Giro d'Italia Giro D'italia 2025 Stage 16: Piazzola sul Brenta – San Valentino

[QueenStagiaire]

On the Ayuso question, does it make sense for the teammates to also follow when Del Toro follows an attack? If a really hard attack comes, that just kills McNuggets and Majka. I guess UAE could not chase when Del Toro follows Carapaz, but what‘s the outcome? Del Toro is isolated and Ayuso is out of it. Looking at yesterday, Roglič having his work done for him by UAE didn‘t turn out to be an issue. Del Toro still had some of his main opponents with him but none of his teammates. I don‘t think it‘s that terrible that they‘d rather play it safe and keep their numbers advantage. You can argue that chasing your leader isn‘t great, but I don‘t think it was objectively terrible and some sort of betrayal.

 

[noob]

Apparently so, pretty funny stuff, hopefully there will be a showdown between the two at some point, that's what we all want to see.

I still believe there's some internal split between some of the DS:es, or maybe Matxin against everyone else 😁

 

[Unchained]

Half these guys will never have even watched a bike race before they knew a Mexican was leading a GT. No idea why a UAE team manager would actually answer these people online.

It's beyond asinine for these 'fans' to attack the team (UAE) who've made the rider (Del Toro) as strong as he is. It's never easy to accommodate multiple leaders when they're both in a position to win. Jumbo didn't manage it, Astana sure as hell didn't manage it back in 2009. Hell, even Sky didn't manage it particularly well either when their riders started fighting each other for the Tour. Let's also definitely not mention Movistar, at all.

So it's kind of funny seeing the 'angry' reactions online in the Ayuso versus Del Toro question because IMO it's a problem that has hardly ever been properly solved by anyone.

Very few of the angry ,disappointed opinions about a non existent Del Toro -Ayuso tiff, are rational it does not exist.
UAE is living the old proverb of a bird in hand. Team had to make momentary decisions about multiple riders while race was in progress. Del Toro surprised himself and the team when his best effort after Ayuso and company crashed landed him in pink.
Insane speculation about backward thinking tactics, have Del Toro relinquish his lead immediately so Ayuso can assume leadership role, while injured ....for the sake of some loose hierarchy..silly. Ayuso is keeping himself in the chase, Del Toro is defending with aggression and skill, maturity beyond his years and his racing resume. UAE making Del Toro is certainly debated.. He had his breakout while racing and training primarily in Italy for Monex, and after l'Avenier he was signed shortly after, he showed up at UAE with great base in body, race understanding and skills.
Del Toro win or lose is involved in a bike racing masterclass, with everything and everyone you would want in a learning and development experience.. And Del Toro has some obvious weaknesses, time trial skills and speed are top of the list. He is surrounded by some great teachers..
I personally am hoping he wins GC, but if he doesn't, the experience will make him 1000 times better for it..at 21 he actually knows what leading a GT looks and feels like.. He is punching way way above his weight .

 

[Gratemans]

He is punching way way above his weight

Well, that's not saying much when it comes to pro cycling..

 

[Unchained]

On the Ayuso question, does it make sense for the teammates to also follow when Del Toro follows an attack? If a really hard attack comes, that just kills McNuggets and Majka. I guess UAE could not chase when Del Toro follows Carapaz, but what‘s the outcome? Del Toro is isolated and Ayuso is out of it. Looking at yesterday, Roglič having his work done for him by UAE didn‘t turn out to be an issue. Del Toro still had some of his main opponents with him but none of his teammates. I don‘t think it‘s that terrible that they‘d rather play it safe and keep their numbers advantage. You can argue that chasing your leader isn‘t great, but I don‘t think it was objectively terrible and some sort of betrayal.

The remaining players are running out of opportunities. Don't know about team structures and objectives, can't know, but is a top 10 significant? Me personally, I say no so riders like Carapaz, Gee, Bernal or Tiberi, Pidcock riding all or nothing suicide style would be welcome. Simon Yates can just race relative and doesn't need to take crazy risks..Tudor needs to blow up soon, send Storer and or Stork and try for stage at minimum.

 

[Berniece]

Magnier DNF.

DNS

 

[Gratemans]

Am I the only one that constantly reads it as "Pizzaiola"?

 

[Dazed and Confused]

DNS

Fretin also DNS. Both will instead get ready for the Cycling Classic. Good decision imo, the Rome sprint is not worth the pain.

 

[ice&fire]

Am I the only one that constantly reads it as "Pizzaiola"?

I am reading the starter climb as "Carbonara"

 

[YavorD]

I am reading the starter climb as "Carbonara"

I am seeing Vino everywhere.

 

[SafeBet]

I am seeing Vino everywhere.

And that's even before you start drinking it?

 

[dgodave]

I hope there will be some cute hillside chapels.

 

[EddyMazzoleni]

Finally a stage desing we can all agree is at least good. Movements on the Santa Barbara is definitively possible. I've said many times Bernal is aggressive and I think if nothing happens he will at least push the pace with his team there, but I would personally like an attack from Caruso, he has the legs, he can descend and Bahrain has a couple of guys to put in the brake if they want. Unfortunately I don't think they will let him free yet

 

[repre]

How's a descent from Santa Barbara???

 

[Red Rick]

How's a descent from Santa Barbara???

Same as 2 years ago.

Nothing too crazy.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Oh, weather by the way, pretty rainy start probably, then the weather gets better and better, they‘ll have sun in the final.

 

[Sciatic]

Oh, weather by the way, pretty rainy start probably, then the weather gets better and better, they‘ll have sun in the final.

Great to hear—so we can actually see the race . . . And the views!

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Lets see if Bernal and Carapaz can rip the wheels off the clown bus or go down in flames trying to. I would prefer if Roglic goes all in on this stage, see if anything sticks.

 

[Low is rhe new high]

Can Visma put some pressure on del Toro? Place Wout in the break and then put on a high pace on Santa Barbara climb?

 

[Sciatic]

I am reading the starter climb as "Carbonara"

Well also get some Bolognaise sauce just prior to the Santa Barbara beach climb

 

[Boehmand]

"Giro D'Italia is a simple race; 169 men race for 5 hours and at the end, Lidl-Trek wins"

My money is on Patrick Konrad tomorrow

 

[Boehmand]

I am reading the starter climb as "Carbonara"

Saucy and perfectly al dente

 

[repre]

Can Visma put some pressure on del Toro? Place Wout in the break and then put on a high pace on Santa Barbara climb?

Wout is not the climber he once was

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Can Visma put some pressure on del Toro? Place Wout in the break and then put on a high pace on Santa Barbara climb?

And on top of not climbing very well, Wout has not been able to get into an early break that stuck either.

 

[KZD]

The first real big stage of this Giro. Hope for some proper racing.

Surely there will be attacks to test Del Toro, at least from EF and Ineos, which I think will prevent the break from taking stage but Del Toro will follow and then outsprint Carapaz in the end to take his first GT stage win of his career.

Ayuso and Roglic should lose time here.