Yesterday was stage 15 of the Giro d'Italia and the final stage of the Tour of California. Both are covered here.
The stages: In Italy it was a psychotic climbing day with five climbs taking over 7.5 hours while in California, it was a rolling hilly stage to a sprint finish to complete the race.
Who won the stages? In Italy, Mikel Nieve was part of a big early breakaway, took the lead on the final climb and held on to win the stage as the GC contenders closed down the gap. In California, matt Goss won his first race since taking Milan-San Remo in the expected sprint.
GC news? In Italy, Alberto Contador extended his lead further and Michele Scarponi moved into second place after Igor Anton lacked legs after the win on Monte Zoncolan yesterday and Vincenzo Nibali attacked on a descent and wore himself out enough that he cracked twice. In California, Chris Horner and Levi Leipheimer completed their 1-2 finish in the race.
Biggest surprise: Contador's team still didn't do any work. Of course that is because they all faded early in the stage along with every other non-lite climber who wasn't in the breakaway. The stage was just ridiculous in its difficulty.
Biggest disappointment: Contador appears to have a deal worked out with the Spanish team to help him since his team since to be unwilling or unable to help him. As soon as Nibali got away on the descent, Contador sent Movistar team leader David Arroyo, himself well placed on the GC in the top 10, to the front to work for him. The Italian teams plus Contador's former team at Astana all need to band together or we could be looking at a 10 minute gap come the finish on Sunday.
Other items of note: Kudos to Scarponi and Nibali for at least trying to attack, something none of the other GC rivals (except Joaquim Rodriguez who obviously doesn't have the legs right now) can say. Nieve was the leader of the race on the road at one point when the breakaway was 10 minutes ahead. Nieve's stage win made it two days in a row for the Euskatel team after having never won a Giro stage before this year.
What is coming tomorrow? More pain. Mountain time-trial. Good luck to those remaining non-climber in the race. You are likely to need it to stay within the time cut.
Any GC changes tomorrow? Lots. Contador will still lead, but I expect Nibali to put in a good ride and possibly move back into second over Scarponi. Denis Menchov, placed in the back of the top 10, is a threat for the stage win and a possible move to the top five overall.
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