Giro d’Italia 2024, Stage 16: Livigno – Santa Cristina Valgardena/Sankt Christina in Gröden (Monte Pana), 202.0k 206.0k

[Red Rick]

My favorite moment was when Majka pulled for 5 km and after accelerating for a couple hundred meters, there were nobody left.

Nothing is as fun as watching the field be the worst in the WT stage races

 

[postmanhat]

O'Connor is a completete tool. Inexcuseable comments (we can obviously say that stuff here behind aliases, avatars and what not!)

Hopefully O Connor blows on Grappa.

Yes. Have had a lot of sympathy for him with his bad luck/injuries etc, and was interested to if he could fulfill his potential in this race. But he's on the t**tlist now.

 

[Bolder]

Also, everyone who complains about cold weather only to race without gloves (not even normal ones) and gets problems with cold hands like Ala deserves to be ridiculed...

I saw that. That said...after a certain point even neoprene gloves stop working.

Hard stage, of course. I get why riders like O'Connor might be frustrated and lash out, but isn't it better to take these things in stride? It's like he never saw anyone have to make a hard choice with 150 critics ready to jump on you no matter what you do.

 

[postmanhat]

There's a reason Arensman isnt pulled back. He might be the better shot, and at the very least, its a 50/50 for the white jersey. Finally Ineos doing something right at least.

Currently third and sixth on GC, and have won stages with two other riders. By a long distance, the most successful team here other than Pogacar.

 

[Sciatic]

I'm sorry, but cycling news reporting of the incident as "farcical" at the start of today's stage, and then O'Connors' statements afterwards are unexceptable, bordering on racist tropes about Italians and Italian organization. And I'm not one to defend Vegni, who often is inadequate, but I think folks need to realize that the UCI decided to move the Giro two weeks earlier on the calendar and this brings about immense challenges with ragards to racing over iconic passes like the Stelvio, Gavia, etc. Massive effort goes into clearing the passes of snow beforehand, to only then be told it's not possible. TV shares depend on these "queen stages", which the team sponsors bank upon to get a commercial return on their investments. And all of this too for the fans, who watch on television to see the riders go over these mythical mountains. So it's not something that the Giro can easily depart with, because without such high passes the race doesn't live up to its history. A history that plays a significant role in drawing a fanbase (which CN immensely depends upon for readership), which, in turn, attracts sponsors, who pay the riders' salaries (O'Connor should thus have a bit more respect). If this were a repeated issue at the Tour or Vuelta, I bet the outcomes would not be much different. The future risks a Giro without these passes, which would be a shame. Plus the teams were told an hour before the start that, while departing from Livigno, they would not ride over the pass, but they insisted upon going to Prato allo Stelvio. This left the mayor and fans waiting for the riders who never showed up.

Only thing I disagree with:it absolutely would be different if the same thing (conditions, rider protests) because ASO would not ambivalate and then cave in like RCS.

 

[Sciatic]

Yeah, I hope O´Connor gets to eat his words. Thanks to the organisation we get and have all these races. He should be more respectful, because without them no races and then he doesnt get to have a well-paying job as a cyclist.

Why does he even care what fans are saying on social media, really classless to take potshots at his audience.

 

[Froome]

Since Pogacar was the only one who said he had no problem in ride on those conditions, i hope he wins every stage until the end and doesn't gift nothing to this soft riders.

Thomas is a shadow of what he was, and that helps even more in consider this field as one of the weakest fields ever in a Grand Tour.

 

[Mayomaniac]

? Folks in Colorado ride in those conditions all winter long. Obviously most Nordic ski races often take place well below 0C

I've heard stories (and seen video footage) of Mongolian CT (and their one PCT) rider riding on open roads around thei capital with -25 to -30° C, but that kind of stuff is actually insane and reserved for crazy hardmen.

 

[Extinction]

Only thing I disagree with:it absolutely would be different if the same thing (conditions, rider protests) because ASO would not ambivalate and then cave in like RCS.

Ah, well, ASO has more power than RCS. That's the real difference. So RCS gets kicked around trying to defend its race. This is typical of wider state politics and intercene war in the EU, although I do not intend to enter into that discussion.

 

[Red Rick]

I've heard stories (and seen video footage) of Mongolian CT (and their one PCT) rider riding on open roads around thei capital with -25 to -30° C, but that kind of stuff is actually insane and reserved for crazy hardmen.

