Giro d'Italia Giro d'Italia 2024, 2nd Rest Day Poll: Best of the Rest?

[Netserk]

Post rest of your podium prediction.

 

[Gigs_98]

This is such a boring pick, but it's gonna be Thomas. He's just so rock solid and there is noone in this race with the peaks to drop him.

 

[Red Rick]

Bora literally gonna have to chase bonis here

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Bora literally gonna have to chase bonis here

The STOMP!

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Thomas has been able to hold on at altitude, he should definitely be able to do it on the other stages. Other than that, it‘s probably Martinez, but I hope for a Bardet miracle.

 

[Jumbo Visma Fan :)]

For something to root for, picking O’Connor to come back from almost a minute down. He has been sporadic but still superb and feel like he will have a big last week.

 

[Netserk]

Thomas has been able to hold on at altitude, he should definitely be able to do it on the other stages. Other than that, it‘s probably Martinez, but I hope for a Bardet miracle.

Between Martinez and Thomas, I think today suited the latter. Baring a bad day, I think Martinez will find 15" on Thomas.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Between Martinez and Thomas, I think today suited the latter. Baring a bad day, I think Martinez will find 15" on Thomas.

He may find 15 bonus seconds (if Pogačar plays ball because Bora doesn’t look like they can chase breaks), but possibly GC G actually finds out you can attack on Stage 20 and gets it back. Maybe if he closes in just enough and G doesn’t notice and then snubs him on the Grappa stage?

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Arensmen

This is ineos in Italy we are talking about. Still so much climbing for the others to crack

 

[Salvarani]

Arensmen

New favorite?

 

[Dazed and Confused]

The secondary placements are meaningless unless the rider in question has put everything in line to try and win a stage.....

 

[Netserk]

The secondary placements are meaningless unless the rider in question has put everything in line to try and win a stage.....

The stage winner so far highest in GC other than Pogi is VPP in 23rd, +37'46".

 

[Dazed and Confused]

The stage winner so far highest in GC other than Pogi is VPP in 23rd, +37'46".

secondary to 23'rd... bit of a distance. Point still stands.

 

[Nick2413]

Going for Martinez over Thomas.

 

[Pantani_lives]

Daniel Martinez has wasted a chance today. He blew himself up trying to follow Pogacar. He didn't use those steep parts in the final 2 km. There are no more steep MTFs after today, so in spite of being the slightly better climber I don't really see where he can take those fifteen seconds back.

 

[Red Rick]

Dani Martinez is sorely missing Lipowitz right now

 

[roundabout]

Daniel Martinez has wasted a chance today. He blew himself up trying to follow Pogacar. He didn't use those steep parts in the final 2 km. There are no more steep MTFs after today, so in spite of being the slightly better climber I don't really see where he can take those fifteen seconds back.

Monte Pana ends with 2km at 11.8% average.

Second Brocon has 3km at over 10% beginning at about 5km to go.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

I shift from Martinez to Thomas in this prediction. No change regarding the podium, both will make it.

 

[VO2 Max]

Thomas. It's clear enough for a while now that everyone considered their only chance is that Pogacar has a problem, crashes or is ill or whatever. Thomas has that pole position as prime beneficiary of a Pog-problem and Ineos will just ride as if they're leading the race now.

The problem for the race is that noone amongst the top 10 has the motivation or capacity to even put any pressure on in advance of the Tour de France. Bora at least should have been trying to raise hell from the start of the race with an eye on Roglic's Tour chances, but any chance of doing that is long gone now.

 

[Rechtschreibfehler]

Thomas. It's clear enough for a while now that everyone considered their only chance is that Pogacar has a problem, crashes or is ill or whatever. Thomas has that pole position as prime beneficiary of a Pog-problem and Ineos will just ride as if they're leading the race now.

The problem for the race is that noone amongst the top 10 has the motivation or capacity to even put any pressure on in advance of the Tour de France. Bora at least should have been trying to raise hell from the start of the race with an eye on Roglic's Tour chances, but any chance of doing that is long gone now.

Bora lost Lipowitz, so raising hell is actually very hard for them if they want Aleotti or Schachmann to stay with Martinez for as long as he can. I don't think that's a good risk to take.
That being said: they should try to attack Thomas at some point, even though it looks like he's on solid form at least and will probably grind trough. But the differences are not big at all, even O'Connor isn't that far away if things go well for him on one of the remaining tough stages.

I am still undecided: something tells me O'Connor and Martinez have more to show in the last week than Thomas, but that might just be my hopes taking over my intuition to much.

 

[Lequack]

Rest day

 

[Sciatic]

Rest day

Thank you—I love the rest day cafe shots. The part of cycling I can still personally identify with!

 

[Sciatic]

Daniel Martinez has wasted a chance today. He blew himself up trying to follow Pogacar. He didn't use those steep parts in the final 2 km. There are no more steep MTFs after today, so in spite of being the slightly better climber I don't really see where he can take those fifteen seconds back.

I think for the podium contenders (places 2& 3 that is) a lot can happen in terms of gaps opening up on Stage 20.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Ineos with a stronger team but Martínez will in my opinion still try to catch Thomas on the back foot. So likely a nice battle at play. Personally i would be OK with either finishing ahead so let the best one win this battle.

 

[Netserk]

Martinez favoured by the short stage today. Now he just needs to not have a bad day.