Giro d'Italia 2025, stage 2: Tirana - Tirana (13.7k ITT)

[Tim Cahill]

Ethan Hayter 9th, Ayuso caught lacking!!!

 

[Potomac]

Contessa Orlock...she needs more sunlight

 

[Escarabajo]

Let's wait 2 hours now for the ITT results. You know, because they are hard to sort.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

I like the Trek performances today: 4th at 6 seconds, 5th at 8 seconds and 6th at 12 seconds.

 

[ice&fire]

If you're a 3rd tier GC contender who wants a free 10 minutes get yourself in a breakaway tomorrow.

Giro breakaway specialist Gee

 

[tobydawq]

GPS times being made up to maximise tension would be classic Giro.

They weren't.

 

[KZD]

Pedersen doesn't make it but great effort from him. Roglic can lead the Giro from stage 3 until stage the end just like Pogacar last year, but I think Red Bull will let the break take pink tomorrow. Van Aert looked terrible

Ayuso and Adam Yates both disappointing a bit just like Bernal.

 

[Salvarani]

I think top 10. We will see.

Correct.

 

[Potomac]

flown

Fewer

 

[Red Rick]

Yeah Trek should control tomorrow and take pink back through bonus seconds.

 

[postmanhat]

11th win of the year for Ineos. Doesn't sound like much perhaps, but they only got 14 last season.

 

[Netserk]

If you're a 3rd tier GC contender who wants a free 10 minutes get yourself in a breakaway tomorrow.

Geesus coming back on the third day?

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Fewer

Flewer.

 

[Boehmand]

Would be pretty in character but that's maybe not up to Bora. Why shouldn't Lidl try to control tomorrow as well. Stage 5 is pretty much perfect for Pedersen as well and I thin Lidl will also light up the Siena stage. Vacek and Pedersen are still in the running to take pink for a longer time if stage 7 is ridden pretty conservative by the GC teams.

You are right they might try to control it, but I think it would be a mistake.

I have not looked at the big climb in detail yet, but it seems to be long/steep enough that the GC teams would drop the hammer to test the opposition - and drop Mads, by some margin.

I think the better strategy for them is to get him and Vacek out in front so they might get to the line with the GC riders.

 

[tobydawq]

Yeah Trek should control tomorrow and take pink back through bonus seconds.

The climb is 10.5 kms at 7.5 %. Do you really think Mads has a chance to survive it?

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Yeah Trek should control tomorrow and take pink back through bonus seconds.

They could also put either Pedersen or Vacek in the break. Kind of spoilt for choice, really.

 

[pastronef]

YESSSSS!!!! Tarling, an Ineos Brit, wearing the British champ jersey. I'm happy

 

[pastronef]

Storer in the top10

 

[Red Rick]

The climb is 10.5 kms at 7.5 %. Do you really think Mads has a chance to survive it?

If the right break goes I think it's possible. Probably don't pace the climb as aggressive as yesterday because you empty your team. GC guys should neutralize themselves, and good climbers are still in GC.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

The climb is 10.5 kms at 7.5 %. Do you really think Mads has a chance to survive it?

The big question is - who paces it? Pidcock doesn't have the team, a GC sprint would be between Roglic and Ayuso of whom the latter looks meh so far and the former doesn't tend to ride that way. And Pedersen is climbing like a madman this year and could survive in even a 30-rider group.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Giro breakaway specialist Gee

Geesus coming back on the third day?

Legitimately I think they would let him go, maybe Arensman too, them comically underestimating someone is probably the best chance of a good race.

 

[titan31]

Would be pretty in character but that's maybe not up to Bora. Why shouldn't Lidl try to control tomorrow as well. Stage 5 is pretty much perfect for Pedersen as well and I thin Lidl will also light up the Siena stage. Vacek and Pedersen are still in the running to take pink for a longer time if stage 7 is ridden pretty conservative by the GC teams.

Suppose the issue for Trek is do they want to burn that many guys controlling tomorrow when they have an overall GC guy anyway in Ciccone (assuming he's not just going to go for KOM) when it's inevitable Pedersen loses pink anyway. Tomorrow also has that cat 2 climb and if someone stronger uphill wants to go for it there, will Pedersen even hang on anyway

 

[yaco]

Breakaway riders salivating already. Astana in particular would love to get the jersey offloaded to them.

That was my first thought, however, Lidl will back Mads to make the final, so will try to control the stage.

 

[Mayomaniac]

I guess UAE could ride hard on the climb for the memes to drop Pedersen, so that Roglic has to keep the jersey.

 

[titan31]

The big question is - who paces it? Pidcock doesn't have the team, a GC sprint would be between Roglic and Ayuso of whom the latter looks meh so far and the former doesn't tend to ride that way. And Pedersen is climbing like a madman this year and could survive in even a 30-rider group.

If there's a complete peloton at that point, I definitely see guys like Pidcock, Piganzoli, Astana guys attacking. There will be a stage up for grabs at that point if you can drop Pedersen