Giro d'Italia *SPOILERS*

[raindog]

I'm not a fan of Riis, but this has some interest.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/video-riis-criticises-coverage-of-contador-case
How can we all relax and enjoy watching Berto race, knowing that if the UCI's appeal is succesful he might be banned straight after the Giro. The whole thing's a bloody mess and frankly I'm getting sick of it. This has been kicking around now for months and months - why is it taking so long to get sorted?

 

[Noodley]

I don't think we are confused Bjarne - you doped, Bertie doped. You are both cheats. No confusion there.

 

[HLaB]

I thought that was a Cav stage today but it wasn't; I don't think he's got any chance with an appeal though against an Italian rider in Italy

 

[BigSteev]

Robbed of the win, but he gets the Maglia Rosa as some form of compensation.

 

[Steve H]

Looked pretty blatant though. I think there's a chance he could get disqualified.

 

[brockers]

Not sure I understand Cav's protest. If it's a matter of Ale-jet moving off his line in the last few metres, it was pretty innocuous. Cav was outsprinted and there was no way he was going to get round.

 

[brockers]

I was expecting an argument !!

 

[Alessandro Petacchi]

Cannot comment on the grounds that i may be biased .

 

[HonestMan1910]

Doesn't look very happy here

 

[iAmiAdam]

Petacchi lowered his head to look behind him, then moved, twice. Cav was the faster rider at the time. Relegation please, Cav has been dq'd for a lot less than that.

 

[Farky]

What channel is covering the event or highlights?

 

[iAmiAdam]

Eurosport only I think.

 

[raindog]

Here's the vid

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rm7pyFO0kYU&feature=player_embedded#at=401

didn't look that bad to me, but then Petacchi didn't have to swerve, the road was wide and there was plenty of room for everyone. Cav was taken a bit by surprise and probably went a bit too late. Mind you, if the situation was reversed in the sprint there'd be a scandal in Italy tonight.

 

[philipbh]

Italian Rider in an Italian Team wins a stage in the Premier Italian Race - some might say that the odds are stacked against the Manxman as HLaB points out

I can understand MC's frustration and in any other race I think he would have a chance of appeal - he certainly has grounds for appeal - but I doubt he will want the abuse from the Tifosi for the next three weeks

Given that, by all accounts, this is a Giro for the climbers and that at 25 he has many more years in front of him to win sprints in his favourite grand tour (compared to the 37 year old AP) - time to suck it up - however painful it might be to do so.

Was he robbed of a win, undoubtedly - but thats bike racing!

 

[Flying_Monkey]

I've seen riders relegated for less, but it would have been harsh.