Giro d'Italia 2020, stage 6: Castrovillari – Matera 188 km

[Devil's Elbow]

Bora and Sagan messing it up yet again. Démare the only sprinter who got his positioning right although I don't think anyone could have stopped that acceleration.

 

[richwallone]

Sagan is losing his instincts... He doesn't trust himself anymore like he used to... A couple years ago he would have been a lot more aggressive... Sad end to his racing career...

 

[BlueRoads]

... that was not Sagan being too slow... the pace was just stopping at all in that corner and Sagan got lost there while Demare came back... then Sagan was stuck... really not a tactical masterpiece by Bora there

 

[JosefK]

Let that be a lesson for other sprint hopers' teams: if there's a chance to get rid of Demare, spend some effort on it. But chapeau to Arnaud.

 

[Cance > TheRest]

Definitely makes more sense than him suddenly deciding that he wanted to be a sprinter...

It is modern leadership. Paying back for all the work and lobbyism that Felline does. Solid lad, I hope he will again find his legs from 2016/2017.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Bora is doing what they do best: WASTE all the effort on nothing... LOL

You have to wonder at what point morale starts to be a problem. They do so much work for Sagan so often.

 

[Jagartrott]

what the hell, Demare was pretty far back within the last km and then they just stopped at the front

Incredibly stupid riding. Matthews, Sagan, Ulissi, their teams must know they have to drop Démare or their chances are suddenly halved or worse. They had Démare out of position, and then... nothing.

 

[movingtarget]

Sagan messing up a lot of sprints. Great win by Demare. Matthews thereabouts again but a long way back.

 

[Bolder]

I'm not sure if Sagan has lost interest, form, or both.

 

[ppanther92]

Bora is doing what they do best: WASTE all the effort on nothing... LOL

I don't know. Today it is all on Sagan. If he only finishes 8th on a stage that should suit him perfectly and the team delivers him in a situation where he is in a better position than basically all the other fast men with 500m to go, then Bora is hardly to blame.

 

[RedheadDane]

It is modern leadership. Paying back for all the work and lobbyism that Felline does. Solid lad, I hope he will again find his legs from 2016/2017.

Of course, but I was literally - although very briefly - sitting there like; "Okay... it's 2020... Fuglsang decided to be a sprinter. Alright..." But of course; bashing Zakarin, does not a sprinter make.

 

[Screecher]

I feel as if Sagan didn't have the legs in the finale which would explain why Bora didn't push it hard on Millotta. Could be just a bad day or maybe he's starting to get tired after TdF. Looks like it could be a winless season for him.

 

[Escarabajo]

I'm not sure if Sagan has lost interest, form, or both.

This could be the moment when fatigue is taking over.

 

[ppanther92]

really not a tactical masterpiece by Bora there

What where they supposed to do? They delivered Sagan perfectly. As soon as the tempo dropped, Majka even took a turn (there were no lead out men left, see Fuglsang). How about Sagan going for it? Demare had no teammate and 50m and 15-20 places to make up on Sagan with 500m to go. I know which situation I would prefer to be into.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Arnaud Demare now has 14 wins since Sagan lost won. Jesus.

 

[fuiers]

Most wins, yes. Great rider, yes. Superb form, yes. Best bunch sprinter? Absolutely not.

I agree. Two of the fastest out of competition at the moment and then there's Ackermann, Ewan and Bennett. Demare needs to beat these guys to even be in the contention on my books.

 

[JosefK]

I agree. Two of the fastest out of competition at the moment and then there's Ackermann, Ewan and Bennett. Demare needs to beat these guys to even be in the contention on my books.

Yes. I would think Ewan would be the best right now in a flat or very slightly rising bunch sprint.

 

[tomorrow]

Sagan is losing his instincts... He doesn't trust himself anymore like he used to... A couple years ago he would have been a lot more aggressive... Sad end to his racing career...

This. I was just about to write it. His legs are maybe back, but his head/mojo/himself is not. In last years, he would have been on the outside same as Demare was and would gain 5 meters in that corner. Today, he was inside, block and hitting breaks which effectively cost him 15m on Demaire in just that one corner.
The fact that he was left up front too early has take it toll, and for that the attacks of Nibali and such can be blamed, cause sagan needed to follow it, but it was hardly lost there.
That one last corner was the problem. I am not sure, but commentator on czech Eurosport was mentioning last corner one corner too early, so maybe bad roadbook and bad recon by Bora, on could hardly tell.

 

[Billie]

Arnaud Demare now has 14 wins since Sagan lost won. Jesus.

Because he wasn't allowed to race the Tour and had to ride all these small races

 

[RedheadDane]

I feel as if Sagan didn't have the legs in the finale which would explain why Bora didn't push it hard on Millotta. Could be just a bad day or maybe he's starting to get tired after TdF. Looks like it could be a winless season for him.

Delayed Curse of the Rainbow Jersey?

 

[roundabout]

I agree. Two of the fastest out of competition at the moment and then there's Ackermann, Ewan and Bennett. Demare needs to beat these guys to even be in the contention on my books.

it's 2-1 Demare vs Ewan in sprints since the racing restart

 

[richwallone]

What where they supposed to do? They delivered Sagan perfectly. As soon as the tempo dropped, Majka even took a turn (there were no lead out men left, see Fuglsang). How about Sagan going for it? Demare had no teammate and 50m and 15-20 places to make up on Sagan with 500m to go. I know which situation I would prefer to be into.

Exactly... He was 3rd-4th with 400-500m to go... All of a sudden he finds himself 1st and slows down to wait for Majka to lead him out. Obviously, Majka is too slow, Sagan waiting for him, even if only for a half second, loses his momentum, and that's when all the other teams are flying by him... It looked like Sagan was standing there, at least 10-15 people got by him... Aaaand he ends up getting boxed... This isn't isn't even a rookie mistake. This is an old man not trusting his instincts... That's the clearest sign of a sprinter past his prime... Much more mental than physical... It's in his head!!!

This was clearly on Sagan!!!

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Because he wasn't allowed to race the Tour and had to ride all these small races

Well yes. Even leaving the Tour issue aside, you always have to take into account that all French sprinters pad out their win numbers with a load of little Europe Tour races because their teams ride them and care about them. But while that bulks up his numbers, WT wins are there too. Demare is in great form.

 

[tomorrow]

Exactly... He was 3rd-4th with 400-500m to go... All of a sudden he finds himself 1st and slows down to wait for Majka to lead him out. Obviously, Majka is too slow, Sagan waiting for him, even if only for a half second, loses his momentum, and that's when all the other teams are flying by him... It looked like Sagan was standing there, at least 10-15 people got by him... Aaaand he ends up getting boxed... This isn't isn't even rookie mistake. This is an old man not trusting his instincts... That's the clearest sign of a sprinter past his prime... Much more mental than physical... It's in his head!!!

This was clearly on Sagan!!!

To be fair though, sagan has lost waaay to many like this and he's accused of being tactically immature. I have a feeling, that at one point, GvA and Lefevere with his team got to his head, and from then on, he started racing more tactically. However, it seems, that riding tacticaly just does not work for him. Yes, he lost some miserably by riding with his gut and spirit of a true rider, but overall, he's won more.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

it's 2-1 Demare vs Ewan in sprints since the racing restart

are you seriously suggesting that Arnaud Demare is as fast a bunch sprinter as Caleb Ewan? He isn’t now and he hasn‘t been at any point in his life, unless perhaps you go back to when he was a Junior and ewan was about 12.

Is he a better cyclist? Yes.