2015 Giro d'Italia

[fat and old]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/richie- ... ro-ditalia
Abandoning is the smart thing to do.

Someone forgot to tell Contador after he stuffed his shoulder.

[Chris249]

I think the Giro is held too early in the year - bad weather often intervenes. Otherwise it would be the best of the Grand Tours.

I wonder how the weather will be next week in the high mountains ? [emoji53]

On the contrary - the unpredictability of the weather is one of the aspects that make it most interesting.

Agreed. Nothing like mountain stages with 6 foot of snow on the side of the road or sleet coming down on the riders. Carp for the riders but great viewing in front of the TV.


I had to be put up as it's a classic image

The best images of that race are the ones that Hampsten himself has autographed, which are hanging in the northern refugio on the peak of the Gavia climb, close to where the pic was taken. Even in late August/early September it can be below freezing up there, but it's still an unforgettable ride.

I thought this year's Giro route was intended to avoid the worst of the weather, but surely they won't permanently avoid the Gavia and Stelvio.

[thecaptn]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/richie- ... ro-ditalia
Abandoning is the smart thing to do.

Someone forgot to tell Contador after he stuffed his shoulder.

Porte wasn't winning the race.

[RonK]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/richie- ... ro-ditalia
Abandoning is the smart thing to do.

Someone forgot to tell Contador after he stuffed his shoulder.

Porte wasn't winning the race.

To finish first, first you must finish.

[thecaptn]

Porte wasn't winning the race.

To finish first, first you must finish.

He who fights and runs away, may turn to fight another day.

[AndrewCowley]

My take on all of this... Porte's chances of leading a big team like Sky in a grand tour again are cooked. If he wants the chance again he'll have to join a lesser team that is speculatively looking to contend for GT honours over the next few years. If on the other hand he wishes to stay with one of the big teams he'll have to be content with forging a career that doesn't include racing for yellow, pink or red jerseys. The big teams have other options and Porte is just too risky.

[Chris249]

On the good side...maybe this will allow Porte to move to OGE, and give them a GC contender?

As I write, there's more questions to Porte about the motorhome.....jeezers, why is it such an issue? It's bizarre that gazillions of spectators can hire RVs and no-one blinks an eye, but it becomes big news when a winner of multiple stage races hires one.

[RonK]

OGE have made it quite clear they don't want Porte. They are developing Chavez and the Yates brothers.
Porte is a super domestique, but that's about it.

[Strydz]

On the good side...maybe this will allow Porte to move to OGE, and give them a GC contender?

As I write, there's more questions to Porte about the motorhome.....jeezers, why is it such an issue? It's bizarre that gazillions of spectators can hire RVs and no-one blinks an eye, but it becomes big news when a winner of multiple stage races hires one.

The more I think about it the more I think OGE and Porte would be a bad mix, it's not just Chavez and the Yates brothers at OGE who have GT potential, Jack Haig and Robert Power are both big talents, Power is more advanced at this stage but Haig has a lot of upside after committing to the road last year. BMC might want Porte especially if Van Garderen has a poor tour.
There is a rumour about that OGE is interested at an out of contract Jurgen Van Den Broeck, not as a GT contender but more as a stage hunter and guidance to the young GC talent at OGE, White and VDB have been seen talking at the Giro and both know each other from Discovery Channel in 2006.

On the RV, it is a big deal that he was using the thing. It was a mistake by Sky separating there team leader from the rest of the riders and Porte pretty much said as much in that interview

[biker jk]

I think it would be a mistake for OGE to buy Porte for the many reasons already mentioned. Admittedly, he would have a Jayco motorhome option.

[thecaptn]

I think at his next gig Porte will have his own tent.

[biker jk]

Well the Jayco is a downgrade from the Fleetwood Excursion 39R so he must have fallen a long way to only get a tent.

[thecaptn]

Might be a nice tent.

[MichaelB]

Cracker of a stage last night !!!

[Scott2468]

Cracker of a stage last night !!!

Yes, it had it all. Great racing.

This stage really stirred my emotions. Some rides are either legendary, brutal, serene, memorable or beautiful. I can honestly say Mortirolo is all of this and more. I did this both ways last year. This stage really brought back great memories. Surprisingly, I even remembered some of those stunning, decepid, quaint farmhouses on the lower slopes.

I missed them go past Pantini's monument. Was that broadcast?

