Giro dell'Emilia 2021 (02.10.)

[SafeBet]

Excellent team performance from ISN:
Woods 3
Martin 6
Hermans 9
De Marchi 11

And all of these guys have at least a top10 in Lombardia.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Also I still expect Evenpoel to be more of a classic rider and Almeida more GT GC.

Based on what? His lousy TT?

 

[Red Rick]

Based on what? His lousy TT?

His rouleur skills vs his pure climbing skills.

I think his rouleur ability is the best in the world and him being a world class hilly one day racer is already confirmed. So in the worst case scenario that his climbing comes short for GTs, he's still a world class one day racer.

 

[Red Rick]

Excellent team performance from ISN:
Woods 3
Martin 6
Hermans 9
De Marchi 11

And all of these guys have at least a top10 in Lombardia.

I think TJV looked good as well today, good rides from Kruijswijk and Vingegaard both. Kruijswijk you're not used to seeing in such races at all, whereas Vingegaard I think was a question mark after doing nothing since Clasica San Sebastian.

In fact TJV might consider setting up Vingegaard first in Milano Torino

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

His rouleur skills vs his pure climbing skills.

I think his rouleur ability is the best in the world and him being a world class hilly one day racer is already confirmed. So in the worst case scenario that his climbing comes short for GTs, he's still a world class one day racer.

Because we've been able to assess his climbing skills in depth in the many races he started, in prime form, at his age?

 

[jaylew]

His rouleur skills vs his pure climbing skills.

I think his rouleur ability is the best in the world and him being a world class hilly one day racer is already confirmed. So in the worst case scenario that his climbing comes short for GTs, he's still a world class one day racer.

Is he though? I guess you could say world class but does he look like someone who can actually win the biggest ones? He certainly may become one but I'm not sold just yet. There are of course other ways but more often than not you need a kick to actually win the biggest one days.

I think he has more upside in GTs. Right now he's best at shorter stage races with TTs but I have no doubt he'll develop further. I just wonder if he'll ever be a guy who can win small bunch sprints (or even 2-3 man sprints)

 

[groogster]

His rouleur skills vs his pure climbing skills.

I think his rouleur ability is the best in the world and him being a world class hilly one day racer is already confirmed. So in the worst case scenario that his climbing comes short for GTs, he's still a world class one day racer.

Agree with that 100%

IMO it's the big question mark on Evenepoel ... one thing it's pretty obvious by now, his weakness (he's not bad, just not as good as the best) on those steep climbs... we also still need to see if he can keep up in those GT high altitude mountain stages. Untill now it seems a big question mark on Evenepoel´s skillset, one that´s to much needed for being a GT GC rider. He also need to confirm that he can keep up is form during a 3 week race so...

We simply don't have the background to jump in any conclusions with only 1 GT in his career and after returning from a serious career threatening injury.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

I just came back home and only saw last kilometer or so on YT in terrible quality. The front group being Roglstomped was never in doubt. Someone attacked from behind just before Primoz. Was it Evenepoel or Almeida? (I think the former) Unfortunately I have no idea what was happening before. When was Pog dropped?

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

I just came back home and only saw last kilometer or so on YT in terrible quality. The front group being Roglstomped was never in doubt. Someone attacked just before Primoz. Was it Evenepoel or Almeida? Unfortunately I have no idea what was happening before. When was Pog dropped?

The correct question is when wàsn't Pog dropped?

Yes, the attack was Evenepoel, who had tried to attack a few times in the final 30k (as did Almeida) but neither got away from the group of favorites. It seemed Evenepoel started pacing the group for Almeida, so when others attackd in the final 1.5k, he was dropped, but he came back as the tempo dropped and he tried to attack immediately.

 

[Red Rick]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1444331895068798986

View: https://twitter.com/ammattipyoraily/status/1444331895068798986/photo/1

 

[memyselfandI]

When Evenepoel claimed he had the legs to win the world title..These legs or some other legs?

 

[Rackham]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1444331895068798986

View: https://twitter.com/ammattipyoraily/status/1444331895068798986/photo/1

The fact this was a small committee playing games before a sprint probably means the overall climbing time doesn't mean much. It was funny to me how the other guys were all afraid of the stomp... until Evenepoel decided to just go for it because "why not eh?".

Seriously, there's some Roglic in that guy IMO.

When Evenepoel claimed he had the legs to win the world title..These legs or some other legs?

As far as I'm concerned Evenepoel is very consistently fighting at the top for race wins. This means he's there or thereabouts among the favorites & should be treated as one (especially by his national team).

And getting beaten in a sprint by Roglic is one of the "the" most common occurrences on a steep climb in the pro peloton. I doubt Yates & the others will lose any sleep tonight & neither should Evenepoel (& it also says nothing about him "not having legs" last weekend in the WC RR).

 

[Ilmaestro99]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1444331895068798986

View: https://twitter.com/ammattipyoraily/status/1444331895068798986/photo/1

Today they race much harder from the 40kms out. Not just a San luca drag race like previously

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Looking at the results it seems UAE team made a huge effort to help Pogi get the prestigious 104th place.

