Giro d'Italia 2020, stage 13: Cervia – Monselice 192 km

[richwallone]

So Sagan should have 0 green jerseys rather than 7?

We are talking about the Giro here... The point system is skewed more toward traditional sprinters. Plus, the intermediate sprints, the amount of points and where they are located, benefit them also...

 

[Eclipse]

Almeida got 6 bonus seconds so I don't really understand the point. They had every reason to ride.

Agreed. They forced a situation that netted them a nice positive.

As far as Bora go I don't think they made a mistake. They hoped riding the first climb hard to drop Demare would then result in the ability to get over the second climb in touch more easily if the others were hesitant. The reality is that as soon as Ulissi absolutely drilled it from the start the climb was going to be too tough for him no matter what they did. They played their cards as best they could without doing something mad likely gambling on Majka or Konrda supporting and bridging as a group

 

[RedheadDane]

We are talking about the Giro here... The point system is skewed more toward traditional sprinters. Plus, the intermediate sprints, the amount of points and where they are located, benefit them also...

I actually went to check; I was sure Rodriguez had won it at some point, I was right; back in 2012.

 

[richwallone]

The way I read his point is that there was nobody in the first group who could challenge Ulissi in the sprint. Don't take the "gifting" word to literally... Yes, DQS had a clear motive to ride hard

Pretty good summary... Especially agree on the 2nd point:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1317107452987531265

View: https://twitter.com/laflammerouge16/status/1317107452987531265

 

[dicanio_michael]

Exactly, especially as Almeida comes really close to the victory, it was just a matter of centimeters. This shows the team has a lot of trust in him.

If every team who works hard to bring their sprinter/leader in the best possible conditions to a sprint finish, only to finish second on the stage, is seen as gifting the stage to the winner then there are a whole lot of gifts in cycling.

Yes indeed. And he almost won if he could hold Ulissi wheel for one or two seconds rather than go right away with Ulissi. It was a worthy bet and resulted in 6 seconds bonus.

 

[Red Rick]

Agreed. They forced a situation that netted them a nice positive.

As far as Bora go I don't think they made a mistake. They hoped riding the first climb hard to drop Demare would then result in the ability to get over the second climb in touch more easily if the others were hesitant. The reality is that as soon as Ulissi absolutely drilled it from the start the climb was going to be too tough for him no matter what they did. They played their cards as best they could without doing something mad likely gambling on Majka or Konrda supporting and bridging as a group

I think Bora probably misplayed their cards by going so hard the first climb only for Demare to come back. You deplete your team and Sagan unnecessarily there.

 

[richwallone]

I actually went to check; I was sure Rodriguez had won it at some point, I was right; back in 2012.

Yeah, by one point ahead of Cavendish... He just got stupidly lucky there to win the points competition... That was a weird Giro anyway It doesn't disprove my point, in general, though...

2012 Giro d'Italia - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Yeah, that was weird, especially the highlighted part, an aberration how Giro normally does it:

Additionally, there was a points classification, which awarded a red jersey. In the points classification, cyclists got points for finishing in the top 15 in a stage. Unlike in the better known points classification in the Tour de France, the type of stage had no effect on what points were on offer – each stage had the same points available on the same scale. The win earned 25 points, second place earned 20 points, third 16, fourth 14, fifth 12, sixth 10, and one point fewer per place down to a single point for 15th. In addition, points could be won in intermediate sprints.[

 

[Red Rick]

I actually went to check; I was sure Rodriguez had won it at some point, I was right; back in 2012.

They changed it a few years back. Cavendish only barely beat Nibali in 2013 too when he won 5 stages.

 

[RedheadDane]

They changed it a few years back. Cavendish only barely beat Nibali in 2013 too when he won 5 stages.

Yeah, that was my thought too. if you continue back from 2011... well... I wouldn't call several of the listed winners pure sprinters either.

 

[Breezy1985]

Time limits are a joke on the mountain stages, so I think the points jersey is over.

