Coverage of Giro d'Italia 2013

[lord hereford]

Just had a text from my mate Trev who is staying in Ponte de Legno and was rather looking forward to watching them ride over the Gavia. Oh dear, not a happy bunny. What's wrong with race organisers these days? It's just a covering of snow... never stopped Andy Hampsten did it. I would imagine the organisers are going to have to have a lie down after the stress of sorting out the route problems from this year's Giro. I hope the snow's gone from the Alps when I go out to see the stages up Alpe d'Huez and Col du Glandon. It will have gone then, won't it??!!?

[benborp]

Maybe. I can remember the Tour having trouble with snow at some point in the mid-nineties. I'm not sure if it was just particularly unpleasant or whether the race had to be rerouted to avoid the worst cols.

[woollypigs]

I remember that Bjarne Riis was not happy in 96 or 97 that they stopped short because of snow.

EDIT : For some reason I always mix 92 up with 96 when it comes to pro cycling.

[benborp]

Googling reveals that the Galibier was omitted in '96 due to snow.

It would be really bizarre if Alpe d'Huez was cut due to snow, slightly less so the Col du Glandon.

[Andrew Br]

...... and Oaky can type faster than me............

Yes, but what's he on ?

Oh yes, E's.

[lord hereford]

Wow, I've just seen the footage of the Tonale. It looks like midwinter.
Playing devil's advocaat here, just for a minute, would the organisers have resisted cancelling today's stage if Nibali was a few seconds behind Evans going into the last two days in the mountains and needing every metre of ascent to claw back those seconds?
I know I'm being naughty but back in the day didn't the Giro organisers get rid of a mountain top finish to help Moser retain his lead? Can't remember which climber was threatening his hold on the Magli Rosa but I remember reading that there really wasn't as much snow up high as they were claiming....
I won't mention the low flying helicopter incident with Moser and Fignon in '84....

[LittleWheelsandBig]

Both episodes were Moser and Fignon in '84.

[Biff]

Proof that Cav is no Cipo-type quitter when it isn't warm and sunny.

[Rainmaker]

Posted by: Biff Yesterday at 10:13:57 PM

Proof that Cav is no Cipo-type quitter when it isn't warm and sunny.

If Mr Cavendish is growing a beard and shows such grit and determination to get to the finish, shouldn't he be invited to be the Honorary President (?) of Audax UK.

There is a precedent, the late Hubert Opperman was a "racer" and held that post.

[LittleWheelsandBig]

It helped that Oppy won the 1931 PBP professional race in the same year that the very first PBP randonneur and Audax brevets were held.

[Dibdib]

If Mr Cavendish is growing a beard and shows such grit and determination to get to the finish, shouldn't he be invited to be the Honorary President (?) of Audax UK?

Not unless he also starts rocking SPD sandals and white socks.

[Karla]

That was Cavtastic   

[David Martin]

Cav is the first british rider to win the points jersey in all three grand tours. He has also worn pink and gold jerseys, it is just the yellow that eludes him now.

[andrew_s]

Stage 1 (Porto-Vecchio to Bastia) is a flat sprinter's stage, and with no prologue he's a good chance of yellow.

[citoyen]

Cav is the first british rider to win the points jersey in all three grand tours.

Only the fifth rider ever to do so, and only the second (after Merckx) to have also been World Champion.

If it were ever in any doubt, I think he is now well and truly established as one of the all-time greats of the sport.

[citoyen]

Also, he now has 11 wins so far this season (12 if you count the team time trial at Tirreno-Adriatico - which is exactly the same number as he had at this stage of the 2009 season, which was his best to date (finished with 23 wins). I wouldn't be surprised to see him beat that this year, the way he's going.

[David Martin]

Is this a subtle reference to Wiggo (London Olympics)?

http://www.cyclingnews.com/giro-ditalia/stage-21/photos/267339

[Karla]

To take the first inter sprint, then all three incarnations of the second inter, then the final sprint too - that was mighty impressive.  Wiggo may be the first Brit to win Le Tour, but Cav's name will surely be remembered for longer.

Cav is the first british rider to win the points jersey in all three grand tours. He has also worn pink and gold jerseys, it is just the yellow that eludes him now.

If he wants that, he'll need to get over Buttertubs first.

[Frank9755]

He'll get it this year - see Andrew_s' comment above.  It's been set up for him (which doesn't mean he hasn't earned it)!