Giro d'Italia 2015 *spoilers*

[The Couch]

@The Couch
I definitely fancy Ulissi's chances today but I didn't really want to pick him on principle.

(Of course that might prevent you from picking a lot of riders )

 

[Crackle]

Tinkoff-Saxo are baffling me with their tactics in this race so far. Still working today, with a rider in the break.

 

[beastie]

Ok I have just got in and am not sure what's happened with a big, big group upfront. Anyone been watching from the start?

 

[beastie]

Kreuzinger at 9 mins, that can't be left for long.

 

[psmiffy]

Really interesting stage today, isn't it?

Ive ridden the southern half of this - panniers and all - has to be one of the hardest days cycling Ive done - absolutely mega scenery tho

 

[Rustybucket]

These roads look amazing to ride on.

 

[beastie]

Big split in the bunch......mayhem!

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Also I wonder if "sprinters" like Matthews, Fellini and Battaglin can survive today as well.

I really don't think people should keep calling Matthews a "sprinter" (even in inverted commas). He's a puncheur with a fast finish: exactly the Gerrans or Gilbert kind of rider who can survive the lumps and sprint uphill at the end...

 

[HF2300]

Gilbert and Gerrans are indeed obvious names ... Also I wonder if "sprinters" like Matthews ... can survive today as well.

Must admit I thought Gilbert and Gerrans were likely, and I thought about Clarke as well if OGE want to stay in pink, but decided in the end - probably wrongly - that Matthews would make it over the hills OK and OGE might want to keep him in pink.

Apart from a slim possibility of Clarke that's all looking out the window at the moment though. At the moment, a lot of GC riders look as though they might lose a lot of time today.

 

[The Couch]

I don't think this display is helping with the reputation of Astana

 

[The Couch]

Hesjedal isn't in the peloton anymore.... JVDB is
(for anyone who is keeping score of the outsiders)

 

[tug benson]

been watching for over the last hour...This stage is all over the place

 

[The Couch]

been watching for over the last hour...This stage tv-overview is all over the place

Fixed that for you

 

[HF2300]

I really don't think people should keep calling Matthews a "sprinter" (even in inverted commas). He's a puncheur with a fast finish: exactly the Gerrans or Gilbert kind of rider who can survive the lumps and sprint uphill at the end...

...although he doesn't seem to be surviving terribly well at the mo.

 

[The Couch]

I don't think this display is helping with the reputation of Astana

They are a quarter of the peloton when going over the top of the Passo del Termine (5 Astana's in a total of 20 riders)