Giro 2015 Stage 18

godtabh

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Alberto attacking after Astana got caught up in a crash. The lead group are 10 mins out. Alberto in no mans land now

dastardly00

Can't believe no one is posting.

The stage sounds class (from reading live text anyway).

Talib Fiasco

Serious man crush for Alberto only grows...this is revenge, nothing else. He is being caught thought...has about a minute to the GC group with Landa, Aru, Amador etc

dragratchet

even if he gets captured again, he can sit on till the end of the stage knowing he put the likes of landa and ura under pressure which will stand to him for the next stage(s)

death1234567

This has probably been the best grand tour ever. Something different and exciting every day. Cycling is great.

godtabh

Fair play to the mechanic. Quick thinking there to save a chain drop

Talib Fiasco

Aru is toast completely...Landa was hurting coming back too...next few days will be magic

godtabh

Aru did to much in the first week when there was no need

MPFG

Ryder Hesejedal with Contador ?? where did he come out of ??

MPFG

Amador stil riding well while Aru finding it hard

But Kangert should have stayed with Landa

MPFG

Back to the front

Wonder can Chava, Nocentini & Gilbert catch the leaders

MPFG

What a ride by Ryder .....he is going faster than bert at mo

godtabh

MPFG wrote: »

Ryder Hesejedal with Contador ?? where did he come out of ??

From behind

Talib Fiasco

Ryder the ghost is there

Brian?

Hilarious attack by Bertie. I think he may be holding a grudge after the attack the other day when he had a mechanical.

1.30 up now. Brilliant.

pelevin

Was the Contador attack before tv coverage started on ES?

godtabh

Brian? wrote: »

Hilarious attack by Bertie. I think he may be holding a grudge after the attack the other day when he had a mechanical.

1.30 up now. Brilliant.

You can see why he did. If it backfired he would look like a idiot

godtabh

The lads pissed off with bertie

Snowchaser

godtabh wrote: »

You can see why he did. If it backfired he would look like a idiot

Was it not a bit of karma considering the attack he made on Andy Schleck when he has the mechanical?

Contador didn’t seem to think anything was wrong with that.

MPFG

pelevin wrote: »

Was the Contador attack before tv coverage started on ES?

No...after coverage started

velo.2010

Gutted to have missed this stage. Apparently, Eurosport stuck with the tennis in any case and nobody saw the action?


Edit, Ok I see the above post!

godtabh

Big attack by Gilbert

Brian?

Snowchaser wrote: »

Was it not a bit of karma considering the attack he made on Andy Schleck when he has the mechanical?

Contador didn’t seem to think anything was wrong with that.

There wasn't, Contador chased an attack and Shcleck dropped his chain trying to respond, as far as I remember. Was Contador supposed to sit up and let the attack go?

Talib Fiasco

Schleck actually attacked, Alberto was responding and then Andy dropped the chain as Alberto just made it back to him.

MPFG

This is going to go against the grain but I think Contador 's attack was not wise....He is playing to the gallery but a wise man would think of Froome, Quintana & Nibali and save energy


Phil Gil goes early ....maybe a bit too early

Brian?

Talib Fiasco wrote: »

Schleck actually attacked, Alberto was responding and then Andy dropped the chain as Alberto just made it back to him.

You're right.

Subpopulus

Great stage. For a while at the start it looked like Contador was going to go solo for 40km. He was almost two minutes up at one point but now he's holding it pretty steady between a minute and a minute and a half.

Currently Gilbert is about 10 seconds clear at the head of the race with 8km remaining.

Brian?

MPFG wrote: »

This is going to go against the grain but I think Contador 's attack was not wise....He is playing to the gallery but a wise man would think of Froome, Quintana & Nibali and save energy


Phil Gil goes early ....maybe a bit too early

It was pretty smart. Gives him a extra minute to lose tomorrow for not a lot of effort. He was riding within himself up the climb, if he was going full gas Ryder wouldn't have caught him.

MPFG

Brian? wrote: »

It was pretty smart. Gives him a extra minute to lose tomorrow for not a lot of effort. He was riding within himself up the climb, if he was going full gas Ryder wouldn't have caught him.

I don't agree but time will tell in the 3rd week of the Tour de France

Talib Fiasco

You're blind if you think Contador was going full gas there...that was a training session for him

Subpopulus

Gilbert is on his own into the final kilometre. The stage is his.

gordongekko

MPFG wrote: »

This is going to go against the grain but I think Contador 's attack was not wise....He is playing to the gallery but a wise man would think of Froome, Quintana & Nibali and save energy

Just checked the start list . None of them are due to start tomorrow. Hes better off racing against his competition in this race rather than worrying about something that may or may not happen in a months time.

Morrisseeee

Go on Gilbert ya good thing :D

Brian?

MPFG wrote: »

I don't agree but time will tell in the 3rd week of the Tour de France

Oh we'll see alright.

Subpopulus

Smart move from Hesjedal too - he crossed the line with Contador so he stays in the same place relative to Contador while everyone else moves back a minute or more.

death1234567

MPFG wrote: »

I don't agree but time will tell in the 3rd week of the Tour de France

I don't think contador really believes he can win the Tour to be honest. Quintana and an on form Froome have too much for him. I think that's why he went for the double because at least he'll have the Giro win to fall back on and an excuse for not winning the Tour.

pelevin

death1234567 wrote: »

I don't think contador really believes he can win the Tour to be honest. Quintana and an on form Froome have too much for him. I think that's why he went for the double because at least he'll have the Giro win to fall back on and an excuse for not winning the Tour.

