Giro d'Italia Giro d‘Italia 2024 Stage 15, Manerba del Garda-Livigno (Mottolino), 222 km

[ppanther92]

Last year I had Thomas 4th best GT rider, but he has disappointed so far - especially in the ITTs.

I agree on the ITTs but still seems he is not at all that badly positioned for 2nd. Hard to say now, but I don't think a Hindley, Mas, Carapaz distance Martinez and O'Connor by minutes if they were here.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Pogacar lost 10s on that final climb to a 38 year old Thomas.

Yes. This proves that Thomas is actually better than pogacar

 

[Jumbo Visma Fan :)]

You can say what you want but that does not let go of the fact that the win was huge and a piece of history.

It’s legendary, but few people will look back on this Giro fondly. This is the first grand tour in a while I’ve barely watched because of the processional feeling to it.

 

[Valv.Piti]

C'mon, he attacked Vingegaard on the Galibier, the Peyresourde and the Spandelles in 2022 (and didn't he attack on the penultimate descent of the Foix stage too?). He never attacked on a penultimate climb in 2023 but there was absolutely no moment in that race where that would have made sense. He really didn't lose those Tours for a lack of trying. Quintana argubly did.

Edit: Quoted the wrong post. Was meant as a reponse to Red Rick.

I do think its a lost cause arguing with RR on this one tbh.

Also, it was just a fun comment. The key being "as a kid". Who were not annoyed at Quintana at times for being too passive??? Especially in 2015 where it was the most blatant, especially on La Touisuire/Croix-de-Fer. Shoulda won the race then and there with Alpe d' Huez left to gain time as well.

 

[Sciatic]

Sad for Nairo, but the positive is that he's still capable of superb climbing performances. He may never live up to the expectations from a decade ago, but he's still far from finished.

He seemed closer to the Nairo of old . . . The problem is that the Nairo of old isn’t going to handg with the Pogacar of today.

 

[AnotherArmChair]

Shark spotted ....nice hair do

 

[Brullnux]

Porter, Luz Ardiden, Planche, AdH, Peyragudes, Cambasque, Puy de Dome and Grand Colombier were all last minute.

There's just not much truth to the theory that Pogacar is conservative when he isn't clearly the strongest, the reality is he was just significantly worse than Vingo in both 2022 and 2023.

 

[Froome]

Last year I had Thomas 4th best GT rider, but he has disappointed so far - especially in the ITTs.

The age is starting to affect him.

 

[yaf]

They said he aint good on long climbs, can't do high altitudes... kept his feet on the ground and demolish them by 3 mins on the toughest day of the year. 🐐🐐🐐

 

[Gigs_98]

I do think its a lost cause arguing with RR on this one tbh.

Also, it was just a fun comment. The key being "as a kid". Who were not annoyed at Quintana at times for being too passive??? Especially in 2015.

Especially since that's a point he himself has hammered for almost a decade. It was literally the latest comment in the Quintana thread before my reponse today.

 

[Netserk]

What a mythical win for the "riders make the race" crowd.

How so?

 

[Peyroteo94]

They said he aint good on long climbs, can't do high altitudes... kept his feet on the ground and demolish them by 3 mins on the toughest day of the year. 🐐🐐🐐

He is by far the second best. He is closer to beat Vingegaard than being beaten by everyone else

 

[Salvarani]

It’s legendary, but few people will look back on this Giro fondly. This is the first grand tour in a while I’ve barely watched because of the processional feeling to it.

That can be your personal feelings about it.

Facts are most will probably remember this Giro and how great/dominant Pog was. His big wins. That you have barely watched it is on you imo, because a lot of the stages has been great and entertaining.

 

[Sciatic]

Sigh... at least a very promising performance by Nairo, I am happy with that.

If they had one more col to climb Nairo at the finish looked like he could have put several more minutes into the “GC” group.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

How so?

Because breakaway agents Grossschartner and Bjerg made the race what it was today.

 

[movingtarget]

The final km seemed never ending. One spectator got a little too close for comfort to Pogacr, a few nuts on the road. Nice rides by Quintana and Steinhauser. The top 3 looks pretty solid at the moment although O'Connor only weakened late in the stage and didn't lose much time to Thomas but making time on him is the problem. At the moment it looks like top five for O'Connor. Not much between second to fifth place ability wise.

 

[Gigs_98]

How so?

The stage definitely had a lot more action than I expected, even if we exclude Pogacars attack. But tbh it was mostly a snarky remark with so much talk about mythical wins.

 

[Jumbo Visma Fan :)]

That can be you personal feelings about it.

Facts are most will probably remember this Giro and how great/dominant Pog was. His big wins. That you have barely watched it is on you imo, because a lot of the stages has been great and entertaining.

I’m sure I’m not alone in not looking back fondly. The race is drained of all excitement for me when the general classification is settled pre-race.

 

[Froome]

The final km seemed never ending. One spectator got a little too close for comfort to Pogacr, a few nuts on the road. Nice ride by Quintana. The top 3 looks pretty solid at the moment although O'Connor only weakened late in the stage and didn't lose much time to Thomas but making time on him is the problem. At the moment it looks like top five for O'Connor. Not much between second to fifth place ability wise.

The last climb was awesome, better than what i expected, a shame there's isn't proper competition on this race.

 

[Sciatic]

This is one of the most impressive mountain climbing show I've ever seen.

Especially considering he did a superb ITT yesterday!

 

[Salvarani]

I’m sure I’m not alone in not looking back fondly. The race is drained of all excitement for me when the general classification is settled pre-race.

Cool, that is just you and a couple of others.

 

[topcat]

Hold on a sec. Is Nibali a voyeur at the Giro. I haven't seen him, but I've seen most of the crappy racing. So far I'd give this Giro an 8, but that would increase if there was a long interview in English with the Shark.
Congratulations Pog.

 

[yaf]

He is by far the second best. He is closer to beat Vingegaard than being beaten by everyone else

Even the best vingegaard won't stand a chance against todays pog

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Nice rides by Quintana and George Steinbrenner, but Pogačar once again proved that he's a lick merchant and a ghost.

Hmmm... lick merchant...

 

[Sciatic]

Excep

well we can only wait and see in week 3 of the Tour
and no one was ever going to attack him.....He was the best before the race even began and has won enough stages to show his 'panache'

The target is the Giro/Tour double and not today

only time will tell and I think a 14km alone is alot of energy when you want to do the double against better opposition like Vinge , Rog , EvenepolE

Except that if he wasn’t here he might have been doing solo training rides at close to the same level? It’s not like he would be sitting at the pool the whole time this Giro is happening.