I mean they probably have their yak haired cycling clothing

 

[Sciatic]

This, by the way, is Jensi solution for all Weather Protocol issues:

the people who decide if it's okay to ride, have to drive the stage in an open cabriolet, no matter the weather. And if it's to hot or to cold for them to do so, you don't ride.

Edit: thinking about it for a second, this could only work as an instrument of measurement if the people in the car also can only wear what a cyclist could realistically use. Also they should be on home trainers, which means that there probably needs to be an open Truck on which they all sit on the home trainers. And because this is a TV sports event, they'd also do their own race, like the E-Giro.

And brain surgeons should only get certified if they’ve had brain surgery themselves, because only someone who has experienced something can understand conditions and make good decisions.

 

[Sciatic]

This, by the way, is Jensi solution for all Weather Protocol issues:

the people who decide if it's okay to ride, have to drive the stage in an open cabriolet, no matter the weather. And if it's to hot or to cold for them to do so, you don't ride.

Edit: thinking about it for a second, this could only work as an instrument of measurement if the people in the car also can only wear what a cyclist could realistically use. Also they should be on home trainers, which means that there probably needs to be an open Truck on which they all sit on the home trainers. And because this is a TV sports event, they'd also do their own race, like the E-Giro.

It’s weather omerta

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Imo Arensman (and also Tiberi) benefitted from the bad weather and the tempo on the 2nd half of Pinei. If everyone is fresh those 2 are not 3rd and 4th strongest rider on such a finish.

i dont agree with this take. Arensman is better in general on very hard stages with multiple climbs in the 3rd week. Not a punchy finish like this.

Tiberi so far has done better on mono climbs and first/2nd week stages. I don't think they are comparable

 

[Mayomaniac]

I mean, Jens also has always been of the opinion that downhill finishes should be banned and has a history of making pretty braindead statements.

 

[search]

I mean they probably have their yak haired cycling clothing

Sainbayar said he had a hard time at the beginning of the season because in Mongolia he couldn't train outdoor for months, so even those guys seem to have some limits.

 

[Mayomaniac]

i dont agree with this take. Arensman is better in general on very hard stages with multiple climbs in the 3rd week. Not a punchy finish like this.

Tiberi so far has done better on mono climbs and first/2nd week stages. I don't think they are comparable

Tiberi had bad day on the Livigno stage, but overall he's more of a diesel climber.

 

[Slavique Nuke]

WvA would have been on the podium in this Giro

 

[Extinction]

This, by the way, is Jensi solution for all Weather Protocol issues:

the people who decide if it's okay to ride, have to drive the stage in an open cabriolet, no matter the weather. And if it's to hot or to cold for them to do so, you don't ride.

Guys on the race motorcycles already get that.

 

[Brullnux]

It's raining all day tomorrow, I wonder if the riders will protest

 

[Mayomaniac]

Sainbayar said he had a hard time at the beginning of the season because in Mongolia he couldn't train outdoor for months, so even those guys seem to have some limits.

The former track cycling junior wc Tegshbayar posted those videos a few years ago on social media, can't find them atm.

 

[Unchained]

It's raining all day tomorrow, I wonder if the riders will protest

Like I said, special clothing is available and absolutely effective. May not look sexy or showcase sponsors but staying dry on 2 wheels at whatever speed has been technically possible for a number of years, only moisture is on your face, and the terrarium effect from your body.

 

[YavorD]

I didn't read through everything but everyone keeps mentioning O'Connor.
What did he say?

 

[Extinction]

Like I said, special clothing is available and absolutely effective. May not look sexy or showcase sponsors but staying dry on 2 wheels at whatever speed has been technically possible for a number of years, only moisture is on your face, and the terrarium effect from your body.

Like skiing. Nobody stops skiing because it's wet and cold. The only prohibitive thing is ice, sleet or snow on the tarmac.

 

[search]

I didn't read through everything but everyone keeps mentioning O'Connor.
What did he say?

“It’s probably one of the worst organised races, I think and, I’m just being honest, this would never happen in 99% of other situations. It’s just a bit of a shame that it’s 2024 and you still have dinosaurs who don’t see the human side of things,”

Ben O'Connor says Giro d'Italia is run by 'dinosaurs' amid anger over stage 16 conditions

'I'd like to see him get out on the bike and do the start of the stage and see what his answer is' says Australian

www.globalcyclingnetwork.com

 

[46&twoWheels]

Ah, well, ASO has more power than RCS. That's the real difference. So RCS gets kicked around trying to defend its race. This is typical of wider state politics and intercene war in the EU, although I do not intend to enter into that discussion.

in other words "frenchies are a pain in the ass"....signed: an italian.