Giro d'Italia Stage 10: Sky's Uran wins first mountain stage, but Wiggins loses time again

I know I said I'd stop but I haven't been able to when it comes to Declan's commentary!

I have 'learnt' to accept Sean's monatone voice, although he has been out of the "pela tone" a while now and prefer Magnus' more recent and up to date input - especially on equipment choice.

Declan's comments about top speed - such as 'really? on a bicycle?' made me cringe the other day! Plus his muttering when he thought Samual Sanchez was Bradley Wiggins at one point yesterday on returning from an ad break! That and never knowing if the chain came off, or it was a puncture or a gear issue - surely I'm not the only one yelling at the TV when I am meant to be working while its on in the background?

Oh and asking a question that has been tweeted to Sean but then answering it before Sean says a word!

OK - I'll stop and breath now!!!!

One other thing - the Giro is awesome isn't it. A big plus for me, as a recent Skyfosi convert, was to hear Dave B say last night that it's all about attacking from now. Yes, bring it on!

It's nice to have a bit of balance and knowledge on this forum. Whatever you think, you cant argue the Giro is ace!

By the way, when you see Mark Cavendish winning a flat stage later in the race, it's no wonder he's so pleased after hauling his arse over these mountains day after day. Matt Stephens' blog on the Grupetto in the days of Cipollini is worth a read:

http://www.maxcycling.tv/index.php/blogs-features/431-tales-from-giro

I definitely think Sky have to now protect Uran as much as and possibly more than Brad. He isn't going to make back any times on climbs and after the bad luck or whatever of ITS no 1 he's too far back to get it back on the second. His best bet is to recover (I am convinced there is a health issue), Sky back Uran to the point the other GC riders have to mark him and maybe Brad can make an escape.

TBH I never rated BWs chances better than podium if lucky or more probably top 5. Giro and Vuelta are too climber centric for Brad. Add in mountain top time bonuses (which he will rarely get as like Cadel he is a TTer who can hold near to the best climbers [and he don't have LAs drugs to give him the mountain kick] but not beat them to the line) and he needed to win every TT convincingly to get the overall. For much the Sam reason he can't win this year's Tour, too much grimpeur style climbing and insufficient TT to make up for it.

I can't see Iran winning though anything is possible but I do think Sky can get a podium and a top 5 too, which would still be bloody good.

Declan Quigley is the commentator. Shocking, does he know anything about cycling? I'd rather have Differs back and he was poor. Plus Kelly, ok he's a cycling legend but bloody he'll it's like listening to paint dry. Give us Rob Hauled or Brian Smith anyday. Magnus isn't too bad considering he is talking a foreign language (could you argue Sean is too?) but he's a little bit flat too, understandably.

Having seen the stage and the way it panned out the gap between Wiggins and Nibali wasn't huge. That 20% gradient was the difference.

On one side Wiggins refusal to get out of the saddle and change tempo was at fault. On the more consistent French gradients his 'slowly, slowly catches the monkey' works. But sometimes Bradley, you need to send yourself into the red.

On the other, Bradley didn't look like toast at the finish. Once the gradient flattened he looked like he had more in his locker.

Wiggins isn't done yet, but he has to find a way to combat those attacks on these gradients.

Of course Wiggins has to expect a certain amount of pressure given how he's talked himself up so much. But he's off form, got various minor (?) ailments including chest infection and knee. If he had the same virus as Cataldo it's a wonder he's in the top 20, never mind 4th of 193 riders. He's doing the best he can given that the Giro is clearly a harder parcours than the gradual ascents of the Tour. I agree that he's never going to dance up the steep stuff a la Contador but give him a bit of credit, that just not how he rides. A podium is not beyond him and would be a good result.

As for Sky themselves, I maintain that they badly miss Sean Yates' DS skills. Brailsford wants all 3 GTs this year, so he's going to have to choose between the two. The danger is letting the race play out without being proactive about this and letting Nibbles gain more time in the process.

By the way, Nibali has been immense so far. He seems to have gained a lot of confidence this season and his little acceleration yesterday after his chain dropped was unbelievable. 'Hat' to him

I know last year's Tour win for GB and Wiggins was grand, but let's face it...Wiggo sucks. He's boring, has one style of riding and the only reason he was able to trick everyone in 2012 was his team...clearly the strongest in France...and the fact that Evans was piss poor in 2012 AND - most important - Contador was NOT in France.

Let the Colombians out of their cages. The Giro suits them!

I'm not a fan of Evans, but considering his age (37?), this is an impressive ride - he just never gives up.

