Giro d'Italia Giro d'Italia 2021 stage 11: Perugia – Montalcino 162 km

[Armchair Cyclist]

In terms of performance vs expectation, Yates and Carthy might be the happiest two riders this evening. Well, apart from Schmid.

 

[jaylew]

If it was so easy, less riders would have cracked on the last uphill

I doubt that they would have cracked so badly if the gravel was replaced by asphalt on an otherwise identical stage

It's absolutely harder - you have to push many more watts to maintain the same speed. I'm just saying it's not as technical as you'd think. Nowhere near as much as MTB or CX.

 

[gunara]

I don't think top Bernal is that far away from the two in-form Slovenians. Problem is I still don't know if top-shaped Bernal is an accessible reality. It's still possible that he might actually be the biggest climbing talent of this generation, like we once suspected him to be, before his back, Tadej, and Remco happenned.

 

[Cinemaniak]

Looking forward to Foss entering the mix

 

[broppo]

i dont really understand why ineos didnt do a little more in the beginning of the stage, this one was for bernal, the bonus seconds are important!

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

He had one crash at 21 years old.. I remember Gilbert disappearing into a ravine on a descent at the Tour and smashing his kneecap a couple years ago, did people line up to say he was a bad bike handler?

I've seen nothing so far to indicate that Remco is some sort of Belgian Richie Porte.

So was my questioning of his ability on the sterrato unreasonable?

 

[luckyboy]

I don't think top Bernal is that far away from the two in-form Slovenians. Problem is I still don't know if top-shaped Bernal is an accessible reality. It's still possible that he might actually be the biggest climbing talent of this generation, like we once suspected him to be, before his back, Tadej, and Remco happenned.

Remco has passed Bernal as a climbing talent? Seeing a lot of proof of that in this Giro.

Can't beat him on short climbs, can't beat him on gravel climbs. Surely the high altitude mountains will be were he shows this...

 

[johnymax]

2016-2018. i mean he certainly has improved since then, but i do not see him as a top 3/5 finisher. But he is also more than welcome to prove me wrong in the next years

Edit: just to add, i think the relative lack of experience is also an issue for Roglic riding the loose stuff (yes, yes, yes, he looked good on Glieres vs climbers and Pogacar after a 6km 11% climb, but that's a bit different)

I actually agree with you. I think Roglič doesn't particularly like sterrato descents and would have had similar problems like Remco today, although not as big. IMO it shows his late arrival to cycling, and some lack of bike handling skills. But he has improved so much in this regard, he'd probably be fine nowadays. I'm sure his results at Strade Bianche from 2016 and 2017 aren't his current level at this kind of races.

 

[Gigs_98]

On another note, where the f*ck was Dan Martin?

 

[roundabout]

It's absolutely harder - you have to push many more watts to maintain the same speed. I'm just saying it's not as technical as you'd think. Nowhere near as much as MTB or CX.

Much more technical than the average road race (i think MTB and CX were used just for emphasis that it was not a typical rode race, not that it was as technical)

 

[Bolder]

Almeida saved this Giro for Evenepoel

I’d be interested to hear the DCQ party line on why Almeida didn’t stay with Remco when he was first suffering.

And also the tire choices and pressure. Running a 28 at 80 psi vs, a 25 at 90 would make a huge difference on gravel.

 

[Bonimenier]

Fausto Masnada to get that KOM jersey now he doesn't have to fetch bottles for the Belgian Simon Spilak.

He got dropped in the final climb from a group with the likes of Gaviria, Viviani and Dekker. Doesn't sound brilliant for someone who should go for the KOM jersey.

 

[gunara]

Remco has passed Bernal as a climbing talent? Seeing a lot of proof of that in this Giro.

Can't beat him on short climbs, can't beat him on gravel climbs. Surely the high altitude mountains will be were he shows this...

You don't think some people think at least he's his equal? At least before today.

