Giro d’Italia 2024, Stage 11: Foiano di Val Fortore – Francavilla al Mare, 207.0k

[CyclistAbi]

Congratulations to Jonathan Milan for winning the sprint.

Luckily no major crashes as just before the 3km organizer planted some crash zones.

 

[KZD]

Milan second win of this Giro and I bet it won't be his last as he is the best sprinter in this race.

Bauhaus once again a bit below expections and hope Großchartner recovers.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Congratulations to Jonathan Milan for winning the sprint.

Luckily no major crashes as just before the 3km organizer planted some crash zones.

I wonder actually what percentage of crashes in the final 10 kilometers happens in corners, considering most of the time riders just chop each other down on straight roads.

 

[Tim Cahill]

I like to think the race designers were stood around pointing at a map saying 'hmm we need a crash zone here, here and here, yes'

 

[scribers]

Ewan is so washed

He looks like two legs with a head on a bike

 

[Mayomaniac]

Milan keeps winning, despite Consonni being better at strenching the peloton out before the leadout man does his work than being a leadoutman himself.

 

[Netserk]

Milan keeps winning, despite Consonni being better at strenching the peloton out before the leadout man does his work than being a leadoutman himself.

Next year in the Tour, he should be led out by Pedersen.

 

[CyclistAbi]

I wonder actually what percentage of crashes in the final 10 kilometers happens in corners, considering most of the time riders just chop each other down on straight roads.

I feel they rode it smart, Ineos taking the initiative and the rest of the field being experienced enough, due to a lot of sprinters and their teams on this Giro edition. Otherwise likely there would be much more crashes involved so far.

 

[search]

Bauhaus once again a bit below expections and hope Großchartner recovers.

Bauhaus was also reported to be sick during the Napoli stage, so maybe he is not quite at his best again yet. But generally, he seems to a be very "hit or miss" kind of sprinter.

 

[Hugh Januss]

He was still in front of Molano when he went to the side. Much riskier moves occur in the kilometres running up to the sprint. Stop searching for relegations in every move. #jesuisMatthews

They can't go back and police every touch of elbows in the last 3ks but they can uphold the rule that says you must go in a straight line once you have commenced your sprint.

 

[jmdirt]

That post up is exactly how a sprintershould look after crossing the line!
Congrats JM!

 

[Mayomaniac]

Next year in the Tour, he should be led out by Pedersen.

I was thinking the same, that would be a problem for nearly all other sprinters.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Merlier moved halfway across the road right up to the barriers in the first 2 seconds of his sprint and yet certain posters would have you believe it was a ridiculous decision to relegate him. Coincidentally, said posters all happen to be Flemish.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

I'm surprised the cycling path is already back in a good state after the demolition job Remco did on it last year.

Back when remco was an actually good rider. You just had to be there

 

[memyselfandI]

There are no signs of turning it around at the moment. Think he's had one top 10 finish in this race. Three years since he's had a grand tour stage win. Meanwhile the almost retired Michael Matthews is getting podiums in monuments............

Pure sprinters age quickly, no? Some of them transform to quality classics rider, probably not going to happen with Ewan.. But for comparison it's busy time for Milan to fork around as much wins in same amount of seasons as CE has done.

 

[Nick2413]

I don’t know, it looked more like a racing move than anything dangerous or unsportsmanlike to me. I get it was unnecessary, I just think it’s antithetical for sprinting to be all about positioning for 99% of the lead out then you have to remember not to move once the sprint is launched. Hard to not let instincts kick in. It’s probably a good rule but in this case nothing really dangerous was done.

 

[Brullnux]

I was thinking the same, that would be a problem for nearly all other sprinters.

I'm not convinced he's far off Phillipsen anyway, tbh. Could be a fun green jersey battle next year.

 

[Netserk]

Merlier moved halfway across the road right up to the barriers in the first 2 seconds of his sprint and yet certain posters would have you believe it was a ridiculous decision to relegate him. Coincidentally, said posters all happen to be Flemish.

Generally, I think it's quite legitimate to pick the lane along the barriers even if you come off a wheel in the middle of the road. But you need to be able to do so safely, and here Merlier failed to do so.

A little of the blame also rests with Molano. They knew it was the favoured side, so I think he should have expected to more easily find space to the left of Merlier.

 

[Wvv]

Merlier moved halfway across the road right up to the barriers in the first 2 seconds of his sprint and yet certain posters would have you believe it was a ridiculous decision to relegate him. Coincidentally, said posters all happen to be Flemish.

Merlier switches his line because of the wind, not to cut off an opponent. He gets there before Molano can catch up with him, or at least that's how I saw it.

I'm not saying he shouldn't get a warning. But in my opinion a relegation happens too fast nowadays. I referred to Matthews, who isn't Flemish as far as I recall.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

I wonder actually what percentage of crashes in the final 10 kilometers happens in corners, considering most of the time riders just chop each other down on straight roads.

In my view, crashes in corners in sprint finales tend to fall in one of three groups:
- the corner is very technical/dangerous
- the roads are very slippery due to rain
- less commonly: the final corner is too close to the line

Corners that do not fall within any of these groups inherently make the sprint less dangerous.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

He gets there before Molano can catch up with him, or at least that's how I saw it.

So Molano stopped pedaling because of what? Did his legs malfunction?

 

[Netserk]

So Molano stopped pedaling because of what? Did his legs malfunction?

He picked the wrong lane where there wasn't enough space.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

He picked the wrong lane where there wasn't enough space.

And why did the amount of available space go from 3 riders to 0 riders in the span of 2 seconds, by which time Molano had already moved for the gap?

 

[Netserk]

And why did the amount of available space go from 3 riders to 0 riders in the span of 2 seconds, by which time Molano had already moved for the gap?

Because it was the most attractive lane given the wind, so first to pick lane got it.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Because it was the most attractive lane given the wind, so first to pick lane got it.

And is it generally allowed to pick a lane that requires you to deviate across half the road in 2 seconds and block another rider in the process?

And by extent, is the wind relevant at all to the legality of such a move?