Giro newbie question

How far back does a rider have to be to be 'out of it'??

In other words, for example, Danilo Di Luca is 2:48 back now. I have no
(relative) idea what that means.

Is he way back/in trouble?

or

Is he just biding his time, and relaxing until later in the stages?

Seriously, this is the first Giro that I've really followed and I don't
have a point of reference.

2:48 sounds like a lot to me, but I know there's still a TON of racing
left.

Thanks so much for any help.

-Bob

Hell and High Water said:

How far back does a rider have to be to be 'out of it'??

In other words, for example, Danilo Di Luca is 2:48 back now. I have no
(relative) idea what that means.

Is he way back/in trouble?

or

Is he just biding his time, and relaxing until later in the stages?

Seriously, this is the first Giro that I've really followed and I don't
have a point of reference.

2:48 sounds like a lot to me, but I know there's still a TON of racing
left.

Thanks so much for any help.

-Bob

The short answer: you never know. Keep watching and learn.

If there is nothing but "flat" road left in the race, 2:48 is way too
much to make up. Even if there are significant hills or an ITT, DeLuca
would need to be superior to those in front, and/or they need to suck
that day.

2:48 is a lot, but making the leap isn't impossible.

Every now and then, someone like Tyler Hamilton will mount a successful
solo breakaway and hold off the peloton to leap up 2-4 spots in the
standings.

--
Lynn Wallace http://www.xmission.com/~lawall
I have nothing but contempt and anger for those who betray the
trust by exposing the name of our sources. They are, in my view,
the most insidious of traitors."
George H.W. Bush, April 16, 1999,

Hell and High Water said:

How far back does a rider have to be to be 'out of it'??

In other words, for example, Danilo Di Luca is 2:48 back now. I have no
(relative) idea what that means.

Is he way back/in trouble?

or

Is he just biding his time, and relaxing until later in the stages?

In this year's Giro with the number of big hill stages, 2:48 is not much
time at all. Compare today's time gap (5 secs) between Di Luca and
Savoldelli with yesterday's (61 secs). One great day while other
contenders suffer can eliminate that gap. Last year, Basso looked great
until he lost 30 minutes on the Stelvio due to some intestinal problems.

On the other hand, Di Luca does not look as strong as the other
contenders. He keeps getting dropped from the leaders on the hills.
He's not hanging back or relaxing; he's suffering. The RAI commentators
love him for that.

The enormity of the time gaps really depends on the rider. In the 1989
Tour, Delgado started the prologue late losing 2:40 and another 5
minutes in the team time trial. He mananged to finish third behind
Lemond and Fignon by attacking all the big hills.

Gabe Brovedani

In article
<[email hidden]>,

Hell and High Water said:

How far back does a rider have to be to be 'out of it'??

In other words, for example, Danilo Di Luca is 2:48 back now. I have no
(relative) idea what that means.

Is he way back/in trouble?

or

Is he just biding his time, and relaxing until later in the stages?

He has not shown much these first two steep days. Playing
Possum? Possible, but unlikely.

Quoted message said:

Seriously, this is the first Giro that I've really followed and I don't
have a point of reference.

2:48 sounds like a lot to me, but I know there's still a TON of racing
left.

Not insurmountable, but do not let it get higher.

Meanwhile, Basso spits on his hands, hoists the black
flag, and starts cutting throats.

--
Michael Press

Di Luca will not win the Giro.... Neither will Van Huffel

In article <[email hidden]>,
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

Di Luca will not win the Giro.... Neither will Van Huffel

If I were a betting man...

....and I had money....

-Bob

Hell and High Water said:

In article <[email hidden]>,
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

Di Luca will not win the Giro.... Neither will Van Huffel

If I were a betting man...

...and I had money....

-Bob

If you are talking about betting on the above, I would also wait until
you get the right odds. I wouldn't bet on DiLuca for the Giro unless I
was getting at least $ 20 for each dollar bet. With at least one
serious contender in front of him, it would have to be more.

The man is cooking the rest of his season chasing what (he thinks) he
almost won last year.

Curtis L. Russell
Odenton, MD (USA)
Just someone on two wheels...

Curtis L. Russell said:

If you are talking about betting on the above, I would also wait until
you get the right odds. I wouldn't bet on DiLuca for the Giro unless I
was getting at least $ 20 for each dollar bet. With at least one
serious contender in front of him, it would have to be more.

The man is cooking the rest of his season chasing what (he thinks) he
almost won last year.

Seems like we're seeing this year what we would have seen last year,
if Basso hadn't succumbed to his 'gastro-intestinal difficulties'...

~bob

bob sullivan said:

Seems like we're seeing this year what we would have seen last year,
if Basso hadn't succumbed to his 'gastro-intestinal difficulties'...

Why the quotes ? Surely you haven't caught a case of Laffertitus.

Donald Munro said:

bob sullivan said:

Seems like we're seeing this year what we would have seen last year,
if Basso hadn't succumbed to his 'gastro-intestinal difficulties'...

Why the quotes ? Surely you haven't caught a case of Laffertitus.

I'm working on my euphemisms. 😉

~bob