Gäste Forum » get what he called his excellent 1-2 punch

COL DU GALIBIER, France -- A superb solo ride up the grueling Col du Galibier gave Giovanni Visconti victory in a weather-affected 15th stage of the Giro dItalia Sunday, and favourite Vincenzo Nibali retained the overall lead as atrocious weather conditions once again altered the race course. Heavy snow fell at the finish as Visconti won in a time of 4 hours, 40 minutes, 52 seconds, beating Carlos Betancur and Przemyslaw Niemiec by 42 seconds. Nibali, who finished third and second in his two previous Giros, maintained his 1:26 lead over Cadel Evans. Saturdays leg was changed because of avalanche threats. Sundays leg was also affected by the sub-zero temperatures, with the final 4.25km up the famous Galibier removed. The stage instead finished at the monument to deceased Italian cyclist Marco Pantani, whose extraordinary climb up the Galibier ultimately enabled him to win the 1998 Tour de France. It was a superb ride from Visconti, who was part of an early move before dropping his fellow escapees on the Col du Telegraphe. The race was neutralized on the category-1 climb up the Col du Mont Cenis and across into France, in what appeared to be a demonstration of solidarity among riders. Everyone rode at the same pace through the snow-filled landscapes. Pieter Weening broke clear on the descent and built a lead of about three minutes on the peloton, with a chasing group of six riders attempting to bridge the gap. The Dutchman was caught by the chasers and they had an advantage of more than six minutes in approaching the Telegraphe, although the gap had dropped to little more than two minutes at the start of the category-2 climb. Visconti made his move more than 20 kilometres (12.5 miles) from the finish and built a lead of nearly two minutes. That advantage was eroded by Weening, Stefano Pirazzi and Matteo Rabottini as Visconti looked to be struggling at the start of the Galibier. But the 30-year-old Italian dug deep and stretched his lead again. Visconti held on in the final kilometre -- which had a gradient of 11 per cent -- to claim a first Grand Tour stage victory. Monday is a rest day, which will be welcomed after two tough mountain stages in awful conditions. The Giro starts again Tuesday with a hilly 238-kilometre (148-mile) route from Valloire, France, to Ivrea. The race ends May 26 in Brescia.Fake Yeezy . But what about the officials? Every sport has officials and they also have stories about hard work and sacrifice but their accomplishments are seldom recognized by anyone outside their inner circle. Fake Jordan Shoes .In my heart and mind Im competing for India, luge competitor Shiva Keshavan told The Associated Press in an email interview. Every day Im flooded with messages from Indians all over the world telling me they are supporting me. https://www.fakeshoesonline.com/ . The 43-year-old closer, in his 19th and final big league season, has said hed like to play the outfield. Yankees manager Joe Girardi says hes thinking about allowing Rivera to do it this weekend, when the Yankees finish their season with a three-game series at the Houston Astros. Cheap Shoes Fake . Already owning gold from competition in Vancouver in 2010, Loch posted a combined four-run time of 3:27.526. That included a track-record third run of 51. Fake Nike Shoes . Instead of dwelling on the negative, Oates focused on what was good about the clubs recent play. It worked.GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Aaron Rodgers has a few words of advice for those who are concerned about the Green Bay Packers struggling offense early in the season.Were not going to overreact. Its been two weeks, Rodgers said after the Packers lost 17-14 to the rival Vikings in Minnesota on Sunday night.Still, the Packers are faced with trying to remedy an offense that has been out of sorts in their first two games.After overcoming communication snafus to eke out a close win on the road against Jacksonville to start the season, Green Bay fell short against the Vikings because of sloppy play that included four fumbles and two late turnovers by Rodgers.Whatever term you want to use to describe it, it wasnt good enough last night, coach Mike McCarthy said Monday.The Packers gained just 263 yards, as Rodgers was sacked five times and couldnt connect with his receivers on a number of throws.We just didnt really have anything going for us, veteran guard T.J. Lang said.Despite the abundance of miscues against a Vikings team that played their first regular-season game at noisy U.S. Bank Stadium, the Packers had chances to even the score or go ahead toward the end.But after Green Bay retained possession on its first three fumbles of the game, a strip-sack by Brian Robison in Vikings territory resulted in Minnesotas first of two key takeaways in the fourth quarter.Rodgers pass to Davante Adams on third-and-long was picked off by Trae Waynes past midfield with less than two minutes left, preserving Minnesotas three-point lead.Adams, who had a fumble on Green Bays first play of the game, felt the offense hurt itself by not finding its rhythm until those late drives that ended with the costly giveaways.Weve got to find a way to make the plays that are there, not try to do too much, Lang said. Everybody just take ownership of what they have to do, do their job and find a way to execute.The Packers also failed to convert a fourth-and-2 run play inside the Vikings 20-yard line earlier in the second half.Rodgers completted only 20 of 36 for 213 yards Sunday.ddddddddddddAnd he acknowledged afterward that its taking some time to get the offense settled after the return of trusted deep threat Jordy Nelson and the offseason addition of veteran tight end Jared Cook.Nelson missed the 2015 season because of a knee injury and didnt play in the preseason last month, while Cook missed time early in training camp after undergoing foot surgery.I dont think were that far off, Rodgers said. Its getting (Nelson) back in the mix and Jared Cook back in the mix. Theres some moving pieces right now.Rodgers hopes the Packers home opener Sunday against the Detroit Lions, another division rival, is the start of getting the offense back in sync.I dont think this is anything to get super crazy about, Rodgers said.And McCarthy said the improvements that are needed on offense started right away Monday, when the players came back to work for video review of the game.Mindset is important, so were going to stay on the balls of our feet and punch like hell, McCarthy said.Along with that, McCarthy wants to get what he called his excellent 1-2 punch of Eddie Lacy and James Starks at running back more involved after they combined for just 19 carries for 53 yards Sunday.Our perimeter players, we need to get them more opportunities, too, McCarthy said.Game notesMcCarthy had no update on DT Letroy Guion (knee) and S Morgan Burnett (hamstring). Both starters suffered injuries in Sundays game and didnt return. LB Clay Matthews, who went off the field near the end of the game, also was being evaluated. Hes got some things were looking at there, said McCarthy, who added theres no initial concern about Matthews status. ... McCarthy said CB Sam Shields (concussion) had a workout Monday morning after the veteran starter missed the game.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: http://twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '