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

[Devil's Elbow]

What gc rider will be willing to attack 50 km from the finish this early in a gt

Ciccone?

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Every time it rains coverage is lost so I think dry is better or a shower before the race of course.

No, we want the riders to need a long shower after the race!

 

[Publiuszam]

I hope something happens GC wise.

 

[railxmig]

I've looked up where the sprints, bonuses and other ish is and the organizers are trying with this one. Intermediate is in the middle of that 2010 sterrato steep climb 48k before the finish while bonuses are at the start of the 2nd sterrato 27k from the finish. You know, you fight for scraps like today and oppurtunities may naturally occur.

 

[Anderis]

Alberto Bettiol will win this stage of this bike race.

 

[BigCoward]

No, we want the riders to need a long shower after the race!

I kind of hope they all need a shower after every day of 5 hours cycling.

 

[RedheadDane]

And your spelling, too!

Absolutely nothing wrong with my spelling of the word "titleling".

 

[SafeBet]

Yes, that's what I thought, too. If someone like Bernal goes and Carthy can't follow anyway, fine, then Bettiol could follow. But he surely won't be allowed to attack and drag other GC contenders with him when Carthy can't follow him. And if they go and Carthy can't follow immediately it's probably Bettiol's task to keep him as close as possible. So unless Carthy cracks or crashes early... I don't see it.

Are we really looking at a freaking sterrato stage where the most talented dirt riders out there will have to babysit the Buchmann and Carthy of this world? Ok yes, it's very likely.
But until then let me dream of this being an epic day of racing.

 

[Sciatic]

Every time it rains coverage is lost so I think dry is better or a shower before the race of course.

The discussion I remember before S-B this year was that a light shower—especially right beforehand—makes the racing slightly easier because it tamps down the dust and also temporarily firms up the gravel surface. Cant vouch for whether the latter is valid though. Regardless, these climbs on gravel in any weather is going to cause splits and some decent racing.

 

[hayneplane]

A Sagan win would be fun to make up for never having got Strade Bianchi on his palmares and the win today will have simultaneously lifted pressure and increased confidence.

The GC rider I fear most for is Dan Martin and the guys I expect to be aggressive are Bardet and Formolo who are both likely to struggle more in the high mountains and have pedigree in Strade.

 

[SafeBet]

Will the roads be bone dry or has there been recent rainfall in the area? If the former is the case, then the dust adds another layer of difficulty to the stage.

Last week has been very rainy all over Italy but we're looking at 3+ dry days so I'm not positive about that.

 

[Leinster]

Are we really looking at a freaking sterrato stage where the most talented dirt riders out there will have to babysit the Buchmann and Carthy of this world? Ok yes, it's very likely.
But until then let me dream of this being an epic day of racing.

Isn't this always the way on such stages of a GT? Spartacus nursemaiding Andy through the cobbles, etc?

 

[Leinster]

A Sagan win would be fun to make up for never having got Strade Bianchi on his palmares and the win today will have simultaneously lifted pressure and increased confidence.

The GC rider I fear most for is Dan Martin and the guys I expect to be aggressive are Bardet and Formolo who are both likely to struggle more in the high mountains and have pedigree in Strade.

Bernal was 3rd in S-B this year. And was with the lead group leaving the final sterrato.

Is everyone forgetting that, or are we differentiating between that and Bardet/Formolo's past 2nd places?

 

[Sciatic]

A Sagan win would be fun to make up for never having got Strade Bianchi on his palmares and the win today will have simultaneously lifted pressure and increased confidence.

The GC rider I fear most for is Dan Martin and the guys I expect to be aggressive are Bardet and Formolo who are both likely to struggle more in the high mountains and have pedigree in Strade.

Bardet seems to be in decent form—is there a reason you think he’ll do poorly in the big mountain stages next week? He’s won 3 different high-mountain stages in Le Tour against top-tier climbers, though perhaps one of those was from an early breakaway.

 

[hayneplane]

Bernal was 3rd in S-B this year. And was with the lead group leaving the final sterrato.

Is everyone forgetting that, or are we differentiating between that and Bardet/Formolo's past 2nd places?

Not at all. I expect Bernal to be really good on the sterrato but I am not as sure that he will go on the attack like the others mentioned who absolutely have to if they want to get a top final GC result.

 

[houtdffan]

The final categorized climb is rather hard. Also, this is an uphill finish. Final 500m are at an average of 12%, so if it comes down to a small group sprint, Bernal would be the favorite. That is, if he isn't dropped before the finishing climb

 

[Sciatic]

A Sagan win would be fun to make up for never having got Strade Bianchi on his palmares and the win today will have simultaneously lifted pressure and increased confidence.

The GC rider I fear most for is Dan Martin and the guys I expect to be aggressive are Bardet and Formolo who are both likely to struggle more in the high mountains and have pedigree in Strade.

While I think Bettiol will absolutely have to stick with Carthy through the stage, it seems somewhat more likely (or wishful thinking on my part) BORA will give Sagan some freedom to go on his own. Both because Sagan’s star power gives the sponsors a big boost when he wins, and because Buchman doesn’t appear to be in top form.

 

[hayneplane]

Bardet seems to be in decent form—is there a reason you think he’ll do poorly in the big mountain stages next week? He’s won 3 different high-mountain stages in Le Tour against top-tier climbers, though perhaps one of those was from an early breakaway.

It’s a long time since he climbed with the best consistently while riding GC rather than for KOM/stage wins although he is looking good and I do think he is capable of a good performance in the mountains this year (hope so as I have an each way bet on him).

 

[SafeBet]

Isn't this always the way on such stages of a GT? Spartacus nursemaiding Andy through the cobbles, etc?

You guys are killing me tonight. Too much realism. I'm overdosing.

 

[BlueRoads]

You guys are killing me tonight. Too much realism. I'm overdosing.

 

[AlfaLum]

This is gonna be an amazing stage. Even if nothing happens, the chance that something is gonna happen will make it a worthwhile Watch.

But i feel that something is Ganna happen!!

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Absolutely nothing wrong with my spelling of the word "titleling".

Sure, if you say so!

 

[RedheadDane]

Bernal was 3rd in S-B this year. And was with the lead group leaving the final sterrato.

Is everyone forgetting that, or are we differentiating between that and Bardet/Formolo's past 2nd places?

How was the weather for SB this year? I... can't remember... weirdly enough, of the three editions mentioned, it's the most recent I can't seem to remember in terms of weather.
2018 it was of course rather damp, and last year it was hot and dusty (and August.)

 

[CyclistAbi]

I am not a fan of gravel in GT races.

 

[topcat]

You guys are killing me tonight. Too much realism. I'm overdosing.

This stage is going to totally explode and Bardet will murder them all.