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Looking at yesterday, the situation for me as a escaper was pretty annoying. I knew we would be catched since some around 120 km to go, but the chasers managed to let us starve in front of the field till the last km. What was not more exciting than catching us 30 km in front of the finish, in fact even less. They retarded, and retarded, and retarded. The easy way this time.

The TTT, that one even annoys me much more. The worst distance you can possibly have, no tactics at all, just push it through and see what happens and how much power you have lost. Not really more demanding than a individual TT. The result doesn't really interest me. I won't go slow tomorrow, but as i don't expect to have any impact to the GC it is not that important. So i wont kill my team as well, taking some way in the middle. I expact to lose some around 3 to 4 minutes, perhaps more.

The win will be decided between Bearclaw, Libby and Larapana. But well, to be honest it doesn't really interest me who wins those TT stages. The important thing is, Libby will win minutes to all the other riders which are something like dangerous in the GC. But to make a real prediction for the more or less important guys:

Arnthor Valgeirsson +0.00
Daniel Lindbloom +0.00
Mathew Bearclaw +0.15
Jean Coulieu + 1:30
Wilmer Esmander + 2:00
Tendzin Rinpoche + 2:30
Lionel Terray + 3:30

which would lead to GC of:

Arnthor Valgeirsson +0.00
Daniel Lindbloom +0.32
Mathew Bearclaw +0.51
Wilmer Esmander + 2:07
Jean Coulieu + 2:09
Tendzin Rinpoche + 2:52
Lionel Terray + 4:01

I like TTT, very very exciting. I know that i won´t win the giro, but podium is still realistic...And í am afraid of making a fault. I will train tonight a little bit.
Libby has the best leader and the best team. But i hope there will be a fight for the rosa jersey.

TTT-Training is not possible with riders, that are riding a tour at the same time. You should now that

Just can't wait until tonight, baby (singing) ... - hopefully the training will be good. Otherwise my dream of winning a mountain stage is still very small.

I am the same opinion like Buh. TTT can be very exciting. Tomorrow there is a fight for the maglia rosa, so extra excitement. Some teams have sprinters in their rows, I have a TT guy - and both of them have their "right to exist". If its really necessary to have a TT specialist in the squad we will see tomorrow...

TTT can be exciting, yes, if it's not from 20 to 40 km long and if it's not nearly completely flat.

Luna wrote:TTT-Training is not possible with riders, that are riding a tour at the same time. You should now that

I thought i changed that anytime...okay, thats are very big problem...

Coulieu with a incredible training and 90 mountain now - so Buh has to work a lot during the mountain stages...

... my training was a desaster. I don't have any words for this.

Damn damn, such a bad luck. Lutz lost one point in TT, which is very important tomorrow!

You don't really complain Buh, do you??

Of ocurse! Why not?

Now i am afraid of making stupid things during the races to win the giro...instead of winning a few races. 36 reg...thats the problem. Can´t ride very offensive.

I see your problem... but 90 mountain is nothing to complain in my opinion (maybe I am just jealous)

So now you have a better climber than Roby again, so you can come back to the afternoon!

Yeah, i will come. Never had a job, was only a excuse.

after stage 4

Arnthor Valgeirsson +0.00 (+ 0.40 in the GC)
Matthew Bearclaw +1.00
Wilmer Esmander + 1:33
Jean Coulieu + 1:36
Tendzin Rinpoche + 1:59
Lionel Terray + 2:20
Daniel Lindblom +2.23

Arnthor maybe unstoppable . 1:33/1:36 ahead of his main opponents. Esmander is a candidate for the podium but for the victory he maybe needs a miracle. Coulieu has two more mountain than Arnthor but his TT skills are weak. We will see how much time he can gain in the moutains. With the time bonuses he might be the biggest opponent of Arnthor after a TTT without big time differences. But what about the Montalcino stage? Arnthor and Terray seem to be the strongest climbers on pave. Maybe there will be some big time differences. Maybe this is the day for Terray to gain some time against his opponents for the podium. Tendzin is in a good position as well, he is good in TT and the favorites might miss him at the mountain stages. Lindbloms part will be interesting as well, we will see what Libby is doing with the second 88er in the team. Matthew is very weak in TT. Therefor he is in a good overall position. He needs luck during the mountain stages to go with the other climbers and don't lose much time. His flat skill will be very important. Energy might be his only chance to reach his goals. And maybe there is another climber who can go for a unexpected win or a surprising GC result. We will see.

Problem: I have not found a sitter until now. Don´t know which rider i should (could) follow without being online.

Bad news people: I will be there!

Bad for you or bad for us?

Bad for him ---> no beer at friday evening

You are right with the beer...but because of the giro no problem, I´m looking forward to the race. And bad for me because i have to ride myself, a sitter would be much better i think But okay, i meant it another way. That i beat you and so on...but okay, not really realistic.

GC after stage 7

Arnthor Valgeirsson +0:00
Matthew Bearclaw +1:00
Maxime Kletter +1:23
Jean Coulieu + 1:46
Lionel Terray + 2:20
Wilmer Esmander + 2:31
Tendzin Rinpoche + 4:20
Daniel Lindblom +5:10

GC before the first mountain top finish. Today it will be interesting how much time Coulieu can gain against Arnthor. And also the others will fight for seconds/minutes. Normally Coulieu must win this stage. But with a small mistake another climber can take the stage and the very important 20sec time bonus.

After what i saw yesterday, i think Bearclaw will take that.

I appreciate that you believe in Matthew. But I'm sure that he can't win. There must be a big mistake by Coulieu and all the other climbers with 88 mountain. Yesterday Matthew could follow Arnthor because he had more energy. Libby had to do tempo for the maglia rosa and Matthew was protected by Angelo. Today the mountain value will be more decisive than the energy. And besides, I don't believe that Matthew will have more energy in the final climb.

Matthew very strong, I hope he had yesterday his form maxima.
Coulieu was OK but not so irresistible.
And Arnthor allways cool, no problem for this guy.

It could be the podium in Verona.

The Terminillo was not that steep like the upcoming Zoncolan for example. So the time differences were not really big. Coulieu was the strongest for sure. But Arnthor had all under control with help of a strong Lindblom. Matthew was strong on the last km, but for the Zoncolan I need a good plan...

GC after stage 7

Arnthor Valgeirsson +0:00
Matthew Bearclaw +0:44
Jean Coulieu + 1:14
Maxime Kletter +1:53
Lionel Terray + 2:12
Wilmer Esmander + 2:35
Tendzin Rinpoche + 4:55
Daniel Lindblom +5:12

I am really looking forward to the next stages. Almost anything is possible. Only the Giro winner seems to be set.

Bear wrote:
GC after stage 7

Arnthor Valgeirsson +0:00
Matthew Bearclaw +0:44
Jean Coulieu + 1:14
Maxime Kletter +1:53
Lionel Terray + 2:12
Wilmer Esmander + 2:35
Tendzin Rinpoche + 4:55
Daniel Lindblom +5:12

I am really looking forward to the next stages. Almost anything is possible. Only the Giro winner seems to be set.

Where is Thys? You forgot him! I guess he's a little pissed off about it.