Giro 2011

http://videochat.gazzetta.it/index_giro.shtml

59 k to go....

anyone know if LMNH will show tomorrows stage?

If so, when does it start?

Assuming they play the whole thing Eurosport coverage of stage 14 is from 13:00 to 16:30

Around 20 riders including Contador in a break away some 2m40s ahead of the peleton. 50k to go. About to start last climb.

http://videochat.gazzetta.it/index_giro.shtml

59 k to go....

Can people do a video chat with you on that, Clive?

In your dreams Oliver

Russ Downing spat out at the back....

In your worst nightmares, Oliver.

Absolutely.

Silly me, Contador is not in the break. There are 15 riders but Astana's Robert Kiserlovski has gone off the front and has around 30 seconds on them and 4 mins on the peleton. No one in the break is within 6 mins of Contador in the GC. Climbing hard. 40k to go.

Chasing gorup:

Alberto Losada (Katusha)
Alessandro Spezialetti (Lampre)
Andrea Noe (Farnes Vini)
Angel Vicioso (Androni Giacattoli)
Branislau Samoilau (Movistar)
Cameron Meyer (Garmin-Cervelo)
Cayetano Sarmiento (Acqua & Sapone)
Craig Lewis (HTC-Highroad)
Johnny Hoogerland (Vacansoleil-DCM)
Kristof Vandewalle (Quick Step)
Lars Petter Nordhaug (Sky)
Pablo Lastras (Movistar)
Pieter Weening (Rabobank)
Rafael Valls (Geox-TMC)
Rinaldo Nocentini (Ag2r)

Robert Kiserlovski (Astana) is around 40 seconds up on them.

Ha - I was trying to find that picture!
What was the deal with Cav getting a load of grief on that day. Did he pull a similar stunt?

Ventoso claimed he did, although no-one has been able to find any pictorial evidence of this. Rather archly, Cavendish said he didn't need to accuse Ventoso of cheating, making reference to the fact that Ventoso had been banned in the past for a positive test.

It's a stupid comment from Ventoso, every rider in the peleton benefits at some point from pushes, drafts from team cars, the 'sticky bottle' trick when handing over a new bidon, so why single out Cavendish?

Haters gonna hate....

Cheers Andy

23 k to go. Gap dropping fast. Down to 2.30 from 4

It's a stupid comment from Ventoso, every rider in the peleton benefits at some point from pushes, drafts from team cars, the 'sticky bottle' trick when handing over a new bidon, so why single out Cavendish?

Agreed.

The helpfully adjusting the rear wiper trick, that Lucy posted,, is a new one on me though.

Now with added rain.

I've a theory that Contador will lose this Giro* due to bad weather, as he's never liked it.

*he'll lose it in CAS on June the 8th if he does win.

There are three Euskatel riders pulling the peleton along. They are still making in roards into the lead but not as quickly as they were. No one seems willing to help them. Earlier SaxoBank were up there with them but now they are doing all the work. Presumably Contador doesn't see any point as he will still have a significant lead over any of the breakaway riders and has greater hills to climb tomorrow.

18 k to go 2m05s

There's snow still on the ground at the finish

Bloody hell. Just had a visit from our Chief Risk Officer.

How am I meant to watch the closing kilos of the Giro with that sort of intervention?

at least it's not as bad as this 16 may 1988 passo di gavia

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5wPEymv-oQ

With 12k to go the break is crumbling and the peleton are reeling in riders one by one. Around 40 secs and falling

23 secs

attack just as bridge is made.

that crafty little venezulean again..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Rujano

10k to go. Watch this if you can. It is really hotting up.