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Looks like he has a decent record, especially when he has something to ride for. The closest comparable to this year's final stage is a 29km Stage 9 at Suisse in 2017, when he finished 3rd, less than a minute behind Dennis and Kung (Team BMC 1-2-3), and closed his GC gap to Spilak by 4s.How does he fare in TTs? I think he's got a minute on the third placed right now. Can he hold the podium?
Yeah, the other Caruso was always cooler.Super solid rider. Cassani always praises him because he's consistent and trustworthy. I never really warmed up to him until the Tokyo Olympics where he did a great work for Nibali. I'm not entirely sure he can handle the multimountain stages at the end of week 3 (if they take place) but he can gain a lot of time in the TT on someone like Bardet and Ciccone.
Pretty good, he's a solid TTer. Last year he finished 7th in the final TT of the Tour and in 2019 he finished 4th in the final TT of the Giro.
I meant it figuratively. There have been several reports of sightings.I've seen him. He's not invissible.
Imagine if: The Mikel Landa Story.I have nothing against Caruso, he's doing great so far in this Giro. But, if he's second and two minutes down on Bernal, imagine if Landa was still here and considering he was in big shape, i think Landa would have challenge Bernal for the pink jersey.
Directed by Pedro Almodovar.Imagine if: The Mikel Landa Story.
If he didn't ride with or almost for Bernal in the final, he would have been even closer to pink. He should have done what Almeida did to Yates. Sit on him and then attack him in the last km. I know he was riding for the podium. But now, if he doesn't crack, he is sitting almost comfortably in the top3. He has a once in a lifetime chance to win a GT. If Bernal is fading a little, Caruso can gain more than a minute in the ITT. He needs another minute on the road and at the same time he needs to watch out for Yates. It's an intriguing situation and he should go for it!Is this guy ninja'ing himself into pink. The first GT winner riding in his own pace? Would be fun to witness.
How can you be that sure that he'd be able to attack Bernal? I think it was actually very reasonable what he did today.If he didn't ride with or almost for Bernal in the final, he would have been even closer to pink. He should have done what Almeida did to Yates. Sit on him and then attack him in the last km. I know he was riding for the podium. But now, if he doesn't crack, he is sitting almost comfortably in the top3. He has a once in a lifetime chance to win a GT. If Bernal is fading a little, Caruso can gain more than a minute in the ITT. He needs another minute on the road and at the same time he needs to watch out for Yates. It's an intriguing situation and he should go for it!
There will be bad moments for all the other contenders to point to and that's how he would have won- by not having one while all others did.The "How the race was won" analysts will be having a hard time because there will be no crucial moments or decisive attacks to point to.
Banking on two mtf's to be enough to gain at least 2 minutes on Bernal is highly optimistic though, even if he does fade. The way Bernal looked when Caruso caught him and the fact that he actually lost 2 seconds on the line absolutely convince me that he could have gained significantly more if he had tried. But that's the thing, try telling a 33 y.o. dude whose best gt gc result is an 8th place from 6 years ago that he is supposed to risk his podium to go for 1st place. If Caruso gets 2nd that is so far and beyond the biggest result of a career that looked to end entirely without such a result, that I kinda understand why Caruso is focussed on keeping his position.How can you be that sure that he'd be able to attack Bernal? I think it was actually very reasonable what he did today.
If Bernal is fading indeed, then Caruso still have 3 more opportunities to gain time on him (while on TT he'll do it regardless of Bernal's shape, just like you said).
Yates was talking about the podium in the backstage pass after the Giau. I can understand it for him too, Bernal hadn't shown any weakness and he himself hasn't had a podium in 3 years/didn't even podium 3 years ago.Banking on two mtf's to be enough to gain at least 2 minutes on Bernal is highly optimistic though, even if he does fade. The way Bernal looked when Caruso caught him and the fact that he actually lost 2 seconds on the line absolutely convince me that he could have gained significantly more if he had tried. But that's the thing, try telling a 33 y.o. dude whose best gt gc result is an 8th place from 6 years ago that he is supposed to risk his podium to go for 1st place. If Caruso gets 2nd that is so far and beyond the biggest result of a career that looked to end entirely without such a result, that I kinda understand why Caruso is focussed on keeping his position.
I guess we will all be a lot smarter after stage 19. Yates wants nothing but the win, I'm pretty sure about that, so he will 100% attack Bernal. If it turns out Bernal only had a bad day then we will all think back with a smile to the day we thought Damiano Caruso might win a gt. If it turns out Bernal didn't just have a bad day and Caruso is stronger than him I'm absolutely certain he will start thinking of the win too.
The "How the race was won" analysts will be having a hard time because there will be no crucial moments or decisive attacks to point to.