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

[Devil's Elbow]

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

The problem for those two is that Bora have underestimating O'Connor relatively fresh in their mind.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

So congrats to Tarling on his first GT stage victory and becoming the youngest ever winner of an ITT at the Giro. No surprise. That hill made it more complicated for him and Primoz got very very close. Most importantly for the Slovenian he put time into all of his GC rivals: 16 seconds vs Ayuso and over 30 seconds vs other guys. From the start things are looking good for GT #6 but he may want to get rid of the pink for some time (not tomorrow though).

 

[QueenStagiaire]

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.

I doubt Pedersen can make a group of 30 in sunny weather on a relatively high-gradient 25+ minute climb. Maybe 40 but 30 would be record-breaking for any sprinter not named Van Aert.

 

[Netserk]

Fewer

Less

 

[Mayomaniac]

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

Someone should send him to Ganna's hairdresser, the Zoomer mullet isn't doing a good looking bloke like him any favours...

 

[Cycling111]

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.

Roglic doesn't like being the leader from the start. If it's up to Red Bull, the break will arrive tomorrow.
I don't think LIDL will receive any help from them to control the stage.

 

[Filippo_3467]

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.

I think that stage tomorrow will be a bummer for people who are hyping it. There will be a misc break with a few conti and Italian guys. Which will be caught before the big climb. The it depends on UAE because Bora won't push if Yates or Ayuso don't show weakness, all other teams don't have the domestiques, a sprinter for the flat finish or the chance to take pink.

I don't think Pedersen and vacek can hold in in the last few kilometers but they are strong enough to comeback as a team with those two and maybe a Konrad or Verona chasing together. Also Ciccone can ride defensively in a potential front group.

That being said of course a lot of people will try to form a 10 guy strong breakaway that could stay away.

 

[Netserk]

 

[Mayomaniac]

Climbing times would be even more interesting...

 

[pelotonIQ]

If only Vine hadn't crashed, I would have loved to see him challenge Ayuso for the GC leadership.

 

[James M]

A brilliant TT from Roglic— slight above my expectations. Rest was as expected . He was the only GT rider within the top 10, alongside Ayuso in tenth which was as expected to me with power guys dominating this TT. Kudos to the godfather!

 

[Cycling111]

I think that stage tomorrow will be a bummer for people who are hyping it. There will be a misc break with a few conti and Italian guys. Which will be caught before the big climb. The it depends on UAE because Bora won't push if Yates or Ayuso don't show weakness, all other teams don't have the domestiques, a sprinter for the flat finish or the chance to take pink.

I don't think Pedersen and vacek can hold in in the last few kilometers but they are strong enough to comeback as a team with those two and maybe a Konrad or Verona chasing together. Also Ciccone can ride defensively in a potential front group.

That being said of course a lot of people will try to form a 10 guy strong breakaway that could stay away.

Neither Ayuso nor Yates seem to be in top shape. I think UAE will prefer a peaceful stage tomorrow.

 

[Boehmand]

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

I think several GC teams will have a go on the big climb tomorrow.

It's early days and the last conceivable GC day for a while - and everyone knows some riders struggle early in a GT, so the opposition will want to put time into them if the chance arises.

I see no scenario wheere Lidl get to ride the climb at a leisurely pace that allows Mads to hang on - why would ANY other team want that?

 

[titan31]

I think that stage tomorrow will be a bummer for people who are hyping it. There will be a misc break with a few conti and Italian guys. Which will be caught before the big climb. The it depends on UAE because Bora won't push if Yates or Ayuso don't show weakness, all other teams don't have the domestiques, a sprinter for the flat finish or the chance to take pink.

I don't think Pedersen and vacek can hold in in the last few kilometers but they are strong enough to comeback as a team with those two and maybe a Konrad or Verona chasing together. Also Ciccone can ride defensively in a potential front group.

That being said of course a lot of people will try to form a 10 guy strong breakaway that could stay away.

I think enough teams should be looking at as a realistic opportunity, especially with Bora being in the lead.

The Italian teams, Jayco, Arkea, Q365, Astana, Intermarche, Soudal, FDJ, Decathlon, Cofidis should be targeting it imo for that early break.

 

[Cycling111]

If only Vine hadn't crashed, I would have loved to see him challenge Ayuso for the GC leadership.

It would be more interesting if that's Del Toro. Especially because, due to his age, he would be more uncomfortable for Ayuso.

With its crash problems, UAE will never give Vine a GT co-lead.