104	Tadej Pogacar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates
105	Davide Formolo (Ita) UAE Team Emirates
106	Rafal Majka (Pol) UAE Team Emirates
107	Valerio Conti (Ita) UAE Team Emirates
108	Marc Hirschi (Swi) UAE Team Emirates

 

[Froome]

When Evenepoel claimed he had the legs to win the world title..These legs or some other legs?

Evenepoel had great legs today and did a great race, unfortunately for him, almeida, yates and almeida were more stronger today.

 

[greyclouds]

And getting beaten in a sprint by Roglic is one of the "the" most common occurrences on a steep climb in the pro peloton. I doubt Yates & the others will lose any sleep tonight & neither should Evenepoel (& it also says nothing about him "not having legs" last weekend in the WC RR).

Remco didn't get beaten by Roglic in a sprint. He made an attack/acceleration coming from behind, most probably to launch Almeida. Yes, of course it could have stick and he could have gone for the win, but he finished 28s down on Roglic, so I think an acceleration for Almeida is the most likely explanation, which is a very common DQS tactic for this sort of finishes. Remember Honoré and Cavagna attacking in one of the Poland stages this year that Almeida won?

I might be reading too much, but I think that it was very well played by both throughout the last 30kms, each one trying their luck and knowing that most of the times they were also increasing the teammate chances, by forcing the opposition to chase. Unfortunately for them none of the attacks created a lasting gap, and when the final crazy attack from Remco came, Roglic went just too strong for Almeida (and everyone else).

 

[Rackham]

Remco didn't get beaten by Roglic in a sprint. He made an attack/acceleration coming from behind, most probably to launch Almeida. Yes, of course it could have stick and he could have gone for the win, but he finished 28s down on Roglic, so I think an acceleration for Almeida is the most likely explanation, which is a very common DQS tactic for this sort of finishes. Remember Honoré and Cavagna attacking in one of the Poland stages this year that Almeida won?

I might be reading too much, but I think that it was very well played by both throughout the last 30kms, each one trying their luck and knowing that most of the times they were also increasing the teammate chances, by forcing the opposition to chase. Unfortunately for them none of the attacks created a lasting gap, and when the final crazy attack from Remco came, Roglic went just too strong for Almeida (and everyone else).

I was talking in broader terms, because if we focus on the details no one really sprinted against Roglic (Almeida got blown off his wheel).

When the gradient is high & there's a punchy climb finish, going for the win against Roglic is like arriving on the flat versus peak Cavendish from ten years ago. Everyone in that group knew that, so it was down to one guy to blink first & go for it (& yes, Almeida "could have" benefitted from Evenepoel's dig... if the opponent had a different name).

 

[Krzysztof_O]

"I only started cycling at 17, give me a break Primoz"

"At your age I couldn't even ride a bike, ehhh "

 

[Red Rick]

Today they race much harder from the 40kms out. Not just a San luca drag race like previously

Fully agree with that. The time doesn't say much other than the race being way, way harder. Which makes Roglic sprint at the end a bit more impressive and gives me the idea his endurance has gotten a bit better.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Evenepoel had great legs today and did a great race, unfortunately for him, almeida, yates and almeida were more stronger today.

Don't forget Almeida though.

Today they race much harder from the 40kms out. Not just a San luca drag race like previously

Otherwise Masnada would have dropped the lot.

 

[Riek s]

When Evenepoel claimed he had the legs to win the world title..These legs or some other legs?

Yes, why not?

Evenepoel is not very good in the punch, which is typically the driving factor on short steep climbs. (if you want to make the difference) Clearly visible today, on the more explosive sections he struggled, while the others he made others struggle. (Things can differ when you need to pace yourself uphill on steep sections)
Does that mean he couldn't win this? of course not. If they give him 5seconds, they don't see him back.
His peak speed might be lower than the others, his continuous effort level is higher than that of most the others. Same would have held true for the WC. it is not because he can't win the sprint, that he wouldn't be able to win the race. Winning is depended on a lot of factors. For example WVA was by far the strongest man in OS... yet he didn't win.


These kind of races are the cream & butter of Roglic though. He should be able to win AGR/WP & LBL in the same year as well, not really clear where his limits are in the other classics... Probably a more complete cyclist than WVA at this point (considering road only).

 

[Red Rick]

When Evenepoel claimed he had the legs to win the world title..These legs or some other legs?

Different parcours, different competition.

Maybe this race should sooner be compared to the Euros, in which case it's probably a worse performance?

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Looks like DQS are alternating their leadership duties and soon Fausto will be the leader. Probably in lombardia

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Different parcours, different competition.

Maybe this race should sooner be compared to the Euros, in which case it's probably a worse performance?

Not really, just tougher competition imho. He dropped Sivakov, Bardet, Cosnefroy... but not Colbrelli. Let's not forget he was the reason why Vingegaard got dropped, why Kruijswijk didn't get back etc today. On a course like today, he basically had to hope Roglic had a bad day, or that the group would start staring at each other while he rode away. Not much else he could have done considering his lack of punch. That probably made him waste some energy needlessly trying to get away as well.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Today they race much harder from the 40kms out. Not just a San luca drag race like previously

When Visconti wo he also already attacked on the penultimate climb and the race was also already on on the previous ascent when Roglic got his first Emilia win. Of course both times the race didn't explode with 40kms to go, but it wasn't just a F-W style waiting game.