Giro Stage 17 Preview: Brunico - Peio Terme
by crashdan on May 25, 2010 1:43 PM EDT
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Stage 17 :: Wednesday May 26, 2010
173km :: Brunico - Peio Terme
I'm under the gun here at work. No time to sit and play :(
I do like the city names though, Brunico in particular does roll of the tongue quite nicely.
Floppy Hat Philosophizing:
It's another uphill finish in this Giro d'Italia, though nothing especially extreme. After the Plan de Corones, the finishing climb to Pejo Terme looks positively flat. But it's not. It's a long, steady, switchbacking climb through the pines to the finish. The average gradient is in the 7-8% range.
Liquigas should have no trouble riding a hard tempo up this thing, which will likely rule out any big attacks from the major players. The climb is hard enough to make selection and it should be a relatively small group at the finish, especially after the difficulties of this Giro. Still, the bigs of the general classification will likely finish together, unless someone is on a bad day. It's a good finish for Cunego or Scarponi, if a long break doesn't survive to the finish.
Frinking's Corner:
Sadly Frinking was unable to provide a stage preview in time. Here then is a haiku in Frinking's honor...
Anglasachian man
Deciphering Frinkington
I don't understand.
Chris's Copy:
Action: Minimal. Peio Terme is in the shadow of the Stelvio (52 switchbacks anyone?) and the riders will be happy to keep it that way. There are some undulations but not enough to trouble anyone who survived the previous two stages.Pageantry: Meh. A zillion landscape shots. Maybe some recon of the Stelvio, to wonder what might have been. Zoncolan, Terminillo, Plan de Corones, Mortirolo, Gavia... would anyone even notice if they had added the Stelvio too?
The Plan: Roughly the same as the previous day without the media blackout. This will be a pretty stage but lacking in any urgency.
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I don't know about the riders
But this Giro sure is a war of attrition among our staff of previewers. Maybe we should appoint some stand-ins.
What we do does not define who we are. What defines us is how well we rise after we fall.
Just a little thing
but Basso is already ahead of Porte on GC.
Giro...Giro.....Giro!!!!!!!!
Quitter's People United member # 42
The Preview lacks fitness
and has waned tremendously, this Grand Tour is in its final week and and this is when the though gets tougher, however our previewers are keeping their foresight to a minimum.
Come on guys I know you can do better.
If I wanted to get shit small wins, I'd race shit small races (Cavendish on Greipel)
Sorry.
only so many hours in the day. if you want to write a preview, head over -——→ and write one. i’m only one person.
In the end...
… you get what you pay for :)
Translated from Danish into English: "Bush league, psyche out shit, man! Laughable!"
Wait!
Don’t you remember our business plan?
1. Make lots of jokes about cycling.
2. …
3. Profit!
by Chris Fontecchio on May 25, 2010 1:32 PM EDT up reply actions
Would have worked during the dotcom bubble!
Well, not the profit. But bringing shares to the market to raise capital would have been easy.
What we do does not define who we are. What defines us is how well we rise after we fall.
I know, the underpant gnomes were onto something
"i just see giro and get all spazzy" - Gavia
by TheFigurehead on May 25, 2010 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions
Funny...
… I remember #1 being slightly different.
Translated from Danish into English: "Bush league, psyche out shit, man! Laughable!"
Well
we’re rotating different ideas until one of them works. Next up:
1. Have kids
2. …
3. Profit!
by Chris Fontecchio on May 25, 2010 6:46 PM EDT up reply actions
But but but
What about our collective eternal gratitude? Priceless!
What we do does not define who we are. What defines us is how well we rise after we fall.
Oh, pick me, pick me
I’d love to be Frinking’s understudy!
What we do does not define who we are. What defines us is how well we rise after we fall.
So.. Which studies have you compled that you think you can handle this job?
And if you were an animal.. What kind of animal would it be?
Why don't you go and write a preview?
