Swimming with Sharks

Il Lombardia:

Cycle Sport are having a lovely, if confusing, time out there.

It's not that I don't appreciate the little free pirated links I use, but it'd be good if the advertised start times were moderately adhered to. Then maybe I wouldn't have to start every race annoyed after a fight with the internet.

And it's like I kind of care about Eurometropole, but do I really?

I mean it's literally everywhere now. Even on channels that weren't even on before. It's like a Eurometropole virus has taken over my computer.

And... Women's volleyball? The hell is going on.

At least nothing is going on in the race, according to Twitter.

Ohhh what??! I WANNA SEE.

Ok this looks like some sort of highlights/wrap up on the women's volleyball.

Orrrrrrr... just a massive slo-mo segment in the middle of a match. FFS.

AND BELGIAN TED IS ATTACKING. COME ON.

I'm starting to hate Eurometropole.

Several riders have gone off the front in the Gisallo, they are Tom Jelte Slagter (Cannondale-Garmin), Michal Kwiatkowski, Zdenek Stybar, Metteo Trentin, Carlos Verona, Lukasz Wisniowski (Etixx-QuickStep), Tim Wellens (Lotto Soudal), Jon Izaguirre (Movistar), Robert Gesink, Timo Roosen (Lotto NL-Jumbo), Nizzolo (Trek Factory Racing)


Cyclingnews have helpfully pointed out that Kwiato is in his new (old) colours. Look how cool he is.


Ahahahahaha, COFIDIS. COFIDIS won that Eurometropole stage. SWITCH OVER.


Are we honestly going to interview every participant in Eurometropole before we CHANGE COVERAGE!?!


Don't lie to me BMC.


Fucking hell merciful god.


I feel like the entirety of Eurometropole was broadcast and like the last 10 minutes of Lombardia is. What is going on in the world?


Anyway, I'll get over it. 54k to go. 


Magnus Backstedt has a rather English accent doesn't he?


So there's some dudes out front but we're more concerned with the chasers, who include: Michal, Geshke's Beard, TJ Butcher, and Belgian Ted among others.


Mother of christ this is what they're climbing at the moment.


Meh Geschke's Beard has been dropped and is back in the peloton.


Oh hello Dan, where are you?


ALLO MICHAL YOU LOOK IMPERIAL.


Not sure where we are, just watching people come up the climb I guess.


A Yates


HEY LEO


DAN!


PHIL


Belgian Ted and Michal at the head of the race together?


Belgian Ted slipped through a very tight spot between the motorbike and Michal, not sure if Michal's subsequent hand gesture was to indicate "chill, dude".


There's some grassy knoll style graphics going on but not sure what they're trying to highlight.


They suspect Michal wants a lead bike to indicate where the eff he's going on this foggy descent.


SAFETY FIRST MICHAL.


Astana have been chasing this whole time btw.


UGH What is THAT descent!! Belgian Ted could've easily pitched over that bridge!


Michal and Belgian Ted have 28 seconds.


40k to go


(G's wedding looked amaze, on another note)


Phillllllllll! Very quite hard climbs Phil says. 


Ahahaha, he had a bit to say about people chasing WT points. Then you understand the next day when you see the papers. I LOVE PHIL AND HIS KIND FACE.


Why does Matt Stephens give a shit about resting your arms in the middle of your handlebars? He's always going on about it.


Haven't had much of an update but Michal and Belgian Ted seem to have about 36 seconds on a chasing group of about 20 riders. 


Phil seems to be chasing the chase group solo. 


HEY PHIL


When did he do that epic solo chase earlier this year? DO IT AGAIN PHIL.


28.5k to go.


Ah Phil's got some company. Rui Costa at least, and 2 others maybe.


Alessandro Volta, the man who gave his name to the word 'Volt' was born in Como, where we finish today.


The chase group includes TJ Butcher, WEE PETE KENNAUGH (they think), Simon Yates, George Bennett, Thibault Pinot, and other less interesting people like all of Astana and Valv.Piti.


Michal and Belgian Ted are onto the penultimate climb.


Aww TJ Butcher getting left behind.


Michal alone??!


Oh christ not for long.


Astana is pegging him back.


Awww DAMMIT Michal seems to indicate.


Meh. Back in the group he goes.


Ugh stop mentioning people I don't want to win in this group.


Nibali and Chaves peeling off the front


Moreno (sadly not Moser) brings Thibault Pinot and Valv.Piti across.


Some Skys hitch back on.


Sergio Henao going to the front?


Wout is dropped from this group. #Woutontinder


The Shark of Messina has another go at the front


There's like six dudes up here.


Chaves follows Nibali, Dani Moreno, Valv.Piti, Thibault Pinot, Nieve I think, another Astana


Pinot goes!


Nieve follows!


and an Astana follows.


Brambilla dropped from the front group.


Nieve sort of went again


Diego Rosa goes and Pinot chases


SHARK ATTACK!!


Pinot looks to see no one else is going to do the chase and GOES


Back together, six at the front: Nibali, Rosa, Chaves, Moreno, Pinot and Valv.Piti


Nieve is latching back on the back


They're over the top now and Nibali attacks again


Fucking hell he's getting away


He is taking insane risks on the descent


UGH these wheel screeches are terrible.


WOAH ok suddenly we're not at 16k but 12k.


Still a final climb to go


It's not that I don't like Nibali or don't want him to win, but... 


I mean there are loads of better people aren't there?


WOAH the motorbike nearly wedged him into a wall. Fucking hell.


They're saying he has 25 seconds now.


Also someone is screwing up the descent lines for everyone but I missed who.


10k to go, onto the flat-ish now


The six behind are kinda all over the place. No one particularly wants to pull.


Oooh some further chasers now


Votre Copain Tony Gallopin is there, Brambilla is also back.


Magnus Backstedt is suggesting they threaten these remaining Astanas. 


40 seconds for The Shark.


Pinot goes!


He got away but Moreno is dragging everyone back.


Cheers Moreno, bringing Valv.Piti and an Astana. You're a legend.


Moreno looks like he's gone away now


Pinot on his wheel


6.5k to go


Those two have got some air


Pinot sort of getting distanced


How much has he got left? What is the gap?

17 seconds, Moreno is coming for the Shark.


The group is 32 seconds behind


Ugh, Nibali is onto the descent.


Moreno is too now


5k


I mean they're close! Moreno at 14 seconds, Pinot at 24.


CATCH HIM.


3k.


11 seconds behind for Moreno, 22 for Pinot, 33 for whoever is back there chasing.


Well.


The GPS went insane and suddenly we're actually just at the finish.


So it's the Shark.


It's not as good as Dan winning is it?


Best placed Frenchman, and a podium at that! GO THIBAULT.


TJ Butcher came 13th.


I guess at least Valv.Piti didn't win.