He beat Froome in the Vuelta & didn't look much like a man who'd be searching for an excuse for not winning the Tour. He might be surprised to succeed with the double but I don't think he at all matches up to the idea of a man lacking self-belief.

Talib Fiasco

If Contador peaks for the Tour then he'll beat anyone....and convincingly. He still isn't close to his peak here....more than good enough to take apart solid GC guys like Uran, Aru, Hesjedal, Landa, Amador etc... I think in 2011 he peaked to early and hence why his Giro there was devastatingly good and why he suffered in the Tour... I think he's got it right this time... Injuries are the only thing that can prevent him from hitting peak form for the Tour. I think only Nibali will challenge him anyway as Quintana isn't good enough yet overall and Froome will never get close to his crazy 2013 performance.

Snowchaser

pelevin wrote: »

He beat Froome in the Vuelta & didn't look much like a man who'd be searching for an excuse for not winning the Tour. He might be surprised to succeed with the double but I don't think he at all matches up to the idea of a man lacking self-belief.

Also he won the Vuelta just a few weeks after fracturing his tibia.

He will win this Giro after a shouler dislocation.

Remarkable, imagine what he can do if he is injury free?

gambeta_fc

The Giro has been great viewing, I know it's still ongoing, live in the moment etc. .... but god damn the Tour is going to be great this year. Can't wait for it.

MPFG

Talib Fiasco wrote: »

You're blind if you think Contador was going full gas there...that was a training session for him

Well I am not blind !!!!!....by the top he was tired and in 75 days he will be very tired

there was no need to attack...his lead is very big...and if there was a little less worship you could see that too...and he was going full gas as he kept lead to Landa (& full top 10) who has been as good if not a better climber in this Giro

But we can revisit this in last week of Tour de France if you like

Snowchaser

So Astana attack Contador when he has a mechanical.

This is considered a disgrace and unsporting etc

Contador does the same thing today and it is called brilliant and legendary?

Amazing.

Talib Fiasco

MPFG wrote: »

Well I am not blind !!!!!....by the top he was tired and in 75 days he will be very tired

there was no need to attack...his lead is very big...and if there was a little less worship you could see that too...and he was going full gas as he kept lead to Landa (& full top 10) who has been as good if not a better climber in this Giro

But we can revisit this in last week of Tour de France if you like

He was tired yes as is anyone who does a big climb like that...and he did it on his own...he was bound to be wrecked...and yes there was a need to attack, Astana were owed a bit of payback for what they did when he got a mechanical and he also earned another 1 minute plus...definitely worth it. Landa is a good climber but cannot compete with Contador head to head climbing...

As I said Contador hasn't peaked yet, this is the best training he can get for the Tour...he's pushing himself, but never going full gas.

MPFG

As I said time will tell re Contador's tactics today but if I was Niabli Or Froome watching him today I would be very nervous

Quintana I don't think gets nervous ...at least if he does no one knows

pelevin

Snowchaser wrote: »

So Astana attack Contador when he has a mechanical.

This is considered a disgrace and unsporting etc

Contador does the same thing today and it is called brilliant and legendary?

Amazing.

I'd say it's blindingly obvious why people would praise him for sticking the knife into Astana. He was very mild in his comments on their attacking him 2 days ago, & instead simply returned the medicine. Live by the sword, die by it. He didn't make a big deal of it in terms of his comments. He simply let his legs do the talking. He is so far ahead of anyone else on GC, I don't think it could be considered in any way relevant his 'attacking' other GC contenders as there aren't any.

pelevin

Snowchaser wrote: »

Also he won the Vuelta just a few weeks after fracturing his tibia.

He will win this Giro after a shouler dislocation.

Remarkable, imagine what he can do if he is injury free?

You're full of praise for him. And then you seem to be all angry one post later. Very abrupt change of heart there.

Leroy42

Snowchaser wrote: »

So Astana attack Contador when he has a mechanical.

This is considered a disgrace and unsporting etc

Contador does the same thing today and it is called brilliant and legendary?

Amazing.

No, people said it was Karma. Instead of bitching the other day he simply chased back after Aru and taught him a lesson.

He then showed them how to do it properly today.

i never get all this 'don't attack the others' position. He had a mechanical the other day, thats his problem. Should have got his mechanic to do a better job. His chain fell today, seriously, what are they doing?

But he lost the jersey because of a crash the other day, should Aru have waited? Luck always plays a part and thems the breaks.

Talib Fiasco

Yeah as someone said, Aru attacked with 50 km to go and lost over 2 minutes...Contador attacked with 50 km to go and gained over a minute.

manwithaplan

How does he ride continually out of the saddle like that? He must have quads of steel.

Darkglasses

manwithaplan wrote: »

How does he ride continually out of the saddle like that? He must have quads of steel.

Just comes very naturally to some people. I've always ridden like that too, and I'm rubbish, even for a leisure cyclist.

Talib Fiasco

manwithaplan wrote: »

How does he ride continually out of the saddle like that? He must have quads of steel.

His climbing style is one of the most effective and enjoyable to watch for sure...it's second nature to him now. If you think out of the saddle is crazy, take a lot at Chris Horner...rarely if ever climbs without being out of the saddle