Giro stage 15

1. Rabottini
2. Rodriguez
3. Losada
4. Henao
5. Scarponi
6. Basso
7. Pirazzi
8. Kreuziger
9. Gadret
10. Txurruka
11. Nieve
12. Hesjedal
13. Cataldo
14. Intxausti
15. Tschopp
16. Tiralongo
17. De Gendt
18. Moreno
19. Cunego
20. Brambilla
21. Casar
22. Uran
23. Niemic
24. Pozzovivo
25. Szmyd

Rujano came in 4 minutes down in 32nd, he's definitely getting the boot tomorrow.

Cav bus home 34:48 down, 60 odd riders.
Guardini last man again

I really thought about bringing Guardini in this morning, but decided it was too much of a risk. Is 15 points his highest score so far?

I asked a club rider why he thought that the Poz had lost so much time yesterday, and his classic response was:

"Probably took the wrong pills."

Just thought I'd share.

Also, tomorrow I'll finally be able to get rid of Serge Powels.

Please can someone explain why Guardini got 15 points and Cav got 9? Not this scoring lark clearly.....

Cav got 5 for being in red and 4 for the intermediate sprint

Still a number of riders in the list who have abandoned. Goss, Renshaw, Schleck etc. can this be cleaned up over the rest day?

Nice and convenient that Schleck pulled out on the morning of the stage where he was bound to lose a good chunk of time, descending really is a massive weakness for him. No wonder he prefers the TdF in the summer where there's less chance of rain.

Descending in the rain is a problem, dry he can just about handle, He's TT skills are a mess and the only reason he is a "big name" is because he shares that surname with his brother, otherwise he'd be classed as a high end DS

Nah, he's probably in the same league as Rujano/Gadret, someone who can win a stage and maybe get top 5 if they're lucky. He just doesn't have the allround skills to win a grand tour.

I never understood why riders like the Schleck's are so poor at TTing, some of the best climbers (Contador, & Armstrong drugs not withstanding) have been excellent TTers so its surely not a physical thing? And its not like the top all rounders like Evans and Wiggins are THAT much bigger or more powerful than the Schlecks (ok, Evans is bigger but Wiggins doesn't look much bigger nowadays) and surely the effort needed to climb the Tormalet at pace is comparable with that needed to sustain a good TT pace for 40kmk? Is it just a mental thing?

It must be a Euro Thing.

Having now seen the result again not gambling on gadret cost me points. another very average day!

Now for tuesday do i go Gadret or Basso? Ive pretty much decided the two other changes im gonna make.

Doesnt look like Cav is gonna be able to win the red jersey. He must win stage 18 (i think its that stage) to stand a chance and try and take out as many of the sprints as possible, maybe go in some breaks?

Tuesday is a pretty flat stage, however the finish is it too steep/long for Cav as it does flatten off?

Rujano ... thank for the zero points that you gave me in the last 2 stages...

What a waste

God I'd forgotten how dull Basso can be to watch, yet somehow he's contrived to climb the GC ladder whilst actually losing yet more time. Obviously others have lost still more. He stays as he might just bore his rivals to death.

He's unspectacular but effective, he knows that Rodriguez is great on small steep climbs so he limits his losses and will make time up on the others when we get to the really hard stages and the TT.

From a fantasy point of view though he's a pain in the arse as he won't get loads of points but will be consistently up there.

Edit: Also, how do you think Wiggins and Evans win races? They grind out the results, stay close to the proper climbers on the hills and blow them away in the TT, yes they're a better version of Basso but it's the same idea.

Grand Tour's tend to have the toughest stages towards the end and Basso tends to linger lower down the GC Order until he reaches these and so picks up less GC top 10 pts per stage than perhaps a Cuddles or Wiggo who can take advantage of an early TT.

I was watching the end on the Giro website so didn't get any commentary, anyone know how far back the Gruppeto is and whether Cav is likely to be inside the time limit?

GC:

1. Rodriguez
2. Hesjedal (30")
3. Basso
4. Tiralongo
5. Kreuziger
6. Scarponi
7. Intxausti
8. Henao
9. Cataldo
10. Casar
11. Uran
12. De Gendt
13. Pozzovivo

Pozzovivo's a big loser today, Henao takes the white jersey too. Uran lost 1'47 in the end to fall well down. Surprised to see Casar still up there but I might take a punt on De Gendt for next week now

Raleigh wrote:

Anyone who got Henao (like me) is in for big points.

Agreed, I've got Henao and I expect him to be very popular for Tuesday, especially with 4 transfers on offer. Basso and Scarponi looked strong, if only I could get both of them and Rodriguez into my team without dropping Hesjedal

Anyone who got Henao (like me) is in for big points.

Rabottini
Rodriguez
Losada
Henao
Scarponi
Basso
Pirazzi
Kreuziger
Gadret
Txukkuka
Nieve
Hesjedal (39")

That's your top twelve

Rodriguez
Hesjedal
Basso
top three in GC

What a finish! Great ride from Rabottini. Can't help but think J-Rod gifted him the win, but thoroughly deserved, nonetheless.

Thrilling stuff!