[AndyRevill]

Unfortunately I wasn't able to stay up and watch last nights stage - I really wish there was a better highlights package, say an hour rather than the half hour with about 50% adverts. I'm starting to struggle to be bothered watching if I haven't stayed up the night before

Cheers, Andy

[jack11]

Last night has to be one of the best stages of cycling I have ever watched. Like Paris Roubaix, I was glued to the TV from the minute Simon Clarke tried to bridge, then watching Hesjendal try and hold out the peloton, then Katusha drilling it down the decent, and last but not least Contador clawing himself back to the leaders on the Montirolo!

[danny the boy]

OGE have made it quite clear they don't want Porte. They are developing Chavez and the Yates brothers.
Porte is a super domestique, but that's about it.

When and where did they do such a thing?

[danny the boy]

The more I think about it the more I think OGE and Porte would be a bad mix, it's not just Chavez and the Yates brothers at OGE who have GT potential, Jack Haig and Robert Power are both big talents, Power is more advanced at this stage but Haig has a lot of upside after committing to the road last year. BMC might want Porte especially if Van Garderen has a poor tour.
There is a rumour about that OGE is interested at an out of contract Jurgen Van Den Broeck, not as a GT contender but more as a stage hunter and guidance to the young GC talent at OGE, White and VDB have been seen talking at the Giro and both know each other from Discovery Channel in 2006.

All these guys are years away though, Contador dropped Chavez in a couple of 100 metres of the start of the climb last night. You are spot on they need a gap filler for a few years to work on developing the young guys. To put where Rob Power is at into perspective, Chavez won the Tour de l'Avenir in '11 and has taken this long to be riding GT's let alone any chance of competing for a place, Power was second in that race last year. The team dynamic and culture is very important at OGE and there is one guy who would fit straight in and is about the right age.

[danny the boy]

Cracker of a stage last night !!!

Yes, it had it all. Great racing.

This stage really stirred my emotions. Some rides are either legendary, brutal, serene, memorable or beautiful. I can honestly say Mortirolo is all of this and more. I did this both ways last year. This stage really brought back great memories. Surprisingly, I even remembered some of those stunning, decepid, quaint farmhouses on the lower slopes.

I missed them go past Pantini's monument. Was that broadcast?

It was on briefly. Coverage last night was shizen, not SBS's fault but to miss out on what happened to Contador on the descent was a big let down. Alberto was a like a boss. They reckon he had 34/29, I swear he had 1-2 cogs spare for most of the climb.

[rpmspinman]

Contador was a machine last night. But Landa just looked more comfortable. One can only ponder....

[jack11]

The more I think about it the more I think OGE and Porte would be a bad mix, it's not just Chavez and the Yates brothers at OGE who have GT potential, Jack Haig and Robert Power are both big talents, Power is more advanced at this stage but Haig has a lot of upside after committing to the road last year. BMC might want Porte especially if Van Garderen has a poor tour.
There is a rumour about that OGE is interested at an out of contract Jurgen Van Den Broeck, not as a GT contender but more as a stage hunter and guidance to the young GC talent at OGE, White and VDB have been seen talking at the Giro and both know each other from Discovery Channel in 2006.

All these guys are years away though, Contador dropped Chavez in a couple of 100 metres of the start of the climb last night. You are spot on they need a gap filler for a few years to work on developing the young guys. To put where Rob Power is at into perspective, Chavez won the Tour de l'Avenir in '11 and has taken this long to be riding GT's let alone any chance of competing for a place, Power was second in that race last year. The team dynamic and culture is very important at OGE and there is one guy who would fit straight in and is about the right age.

Probably worth noting that Chavez had 12 months off the bike after a horror crash. Last year was his first season back and by his own admission it took 6 months for him to be up to speed. A more accurate comparison would be the Yates brothers who featured prominently in Avenir in 2013 and had break out years in 2014. I look forward to seeing what Power and Haig have to offer.

[RonK]

OGE have made it quite clear they don't want Porte. They are developing Chavez and the Yates brothers.
Porte is a super domestique, but that's about it.

When and where did they do such a thing?

Right about here.

Any chance of Porte joining Orica-GreenEdge seem to have lessened, with the Australian team insisting that it is focused on developing Johan Esteban Chaves and the Yates brothers as Grand Tour leaders. Time will tell if this is true or just a distraction strategy.

[AndrewCowley]

For sale.

One lightly used motor home.
One lady owner.
Low km's.

Call Dave.

[RonK]

Just watched last nights stage on Fox. Rather unsporting of Katusha and Astana to attack when Contador had a mechanical, but perhaps shows their desperation. He made them pay with an epic solo ride from 1 minute behind Aru at the foot of the Mortirolo to nearly 3 minutes ahead at the final. It's probably a good thing Porte has quit and saved himself the embarrassment that Aru has suffered.