Giro d'Italia 2021 Giro d'Italia: Stage-by-Stage Analysis

[Red Rick]

Steepness just emphasizes individual strength/strength of 1 or 2 domestiques over big numbers.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Taking a look at the route of Stage 3 in a bit more detail, it might actually still be suitable for an attack, the section from the final climb onwards is mostly on narrow roads. That would be a good thing from a safety perspective too, as the final kilometer features two chicanes, the first of which starts with this 120-degree right-hander. The road even dips slightly into the corner...

 

[hfer07]

Thank you very much Eshnar for your wonderful work of the Giro breakdown.

 

[pink_jersey]

I don't mind so many mountain stages. When was the last time Il Giro had such an awesome climbers field(and I'm not talking about leaders only).
Ineos will surely be the strongest team, but Trek(Nibali, Ciccone, Mollema, Brambilla), Bahrein(Landa, Bilbao, Caruso), DQS(Almeida, Remco, Masnada, Knox) in terms of firepower aren't exactly far from them.
Also, I expect Sosa to not be of much use and Sivakov and Martinez aren't exactly better than Bilbao and Caruso. Still, I expect Moscon to put in some impressive performances. Trek will surely play the attacking game with Nibali, Ciccone and Mollema.

 

[Koronin]

This is Movistar's line up for the Giro. Marc Soler is the leader. Not sure about GC, but this team definitely has a few riders that could definitely go stage hunting.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1389191830336647171

View: https://twitter.com/Movistar_Team/status/1389191830336647171

 

[Sciatic]

This is Movistar's line up for the Giro. Marc Soler is the leader. Not sure about GC, but this team definitely has a few riders that could definitely go stage hunting.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1389191830336647171

View: https://twitter.com/Movistar_Team/status/1389191830336647171

Hope Soler has a good Giro, regardless of what he’s targeting. Was really enjoying watching his climbing style on a few of those TdAlpes stages last week.

 

[tobydawq]

The location of the final intermediate sprint on stage 20 is hilarious. 2.4 to go in the middle of a mountain

 

[Gigs_98]

The location of the final intermediate sprint on stage 20 is hilarious. 2.4 to go in the middle of a mountain

It's likely thought as a incentive to attack, so you can gain bonus seconds. I agree though, if you look at those intermediate sprints as what their purpose is supposed to be it does get kinda funny. Like sure, Nizzolo definitely can't win a mountain stage, but he can gain points by being in front at the intermediate sprints of mountain stages...3 km from the finish.

That aside, it also would have been way better to put the sprint in the valley before the final climb. It's not like riders should need an incentive to attack from 3 km out. But I guess where the intermediate sprints take place is decided by whether towns are willing to pay for them, so that's why they aren't usually placed at the point that makes most sense from a racing perspective.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

5 star - Simon Yates
4 star - Landa, Hindley
3 Star - Masnada, Vlasov, Bernal, Sivakov,
2 star - Carthy, Almeida, Nibali, Remco, Soler, George Bennett, Dan Martin, Buchmann
1 star - Bardet, Ciccone, Pedrero, Bilbao, JA Cepeda,

 

[tobydawq]

5 star - Simon Yates
4 star - Landa, Hindley
3 Star - Masnada, Vlasov, Bernal, Sivakov,
2 star - Carthy, Almeida, Nibali, Remco, Soler, George Bennett, Dan Martin, Buchmann
1 star - Bardet, Ciccone, Pedrero, Bilbao, JA Cepeda,

Masnada, 3 stars, really?

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Masnada, 3 stars, really?

Masnada will be flying in the mountains and he can time trial now as well

 

[saganftw]

Rubio and Evenepoel to fight for young riders jersey...UNLESS Masnada will truly be hilariously competing for top 5 or god forbid podium

 

[BlueRoads]

5 star - Simon Yates
4 star - Landa, Hindley
3 Star - Masnada, Vlasov, Bernal, Sivakov,
2 star - Carthy, Almeida, Nibali, Remco, Soler, George Bennett, Dan Martin, Buchmann
1 star - Bardet, Ciccone, Pedrero, Bilbao, JA Cepeda,

Most of all I disagree with 3 stars for Masnada and 2 stars for Buchmann, but also 4 for Hindley are bold in my opinion.

