone who also had a double name?

Ah I found it. He only came 7th. I think he was leading it for a while though. Stage 15 of the 2010 Giro.

 

[Freakie]

It's live on SBS2 from 11pm (at least it will be after the talking heads do their bit).

Yeah saw that on twitter just after I posted, cheers

 

[Bond.ShaneBond]

Huge tonight. Feel that Nibali could all but seal it tonight. Cadel and Uran need to put in belters.

 

[Caesar]

I didn't think Nibali was a very good TTer. Has that changed?

 

[Freakie]

I didn't think Nibali was a very good TTer. Has that changed?

It's a mountain tt, so not really a true TT in the sense that most are use to.

 

[funk44]

decided to work from home tomorrow, gonna burn the midnight oil to watch this tonight!!

 

[blue gunslinger]

That is TT for Torture Test

 

[sblack]

Huge tonight. Feel that Nibali could all but seal it tonight. Cadel and Uran need to put in belters.

I think Cadel puts some time into Nibali today. He did as much on a tougher MTT in the 2010 Giro. I think both would be Top 5 though. Maybe 20 seconds in it.

 

[Freakie]

Uran a long way behind at the half way mark

 

[Freakie]

Evans struggling

 

[Freakie]

Cheating Italian police!

 

[sblack]

Evans struggling

Not if you were listening to SBS before that first check sounded like he was about to break land speed record.

 

[davis_756]

Don't need to bother watching the last few stages now, sigh..

The sport is still a long way away from being clean.