I’d like to be an okapi if that’s ok.
What we do does not define who we are. What defines us is how well we rise after we fall.
Yes! When can I start
And more importantly, what will I make.
What we do does not define who we are. What defines us is how well we rise after we fall.
No I mean what will I make
Cookies, brownies or previews?
What we do does not define who we are. What defines us is how well we rise after we fall.
Look, it is the expectation of extra-terrestrial performance
that has led many a young and naive previewer down a dark path of chemical reinforcement.
If we demand that our previewers continue to provide timely and witty content every stage with no let down in quality or ’jours sans", then we are implicitly demanding that they seek alternate means of “recovery.”
Imagine, if you will, a future where stage previewers get hooked on caffeine, just to finish their copy in time. Bleary-eyed addicts get to the point of writing in actual Starbucks outlets, in order to be close to their performance-enhancing drug of choice.
Beware, beware!
Vlaanderens Mooiste
Buddy, I ain't having a jours sans...
… I’m having am année sans. I function primarily on will and caffeine at this point.
Translated from Danish into English: "Bush league, psyche out shit, man! Laughable!"
And Will's getting tired of it, too.
He’s here, really? Tell him I said hi. How’s he doing?--DZ, on being told Floyd Landis was present at the ToC.
Will's his pet donkey?
What we do does not define who we are. What defines us is how well we rise after we fall.
You're onto something here....
You have a point. I look back at the recent previews, and their quality and timeliness leave me wondering, could an unassisted person have produced these? Could this work really be done on just “bread and water”?
I dare not ponder it too long for fear of the conclusions that I may be forced to accept..
"Age and treachery will overcome youth and skill" - Fausto Coppi
well
they do enhance performance. Some of them, at least. Not the angry drugs.
by Chris Fontecchio on May 25, 2010 4:35 PM EDT up reply actions
This is the stage where Leaky needs to hammer it
There is no valley between the last climbs in the Mortirolo and Gavia stages. There is 40km of semi-flat between the bottom of the big climb and the final climb. Drop some people on the Palade and then hammer it in the valley for massive gains. They have the strongest team, they have to take advantage of it. The Dolomites will be more of a one on one battle…
Hmm
I think the valley thing is why Leaky shouldn’t hammer it, it offers time for recovery. Arroyo won’t be dropped that early in the stage on a climb that may be long but is not all that tough. The Mortirolo is where they can drop Arroyo early and then increase the time gap all the way to Aprica and gain huge minutes. Tomorrow they should let their domestique’s rest up a bit so they can have 4 relatively calm days in a row(rest day and stages 16-18) before they are asked to release all hell on stages 19-20.
Giro...Giro.....Giro!!!!!!!!
Quitter's People United member # 42
But if the race is hard on the Mortirolo/Gavia, the only domestique that Basso can have is Nibali...
Again it will be mano-a-mano then, and Cadel or Sastre or Vino or Arroyo could be in a good day then, and Basso not so good…
Start of the long climb is very steep tomorrow, I think it can be used to drop some people… We’ll see. I don’t expect to see it but IMO this would be the best…
by FrenchKheldar on May 25, 2010 1:35 PM EDT up reply actions
Arroyo can't hang with Basso on the steep slopes as seen on the Zoncolan
Szmyd and Kiserlovski are good enough to set a hard tempo for a little while on the mort and then it will be up to Basso. If Nibali can hang in there he could also be used, Basso is number 1 in the team and so if he must he will become a super domestique. But I think Leaky is strong enough to be able for that not to happen.
Giro...Giro.....Giro!!!!!!!!
Quitter's People United member # 42
I know I know. I plead guilt of having no interest in ANYTHING lately...
But well now I’m here so I will write…
Boom, Boom, Boom ,Boom.. (imagine drums here)
Hey! Clear the way in the old Mortiloro
Hey you!
Let us through!
It’s a bright new star!
Oh Come!