There's still Sagans breakaway or crashes and covid to contend with for Demare

 

[roundabout]

Yeah, that was my thought too. if you continue back from 2011... well... I wouldn't call several of the listed winners pure sprinters either.

Yeah, it was the same number of points available per stage back then and it was only changed in 2013 or 2014 or something.

Edit: 2014

 

[Anderis]

I think Bora probably misplayed their cards by going so hard the first climb only for Demare to come back. You deplete your team and Sagan unnecessarily there.

Hinsight is 10/10. WIthout BORA's acceleration on the first climb, Demare might have been able to be there for the sprint.

It's weird to see Quickstep as the strongest team on the climbs. Just imagine if Evenepoel was here, they could've dominated the race completely. I wonder if they'll go more in the GT direction in the next few years.

 

[Moviestar]

De Gendt and his new amigo Rubio almost in the same time after thirteen stages, how ironic

58 DE GENDT Thomas Lotto Soudal 1:16:36
59 RUBIO Einer Augusto Movistar Team 1:16:56

 

[gregrowlerson]

I'm always amazed that a guy like Konrad, good climber and above average punch, has one professional victory to his name, Austrian RR...

Not too dissimilar to Kloden's number of non ITT stage victories.

 

[Mayomaniac]

I wish I could get 1.8M/y for that

Rumour has it that he showed up in full Betancur shape at the post lockdown training camp.

 

[skippo12]

Not too dissimilar to Kloden's number of non ITT stage victories.

Don´t forget that oldman Klöden won a group sprint in Paris-Nice.

 

[gregrowlerson]

Don´t forget that oldman Klöden won a group sprint in Paris-Nice.

Yes, I remember it well. Surprisingly outsprinted Sanchez.

Didn't gain nearly enough on Tony Martin though on that queen stage to win the overall.

They were very different times!

 

[Red Rick]

Rumour has it that he showed up in full Betancur shape at the post lockdown training camp.

Had to show who was the big signing obviously

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Yes, I remember it well. Surprisingly outsprinted Sanchez.

Didn't gain nearly enough on Tony Martin though on that queen stage to win the overall.

They were very different times!

One of the worst days of my life together with the Morzine-Avoriaz sprint against Schleck.

 

[Escarabajo]

De Gendt and his new amigo Rubio almost in the same time after thirteen stages, how ironic

58 DE GENDT Thomas Lotto Soudal 1:16:36
59 RUBIO Einer Augusto Movistar Team 1:16:56

The fight will continue until the last day!!!

 

[dicanio_michael]

Hinsight is 10/10. WIthout BORA's acceleration on the first climb, Demare might have been able to be there for the sprint.

It's weird to see Quickstep as the strongest team on the climbs. Just imagine if Evenepoel was here, they could've dominated the race completely. I wonder if they'll go more in the GT direction in the next few years.

Imagine the team that current pink jersey was supposed to be Evenepoel's lieutenant.
Doubt they will both ride in the same race again after this performance. Patrick to bring in more domestiques.

 

[dicanio_michael]

De Gendt and his new amigo Rubio almost in the same time after thirteen stages, how ironic

58 DE GENDT Thomas Lotto Soudal 1:16:36
59 RUBIO Einer Augusto Movistar Team 1:16:56

De Gendt to pull the peloton just to not let Rubio get into breakaways.

 

[richwallone]

Chris Horner for DS at Bora... I really like the way he thinks... Time for Sagan to switch teams in 2021

View: https://youtu.be/qS-TOUUij5g

 

[Carrick-On-Seine]

Imagine the team that current pink jersey was supposed to be Evenepoel's lieutenant.
Doubt they will both ride in the same race again after this performance. Patrick to bring in more domestiques.

They really have built a GT team on the sly. Masnada and Ballerini have been excellent signings for the mountains and lumps respectively (plus reduced bunch sprints in the case of DB). Knox is steady and Honoré has really shown himself this Giro.
Perhaps the unthinkable will happen and Quickstep will go to a tour without a sprinter?
And where does the world champion fit into all of this?
Maybe they'll have three GT squads: Remco, Almeida and the stagehunter special with Alaphillipe and Bennett.