Giro d'Italia / Tour de France

[Paddingtonwolf]

Quintana needs to do something amazing on the stage into Val Gardena. Otherwise (Kruiswijk-style crashes withstanding) Dumoulin should now win.

 

[Johnny75]

Wow - that was incredible by Dumoulin.

Just remember that the Mortirolo and double Stelvio day doesn't have a summit finish. I think he is going to win the whole thing now.

Agree with that Paddy. His to lose now and I was impressed by Pinot and Yates too.

 

[Wombat del combate]

Dumoulin takes a dump at the bottom of the Stelvio!

 

[Wombat del combate]

My chuffing stream has died. Fucknuts.

 

[darlowolf64]

Dumoulin takes a dump at the bottom of the Stelvio!

Is that cycling slang for falling off his bike?

 

[Kenny]

I presumed he had done a full Paula Radcliffe....

 

[Johnny75]

Dumoulin's lead only 31s over Quintana and 1'31s over Nibali. This could get very interesting now, especially with another downhill finish and the last day individual TT. Dumoulin needs to hang with the other two to make sure he isn't more than a minute behind and he could do them both on the TT or Nibali smashes a minute off Quintana in the other downhill or Quintana just destroys the other two and blitzes them over the mountains.

 

[Wombat del combate]

At a guess, yes. He was getting his kit off quicker than a virgin at a gloryhole.

 

[Wombat del combate]

Dumoulin's lead only 31s over Quintana and 1'31s over Nibali. This could get very interesting now, especially with another downhill finish and the last day individual TT. Dumoulin needs to hang with the other two to make sure he isn't more than a minute behind and he could do them both on the TT or Nibali smashes a minute off Quintana in the other downhill or Quintana just destroys the other two and blitzes them over the mountains.

The broad thinking is that Quintana needs about three minutes come the TT, so more important for Dumoulin is not shitting a kidney out between now and the start tomorrow. Nibali might be a little more dangerous given his descending ability but it's still Dumoulin's to lose. The thing I find frustrating about Quintana/Movistar is that they set everything up and then do nothing. I'm not sure if it's a lack of confidence, ability or just a lot of bluffing but there are several times when it's been ready for Nairo to ride away but he just sits there.

 

[Pompey Wolf]

Is that cycling slang for falling off his bike?

If only it was Darlo!!

 

[Wombat del combate]

Brutal stage ahead today, 3,700m of climbing in 137km, average grade 7%. Quintana has to light it up here, otherwise his chances will diminish rapidly IMO:

 

[Johnny75]

Very cagey today with Quintana looking a bit lost. Doumilin's race to lose now.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Last chance for Quintana gone I think. I really thought that stage would be an epic, but clearly not.

 

[Wombat del combate]

Yeah, was annoyed with that, in spite of my stream being taken down permanently. Dumoulin had a point when he said they were trying to make him lose rather than them trying to win.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

This is a good day. Grappa made a selection of the elite and now the final climb is going to find a winner I think.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

What a stunningly beautiful climb this is! Zakharin has been superb so far today.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

What an epic stage this is. All the favourites are having a right go at each other. This is like Hagler v Hearns on a bike.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

That was tremendous. Chapeau to all the favourites for really duking it out. I make Dumoulin a slight favourite with the TT to finish, but I also wouldn't count out Pinot to challenge Quintana and Nibali. Plus Zakharin was fabulous today. Looks all to play for.

 

[Johnny75]

That was tremendous. Chapeau to all the favourites for really duking it out. I make Dumoulin a slight favourite with the TT to finish, but I also wouldn't count out Pinot to challenge Quintana and Nibali. Plus Zakharin was fabulous today. Looks all to play for.

Yep, enjoyed that and I've really enjoyed this tour without the dominance of any of the major teams. All to play for tomorrow and like you I still fancy Doumilin.

 

[Pompey Wolf]

Yeah it's been a great Giro, best I can remember and I think Johnny's point of no team dominance has been the key to that. I suspect Dumoulin will do it with something to spare today and if he does so he'll be a deserving winner.