Teams & Riders Everybody needs a little bit of Roglstomp in their lives

[Rackham]

That's after/before the stage, otherwise he has the poker face. Marc Reef said before the mountain stage:

The whole stitches things came only after Crans Montana in Slovenian media but obviously they were applied right after the crash.

Thomas responded to an attack from Dunbar in the last 600m and he basically didn't drop anyone notable. He said he expected an attack from Roglic just like everyone else. Simply because that's how Roglic does it plenty of times including this year. He's only 2 seconds behind because Ineos didn't attack him, they preferred to recover Swift and Sivakov yesterday than sacrifice De Plus and Arensman.

If Roglic is 100 %, then Jumbo would've paced hard Croix de Coeur when Ineos struggled. Roglic would've also gone for stage win and bonus seconds. He knows betting everything on the 3rd week is too risky, he even said himself in stage 8 that he tries to take as much time as possible.

Ineos knew today that Roglic is biding his time but they let the breakaway to 21 minutes, they couldn't care less. If you trust Thomas and want to hurt Roglic that's the last thing you should do. Ineos still has to control the break and Groupama is gonna have an a very weak pace tomorrow, trying to keep Armirail for one more day. On stage 16, G is still gonna be the virtual leader and Ineos would have to pace.

I think they've had week 3 of the Giro written in large cap locks on a whiteboard somewhere at Jumbo's HQ since Rog was named as leader of their team in this race. It dates back to when Evenepoel was assumed to be the number one rival & peak form had to be in the dolomites. That's where he was going to drop Remco & win the race. At least in theory. His entire form ark is based on that.

Do I think that crash hurt on Wednesday? Yep, sure. It stings like a b*tch probably. Do I think they got frightened seeing what happened to Tao GH? Yep, I mean just look at how Jumbo went to the front & paced the descent today in the rain. They're took zero chances sitting behind Ineos 'just in case' there was another snafu.

What happened on Crans Montana? They deliberately avoided taking pink. Was it because he wasn't feeling 100%? Technically, probably, i.e. he'll be 100% next week when it matters.

I realize I'm answering my own questions here but you get the gist of it, i.e. Rog & Jumbo are doing fine.

 

[Netserk]

The truth is, it could go either way. But tbh, Roglic's ITT has regressed this year. If he wants to win the Giro, he can't bet on the ITT, Almeida is also a danger. Roglic had issues on the 3rd week on Covatilla as well.

Of the three Vueltas he has won, he was only in trouble in the third week after completing the Tour.

He has a lot on his plates, and he's hungry from first second of a meal. Eventually, he gets stuffed. Partly also why he has done poorly in monuments - they are at the end of a (long) racing block.

 

[Sciatic]

Roglic has a history of underperforming in late GT TT's though. He was climbing better than Pogacar in the third week of the 2020 Tour but we all know what happened in the final TT.

He performed darn well in 2020 Tour on Loze and the stage with gravel which I count as late in a GT.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Considering Thomas was prepared to ride in gruppetto, stage 14, just to give leaders jersey away. That should settle the debates on why Rogla isn't desperately trying to take the leaders jersey. By gaining a couple of seconds in some stomp. This seasoned GT GC riders know better then that.

Some intense racing likely ahead today at Il Lombardia!

 

[dazaau]

Some intense racing likely ahead today at Il Lombardia!

Just to be clear, your definition of intense racing also includes no GC action, yes? In case others are later confused

Maybe we get some GC action, or maybe it is not yet time for roglic following his crash. You would think some of the riders outside the top 2 would look for opportunities today

 

[staubsauger]

3k attack on Bondone.
3k attack towards Zoldo Alto.

That's enough to let a group with the likes of Rubio go again for the stage win in the Dolomites.

Still can try another 3-4k attack towards the 3 merlons then.

That's enough to head into the Luschariberg mtt with roughly 1 1/2 minutes advantage.

Why should he do anything else than required? He's got the easiest path to victory.

Thomas doesn't have a path to victory at all IMHO. At least not our of own strength. Only if Roglic cracks due to weakness.

This Giro d'Italia got canceled once Evenepoel & Tao left!

 

[CyclistAbi]

Just to be clear, your definition of intense racing also includes no GC action, yes? In case others are later confused

Maybe we get some GC action, or maybe it is not yet time for roglic following his crash. You would think some of the riders outside the top 2 would look for opportunities today

Thomas could i guess press on brakes and force Rogla to take 2 seconds. It's not an easy stage for GC guys at all. One always need to stay vigilant.

 

[Red Rick]

3k attack on Bondone.
3k attack towards Zoldo Alto.

That's enough to let a group with the likes of Rubio go again for the stage win in the Dolomites.

Still can try another 3-4k attack towards the 3 merlons then.

That's enough to head into the Luschariberg mtt with roughly 1 1/2 minutes advantage.

Why should he do anything else than required? He's got the easiest path to victory.

Thomas doesn't have a path to victory at all IMHO. At least not our of own strength. Only if Roglic cracks due to weakness.

This Giro d'Italia got canceled once Evenepoel & Tao left!

I agree, though if you look at the profiles of Bondone and Zoldo alto, both attacks would need to be a little longer than that.

The win condition is really simple. He just needs to have the legs.