 

[memyselfandI]

Really looking forward to stage 11 and 12 double kicker..and all the rest too!

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Love that everyone is underestimating Masnada, really hope however that DQS don't make him work for Almeida or Evenepoel

 

[will-10]

Love that everyone is underestimating Masnada, really hope however that DQS don't make him work for Almeida or Evenepoel

maybe you could mention him more and see if we catch on

 

[red_flanders]

Love that everyone is underestimating Masnada, really hope however that DQS don't make him work for Almeida or Evenepoel

He's already said in the press he's looking forward to working for Evenepoel. As he should. Fantastic to see DQS fielding not only a legit GT team, but a very strong one.

I am more excited for this GT than any in recent memory. CANNOT WAIT!

 

[Escarabajo]

He's already said in the press he's looking forward to working for Evenepoel. As he should. Fantastic to see DQS fielding not only a legit GT team, but a very strong one.

I am more excited for this GT than any in recent memory. CANNOT WAIT!

You see what he did there. As soon as Evenepoel loses time he will seek a chance to lead, when in reality the leader is Almeida.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Almeida will be dropped like a hot potato on the Zoncolan or stage 17 and there is not enough ITT kms for him to make up the difference. There we will see Fausto climbing away with Yates and Landa.

Remco is too much of an unknown factor to predict. But i think his bike handling and descending will be exposed as a weakness.

Quickstep have options but Masnada will be the best in the end.

 

[Froome]

Almeida will be dropped like a hot potato on the Zoncolan or stage 17 and there is not enough ITT kms for him to make up the difference. There we will see Fausto climbing away with Yates and Landa.

Remco is too much of an unknown factor to predict. But i think his bike handling and descending will be exposed as a weakness.

Quickstep have options but Masnada will be the best in the end.

Or maybe Almeida improved in the mountains and will not be dropped. We are making futurology.

 

[johnymax]

He's already said in the press he's looking forward to working for Evenepoel. As he should. Fantastic to see DQS fielding not only a legit GT team, but a very strong one.

I am more excited for this GT than any in recent memory. CANNOT WAIT!

This is all Masnada's tactics. In his world working for a leader means riding 10m behind him for the whole final climb. We've seen that. So now, all he needs is for Remco or Almeida to be very strong in the first two weeks and then fade in the third week. Masnada becomes the undisputed leader, Giro in the pocket (bag is already taken).

 

[Zoef-Lightning]

Or maybe Almeida improved in the mountains and will not be dropped. We are making futurology.

I think "ilmaestro99" is right. Almeida a bit short at altitude and on long and steep climbs. Evenepoel is not at his top level yet. But also Masnada is not enough climber to score for the general. The only chance DQS has to score, is attack way before the last or finish climb. With one rider and/or (for a second attack) with another. And the third teammate in control and ready to follow in the wheels for as long as possible in the final climb.

 

[Froome]

I think "ilmaestro99" is right. Almeida a bit short at altitude and on long and steep climbs. Evenepoel is not at his top level yet. But also Masnada is not enough climber to score for the general. The only chance DQS has to score, is attack way before the last or finish climb. With one rider and/or (for a second attack) with another. And the third teammate in control and ready to follow in the wheels for as long as possible in the final climb.

He's just 22 years, he will improve on the climbs over the next years. But i think he already improved in the climbs in the last month with the altitude camp of 3 weeks in sierra nevada. Masnada also did that training camp, and in romandie we saw his progression in the mountains.

 

[search]

Masnada surely did well in Romandie, but this best-ever climbing performance still resulted in him being dropped by Ben O'Connor and Lucas Hamilton. It's absolutely absurd to discuss about him finishing on the podium of the Giro or not. He should go for a stage win instead, if there's an opportunity

 

[Sciatic]

Almeida will be dropped like a hot potato on the Zoncolan or stage 17 and there is not enough ITT kms for him to make up the difference. There we will see Fausto climbing away with Yates and Landa.

Remco is too much of an unknown factor to predict. But i think his bike handling and descending will be exposed as a weakness.

Quickstep have options but Masnada will be the best in the end.

Except that he could already be 25’ behind by then if he’s being doing some dom duties?