Laggard

Peta!

My man Hondo takes second. What an exciting last 30k! Bettini attacking on the descent of the Cipresa?

Bettini was in better form than I thought he was and Hushovd apparently got over his illness. Nice ride for Gilbert also!

classic1

Didja follow it on the net or TV?

gcasillo

From the report on cyclingnews.com, it sounds like Hushovd had a good ride too, but Ale-Jet is just too much. He should have to fix a lead ball and chain to his bike to make it fair.

Good to see Bettini getting into form for another world cup run.

Too bad about Hincapie and McEwen. Both would have been factors I thought.

Laggard

Yeah, I didn't think that Thor would have recovered so quickly.

It's truly amazing how fast these guys can ride after 180 miles of racing. Cyclingnews reported that they were strung out going UP the Cipresa.

don d.

Freire gets the consolation prize-he no longer has to wear the white jersey of surrender, aka the Pro Tour leader's jersey.

Bettini rode his a$$ off for Boonen. Mirko said hello to friends and family down the Cipressa. Simeoni waved to LA on the M/C cameras and Jimmy Casper riding in a break to take the pressure off O'Grady? That was a bit weird.

Oh ya, Petacchi is clearly the dominant sprinter today.

brent_dube

I read he had a big gap at the line? How big?
Talk about dominant. I thought it would have at least been a very close sprint. Figured his legs would be yelling from the climb.

Csson

I'd say the gap was about a bike length. According to Eurosport's commentators he has been training hard on climbing (and losing weight in the process).

I was hoping for Cipo to win .

Flaneur

I was a little disappointed that a few more rouleur types didn't try to mess up the sprint, by making a big move on the Cipressa or Poggio. Bettini, as ever, was top value. A couple more hitters in his escape, and the finish might have been a little less predictable.

Olyroller

I picked Hondo to win too, so dang close

oboeguy

Petacchi's sprint was ridiculous. It looked like those times a guy goes a little too early and is going to get passed... but he stayed ahead by a bike length. Total ownage!

Paolo B looked great with the gold accents (helmet and shoes).

gcasillo

By Hondo's reaction, Petacchi probably did go too early. I can imagine Hondo thinking to himself, are you f***ing kidding me? He got up to speed with Petacchi, but it was too late. I'm a little disappointed Boonen wasn't in the mix; Bettini gave a worthy lead out.

lotek 

Boonen was nowhere in sight. I think that on a long
run out (like MSR) Boonen could stay close to Peta.
I agree Hondo was like WTF is this happy horsesht?

marty

Laggard

Boonen mentioned that he hesitated for a split second and got boxed in a couple times. That's all it took.

53-11_alltheway

I Saw the coverage on OLN sunday.

You got to give my man Pettachi props for being able to pull out the big horsepower at the end after all those miles including that one major climb. He did it all armed merely with a 11-21 cassette. Nice.

jbhowat

They mentioned that he used an 11-21. I always thought the sprinters would use a wider spaced cassette to help their weakness (usually climbing). I know the 11 is required, but i wonder why not an 11-23, its not like he's using any of the big cogs for a sprint. Oh well.. I don't even have an 11, so

53-11_alltheway

My thoughts exactly? (the only real difference is the last three cogs in the cassette which he wouldn't be using in the big ring anyway)

11-12-13-14-15-16-17-19-21-23

11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19-21

Blackberry

Somebody I know once asked a pro racer, "Do you spin easy gears or do you push high gears?" He said, "I spin high gears."

Crack'n'fail

Watching on TV, the head on camera made it look like it was really close.

then they they showed it from an overhead camera and when Pettachi went he opened up about 4 or 5 bike lengths in no time. Hondo closed it down to only a bike length or 2 at the end only because Pettachi sat up so early to celebrate.

That man sprinting is a thing of pure beauty

2Rodies

In Boonens defence I read in CycleSport that he's concentrating on the northern Euro classics and the Tour. Petta has said since as early as last season that his goals are/were M-SR, The Giro and the Vuelta. Petta is in peak form while I think we'll see the Boonen hit his peak in a few more weeks at races like Gent-Wevelgem.

sewupnut

That 11's great for going downhill with a tailwind (hit 61 the other day after spinning out about 53), but for us mere mortals...

I don't think anyone can beat Pettachi unless he's interfered with. He won that race going away - at least from the overhead shot. And I'm a Robbie McKewan (sp?) fan.

sun

Piratello

Petacchi was unbelievable, he started the turbo and was gone.
It reminded me to the good old days of a young Cipo...
Hondo was also amazing. Good 2nd place.