Thomas was getting dropped by Kuss in the Tour at times last year. Almeida has never done anything at the level of a fully fit Roglic. If he recovers and is in the shape intended, he just wins the race by 2 minutes.

 

[CyclistAbi]

This Giro d'Italia got canceled once Evenepoel & Tao left!

First thing is to finish healthy and not to lose time today. Then the rest day. And then the whole week three. Where this Giro edition was always to be decided. Organizer, based on pressure from united riders, managed to stabilize this race. There are still at minimum three GC competitors close enough to turn it into their favor. So it's far from over.

 

[dazaau]

Thomas could i guess press on brakes and force Rogla to take 2 seconds. It's not an easy stage for GC guys at all. One always need to stay vigilant.

In don't think Thomas can afford to give up a single second IMHO.

 

[CyclistAbi]

In don't think Thomas can afford to give up a single second IMHO.

Thomas would be happy if Rogla took a couple of seconds on him at stage 13. It would be ideal scenario for him. But now, week three in reach, i guess they should rather both start focusing on distancing cyclists like Almeida. Then racing in such way. Trying to force each other to take the leaders jersey.

 

[dazaau]

Thomas would be happy if Rogla took a couple of seconds on him at stage 13. It would be ideal scenario for him. But now, week three in reach, i guess they should rather both start focusing on distancing cyclists like Almeida. Then racing in such way. Trying to force each other to take the leaders jersey.

I just don't see how Thomas gets them back from Roglic. But then again Thomas is a great TTer, so could do well in the MTT, and Roglic is still largely unknown to us in this giro and might have a shocker. Who knows.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Thomas was getting dropped by Kuss in the Tour at times last year. Almeida has never done anything at the level of a fully fit Roglic. If he recovers and is in the shape intended, he just wins the race by 2 minutes.

Agreed. Thomas was completely helpless when Vinge and Pog engaged afterburners last year. Almeida may actually be more dangerous in the toughest mountains but we will see. Third week has 4 difficult stages in 5 days (TT included) so plenty of opportunities for Primoz to prove his superiority.

 

[SHAD0W93]

Thomas and Roglic can’t afford to give up any time to Almeida or Caruso. The slander on Almeida is crazy considering he was strong in the Giro before getting sick and so far has improved. Caruso can gain time on the descents or the mountains with his team. Both could surprise many in the final time trial with the way they rode the first two.

 

[Red Rick]

Thomas and Roglic can’t afford to give up any time to Almeida or Caruso. The slander in Almeida is crazy considering he was strong in the Giro before getting sick and so far has improved. Caruso can gain time on the descents or the mountains with his team. Both could surprise many in the final time trial with the way they rode the first two.

Here's how I rate the final ITT

Kuss will beat both Almeida and Caruso in that ITT.

 

[pablohidalgo7]

He had a mechanical in 2017, a stone in his elbow in 2018, was sick in the Giro.
In 2017, it looks like he was also terrible in the first ITT. He actually placed better in the final week ITT. I think the last one is meant to be 2019 Giro where he was sick and had crashed and lost his form.

He crashed in a corner in Dusseldorf TT, no tv images but I remember the team and him speaking about it. And yes in the other TT he was having a gear problem during several kms and then he decided to change bike.

 

[noob]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4KFFFba4fg&ab_channel=CyclingProNet

 

[acm]

“How was the stage yesterday in the rain?”
Rogla: “Wet.”

 

[Blanco]

I just don't see how Thomas gets them back from Roglic. But then again Thomas is a great TTer, so could do well in the MTT, and Roglic is still largely unknown to us in this giro and might have a shocker. Who knows.

For this TT it's hardly important how great TT-er one is. It's a pure mountain TT, and as Red Rick said it wouldn't surprise me if Sepp Kuss will have better time than Thomas, Almeida, etc.

 

[SHAD0W93]

Here's how I rate the final ITT

Kuss will beat both Almeida and Caruso in that ITT.

And I wouldn’t be surprised if they beat Roglic and Thomas the way the race is going.

 

[Rackham]

We've just witnessed an exercise in energy conservation during a GT over... 12 stages. Only on both ITT's & stage 8 did Rog deploy himself.

Ye of little faith @ whomever doubts Rog & Jumbo here. Relax, everything is under control. Almost all the potentially tricky snafu stages are done as well, now it's about GC mano a mano over 4 hard-as-nails stages with a team which looks ready to help on all 3 mountain stages.

He's got this.

 

[Sciatic]

Here's how I rate the final ITT

Kuss will beat both Almeida and Caruso in that ITT.

I think you’re tongue in cheek here, but even if he could—he won’t because stage 19 will be one of the few times we’ll see him pulling (not just following) in the mountains.

 

[Rackham]

I think you’re tongue in cheek here, but even if he could—he won’t because stage 19 will be one of the few times we’ll see him pulling (not just following) in the mountains.

I think there's a very real possible scenario where Kuss wins one of the upcoming MTF stages whilst holding hands with Rog.

 

[Red Rick]

Looked fine on the final hill today. Positioned himself fine. No attack but not a moment of trouble.

 

[Rackham]

Looked fine on the final hill today. Positioned himself fine. No attack but not a moment of trouble.

I'm really liking what I'm seeing from the team right now. Dennis in particular looks a class above where he was in the Vuelta 2022.