Be the first on your block to meet his eye!
Make way!
Here he comes!
Ring bells! Bang the drums!
Are you gonna love this guy!
Arroyo! Fabulous he!
Ali Ababwa
Genuflect, show some respect
Down on one knee!
Now, try your best to stay calm
Brush up your sunday salaam
The come and meet his spectacular coterie
This sums up the Giro for me.. A lot of spectacle.. But The Prince isn’t supposed to be Prince Arroyo.. The Smiling Prince has to be on the thrown. At the end of the spectacle. The cherry on the cake, the stars in a romantic night, the beatycase of a beauti woman. The missing touch the Giro needs.. Because slowly we get back to a fresh top 10. 3 left.. Sastre, Porte and Arroyo are battling the inescapable. A one way ticket to.. to… to.. at least under Mollema!
Altho it has to be said.. Chapeau for them.. Caisse played it really smart. The right guy on the right time in the right condition with one of the strongest teams… Which brings us tomorrow.
Looong and hard climbs
It seems a perfect breakaway day, when Rabo is not in the break.. mind you… But Liqui will get a little more nervous.. Basso is steady decreasing the gap to Arroyo and Evans, bah, is decreasing the gap on Basso.. Less than a minute are the last 2 separated.. So what’s the plan de la campagne Liqui? Let the Polish builder do his work and after that Nibali takes over? A 120 man breakaway without the favorites? It remains the Giro and everything is possible.. So.. Eeh.. Who for the win.. Stars are for… Cataldo. From a break..
Oops.. That was a little longer than planned..
For reference of the first, like anybody needs that!? here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltcMueAFEl0
ah dude...best post of the year!
"I was watching the Tour de France in 2005, just being a fan again. I thought, ‘you're a fucking idiot. You're a bike fan who gets to ride the Tour de France.'"
- david millar
Oh! Mr. Frinking, This will be printed , framed and put on my office wall! You Sir. Made my day!
We are Cyclists, we are the special breed, we fear nothing, but our own weaknesses! ( from my DS pep talk, long, long, long time ago.)
Briljant! Utterly Frinkingesque in the best way!
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
This is inspired by Frinking poetry!
They circling David!
They looking for blood!
They looking into your soul!
They longing to se the Weakness!
Shield your jugular David!
They will go for it if you let them!
They are the Hyenas, Snakes and Jackals of GS!
David against Goliath that was easy!
David and Goliath in fifth power, that what it is now!
Do you believe in yourself David?
Do you make us The Believers?
We are Cyclists, we are the special breed, we fear nothing, but our own weaknesses! ( from my DS pep talk, long, long, long time ago.)
You guys are on fire today!
I can’t be a believer. I want cadel to win :)
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
I was under the impression that Carlos was our guy, no?
We are Cyclists, we are the special breed, we fear nothing, but our own weaknesses! ( from my DS pep talk, long, long, long time ago.)
Yes... on VDS, but Cuddles has been trying hard for so long...
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
You guys are so soft when it comes to Frinkles
I can’t understand a damn thing he just said, I guess that is the brilliance of him but still makes my head hurt.
Giro...Giro.....Giro!!!!!!!!
Quitter's People United member # 42
He thinks we're harsh... but he deserves the love for this. LOL..
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
Keeping you grounded
is my job, I can’t have you floating off into an even crazier dimension now.
Giro...Giro.....Giro!!!!!!!!
Quitter's People United member # 42
I could never top this
I wouldn’t even come close. Condider my job application cancelled!
What we do does not define who we are. What defines us is how well we rise after we fall.
So what sort of animal is Frinking?
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
I sometimes think Red Setter,
but then I think a Burmese cat… sociable, smart and contrary :)
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
A platypus! They're very sleek, retiring and small...
and of course they have a poisonous thingy…. interesting :)
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
I think singhstax is the perfect 2IC...
nude predictions… have to celebrate the quirky.
