This is the sort of time trial where you don't have to be a solid time trialist to profit. If you have the climbing legs then you will win. Levi is taken back to the pack on a TT like this IMO. If it was more flatter, Levi would **** it in.Eldrack said:60.6 kilometers, over 1200 meters of climbing. This stage is just, wow. It's going to take a good chunk over an hour and a half to complete this course. Two climbs, two very techinical descents. Only about 18 kilometers of flat terrain, the rest is up or down.
If someone has a bad day, they're screwed. The lighter climbers will loose time because the climbs aren't steep enough for them and the flats and the downhills will hurt. The heavier guys will be destroyed by the climbs. So a midweight climber with good descending and general TTing skills for the win I think.
I thought Basso would be a good pick for this. Not the lightest climber so he has the power to put on the hurt on these flatter climbs, he's a good TTist. However he's a **** descender so the roughly ten miles of downhill are going to hurt his chances. Menchov could be a good shout, maybe Pellizotti. Still, my odds on favourite for this is LL. Good TTist, good climber, good descender. All the skills he needs to put a couple of minutes into his nearest rival should he be on form.
What about Wiggins?? He's used to ITT, and looked impressive on first climbs last week. Seems to be in very good shape too.Grater said:This is the sort of time trial where you don't have to be a solid time trialist to profit. If you have the climbing legs then you will win. Levi is taken back to the pack on a TT like this IMO. If it was more flatter, Levi would **** it in.
Don't rule out guys like Menchov.
Rogers is climbing well and can time trial.
There is also one other rider who can climb well at the moment and can time tiral and that's Lovkvist.
Leipheimer will more than likely win but I wouldn't count out Columbia's main two filling up the podium considering how much Columbia's on a roll at the moment.
From what I've read most people will be doing it on road bikes with TT bars on. Still have TT helmets and the other go faster clothing items but it's too hilly and too technical for a disk or even a tri-spoke.classic1 said:I've actually driven over the first half of the course, over the Passo del Bracco into Levanto. The bottom of the descent is Poggio like. It will be absolute carnage if it rains.
As for the course, I'd expect the riders to leave the TT bikes in the back of the truck.
So you're saying the winner will be an ITT specialist despite of the course ???Grater said:It's about 50km too long for Wiggins
Eldrack said:From what I've read most people will be doing it on road bikes with TT bars on. Still have TT helmets and the other go faster clothing items but it's too hilly and too technical for a disk or even a tri-spoke.
Ah, yes...RdBiker said:Leipheimer
Bruseghin
Basso
Lökvist
Rodriguez
Rogers
Menchov
Armstrong
Those placings are just a guess but I'd be pretty sure Leipheimer will hammer on the ITT. If he can get a good lead he can even give up some time to the mountain guys before the final ITT. Armstrong is a mystery but I'd say he will give his everything for a good placing. GC candidates will probably be the only riders who are allowed to give their all, except for Armstrong. And then I can't decide who's the main man for Columbia: Lökvist or Rogers?
A tough one. Yesterday I would've said 3-4mins but after looking at the stage profile more and thinking about it I'd say 1-2mins.Andrija said:I see we achieved consensus on who'll take it. We mostly agree about who will be LL's main rivals too.
The conclusion is - very predictable TT.
What I want to know is what do you think how much time Di Luca will lose on LL and Menchov. That is real question for tomorrow.
I say 1:20 on Leipheimer and little less than a minute on Menchov.
Agreed. Armstrong by 38 seconds over LL. He'll then work for LL the rest of the Giro.phillop said:lance to win, cunego to do a good ride also.
We use essential cookies to make this site work, and optional cookies to enhance your experience.