The Cycling News forum is still looking to add volunteer moderators with. If you're interested in helping keep our discussions on track, send a direct message to
In the meanwhile, please use the Report option if you see a post that doesn't fit within the forum rules.
Thanks!
Keep it coming Almeida!! Next time has to drop Thomas as wellAlmeida to start his onslaught on Roglic and Thomas, to the surprise of many here.
This is what he's paid to do, and he does it well. He may have come in a little cold but after two weeks of this I don't think it's that unusual he's found some form. He gets stick for doing nothing but this but the fact is, this is why JV pay him to ride his bike; keep your head down as much as you can and show up when the climbing starts.Kuss' level today was really extremely high, and I would not have expected it.
After 2016, the Giro GC winner list has been super-weak. There's no other way around it. Sure, a Froome and pre-injury Bernal might win occasionally but those are exceptions.Currently the Vuelta a Espana has become the 2nd grand tour. At least from 2021 onwards. The racing and the level of the contenders has been significantly lower at the Giro d'Italia and I doubt the 2023 Vuelta a Espana will break that pattern.
I'm not sure about the Vuelta becoming the second GT, Mas has finished 2nd twice in the last 2 years and people like Jack Haig are podiuming, I think the initial startlist for this years Giro was pretty good, but crashes and injuries have happend, simular to the 2014 TDF.Frankly, Thomas deserves the pink jersey right now. Yes he's a dull rider sometimes But he attacked today and proved to be better than Roglic. It's not his fault that Evenepoel & Geoghegan Hart left the race. He needs to gain time on Almeida tough.
Almeida was well very strong today. Kinda attacked twice even. Because when he initially took over from Vine his acceleration exploded the group. Most notably Caruso. Had the guts to attack and exploit Roglic later. He sensed his chance today and dared to use it. Well deserved stage win. He has been a regular competitor at the Giro d'Italia ever since 2020!
Also impressive from Dunbar. Wouldn't have expected him to be up in the final selection. Despite indicating decent shape up towards Thyon 2000 already.
Tells a lot about the level at the Giro d'Italia though. If Evenepoel & Geoghegan Hart were still there they would be heads and shoulders above everyone else. Almeida isn't even 2nd fiddle at UAE, that's Ayuso. Dunbar is a good reference how low the level is. Thomas versus Almeida for the overall while Roglic still is in contention despite being a complete failure by his own standards (2021 Vuelta a Espana) tells everything.
Currently the Vuelta a Espana has become the 2nd grand tour. At least from 2021 onwards. The racing and the level of the contenders has been significantly lower at the Giro d'Italia and I doubt the 2023 Vuelta a Espana will break that pattern.
Mas is a quite decent rider if he gets his act together. A bit what Gilberto Simoni used to be at the Giro d'Italia back in the zeroes. Only that Mas hasn't won the Vuelta a Espana yet.I'm not sure about the Vuelta becoming the second GT, Mas has finished 2nd twice in the last 2 years and people like Jack Haig are podiuming, I think the initial startlist for this years Giro was pretty good, but crashes and injuries have happend, simular to the 2014 TDF.
If you had asked me 2 weeks ago I would have called the Vuelta a Espana not a true GT.The Vuelta is a three-week long Sunday ride. It's by far of lower level than the Giro, no matter if bigger names turn up for it or not.
Tells a lot about the level at the Giro d'Italia though. If Evenepoel & Geoghegan Hart were still there they would be heads and shoulders above everyone else. Almeida isn't even 2nd fiddle at UAE, that's Ayuso. Dunbar is a good reference how low the level is.
Well let's wait until we have data for the 2023 Vuelta a Espana as well. And the Tour de France of course.Great story except for the fact that we have, you know, actual data that shows how the level was and it wasnt low at all.
Frankly, Thomas deserves the pink jersey right now. Yes he's a dull rider sometimes But he attacked today and proved to be better than Roglic. It's not his fault that Evenepoel & Geoghegan Hart left the race. He needs to gain time on Almeida tough.
Almeida was well very strong today. Kinda attacked twice even. Because when he initially took over from Vine his acceleration exploded the group. Most notably Caruso. Had the guts to attack and exploit Roglic later. He sensed his chance today and dared to use it. Well deserved stage win. He has been a regular competitor at the Giro d'Italia ever since 2020!
Also impressive from Dunbar. Wouldn't have expected him to be up in the final selection. Despite indicating decent shape up towards Thyon 2000 already.
Tells a lot about the level at the Giro d'Italia though. If Evenepoel & Geoghegan Hart were still there they would be heads and shoulders above everyone else. Almeida isn't even 2nd fiddle at UAE, that's Ayuso. Dunbar is a good reference how low the level is. Thomas versus Almeida for the overall while Roglic still is in contention despite being a complete failure by his own standards (2021 Vuelta a Espana) tells everything.
Currently the Vuelta a Espana has become the 2nd grand tour. At least from 2021 onwards. The racing and the level of the contenders has been significantly lower at the Giro d'Italia and I doubt the 2023 Vuelta a Espana will break that pattern.
I agree with all of this. He's certainly not a douche. I always liked the dude off the bike. I just don't like watching him on the bike.Yeah well, thats the main reason I don't really care for G. Thomas aswell. Apart from that, he isn't exciting at all, but its not like I have anything against the guy. Just not rooting for him, and he rarely makes a race more watchable, lets put it that way.
If Kuss buries Thomas for Roglic on Tre Cime will Kuss be off @Libertine Seguros' hitlist?
Makes sense since he has been a mid performer for years aside from his lucky 2018 Tour win. Still, his best performance at age 36 5 years after his Tour victory is remarkable.5.9 for 54 minutes at low altitude is like the most mid performance considering 2023 climbing times.
Makes sense since he has been a mid performer for years aside from his lucky 2018 Tour win. Still, his best performance at age 36 5 years after his Tour victory is remarkable.
5.9 for 54 minutes at low altitude is like the most mid performance considering 2023 climbing times.
And how do you rank them? One Tour = 3 Vueltas?In terms of achievements? Still clearly below Froome, Pogi and Nairo (if counted as not retired) as well as potentially Bernal and Roglic (depending on how to rank TdF podiums vs wins in Giro/Vuelta).
In terms of abilities also below Pog, Vingegaard, Remco and Roglic (although very hard to tell with Roglic at the moment).
He was comfortably the best rider in the race, but that was made easier by the next two riders having ridden the Giro.