 

[Boehmand]

I think enough teams should be looking at as a realistic opportunity, especially with Bora being in the lead.

The Italian teams, Jayco, Arkea, Q365, Astana, Intermarche, Soudal, FDJ, Decathlon, Cofidis should be targeting it imo for that early break.

Yep, I don't think any GC team will be interested in keeping the break in line, if it does not contain a real GC threat.

I think a mix of puncheurs and minor climbers will make it to the line, and the GC battle rides their own race a ways behind.

It's exactly why I think Lidl should put Mads and Vacek in the break, because then either one can conceivably hold the jersey for over a week.

 

[Lequack]

Great win for Tarling, and great racing until the end for the pink jersey.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1921216954305528053

View: https://x.com/giroditalia/status/1921216954305528053

 

[Filippo_3467]

I think several GC teams will have a go on the big climb tomorrow.

It's early days and the last conceivable GC day for a while - and everyone knows some riders struggle early in a GT, so the opposition will want to put time into them if the chance arises.

I see no scenario wheere Lidl get to ride the climb at a leisurely pace that allows Mads to hang on - why would ANY other team want that?

We'll see which predicition is right in the end but look at today...Verona 175th, Kragh Andersen 161th, Konrad 149th. I don't think you can call that a leisure pace what Lidl can do on the climb. I think only UAE and RB have the domestiques to make the climb that harder AND keep going to the finish line. But do they want to. Even if UAE could outnumber RB and maybe get a win with Vine or del Toro and 30 sec... it is woth it? Maybe.

I agree that someone will try on the climb but more a 3rd Tier guy like Fortunato, Bardet or Piganzoli. Could be more fun if theres more action but the Giro was always ridden very non-agressive in the last few years.

 

[Oldman]

Remember how Remco won the Oly TT: spinning cadence and settled positioning that allowed him to ride around wet corners. The Big Dudes were breaking into wet corners and then accelerating back up to speed. The lighter guys can have an advantage here, especially those with quick accelerations.

Looked like this happened. Ayuso performed better than I expected, Carapaz much worse. McNulty and Ayuso are in a good spot for UAE.
The race begins early and will be interesting what happens through next week.

 

[Filippo_3467]

I think enough teams should be looking at as a realistic opportunity, especially with Bora being in the lead.

The Italian teams, Jayco, Arkea, Q365, Astana, Intermarche, Soudal, FDJ, Decathlon, Cofidis should be targeting it imo for that early break.

Of course with engelhardt or Double at Jayco, Poels at Astana, Vader, Hermans, Stork, Frigo, Formolo...there are a lot of guys that could be strong enough on the climb and also have an engine to get a big gap before the climb on the peleton.

 

[Oldman]

So congrats to Tarling on his first GT stage victory and becoming the youngest ever winner of an ITT at the Giro. No surprise. That hill made it more complicated for him and Primoz got very very close. Most importantly for the Slovenian he put time into all of his GC rivals: 16 seconds vs Ayuso and over 30 seconds vs other guys. From the start things are looking good for GT #6 but he may want to get rid of the pink for some time (not tomorrow though).

He'd be lucky if he offload it to Lidltrek. Maybe give Guccione a shot. That's total conjecture but that team is strong enough to keep it for a bit. UAE is a bit dangerous, IMO. McNulty is a bigger threat than Ayuso.

 

[Hugh Januss]

UAE with 4 riders within 36 seconds of the lead, let the merriment commence.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Astana about to get a world record number of guys in the break tomorrow and ride around like they just met for the first time on the bus

Final placings on the stage - 2nd 4th 8th and 9th

 

[Boehmand]

We'll see which predicition is right in the end but look at today...Verona 175th, Kragh Andersen 161th, Konrad 149th. I don't think you can call that a leisure pace what Lidl can do on the climb. I think only UAE and RB have the domestiques to make the climb that harder AND keep going to the finish line. But do they want to. Even if UAE could outnumber RB and maybe get a win with Vine or del Toro and 30 sec... it is woth it? Maybe.

I agree that someone will try on the climb but more a 3rd Tier guy like Fortunato, Bardet or Piganzoli. Could be more fun if theres more action but the Giro was always ridden very non-agressive in the last few years.

Mads can do it for 2-3K at 7.5 % - not for 10K

The first 2/3 of the Giro is pretty light on GC days and tomorrow is one, especially because of how early in the race it is.

I'll be shocked if both Bora and UAE ride it slow.

 

[Netserk]