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
Tactical decision
Does LIQ try to shell Arroyo tomorrow or not? I suppose they have so many guys they can afford to try… but pack it in if it doesn’t look like it’ll happen.
incidentally, has anyone been tracking the KOM battle?
by Chris Fontecchio on May 25, 2010 7:00 PM EDT reply actions
As a matter of fact, I have been tracking the KOM battle
I rather enjoy tracking these “other” classifications.
any reason you ask?
http://www.bah.net/
by dees ees en drama on May 25, 2010 9:10 PM EDT up reply actions
There’s only one more stage that ends with a rated climb, meaning the GC guys don’t have much opportunity to get any more than 15 points before the final day time trial (where they could get 3 more).
So it seems to be a battle between Lloyd vs anyone else who decides to go on a crazy breakaway on stage 19 or 20. Lloyd has 29 points. By my count there are:
10 points on offer in stage 17
25 in stage 19
48 in stage 20
and 3 in stage 21.
Stage 20 end with a rated mountaintop finish, so I’m not counting on a breakaway rider getting the last 15 points if Liquigas is still trying to break Arroyo. I’m also assuming the Cima Coppa climb in stage 20 is an HC climb, which would make it a 15 pointer. I’m not sure if that’s a safe assumption. Either way, Lloyd only has 29 points. If Lloyd does not stick his nose in any more mountain breaks, then theoretically it’s still anybody’s ballgame. But if he gets big points in stage 19 or 20, then I’m guessing he’ll salt it away.
I don’t know much about Lloyd’s competition, but from what I gather, Xavier Tondo is most likely to actually target the KOM jersey on Lloyd’s back. Turpin, also.
http://www.bah.net/
by dees ees en drama on May 25, 2010 9:21 PM EDT up reply actions
Lloyd then
is more of a caretaker, it would seem. I mean, if he goes Virenque once or twice he could win it, but not if there are guys like Tondo or Turpin who won’t let him get away. Which means the early points get divided up and the finish line points go to the GC guys. Intriguing…
by Chris Fontecchio on May 26, 2010 12:57 AM EDT up reply actions
Garzelli will now look to win it I feel
picked up 15 today and is only 12 back, has his stage win and is half an hour back on GC so why not? That team has nothing else to race for.
Giro...Giro.....Giro!!!!!!!!
Quitter's People United member # 42
I think he'll get popped by Kenny
http://www.bah.net/
by dees ees en drama on May 25, 2010 11:13 PM EDT up reply actions
He won it last year too didn't he
One breakaway and he has it in the pocket.
What we do does not define who we are. What defines us is how well we rise after we fall.
Tired or not. Liquigas tempo or not. It is only 5 stages left. My prediction: We will see insane attacks by Cadel or Vino tomorrow. But it is only my prediction and I rarely was right at this unpredictable Giro.
We are Cyclists, we are the special breed, we fear nothing, but our own weaknesses! ( from my DS pep talk, long, long, long time ago.)
Vino - Vino !!
I do expect him to launch one of these days.
I am going home (aka internet void) and will miss this stage (sobs)
Not to mention the live threads. My word. Those threads took a hell of a beating.
My word Drongo, we miss you, but we'll try to do you proud :)
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
I think Cadel focuses on riding against Basso
And hope Leaky cracks Arroyo for him. He certainly hasn’t got the team to do anything himself except shadow and exploit.
And if leaky goes too hard / too early breaking Arroyo they could leave basso exposed
That would be my gameplan if I were aussie anyway
It's fraught no matter what he does, but this is no doubt Plan A..
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
He looked awfully strong yesterday
And there is still a flat ITT to come. So if leaky does a number on Arroyo, he’s still very much in it.
Forza cuddles. The man is the Archetype, to me
I obviously love everything you say here... he's been very determined...
and only an idiot could call him a ‘wheel sucker’ at the moment…. mind you, at this point that would be okay..
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
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