Orange Crush
Posts:4499
 |
| 05/24/2015 01:08 PM |
|
Ryder expended a lot of energy today with what turned out to be a relatively futile chase. What is going on with Garmin this year anyway? They don't seem to be able to make any impact anywhere.
Of the also-rans I like Kruijswijk's chances best of moving up based on two top 5 placings in last two days. But him and Ryder are probably better off chasing stage wins or mountains jersey. Beats riding around anonymously like VdB.
Stronz - Porte has a bum knee and is done. Uran has been cooked since beginning of Giro with health problems (bronchitis).
Astana seemed to be riding for Contador today; they cooked their own guy. |
|
|
|
|
Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
|
| 05/24/2015 03:37 PM |
|
| Time to stick a fork in the idea of Porte being a GC contender....he simply doesn't have the make-up / recoevery for 3 weeks of racing at the front. |
|
| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
|
|
|
Master50
Posts:340
|
| 05/24/2015 05:18 PM |
|
| Funny Ryder commented on his luck so far. he has expended a lot of energy in 2 breaks and solo today If his luck changes for the better I think a top 10 and higher is realistic. Podium might need a lot of luck and no bad moments, never mind a bad day.
He does seem to be going well physically. I hope his last week is his best.
If he does the tour I wonder of he will bring this fitness or roll off? |
|
|
|
|
stronz
Posts:447
|
| 05/26/2015 11:20 AM |
|
| well looks like Ryder does make it into top 10 today. But AC put on a show today! Just punished everyone on the Mortirolo...Wow -- . He couldnt follow that final attack by Landa - but probably didnt have to. He burned a lot of matches thats for sure. Not sure Contadot's team has been as strong as he needed them to be tho. They couldnt close down the gap when Katusha nailed it today. Still he is so professional, in control and ready and willing to throw it down when he has to, or simply wants to. Love watching him race. Kind of the Anti-Wiggins. Couple of easier days ahead before the last two mountain top finishes. He should be able to recover a little- but you never know in this Giro. |
|
|
|
|
Orange Crush
Posts:4499
|
| 05/26/2015 11:32 AM |
|
Great ride by Kruijswijk - as predicted following the two top 5 finishes before rest day. Gone from 24th to 8th over 3 stages. But further improvement for him or for Ryder will be tough, top 6 yes but the guys higher up are still going relatively well. Better to chase that elusive stage victory or the mountains jersey. Good to see after he had some dificult years due to blocked artery.
Yeah I think Contador could have gone with Landa but chose to cruise home; put in a lot of work, he was probably hammered and still some tough days to come. He knows how to play the game better than anyone out there.
I put in a superfast commute after watching that stage  |
|
|
|
|
Master50
Posts:340
|
| 05/26/2015 10:44 PM |
|
| I have to ask why is Contador spending that much energy and taking such risks today to chase Hejedal down? He could have had a disaster with a flat later on after he burned his team off.
While this race has been pretty exciting the tactics are bizarre. |
|
|
|
|
Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
|
| 05/27/2015 07:29 AM |
|
I think that is just AC's mentality. He is an attacker by nature...we have seen it in the last when he has a race sewn up and he still throws the hammer down.
I also think he was pissed at Arundel and co. for attacking him when he had the flat, so once he caught that group, he was gonna make someone pay.
That said, these are not the smartest moves for a guy who also wants to be in top form in July. He really needs to soft pedal the next few days and just ride wheels. |
|
| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
|
|
|
Master50
Posts:340
|
| 05/27/2015 08:59 AM |
|
Yes
Looking at the online comments and again at the video it does look like Contador was on a revenge motivated ride. Even when Ryder gets a break he can't catch a break  |
|
|
|
|
stronz
Posts:447
|
| 05/27/2015 11:26 AM |
|
Yeah I think AC was totally interested in punishing those who put the pedal down when he flatted. Funny how one thinks of 2010 with the shifting failure of Andy Schleck and Contador's attack but that was ON a critical climb and Schleck and AC were kind of equals in terms of their stature in the peleton. Nowadays Contador is the closest thing to a Padrone we have had since a certain Mr Armstrong was in charge of things. So I do think it was a breach of protocol to drop Berto in the valley leading to the Mortirolo when he flatted. And I dont blame him for being pissed. I suspect he wanted the stage but either was too deep into the red or someone talked some sense to him before he tried to burn every single match staying with Landa.
Hesjedal's remarks that AC shouldnt have chased down the break missed the boat completely. AC had no interest in "the break." He was interested in punishing his closest rivals -- ie the two Astana riders and also the Trofimov guy from Katusha |
|
|
|
|
Orange Crush
Posts:4499
|
| 05/27/2015 11:32 AM |
|
Yeah Ryder made it sound as if he was personally being chased down...funny :-)
AC is merely doing what ahead of the Giro he said he'd do...I also think that when you are dealing with a much younger and punchier climber like Aru as your main contender, the best tactic is to grind him down from the start, don't wait for the final climb. Same with Porte who's recovery over three weeks was in question; I think that is why Saxo went hard in week 1; grind him down.
Asked if he would change his strategy in order to be as sharp as possible in the French event, he dismissed such thoughts.
“I could say yes, but when you are at the race you cannot ponder over anything,” he explained. “In a Grand Tour you don’t have many tactical options and I will be fully focused on the Giro.
“Then I’ll have time to concentrate on recovering ahead of the Tour and thinking about it.” |
|
|
|
|
Dale
Posts:1767
|
| 05/27/2015 06:35 PM |
|
Posted By Cosmic Kid on 05/27/2015 07:29 AM
I also think he was pissed at Arundel and co. for attacking him when he had the flat, so once he caught that group, he was gonna make someone pay.
This.
Loved seeing him light it up.
"You boys started it... guess who's going to end it?" |
|
|
|
|
Nick A
Posts:625
|
| 05/28/2015 07:40 AM |
|
Donna & Master50,
One day, before I die, I have to visit Italy. I love to see different places, but I hate to be away from home. As I've gotten older, I've laid some pretty deep roots...and three dogs and three cats don't help travel. I'm half Italian (more recent immigrants) and half English (way old, pre US immigrants). The Italian half is southern Italian and Sicilian, so my dream places to visit are Naples and Sicily.
N |
|
|
|
|
Master50
Posts:340
|
| 05/28/2015 08:55 AM |
|
| After 25 years of officiating and work related travel I just want to stay home. Italy has been a vacation I have wanted to do for ages. Totally worth the trip and the airline drama.
I saw so many fantastically beautiful things that at least once I was completely overcome with emotion.
I promised my wife our next big trip will be southern Spain. Other than that I just like home. my last 3 vacations have been at home too. |
|
|
|
|
Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
|
| 05/28/2015 09:09 AM |
|
Why is AC going off like this? he can't win the stage and he already has enough time to win the Giro.
I love his attacking style, but this move is just dumb.... |
|
| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
|
|
|
winterale
Posts:48
|
| 05/28/2015 09:22 AM |
|
AC's in training mode and gotta sweat some of the "naughities" out before todays pee test?
Winterale
|
|
|
|
|