Giro rest day
A crazy start to the Giro. The goes to the Netherlands for three pancake flat stages in the land of levees and windmills and the race returns with time gaps that would make you think there was a mountainous stage or two. The only difference being, guys like Andre Greipel and Matthew Goss in the top 10.
Meanwhile, Vinokourov is sitting pretty atop the standings while many rivals have fallen victim to the dozens of crashes that took place the last two days. A few guys are still close, Nibali, Gerdemann, Garzelli, Scarponi, Karpets, Basso are all within a half minute. Evans is :43 down. Vinokourov can sit on wheels instead of going coo-coo for cocoa puffs and riding crazily.
Sastre is hanging in at 1:40 and Cunego is dangling at 2:07. Wiggins, though, is 4:28 down and all but out of contention. A whole bevy of good climbers are over 9 minutes down. Szmyd, Gadret, Martin, Simoni, Pozzovivo, Bruseghin, Caruso, Masciarelli. With time gaps like that, I am guessing there are going to be many good riders given free rein to ride away from the peloton in the mountains on long breakaways and leave the infighting to the few contenders that are left.
Moncoutie said before the race he was going for the climbers jersey. He is already 16 minutes behind Vinovourov. That sets up perfectly for him to go on his long early breakaways to pick up points on the early mountains.
The biggest loser of the first few days has to be Christian Vandevelde. This guy needs to figure out a different training plan in preparation for the Tour. Last year, he broke vertebrae at the Giro. This year, it is his collarbone. Less serious, but not good.
Tomorrow is the team time trial and I see either Saxo Bank or Garmin gaining the one second needed over Astana to take the maglia rosa off of Vinokourov's shoulders. I'm banking on Garmin, even though they are a man short.
Meanwhile, Vinokourov is sitting pretty atop the standings while many rivals have fallen victim to the dozens of crashes that took place the last two days. A few guys are still close, Nibali, Gerdemann, Garzelli, Scarponi, Karpets, Basso are all within a half minute. Evans is :43 down. Vinokourov can sit on wheels instead of going coo-coo for cocoa puffs and riding crazily.
Sastre is hanging in at 1:40 and Cunego is dangling at 2:07. Wiggins, though, is 4:28 down and all but out of contention. A whole bevy of good climbers are over 9 minutes down. Szmyd, Gadret, Martin, Simoni, Pozzovivo, Bruseghin, Caruso, Masciarelli. With time gaps like that, I am guessing there are going to be many good riders given free rein to ride away from the peloton in the mountains on long breakaways and leave the infighting to the few contenders that are left.
Moncoutie said before the race he was going for the climbers jersey. He is already 16 minutes behind Vinovourov. That sets up perfectly for him to go on his long early breakaways to pick up points on the early mountains.
The biggest loser of the first few days has to be Christian Vandevelde. This guy needs to figure out a different training plan in preparation for the Tour. Last year, he broke vertebrae at the Giro. This year, it is his collarbone. Less serious, but not good.
Tomorrow is the team time trial and I see either Saxo Bank or Garmin gaining the one second needed over Astana to take the maglia rosa off of Vinokourov's shoulders. I'm banking on Garmin, even though they are a man short.
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