Less than 140km with 14k feet of climbing. More than 60kms were UPHILL. Up the Gavia, and the Stelvio, and finished at the top of the Martello.
Did I mention that it snowed?
Here's the link to the stage replay from RAI. They don't let people embed their videos...so follow the LINK. It takes a minute to load, but it's worth the wait...
Jered was there...
Look at his pretty pictures...
Jered Gruber's Flickr
We chatted yesterday via Twitter and DM. He said it was pretty out of hand.
And it seems that OPQS boss Patty Lefever is whinging like a drunken sorority girl this morning. He's up in arms about the snowy wx, and whether or not the descent off the Stelvio was neutral or not. He says Giro organizes stole the Maglia Rosa from Uran.
Cry me a river Pat. They all had to ride in it, and they all had to descend in it.
Hell, Uran ADMITTED he missed seeing Quintana roll by him on the way off the mountain.
We've established, on this very site, just how I feel about neutralizing races. There was no call for it yesterday.
And let's be clear, Uran had nothing for Nairo Quintana yesterday. No one did. Here's the last 5km...
He brutalized Rolland and Hesjedal...and put time into Uran.
Hey Pat! Maybe take a stronger GT team next time. Seems to me like Rigoberto was awfully alone when hammer met nail.
And here's how NOT to win a race...
"At least he won..." Sure, but he also became a cliche, and an internet meme. Personally, I think it was the Gods of Cycling, striking him down from atop Olympus for wearing an aero helmet.
Fun ride last night. Smaller group because of the afternoon rains, but the roads were dry, and the winds were light. Folks missed out.
It was HUMID though. Like nearly-needing-a-snorkel humid.
The group rolled slowly, and gradually gained speed as the ride progressed. What began with 25-30 ended with 6. Well 7, if you count Scott and Julie on the tandem as one bike/rider.
I was forced to sit up near the end with a very soft rear tire. Not bouncing around, or trying to sprint with 50psi. No thanks.
And after discussing the email that was sent out about the ride, and trying to be the first to the parking lot, I have to say that I'm in full agreement. Shocking, I know, as I'm a contrarian by nature.
After sprinting at the P.O., shut it down. There's NO reason to fly through the neighborhood. Someone is going to get popped by a car backing out of a driveway, or run over a kid, while sprinting to the parking lot podium.
One name was brought up as well. El Matador...
Again...shocked...
And hurrying past the group that has dragged one around for the whole night, just to get to the car first, is bad form. No one is impressed.
My little 4 day mini-stack finished last night. 350km and 12.5 hours of riding in those 4 days. And I felt better as the rides, and the days, went on. Glad I'm going to the Chiro shortly though. I'm crunchy today...
And keep Il Prof in your thoughts, as he's embarking on a long week of riding. He's leaving Cola, riding to Brevard, then riding the Fletcher Flyer Century. After a rest day, he's riding back. @ 500 miles in total...over 5 days of riding...
As Southern women are wont to say, "Bless his heart..."
Time to get ready for my cracking and stretching...and the obligatory mid-week trip to Publix.
Peace and Phil Wood grease.
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