Stage 19 of the Giro d’Italia gets underway later tonight, as the Grand Tour continues its relentless journey of mountains and onwards to Milan. Join us from around 9.30pm AEST as we live blog this grand stage.
As the mountain stages have shown us, the winner of the 95th Giro d’Italia is going to come apparent in the last few stages.
Highly impressive in the later half of the race has been Rodriguez (Katusha), Basso (Liquigas-Cannondale), Hesjedal (Garmin-Barracuda), Uran Uran (Sky-Procycling), Scarponi (Lampre-Isd), and Pozzovivo (Colnago-Csf Inox).
It has been tremendous for world cycling and for Canada that the talented Ryder Hesjedal (quintessentially a great name for a cyclist) has shown incredible form in this years race.
Will he be up for it tonight? We will see a real blitz on the uphill finish Basso, Scarponi, Rodriguez and Pozzovivo will smash it and generate enough power to light-up the superdome!
If you not into cycling perhaps you should turn to SBS or Eurosport and participate/blog along with the The Roar cycling team as we see a mammoth battle on the slopes of Category One 10.5 K long, 9.7% average gradient Alpe di Pampeago which maxes out at 16%. It is on the slopes of an uphill finish in the final stages of a Grand Tour where you see what is special and magical about cycling.
Overnight we saw Mark Cavendish (Team Sky) beaten by Andrea Guardini (Farnese Vini – Selle Italia). Being a flat stage it was expected that Cavendish would win but continuing Farnese Vini-Selle Italia success at the Giro the young Italian beat the fastest man in the world. It has been a great team for the second tier teams, with them winning many stages.
So going into stage 19 we see the GC places:
1 Joaquim Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Katusha Team 77:47:38
2 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin – Barracuda 0:00:30
3 Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale 0:01:22
4 Michele Scarponi (Ita) Lampre – ISD 0:01:36
5 Rigoberto Uran Uran (Col) Sky Procycling 0:02:56
6 Benat Intxausti Elorriaga (Spa) Movistar Team 0:03:04
7 Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) Colnago – CSF Inox 0:03:19
Expect fireworks and continued attacks on the up-hill finish. Please get on the The Roar website tonight and participate in the live blog.
zacbrygel
Roar Guru
Only two stages left now and the Giro is finally heating up! Looks set to be a fantastic finish! I can't wait!
GreeenEDGEFans
Guest
General Classification after Stage 19 1 RODRIGUEZ OLIVER, Joaquin (KATUSHA) 84:06:13 2 HESJEDAL, Ryder (GARMIN-BARRACUDA) + 0:17 3 SCARPONI, Michele (LAMPRE - ISD) + 1:39 4 BASSO, Ivan (LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE) + 1:45 5 URAN URAN, Rigoberto (SKY PROCYCLING) + 3:21 6 POZZOVIVO, Domenico (COLNAGO - CSF INOX) + 3:30 7 GADRET, John (AG2R LA MONDIALE) + 5:36 8 DE GENDT, Thomas (VACANSOLEIL-DCM) + 5:40
GreeenEDGEFans
Guest
Stage 19 Results 1 KREUZIGER, Roman (ASTANA) 6:18:02 2 HESJEDAL, Ryder (GARMIN-BARRACUDA) + 0:19 3 RODRIGUEZ OLIVER, Joaquin (KATUSHA) + 0:32 4 SCARPONI, Michele (LAMPRE - ISD) + 0:34 5 POZZOVIVO, Domenico (COLNAGO - CSF INOX) + 0:42 6 BASSO, Ivan (LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE) + 0:54 7 URAN URAN, Rigoberto (SKY PROCYCLING) + 0:56 8 NIEVE ITURALDE, Mikel (EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI) + 1:16 9 PIRAZZI, Stefano (COLNAGO - CSF INOX) + 1:22 10 GADRET, John (AG2R LA MONDIALE) + 1:23
GreeenEDGEFans
Guest
Stage 19 1) Roman Kreuziger 2) Ryder Hesjedal 3) Joaquin Rodriguez (pips Scarponi on the line). in GC Joaquin Rodriguez, Ryder Hesjedal 17 seconds , Scarponi 1’39” Another exciting stage coming-up tomorrow. Make sure you come to The Roar for the Live Giro Blog.
GreeenEDGEFans
Guest
Wow great ride well done Roman K and Hesjedal 2nd, Scarponi,3rd
GreeenEDGEFans
Guest
Roman K 40 seconds on the Hesjedal and Scarponi contest that’s making its way closer with Flamme rouge looming. Hesjedal breaks away from scarponi and seems to be on the way to win the Giro. Go Ryder :D
Darryl Kotyk
Roar Pro
Looks to be a good stage. Thanks for the coverage....keep it coming.
GreeenEDGEFans
Guest
Lull in the battle as no one seems to have a killer blow, Hesjedal and Scarponi seem to have the legs today as Basso attacks and cracks
GreeenEDGEFans
Guest
Cat and mouse as GC contenders eye each other out...scarponi attacks and Hesjedal responds. Pozzovivo gone !
GreeenEDGEFans
Guest
Attacks and counter-attacks for stage win is a race in a race as GC contenders jockey for position. Basso launches first attack in GC contenders.
GreeenEDGEFans
Guest
Parrazi and Casar have attacked as Rohregger drops off. Garmin on pulling hard on the front. Ryder Hesjedal in excellent position. Australia’s Alan Pieper is the DS for Garmin.
GreeenEDGEFans
Guest
6 K’s to go and riders are scattered all over the road and many chasing hard. A corner seems to be causing problems. The lead group now has four Casar, Pirazzi are joined by Thomas Rohregger and Sella. Last climb started with a minute on Astana led chasing group.
GreeenEDGEFans
Guest
Racing heating-up with riders jumping off the front, coordinated attacks by Astana and have led to riders attempting to cross to Sandy Casar (FDJ) and Stefano Pirazzi (Colnago CSF Inox). Basso’s Liquigas team unable to keep the pace high enough to stop riders going off the front.
GreeenEDGEFans
Guest
The front of the peloton has all the potential winners upfront but have lost a few from top-10 already. Good to see Ryder Hesjedal looking so good, Basso’s Liquiqas team working hard and Scarponi’s Lampre team lurking in the shadows.
GreeenEDGEFans
Guest
woops with the stage win by Casar 2nd in stage 12 :D
GreeenEDGEFans
Guest
Last 2 in the break is Sandy Casar (FDJ) is a capable breakaway specialist and has already won a stage in this year’s Giro; Stefano Pirazzi (Colnago CSF Inox) is a noted climber recently winning Mountains classification, Tirreno–Adriatico earlier this season. They are over 3 mins in front with 36 km to go.
GreeenEDGEFans
Guest
Passo Pampaego is 10.5 km and 9.7%. Which means in 10.5 km you have travelled 1 Km vertically so its very steep.
GreeenEDGEFans
Guest
In the break there is some selection they know they need to lift their pace to have a chance of a win…. which is unlikely but don’t you love when a breakaway stays away?
GreeenEDGEFans
Guest
Robbie Hunter has taken a big tumble looked very sore. Liquigas has controlled the descent allowing no one the opportunity to dart off the front. 17 K downhill in no time. Let’s start talking stage winner any comments?
GreeenEDGEFans
Guest
OK if you are watching on SBS or Eurosport this descent is fantastic! Tune to SBS live streaming if you can’t get to a tele. This is great. Personally I love descending but it has cost me a broken scapula! The large peloton will be strung out and allow the breakaway to gain more time. Any comments?