Giro d'Italia 2021 Giro d'Italia, Stage 9: Castel di Sangro - Campo Felice (Rocca di Cambio) 158 km (Sunday May 16)

[Mayomaniac]

Egan, Egan chants at the finish.

 

[bambino]

My expectations for Zoncolan are Ineos train riding until the last 2-3k where Bernal attacks. It doesn't look like Remco can cover that attack imo.

But with this progression Remco is probably more than a minute behind when we get there. The Tuscany sands are probably going to place where Bernal everything, but seals the Giro par crashes.

 

[spalco]

My expectations for Zoncolan are Ineos train riding until the last 2-3k where Bernal attacks. It doesn't look like Remco can cover that attack imo.

Difficult looking from today, yes, and if that happens, he takes more than 10 seconds...

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Man what happened to Fausto Masnada. Saving himself for zoncolan win after seeing that remco is suffering? He looked so full of promise

Giulio Ciccone our beloved Gecko is looking absolute beastmode so far. Doing it for vincenzo

 

[Red Rick]

I think Bernal has a pretty decent kick. Not Purito, certainly, but he is far from a tempo climber

The point is that he's world class at long climbs.

 

[Big Doopie]

Yeah, he has find some form again after being out of the top 10 for six days straight(!)

He was looking around for remco when remco dropped to the back.

 

[Escarabajo]

Ciccone and Moscon were huge here!!!

 

[Escarabajo]

Bernal crying on camera!!!!

He is so emotional so early!!!

 

[Pinot's goat]

The type of climbing so far is not the type of climbing that will decide this race, the Giro is not even half way through, a lot will still change. The big test of Bernal's back will be the longer efforts.

 

[limak_]

Maybe nowhere, but what happened today is not really indicative of how things will look on the longer climbs

IMHO it is indicative to some point. Bernal was superior to Remco on every single climb so far and I think it's quite unlikely to be different on longer ones. Actually Bernal's advantage should be even more exposed

 

[Panda Claws]

In my opinion if Evenepoel wants to win he will have to think of a way to claw back time in hillier stages or at least pressure Bernal there, instead of putting it all on the line in the TT.
Because even though I am not convinced yet that Bernal will utterly crush him on the Zoncolan and related mountains, I do agree that it is likely that Bernal will continue to gain time and probably more than enough to survive the TT.

Of course, anything can happen, but that does seem like a likely scenario atm.

 

[roundabout]

The point is that he's world class at long climbs.

True. But I still feel that those would have a slightly different balance of power vs today.

 

[Mayomaniac]

The point is that he's world class at long climbs.

Yeah, If his back holds up I have a hard time seeing anyone being better than him on stage 16 and stage 20. Not to mention the fact that Dani Martinez could end up being the 2nd strongest in the high mountains...

 

[Red Rick]

Yeah, If his back holds up I have a hard time seeing anyone being better than him on stage 16 and stage 20. Not to mention the fact that Dani Martinez could end up being the 2nd strongest in the high mountains...

And Moscon.

You know, the Ineos way

 

[frisenfruitig]

Depends on who drops you on a climb like this. If it's Purito, sure doesn't mean that much. But it's Bernal, pretty much a pure climber.

Eh, it was already clear before this stage he's more explosive. Not that surprising imo.

 

[Anybody_but..]

We have yet to see if Bernal can actually make such an attack stick for longer than 1-2 km. If he can't then this race is definitely not over.
I don't think even the most hardcore Remco fanboys are surprised that Bernal is capable of distancing him in short attacks.

That does not equate to him being able to simply put minutes into Evenepoel over a long-range attack.

1-2 km attack is not even secondary Bernal weapon.

 

[titan31]

But with this progression Remco is probably more than a minute behind when we get there. The Tuscany sands are probably going to place where Bernal everything, but seals the Giro par crashes.

Ya, Wednesday and Thursdays stage could say a lot too. Yates and Carthy need to show something too. They lost even more time again today and neither look like they have it.

 

[Anybody_but..]

And Moscon.

You know, the Ineos way

Yeah, also hope so.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

In my opinion if Evenepoel wants to win he will have to think of a way to claw back time in hillier stages or at least pressure Bernal there, instead of putting it all on the line in the TT.
Because even though I am not convinced yet that Bernal will utterly crush him on the Zoncolan and related mountains, I do agree that it is likely that Bernal will continue to gain time and probably more than enough to survive the TT.

Of course, anything can happen, but that does seem like a likely scenario atm.

He has to be able to as well. The fact that he's still where he is now, is exceeding everyone's expectations and superb as it is. It's easy to forget where he's coming from.

 

[HelloDolly]

Bernal crying on camera!!!!

He is so emotional so early!!!

He has been under so much pressure i guess since last years Tour

 

[ppanther92]

Roglic and Pogacar must be glad Bernal is not riding the Tour this year in this form.

Bernal's subpar 2020 definitely contributed to the "above everyone else"-status of the Slovenes. I already argued in the Bernal thread last year that 2019 Bernal probably matches Roglic and Pogacar.

 

[luckyboy]

Ciccone finished with Bernal group on Sestola, finished with Bernal group on San Giacomo, and now second here. Nobody else has matched that.

The most interesting thing in the big mountains will be seeing what he does imo.

 

[Salvarani]

IMHO it is indicative to some point. Bernal was superior to Remco on every single climb so far and I think it's quite unlikely to be different on longer ones. Actually Bernal's advantage should be even more exposed

So far there has been more explosive climbs and racing.

That doesnt really suit Remco compared to most of the others.

And he has still finished the times he has been distanced very good, so it is not like he has been empty or gone too deep.

I wouldnt count the kid out just yet, is my point.

Bernal has been on fire but he needs more time and to increase his lead further, not just to Remco.

Riding agressive could make him fade though in the end and if his back will be good for the entire race is also a concern.

Far from over this, but right now he is looking the best.

 

[Rollthedice]

Bernal crying on camera!!!!

He is so emotional so early!!!

Maybe his back hurts?

 

[Mayomaniac]

Also, I'm not that sure that the Zoncolan is a great climb for Bernal. Yes, he has a good kick and is explosive, but he has never been the strongest on the super steep stuff. His climbing style (grinding a big gear seated) also doesn't suit those gradients that well.