Pro-cycling thread

at 13:30 GMT the Sporza live stream will start, if you have Hola that should work

Raining again, could be interesting

At the bus, he looked at his white time trial bike that had been brought out for his warm down >ahead of Saturday’s 59.4-kilometer stage. What he said next to the mechanic indicated that >this Giro d’Italia might be another missed grand tour opportunity for the 30-year-old.
“I’m not doing any pedaling,” Porte said. “My knee’s fucked.”

Poor old Richie

So he's on the course just now-what's he got shoved down the back of his jersey-a brompton?

No intermediate time splits. Rubbish.

2 mins down after 17 km - Porte saving himself for a crack at a stage victory later?

Links to the splits and finish

http://xml2.temporeale.gazzettaobjects.it/radiocorsa/giroditalia/2015/14/classifica_crono_parziale_01.json
http://xml2.temporeale.gazzettaobjects.it/radiocorsa/giroditalia/2015/14/classifica_crono_parziale_02.json
http://xml2.temporeale.gazzettaobjects.it/radiocorsa/giroditalia/2015/14/classifica_crono_parziale_03.json
http://xml2.temporeale.gazzettaobjects.it/radiocorsa/giroditalia/2015/14/classifica_crono_finale.json

Porte to finish behind Betancur at this rate.

Kiri looks like he's been up drinking beers and playing Nintendo all night with that cap on.

Uran looks like he's smashing it. This may just be the optical effect of the decal on his disc though.

Had the wind shifted or what?

I expect Sky to suddenly get interested in the points jersey and stage wins

So Contador just having the one day out of pink

Yeah, maybe that was the plan - lose enough time today to let Porte get into breaks/not be marked for attacks up the HCs. Hope he can show his form; he really deserves a bit of luck, poor little mite.

Winds turned.

Uran not smashing it.

Porte's knee fucked then, after the crash? On a good note, Kiri for the win!

Aru even slower so far

Photographers on the course are total dickbags. They should be made to spoon James Corden as a cure for their unnatural desire for intimacy with sweaty strangers.

Uran's been sick hasn't he? Very sub-par ITT. Contador smashing it, may end up with a 2 or 3 minute lead

My brain just did a stupid thing. Saw a figure in pink and mentally assumed it was Contador. Then "sense" kicked in and I was like: hang on, why is Contador in pink?! Aru took it yesterday?!

Konig top 10 = Sky go to plan B? Which they always do, so is plan B actually plan A?

He can smile! Emotions and everything.

Good point. Konig hanging in the bunch, Porte banging up front? There's a lot of excitement to come, just not with the Maglia Rosa.... though it's been an odd two weeks. It ain't over until the fat one sings.

Great result for Kiriyenka, very well deserved for all his work

Oleg on the telly box

I got in one year but was injured and couldn't do it. It's the one race it really bothers me not having done. Think it's never been shorter than 100miles. Knowing my luck, it'll be 5km when I do it.