Giro D'italia

[Khandro]

Huge, High mountain stage today, can anyone take the pink jersey of Alberto Contador ?

[Jomlett]

Nope. Team Sky is still fighting for the overall podium, though. It’s not with Richie Porte as their main contender anymore. Instead, Leo König must now be the leader of the team. He’s more than three minutes ahead of Porte in the general classification and just two minutes from the podium.

König is an excellent climber. Today’s final ascent suits him very well. He’s not a real threat to the pink jersey at the moment...so go for it, König!

[Khandro]

jomlet; I shall bear your support for K. in mind as I watch, but I doubt it. The weather is ideal it seems, 70 degrees and cloudy. It's a great terrain, two massive climbs, the last one to the finish, there's also a long, 30 km. descent after the first, - coverage starts in half an hour, can't wait!

[Jomlett]

Ah well! K lost a minute, but of Porte...will he quit the race now? A great Astana 1-2 was almost spoilt by Yury Trofimov but class will prevail and Landa did the deed.

[Khandro]

I'm very pleased for Astana, those boys really worked hard for a win. Your man didn't seem to get into the swing of things. interesting to see Alberto warming down afterwards, is this a new idea?

[Jomlett]

Its the usual wind-down after track or road but very rare that Eurosport have the time to linger backstage!

[Jomlett]

There's a real shake up going on after the 2nd week and Sky's König has moved up 5 places...
1 Alberto Contador (Spa) Tinkoff-Saxo 60:01:34
2 Fabio Aru (Ita) Astana Pro Team 0:02:35
3 Andrey Amador (CRc) Movistar Team 0:04:19
4 Mikel Landa Meana (Spa) Astana Pro Team 0:04:46
5 Leopold Konig (Cze) Team Sky 0:06:36
6 Yury Trofimov (Rus) Team Katusha 0:06:58
7 Damiano Caruso (Ita) BMC Racing Team 0:07:10
8 Maxime Monfort (Bel) Lotto Soudal 0:08:20
9 Giovanni Visconti (Ita) Movistar Team 0:09:53
10 Alexandre Geniez (Fra) FDJ.fr 0:10:03

[kawakiri]

All I know is my Fantasy Giro team is done for.

[Khandro]

For Aru to take 2:35 out of Alberto looks like a very big ask, he tried to attack him but was well answered each time. As we always say "Barring a serious accident .............. " I think it's in the bag for the Spaniard.

[Jomlett]

As expected, Richie Porte has withdrawn from the Giro.

[Khandro]

Great pity and bad luck, there is the Tour of course, but whereas he had his sights on victory in the Giro, the prospect of simply helping Froome to win, is a slightly jejune prospect.

[Khandro]

The hardest stage today; 236km. 3 x 1st cat. climbs. Alberto's if he wants it? Maybe Hesjerdal is hungry enough? Bring it on!