Giro 2009 : Stage 21 : Sunday 31st : Roma (ITT) : 14.4kms

Stage 21 : ITT : Roma.

This will be a spectacular event : Aventini district of Roma is my favourite place that I have ever visited.
Can't miss this stage.

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.."But finally the last thing I’ll say to the people who don’t believe in cycling, the cynics and the sceptics. I'm sorry for you. I’m sorry that you can’t dream big. [I]I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles. You should believe in these athletes, and you should believe in these people. I'll be a fan of the Tour de France for as long as I live. And there are no secrets - this is a hard sporting event and hard work wins it" - Armstrong 2005 TDF
morelike hypocrisy.

Short TT, time gaps won't be huge at all. The onyl shift I see taking place in the top 10 is Rogers overtaking Garzelli. Bruseghin might go up a place. Apart from that it's really about the stage win. Wiggins has stuck in the race for this stage so I'm going to pick him for the stage win.

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"Hope is the first step on the road to dissapointment."

Wiggins, Pinotti or Zabriskie.

It's supposed to be raining tomorrow so these riders might have the good conditions. But yes, Wiggins should be the favourite.

1. Leipheimer
2. Armstrong
3. Dave Z.

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Lance Armstrong’s Last Words, August 10, 2007 - “We're proud of our record. We won eight Tours, a Vuelta, a Giro and other races and not one positive test," Armstrong said. “I’m not sure if there are many other teams who can say that right now. Couple that with our ethical record, despite all the gossip and nonsense that goes on.”

Who the **** is this Konovolovas guy?

who ordered this tension filled finish?

hats off & three cheers, denis! beautifully raced! and cheers for ddl, a worthy effort and never daunted.

this salvages rabo's desultory spring campaign.

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"Kick over the statues and the tyrants die. Wave bye bye to their heroes with a hammer."
--The Redskins, Kick Over the Statues

dramatic finish.
How fast was the mechanic in getting Menchov's spare bike, he'd barely slide to a halt before they were out of the car and delivery a new bike.
Got Menchov going in seconds.

The weather really added to what would have been a TT that would have essentially been a parade.


Konovalovas was one of the luckier early starters who got the best of the weather comes up with a win.
You'd have to say an unexpected win (a slight understatement :P )


Congratulations to Menchov on a great win. Rode a very well thought out race.

Lithuanian TT champ apparently. Looks like Wiggins was robbed on this one, had rain on the second half of the course, a car to slow him down and he still only finished 1 second behind. He must be so pissed right now!

No changes in the top 10, so nearly some drama but in the end a good overall victory by Menchov.

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"Hope is the first step on the road to dissapointment."

Bingo )

win, place and show!

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"Kick over the statues and the tyrants die. Wave bye bye to their heroes with a hammer."
--The Redskins, Kick Over the Statues

watched the ITT highlights tonight - what a stage!
Superb work by the Rabo mechanic to get DM back up on the bikes asap.

Thoroughly enjoyed todays stage : what a race and what a location.

__________________
.."But finally the last thing I’ll say to the people who don’t believe in cycling, the cynics and the sceptics. I'm sorry for you. I’m sorry that you can’t dream big. [I]I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles. You should believe in these athletes, and you should believe in these people. I'll be a fan of the Tour de France for as long as I live. And there are no secrets - this is a hard sporting event and hard work wins it" - Armstrong 2005 TDF
morelike hypocrisy.

Just looking at DiLuca, menchov at the end of todays stage.
Good closeup footage of both riders - they look emaciated!
they say the TV camera adds 10lbs - if that's the case these guys look seriously undernourished.

__________________
.."But finally the last thing I’ll say to the people who don’t believe in cycling, the cynics and the sceptics. I'm sorry for you. I’m sorry that you can’t dream big. [I]I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles. You should believe in these athletes, and you should believe in these people. I'll be a fan of the Tour de France for as long as I live. And there are no secrets - this is a hard sporting event and hard work wins it" - Armstrong 2005 TDF
morelike hypocrisy.

Quite true what you say. Menchov might well have won the stage if not for the slip. A great giro for spectacle. Menchov the strongest and steadiest. DiLuca was great except for that pitiful early time trial. Armstrong was impressive in coming back from injury and honored the course. Popovich if not riding in support might have been a contendor for the gc I thought. Pellizotti and especially Garzelli lacked some power in the first week, but then rode fabulously.
Garzelli who was excluded from the giro last year by Zomegnan, and not selected for the world championships, subsequently, sent a clear message. Sastre and Basso also rode very well.

Sastre for me looks like he's coming to the boil nicely. Very impressive in the last week of the Giro.

Well done to Menchov - that poker face of his serves him very well.

DiLuca? Rode a great race and attacked at every opportunity - I like that way of riding.
I hope he goes to the Tour de France abd puts in a similar performance.

This years Giro for me, was a great spectacle.
The RCS have managed to get the Giro right for the past few years.
Best GT in my view.

__________________
.."But finally the last thing I’ll say to the people who don’t believe in cycling, the cynics and the sceptics. I'm sorry for you. I’m sorry that you can’t dream big. [I]I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles. You should believe in these athletes, and you should believe in these people. I'll be a fan of the Tour de France for as long as I live. And there are no secrets - this is a hard sporting event and hard work wins it" - Armstrong 2005 TDF
morelike hypocrisy.

I think RCS should, in future, allow the Giro to finish in Roma.

What a wonderful backdrop for a GT.

__________________
.."But finally the last thing I’ll say to the people who don’t believe in cycling, the cynics and the sceptics. I'm sorry for you. I’m sorry that you can’t dream big. [I]I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles. You should believe in these athletes, and you should believe in these people. I'll be a fan of the Tour de France for as long as I live. And there are no secrets - this is a hard sporting event and hard work wins it" - Armstrong 2005 TDF
morelike hypocrisy.