Sadly, I can't see Wiggo winning from here - lots more tough climbing to come and I can't see him putting Nibali or Evans in trouble. The Colombians on the other hand are a different matter...

I wish I could say I had confidence that 'the Wiggins' was going to come storming back - unfortunately I think Nibs is by far the strongest bet. I totally agree with the posters above - 4th on GC for a British rider is far from a disaster! And lets face it, no Brit has ever come in to a race in this scenario of being a defending Grand Tour winner and so having so much expectation heaped on them. I'd be getting off and walking on a stage like that, so I'm not going to dis the Modfather!

I beleive Wiggins has been suffering with a chest infection after all the rain earlier this week. Todays stage was his first without it hanging over him and i believe its taken a lot out of him.

If he can hang in tommorrow ok then let the flat stages go by we MIGHT see a better rider come out of it. If not then the team have to switch to Uran as no 1.

I think Nibali played it perfect - Sky will have a sleepless night with two riders and a second difference.
Remember Vuelta 2011 Cobo - Froome- Wiggins?
First putting the (big) money on Wiggins and later Froome loses by mere seconds

We're perfectly entitled to expect Wiggo to be in contention, if not in the lead - he said himself pre race he's never climbed better and the figures apparently are supporting that. Either there is an underlying health issue, although Brailsford has said he's fine, or he has underestimated the competition, especially in the TTs. Nibali looks so comfortable, even when he's low on team support. The predictable attack by Uran following the ferocious pace that Sky set on the two final climbs may just have backfired and killed off Wiggo's ability to deal with the steepest ramps. Let's face it, Wiggo is not an explosive natural climber that will dance up a 17% slope, the Giro is not the Tour. The plan has always been to defend a lead after the TT, not to have to go on the attack. New territory for Sky for sure, and it makes for fascinating tactics and racing, but hard to see how Wiggo, and indeed Sky can regain the initiative.

God knows what will happen in the Tour if Wiggo does not succeed in the Giro. Time is not on his side, and you can't switch off the competitive streak in a top athlete.

Alas a few years ago we might have been raving about Wiggo's 4th place but things have moved on and with him apparently basing his whole season around the Giro people's expectations are high (as no doubt his salary is )

He doesn't look at all comfortable and his apparent lack of descending skills are where he's lost most of his time so far. I sense there is more to this than meets the eye given Sky's meticulous preparation but I'm not sure we'll get to the bottom of things (whoops a bit of a pun there!) even after the end of the Giro?

Good day for Uran, but you have to wonder whether Nibs let him go because he wasn't a GC threat, in which case he's not necessarily any more viable for the win than wiggo? It was always possible that Sky would send someone ahead to take the bonus seconds.

I'm looking forward to watching the stage. Unfortunately Eurosport have sacrificed the evening replay for the Tour of California, just as its getting exciting.

Knowing what happens in the Giro, victory one day can mean failure the next. It's hard to get the consistency. Maybe with this in mind Uran attacks today and Wiggins tomorrow. Though there is no way Wiggins meant to lose time. If Sky can double team Nibali (and Evans) they may cut them down.

But my honest appraisal is that Wiggins has to hope for Nibali to weaken as at the moment he hasn't shown any form with which he can win this. Uran's form is also a cause for concern (for Wiggins) as his TT has not shown him to be the stronger rider overall, in fact considering all factors Uran deserves the team support - though Brailsford will know the numbers. But maybe this is a tactic to try and draw the other GC riders out?!

It show how far we have come in such a short time when a British rider 4th on the GC of the Giro after a week is considered a 'disaster'.
Wiggins has had a couple of 'mares but he aint out of it yet. I just wish he would get out of the bloody saddle once in a while!

I agree with arrieredupeleton - I think Wiggins is doing pretty well. Plenty of people losing more time. Aparently Springtime in Italy is rife with chest infections and pollen allergies - these could be playing a part.

Not sure who the commentator is - but similarly unimpressed - bring on ITV 4 for entertainment.

Once again I was driven made by the commentary (sorry I will stop mentioning this!)

Great ride by Uran, although I'm not sure if he might have had an even bigger gap but I felt he was waiting for Brad for a while.

Still there is only a second between Brad and Uran.

Sky have to go with Uran now. He's proven over 3 weeks at the Giro and won't do any worse than Wiggins in the mountain TT. I can't see why they shouldn't go with the man who's in form.

Unlike most of the knee-jerk British press, I think Wiggins has done pretty well under the circumstances. Just look at Hesjedal...