A bit earlier the 5 man breakaway went round a corner and 4 of them fell independently of each other................:eek:
They're saying now that the stage finish might be neutralised as far as small gaps go.............if there's no big gaps everyone will get the same time
Sir Dave Brailsford has confirmed that a deteriorating illness for Sir Bradley Wiggins was the reason behind further time loss for the Brit at the Giro d’Italia.
The Tour de France winner visibly struggled on stage 12 in the pouring rain between Longarone and Treviso and slipped off the back of the peloton as the pace increased during the finale.
Speaking after the stage, the Team Sky Team Principal reflected on a tough day and detailed the illness which has made life so difficult for the 33-year-old.
“Brad developed a head cold and a chest infection and has been on antibiotics,” he confirmed. “His illness has got progressively worse and we knew ahead of the race this morning it was going to be tough for him to get through the stage.
“When you see a rider of Bradley Wiggins’ calibre struggling to hold the wheel in front of him on the flat you know that he’s ill. When you’re ill you’re ill and all you can do is your best to try and manage that illness. I think he showed great courage to battle through the stage to the finish.”
Next steps
With Wiggins dropping back to 13th overall on the general classification, five minutes and 22 seconds back on the maglia rosa of Vincenzo Nibali, Brailsford reiterated that the team would monitor the rider’s illness before making any further decision about his participation.
“Now we’ll get back to the hotel and the team doctor will assess him overnight and then we’ll take a decision about whether Brad continues health-permitting in the morning. It’s a testament to Brad that he has said he wants to continue in the race and carry on to Brescia with the team.”
Despite a difficult few days for Wiggins the team still sit in a strong position at the first Grand Tour of the season.
With two stage wins already in the books the team continue into the second week with Rigoberto Uran maintaining a strong third place overall, 2:04 back on Nibali.
With the Colombian comfortable in difficult conditions on Thursday, Brailsford added: “Rigoberto did a great job retained his third position overall. He’s looked very strong this race and we’ll now do everything to support him in the race for the general classification.”
The Giro continues on Friday with the longest stage of the race, a 254km test from Busseto to Cherasco.
I'm not sure why Wiggo would continue...........he's only going to get worse and there's some hard days racing coming up
I think he'd be better off going home and recovering
I expect Froome is a bit worried now that the team might change focus for the Tour.............:eek:
California is underway. Smithy was talking about the Irish riders and saying that they could put a good national team out.............got me thinking. At some point in it's history the Tour was contested by national teams I think.............that would never happen now with the commercialisation of the sport.
But wouldn't it be great to have a week long stage race for national teams...............it'll never happen though
I expect Froome is a bit worried now that the team might change focus for the Tour.............:eek:
They'd be crazy to do that. Wiggins would have to have made a serious case for himself during the Giro and he hasn't done so - even if it's down to the illness, that's a serious disruption to his Tour prep.
They'd be crazy to do that. Wiggins would have to have made a serious case for himself during the Giro and he hasn't done so - even if it's down to the illness, that's a serious disruption to his Tour prep.
Yes, unless he comes back and does something amazing during the Tour of Switzerland then it'd be best to leave him out altogether.
I don't know...............assuming it's what they say, ie a bit of a chesty cold then he's got plenty of time to get over that and into serious training
But i wouldn't be too disappointed if he missed the Tour and went for the Vuelta instead
Who knows though.................in a couple of weeks time Uran might be the team's number one !
I think that means he's won every sprint stage so far.
His team were nowhere, they'd worn themselves out chasing down breaks and Cav did a McEwen style bobbing and weaving job.................
Just to have it on record.............Jens Voigt won yesterdays stage in California in typical fashion - riding off the front with 5K to go and nobody could catch him.............great stuff !...........
Wiggo can't win the Vuelta too many steep mountain top finishes for the climbers, yes he can get up the long gradients but can't really attack so can't see a Vuelta win.
He'll start the tour anyone with a chance to start that race with number 1 on their back would. He's form hasn't been great but as he said himself he could never repeat last year in a million years.