 

[Bonimenier]

On another note, where the f*ck was Dan Martin?

Having a party with Formolo in the back

 

[jaylew]

When you're not confident you lose positions and get gapped, it happened many times today to Remco, especially on descents and turns.
So you spend a ton of energy to close mini gaps all the time.
Of course we're not talking about XCO or whatever, but gravel still requires excellent bike handling.

Edit: I don't mean that's the reason Remco lost time today, and certainly not the only reason. I don't even know if he will be a strong GT contender in the future, possibly yes, but who knows.

I can agree with most of this, though I don't think it necessarily requires excellent bike handling. Well, maybe if you're racing against guys like VdP, Pidcock, etc who have terrific off-road skills, but I don't think guys like Carthy, Vlasov, Buchmann, etc...have those kind of skills. That said, they are likely a bit more comfortable overall on a bike than Evenepoel given how long he's been racing.

 

[Climbing]

On another note, where the f*ck was Dan Martin?

9:23 down with Formolo...
Jesus.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

On another note, where the f*ck was Dan Martin?

He glued himself to the wheel of a UAE rider either forgetting that he had switched teams or thinking it was Pogacar.

 

[titan31]

i dont really understand why ineos didnt do a little more in the beginning of the stage, this one was for bernal, the bonus seconds are important!

Ya, I think he has it sorted anyway unless there's a crash so they shouldn't come into it but when against Pog and Rog you need to be a bit more killer in taking stages like this if you're stronger. I think today's performance and tactics are fine for who's he racing against though.

 

[Climbing]

I can agree with most of this, though I don't think it necessarily requires excellent bike handling. Well, maybe if you're racing against guys like VdP, Pidcock, etc who have terrific off-road skills, but I don't think guys like Carthy, Vlasov, Buchmann, etc...have those kind of skills. That said, they are likely a bit more comfortable overall on a bike than Evenepoel given how long he's been racing.

Yeah, I guess it's mostly Remco being scared especially on descents or turns, even more on gravel.
And quite understandably, many wouldn't even get on the bike no more, after that kind of accident.

 

[IndianCyclist]

I donot know what Evenepoel's problem was, rest day blues, mental, bonk, recurrence of injury pain or bad day. But for sure QST made a complete mess of their tactics. Almeida- will he or wont he situation was kinda comedic. On the other side Ineos perfect tactics. A recon would have helped for Remco if he had time but first GT so not too worried about his future.

 

[saganftw]

I’d be interested to hear the DCQ party line on why Almeida didn’t stay with Remco when he was first suffering.

And also the tire choices and pressure. Running a 28 at 80 psi vs, a 25 at 90 would make a huge difference on gravel.

i thought evenepoel was angry that it took almeida so long to come back so he told him to fck off

 

[wheresmybrakes]

Didn't Remco say in an interview yesterday that he did not go recon as mechanics would have too much work?

It's a good job he didn't go on a recon, he may not have started today.

 

[jaylew]

Much more technical than the average road race (i think MTB and CX were used just for emphasis that it was not a typical rode race, not that it was as technical)

Agreed. I'd probably put it up there with a technical crit course.

 

[Bonimenier]

I donot know what Evenepoel's problem was, rest day blues, mental, bonk, recurrence of injury pain or bad day. But for sure QST made a complete mess of their tactics. Almeida- will he or wont he situation was kinda comedic. On the other side Ineos perfect tactics. A recon would have helped for Remco if he had time but first GT so not too worried about his future.

This was actually the one stage he did a recon for together with Almeida and Masnada

 

[DoYouEvenRideBruh]

I donot know what Evenepoel's problem was, rest day blues, mental, bonk, recurrence of injury pain or bad day. But for sure QST made a complete mess of their tactics. Almeida- will he or wont he situation was kinda comedic. On the other side Ineos perfect tactics. A recon would have helped for Remco if he had time but first GT so not too worried about his future.

I think Remco did re(m)con this stage a while back...