Giro d'Italia 2022 Giro d'Italia, Stage 7: Diamante – Potenza 196 km (Friday, May 13th)

[Amazinmets87]

I'm guessing they won't let Nibali go?

 

[sir fly]

I'm guessing they won't let Nibali go?

Yeah... They'll insist he stays, but when the wife calls...

 

[topcat]

Yeah... They'll insist he stays, but when the wife calls...

Vino needs to send a letter to the wife.

 

[sir fly]

Vino needs to send a letter to the wife.

And there we have a telenovela!

 

[gregrowlerson]

Vino needs to send a letter to the wife.

If Nibali wins this stage then replacing the Vino option as the number one forum meme, shall be Vino's letter.

 

[Rollthedice]

I'm guessing they won't let Nibali go?

Sure they will, as sign of sympathy and respect for an old rider retiring. Then at the end of the stage they'll discover he's back in contention, he's not retiring anymore and he's ready to show his trophy cabinet to all the wheelsuckers who annoyed him throughout his career.

 

[titan31]

Bahrain are probably the hope for GC action as theyve enough guys to shake it up. Maybe get Buitrago in the break or have Poels (assuming he's been saving himself rather than being tired) to set a hard pace up that 2nd cat.

Expecting a big break and no GC action though.

 

[Breh]

Whens the last time a Frenchman had the maglia rosa?

 

[Lequack]

Sprinters will be having a laugh holding on to cars in the autobus.

 

[greyclouds]

This can be a really interesting stage. I’ll expect some quality riders in a breakway and perhaps some GC action in the final kms in Potenza, depending if the break succeed and how reduced the peloton is.

 

[roundabout]

Whens the last time a Frenchman had the maglia rosa?

Jalabert in 1999.

 

[Cagalitroso]

Jalabert in 1999.

Ah Jala...owner of one the most impressive Spanish by a gabacho Frenchman.

 

[staubsauger]

Normally AG2R should send someone into the break.

It's too hard for Vendrame, so Hänninen or Peters?

Fortunato or Sepulveda as well. Vanhoucke for Lotto. Valter?

 

[Escarabajo]

Looks like a Mathieu breakaway stage win

No chance

 

[SHAD0W93]

Mollema from the breakaway solo. #FreeTGBM

 

[The Barb]

I can't believe MVDP is the favourite for the stage (albeit at a pretty big price for a favourite). I'd almost say there's no scenario on which he wins. Monte Grande Di Viggiano is a proper climb. If he is in the break then (unless it's a hellishly weak break) he will lose a couple of minutes on it and no one is going to work with him thereafter.

I'm going to be throwing more money at Bouwman. Jumbo have to try to get something positive from this stage and he is by far their best chance.

 

[Pantani_lives]

Viggiano must be the toughest GPM2 in cycling history. People are underestimating this one. However it's 60 km from the finish, so too far for a solo attack. There will probably be a group of 20-30 GC riders controlled by Ineos. My guess for the stage win is Mollema.

 

[Amazinmets87]

Viggiano must be the toughest GPM2 in cycling history. People are underestimating this one. However it's 60 km from the finish, so too far for a solo attack. There will probably be a group of 20-30 GC riders controlled by Ineos. My guess for the stage win is Mollema.

I'm expecting carnage if a strong team pushes the pace.

 

[The Barb]

Viggiano must be the toughest GPM2 in cycling history. People are underestimating this one. However it's 60 km from the finish, so too far for a solo attack. There will probably be a group of 20-30 GC riders controlled by Ineos. My guess for the stage win is Mollema.

Agree on all counts. Mollema is a good pick. He's so damn smart on stages like this that he can win even if he's no the strongest in the break (which he might be anyway).

 

[gregrowlerson]

I can't believe MVDP is the favourite for the stage (albeit at a pretty big price for a favourite). I'd almost say there's no scenario on which he wins. Monte Grande Di Viggiano is a proper climb. If he is in the break then (unless it's a hellishly weak break) he will lose a couple of minutes on it and no one is going to work with him thereafter.

I'm going to be throwing more money at Bouwman. Jumbo have to try to get something positive from this stage and he is by far their best chance.

What about Dumoulin? If he feels any motivation then this could be his redemption.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Agree on all counts. Mollema is a good pick. He's so damn smart on stages like this that he can win even if he's no the strongest in the break (which he might be anyway).

But all Trek wants right now is to defend the jersey, right? You think Mollema is allowed to join the breakaway?

 

[SafeBet]

But all Trek wants right now is to defend the jersey, right? You think Mollema is allowed to join the breakaway?

Defending the jersey in such a stage could prove impossible if the right break goes, especially because I don't think Trek is willing to use Ciccone and Mollema in the chase.

 

[Roku]

But all Trek wants right now is to defend the jersey, right? You think Mollema is allowed to join the breakaway?

The stage is hard as hell to control. You have to climb up Mount Sirino, Viggiano and two more climbs. They need to burn the entire team to have a slim shot of staying two more days in pink. Even if they control the race, they have no real guaranteees Juanpe is going to keep the maglia. If the stage goes crazy hard, he is probably losing the jersey altogether.

On the other hand, you can send Bauke and/or Sklejmose in the break chasing the stage win and even try to trade one pink for another if the gap goes too big. There will be likely a better placed rider in GC than Bauke in the break, but guys like Martin, Foss... won't be given too much leeway from GC contenders anyways.

So I say send Bauke to the break and don't try too hard to protect the pink jersey.

 

[armchairclimber]

Looking to the likes of Covi and Gall. And Ulissi maybe.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

The stage is hard as hell to control. You have to climb up Mount Sirino, Viggiano and two more climbs. They need to burn the entire team to have a slim shot of staying two more days in pink. Even if they control the race, they have no real guaranteees Juanpe is going to keep the maglia. If the stage goes crazy hard, he is probably losing the jersey altogether.

On the other hand, you can send Bauke and/or Sklejmose in the break chasing the stage win and even try to trade one pink for another if the gap goes too big. There will be likely a better placed rider in GC than Bauke in the break, but guys like Martin, Foss... won't be given too much leeway from GC contenders anyways.

So I say send Bauke to the break and don't try too hard to protect the pink jersey.

Very good points! It is indeed a perfect stage for Mollema, so let's hope he's allowed to go - I just still have my doubts.