Today's race route over Sestriere now closed due to weather conditions. The amended route will wind round to the final climb at Bardonecchia. Ski webcams (that may be higher than the stage finish) do not inspire confidence that the race will not suffer further changes. A weekend of racing over some awesome historic climbs has been nullified.
Today's race route over Sestriere now closed due to weather conditions. The amended route will wind round to the final climb at Bardonecchia. Ski webcams (that may be higher than the stage finish) do not inspire confidence that the race will not suffer further changes. A weekend of racing over some awesome historic climbs has been nullified.
Even if they do ride the mountains there no guarantee we're going to see much of it................:mad:
If the Giro is a non event TV-wise* then at least we have the 'Queen Stage' of the Tour of California tonight........so we should have a good couple of hours of action at some point today
*live coverage has started............it's raining, 91K to go, breakaway of 4 riders has over 8 minutes. I suppose there'll be no problem with the pictures until they reach the final climb...........fingers crossed the weather has improved by then !
*live coverage has started............it's raining, 91K to go, breakaway of 4 riders has over 8 minutes. I suppose there'll be no problem with the pictures until they reach the final climb...........fingers crossed the weather has improved by then !
Looks like pictures are lost while still rolling along on the flat with RAI resorting to interviews and highlights.
Comments
A bit earlier the 5 man breakaway went round a corner and 4 of them fell independently of each other................:eek:
They're saying now that the stage finish might be neutralised as far as small gaps go.............if there's no big gaps everyone will get the same time
one and a half minutes down on the GC group..............
he's got his team there but I hope Uran hasn't gone back !
some dispute apparently about hoiw many wins he's had, but it's a lot !
As for Wiggins... Well the word is he has a chest infection. Would explain a lot.... He didn't look well did he?
It also raises the question how much of this is due to form, and how much due to the illness, what sort of form will he be in for Tour De France.
Fantastic win for Cav today, pity the pts rules in the Giro hardly favour sprinters.
http://www.teamsky.com/article/0,27290,28850_8716654,00.html
I think he'd be better off going home and recovering
I expect Froome is a bit worried now that the team might change focus for the Tour.............:eek:
California is underway. Smithy was talking about the Irish riders and saying that they could put a good national team out.............got me thinking. At some point in it's history the Tour was contested by national teams I think.............that would never happen now with the commercialisation of the sport.
But wouldn't it be great to have a week long stage race for national teams...............it'll never happen though
Hesjedal is out as well.
They'd be crazy to do that. Wiggins would have to have made a serious case for himself during the Giro and he hasn't done so - even if it's down to the illness, that's a serious disruption to his Tour prep.
Yes, unless he comes back and does something amazing during the Tour of Switzerland then it'd be best to leave him out altogether.
But i wouldn't be too disappointed if he missed the Tour and went for the Vuelta instead
Who knows though.................in a couple of weeks time Uran might be the team's number one !
Just to throw another spanner into the works
I can't see all these potential grand tour contenders staying at Sky.................:eek:
I think that means he's won every sprint stage so far.
His team were nowhere, they'd worn themselves out chasing down breaks and Cav did a McEwen style bobbing and weaving job.................
Just to have it on record.............Jens Voigt won yesterdays stage in California in typical fashion - riding off the front with 5K to go and nobody could catch him.............great stuff !...........
He'll start the tour anyone with a chance to start that race with number 1 on their back would. He's form hasn't been great but as he said himself he could never repeat last year in a million years.
And more wet/snowy weather on tomorrow's stage over Sestriere: http://www.j2ski.com/snow_forecast/Italy/Sestriere_snow_forecast_48.html --- http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/3165524
Even if they do ride the mountains there no guarantee we're going to see much of it................:mad:
*live coverage has started............it's raining, 91K to go, breakaway of 4 riders has over 8 minutes. I suppose there'll be no problem with the pictures until they reach the final climb...........fingers crossed the weather has improved by then !
Haven't they got anything better to show than this pointless shit?