Giro d'Italia Contest

[j6ppc]

Thanks all for playing; it is going to be an exciting final week.

[j6ppc]

Not much changed today - tomorrow should be epic though.

General classification after stage 16
1 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Liquigas 73.43.12
2 Eddy Mazzoleni (Ita) Astana 1.51
3 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team CSC 2.56
4 Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Saunier Duval - Prodir 3.19
5 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre - Fondital 3.23

[hockeydad]

4 seconds, 4 seconds. Not too bad. It can be done easily. Damiano can do it.

[j6ppc]

Originally Posted by hockeydad

4 seconds, 4 seconds. Not too bad. It can be done easily. Damiano can do it.

Well, after today's stage Damiano needs to make up 61 seconds on Simoni in the time trial - unlikely IMHO.

Today was exciting. Di Luca cracked early on into the final climb but recovered and minimized his losses. Di Luca looks pretty secure in the maglia rosa and should hold on to it all the way to Milan barring accidents.
With only 4 seconds separating Schleck from Simoni look for a battle for second place in Saturdy's time trial.


General classification after stage 17
1 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Liquigas 77.35.35
2 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team CSC 2.24
3 Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Saunier Duval - Prodir 2.28
4 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre - Fondital 3.29
5 Eddy Mazzoleni (Ita) Astana 3.46

[mosesbotbol]

Cuengo beats out Simoni again, Simoni may hang up the bike frame at the end of the season. This is going to be a dog fight until the end.

[j6ppc]

Status quo today - I'd expect an opportunist or two far down in GC to try to break away in tomorrow's transitional stage.

General classification after stage 19

1 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Liquigas 82.08.26
2 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team CSC 2.24
3 Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Saunier Duval - Prodir 2.28
4 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre - Fondital 3.29
5 Eddy Mazzoleni (Ita) Astana 3.46
6 Riccardo Ricco (Ita) Saunier Duval - Prodir 5.19

[Bigwaved]

Game over?

[j6ppc]

Originally Posted by Bigwaved

Game over?

Dunno - The TT on Saturday could still shake things up a bit.

[hockeydad]

Jon
Do you ride? or did you? or is cycling a spectator sport for you?

[j6ppc]

Originally Posted by hockeydad

Jon
Do you ride? or did you? or is cycling a spectator sport for you?

I used to ride. I may again. My poison of choice was marathons and especially ultramarathons. I do follow cycling and have been doing so since the early '80s.

[Bigwaved]

Originally Posted by j6ppc

Dunno - The TT on Saturday could still shake things up a bit.

It should be a sewn up for DDL though. Unless he falls off his bike or wears clown shoes.

[j6ppc]

Originally Posted by Bigwaved

It should be a sewn up for DDL though. Unless he falls off his bike or wears clown shoes.

True but still not over until its over - strange sh1t can still happen. DDL was quite valiant yesterday - he cracked bad on the final climb lost minutes but pulled it back nonetheless. epic. He deserves this giro - worked hard at it.

[j6ppc]

Iban Mayo won today which speaks well for his form for Le Tour.

Otherwise status quo.

General classification after stage 19

1 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Liquigas 86.46.28
2 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team CSC 2.24
3 Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Saunier Duval - Prodir 2.28
4 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre - Fondital 3.29
5 Eddy Mazzoleni (Ita) Astana 3.46

[j6ppc]

Wow. Great stage. Amazing rides by Mazzoleni and Schleck.


General classification after stage 20

1 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Liquigas 87.40.45
2 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team CSC 1.55
3 Eddy Mazzoleni (Ita) Astana 2.25
4 Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Saunier Duval - Prodir 3.15
5 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre - Fondital 3.49

[j6ppc]

Looks like Norm needs to send me his addy tomorrow as things stand.

One final update tomorrow and this giro is done.