Funny bit of Trivia from yesterdays Giro celebrations. In the evening a football match between Slovenia and Denmark happened in Ljubljana. So naturally, a lot of Danish football fans came to the city. 3 guys rented bikes in the morning and the owner of the shop told them there is a celebration for Roglič Giro win in town that day. So they went there since they are also cycling fans and watched Giro on TV. Slo press got a small interview from them and one guy said, he rode with Jonas Vingegaard when both were 14 years old. He's comment was funny: "Jonas was not a good rider back then, but he exploded later on".
The other thing: did you know he ripped off and threw away the radio just before the chain dropped (on Višarje TT)? He said he didn't hear the team anyway since it was too loud and there are always marginal gains (radio weight: 200g).
The fall was bad. Skin was not a problem, but he developed a lot of pain during long stages. Pain was not there at the beginning, but it came after an hour or two and got worse towards the end. Luckily it was getting better every day bit by bit.
As i see the whole Roglič - JV - TdF saga is this: JV wants to win. A lot. So you need to spread your best riders to cover all the important races of the year. Putting all in one basket (TdF) since you already won it last year is too much. I think Roglič realised that too. Going for TdF every year, fail and then try Vuelta with less then ideal preparation is not really how you want this to go. You will end up with bunch of Vuelta wins (maybe) and that's it. So now after surgery went well and he can train 100%, they decided to target less races but those 100%. Giro + Vuelta double this year. I'm 100% sure, TdF is next years plan. With Vingegaard possibly but that's not a problem. I don't think Roglič can win it any way but hell, why not.
I'm actually dreaming about a certain scenario for a while that will never happen. But i would also say Giro final could never happen as it did.
TdF, 19 stages done. Stage 21 is just a flat parade kind of thing, with sprint finish. Stage 20 is the last one, where something can happen. It's a hard mountain day with the last steep climb (but not very long) and long decent to the finish. Pogačar is first with 30s advantage over Vingegaard. Roglič is more then 1 minute behind (not bad, uh?) and forgotten, since Vingegaard is in front of him. Remco got Covid and is out (just a joke, guys, just a joke).
Everybody thinks Pog and Vingegaard will duel it out for the win but since there is a dangerous descent to the finish, nothing will probably happen. JV makes a plan...but it's not for Vingegaard, it's for Roglič. The last stand before he retires and as a thank you for everything he has done.
The race starts and JV sends Tratnik in the break. When he reaches the top of the last mountain, he stops, steps from the bike and calmly eats something.
At that time the Peloton is still together and they start the last climb. Vingegaard attacts Pog. Pog responds. They run each other in the ground with this attacks. Roglič is still there, looking bad and barely following (wink). At the half of the climb, suddenly Kuss blitzes from the right with Roglič on his wheel. Huge all out attack! Vingegaard smiles to Pog and drops, Pogačar tries to connect with Roglič's wheel but he can't. Kuss drops and Roglič goes into mountain TT mode while Pogačar tries to catch up with him. When Roglič reaches the top, he holds 45s advantage over Pog. Tratnik smiles to Rog when he sees his old friend again, get's on his bike and both go down the mountain with incredible speed. Pog tries to close the gap, get's help from couple others in the peloton but Tratnik/Roglič duo are going all out, gaining time. 2km before the end Tratnik blows, Roglič is on his own again, doing TT of his life. When he reaches the end, he stops and looks back. Pog arrives 1 minute, 20s behind. Roglič wins the TdF. Then he crashes himself with champagne in hand on the last day - but let's forget about that one, eh?
Book it.
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