Giro Stage 18

Arredondo and Deignan now away on their own, off the front.

Well that break is going to get caught - I've got 3 of them

Gap now 1min 50

1min lead for this little lot

Julian Arredondo
Dario Cataldo
Edoardo Zardini
Emanuele Sella
Franco Pellizotti
Philip Deignan
Ivan Rovny
Thomas De Gendt
Tim Wellens

Edit: 2 more bridged across to make 11
Duarte
Keijzer

My team
Nairo Alexander Quintana (MOV)
Pierre Rolland (EUC)
Julian David Arredondo (TFR)
Domenico Pozzovivo (ALM)
Rafal Majka (TSB)
Fabio Aru (AST)
Dario Cataldo (SKY)
Sebastian Henao (SKY)
Ryder Hesjedal (GRS)
I was also tempted by duarte but went cataldo which allowed me to get Rolland and hesjedal in, as well as henao. Out: battaglin, uran, wellens, bandiera

Cataldo will try the mountain jersey...

In - deignan, pellizotti, kelderman
Out - felline, battaglin, Rolland

Plus Arredondo, Quintana, uran, majka, aru, armee.

Rollin' the dice...

Previews seem 50/50 for a break or GC finish. My opinion; Uran and Evans both seem vulnerable; Quintana will want to put in more time into Uran ahead of tomorrows TT; riders from Rolland down to Hesjedal will be trying to push Evans out of third spot. Hence 7 teams will want a hard race; (not many days left to improve); so I predict the breakaway won't make it.
7 out of the top 9 riders can be fitted into a team; the question is, will Arredondo and Henao combined exceed, lets say, Hesjedal's score.

BTW where are all the Cadel baggers to have a go at QUINTANA , he clearly went around a vehicle holding a RED FLAG!!!!!!!!!!
He made over 1min on decent alone.
Way worst then what Cadel did as they actually broke OFFICIAL RULES.

Was reading the other day from a rider the ETITTEQUE is to slow down for BIKE MECHANICALS cant be avoided, not falls as can be avoided by staying up FRONT.

Tour etiquette dictates that rivals do not take advantage of another rider's misfortune concerning the mechanics of the bike. And, as soon as he realised what was happening, Team Sky's lead rider called for a truce.

Gone for the usual suspects
Had considered chalapud or pantano as there is 78 KOM points up for grabs(not fantasy) but not taking anymore pens this tour!

Quintana
Pozzo
Uran
Aru
Majka
Arredondo
Kelderman
Wellens
Henao

Out: Wellens & Monsalve
In: Rolland and Henao

Quintana
Uran
Rolland
Majka
Kelderman
Aru
Arredondo
Zardini
Henao

Figured that after yesterday's exploits that Wellens would be cooked and unlikely to attempt a raid on KoM points, likewise Monsalve as he's too far off Arredondo so dropped both. Actually considered ditching Arredondo too as I think he has the jersey sewn up and might not need to contest any more breaks.

Rifugio Panarotta is a very tough climb. However, its not the steep ramps like the other day. The 16.8 km towards the top have a steady average gradient of 8.5 %.
If Quintana puts time into Uran i think its all over buts its either going to be an absolute cracker or completely flat with an unknown winning the stage whilst the GC boys watch each other.

Gone for Majka instead of Uran and was able to get Arredondo in as a result.

Nairo Alexander Quintana
Fabio Aru
Rafal Majka
Domenico Pozzovivo
Pierre Rolland
Robert Kiserlovski
Enrico Barbin
Wilco Kelderman
Julian David Arredondo