Giro d'Italia 2025 Stage 6: Potenza – Napoli

[Devil's Elbow]

Two unjustified DSQs in as many sprints. The sport really is not in good health in any aspect right now.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

A good lead out by Mirco Maestri by the way, but Lonardi couldn't finish it off. 55th for Ethan Hayter is still almost his best sprinting performance this year.

 

[MartinGT]

Pedersen with a bandaged leg.

 

[titan31]

Did Storer crash? Notice he came in right at the end of the group

 

[yaco]

What is he doing

Interesting that heading into 2026 that Kooij will get double Groves wage. Groves has won 9 GT stages and Kooij has won 1 GT stage.

 

[Samamba]

Two unjustified DSQs in as many sprints. The sport really is not in good health in any aspect right now.

It's just like football, VAR ruining it by looking at everything under a scope. You're always going to find little things that are technically maybe slightly wrong if you haven't actually participated in the sport or followed it forever.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Interesting that heading into 2026 that Kooij will get double Groves wage. Groves has won 9 GT stages and Kooij has won 1 GT stage.

Kooij has finished 15 GT stages, Groves has finished 101.

 

[Red Rick]

Is there any replays from the finish from the top view?

 

[Netserk]

I don't think Moschetti endangered anyone by selecting his lane. He went directly, yet smoothly in the shortest direction to the finish from when he launched his sprint. He didn't change direction, and while he didn't open the door for those who started behind him, he held it closed in a safe manner.

 

[Netserk]

Is there any replays from the finish from the top view?

Yes, but camera is a bit too far ahead, so you don't see them for long.

 

[Tim Cahill]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1923045425675657452

 

[Netserk]

Two unjustified DSQs in as many sprints. The sport really is not in good health in any aspect right now.

I think Kanter's relegation may have been warranted.

 

[saunaking]

Yea i know its ez to hate these guys, but i actually quite enjoy Patriks persona and insights, Benji is borderline insufferable on his best days though... and today you know hes gonna go off with his lets destroy cycling pseudo goodguy takes that farm him likes on twitter

quoted for truth

 

[pihi42]

You seem to like the crashes. A large part of the popularity of cycling? Definitely not, unless you think hard fouls is what makes football popular.

But it's on youtube!!! Yes, and only cycling fans are on youtube, right. And it's the cycling fans that watch those videos, sure. No, it's people like you that watch them, not the majority of cycling fans.

I understand your frustration. But the tactic of blaming this on me personally is a bit weird, don't you think? I doubt there will be less crashes because some random dude is angry with some other random dude on the internet for mentioning the fact that tragedies sell news and news steer people to watch that or the other thing. If you don't see the connection, let me present it: people see something on the front page (like a mass crash of TDF), then they are aware that the race exists and next time they stumble on the live broadcast, they don't immediately switch to football but watch just a little. This is like news cycle 101 (I doubt there are many unaware of it). Of course this does not involve cycling fans who go on group rides and root for their cycling heros. This involves casual media consumers that constitute the majority of views. The images of crashes probably invoke bad emotions in 99% of humans, but they invoke interest in 100% of us. Roglič became way more popular after the horrible crashes and losses. It's part of his story. That's why, at least here in Slovenia, a lot of mothers root for Primož a lot more than Tadej Pogačar. It is very complex and intricate, way more sophisticated than your simple conclusion "it's people like you". People like me - well I've been a cyclist since I know of myself, like since the age 5 I think. That's almost 50 years now. I've seen the Giro live, the Tour live (not because I live next to the route). I've liked cycling because of it's more endurance oriented, psychological appeal. I don't like football, violent sports, I don't like masses of people getting into fights. I like windsurfing and cycling and climbing. I've been in the hospital way more times than I'd like. But .. still ... the fact is that there is an element of fascination with danger in all of us. The mysteries of human psyche are deep and wide. And yes, we are immediately drawn to pictures of crashes. That's the way we are and no sense in denying it, won't help. What will help though is finding a way to prevent crashes in the first place. While keeping road cycling interesting, as opposed to let's say indoor variants which are (Brits aside) pretty much ignored.

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

Anyone who knows if those idiots running towards the peloton have been arrested yet?

Or is there any indication the Italian police is investigating this?

 

[yaco]

Kooij has finished 15 GT stages, Groves has finished 101.

Groves has selected teams that allow him to ride GT's. Do you think Kooij is twice the rider of Groves?

 

[Unchained]

Pihi42, yes random dude feelings don't influence crash results.
Today's stage was obviously traumatic for racers, fans and teams to differing degrees.
On most available bike racing coverage there was reporting , including video of a large crash. Tour of Hungary. Also dramatic and tragic. The crash cause was evident, with a rider leaving paved surface and tried to get back on the road, tire caught the lip and he fell into riders rather than go the other direction and crash out alone.
Giro crash had zero to do with slippery roads, but overlapped wheels, human error.
It looked like a very, very popular rider was responsible for drifting, gently and teammate looked to touch wheels.
Certainly not a technical portion of the race route, definitely not heavy rain by any measurement.
So you see trauma and emotions playing a bigger and bigger part in bike racing. Minor contact between elite, professional bike racers most sprinting specialists is now cause for relegation. Certainly not in decades and decades of history and tradition.
There probably are a certain segment that watches races to see crashes,tiny minority I am guessing. Seeing it can upset people,
And over and over, the majority of crashes are caused by human error and the obvious solution is don't allow humans to race.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Of course this does not involve cycling fans who go on group rides and root for their cycling heros.

So a large part of the popularity of cycling among those who have no interest in cycling...

 

[E_F_]

So a large part of the popularity of cycling among those who have no interest in cycling...

Most NFL fans don't have CTE.

 

[RedheadDane]

So a large part of the popularity of cycling among those who have no interest in cycling...

I can't remember the last time I rode my bike purely for exercise, and when I did, was just me; the idea of sitting in a large group seems absolutely terrible to me.

 

[Andy262]

I can’t help but think the neutralisation was unfair on the two in the break. What is the level of mayhem that justifies a neutralisation? Sometimes the chance and the effort to get in the break should be rewarded and if the race behind ends up all over the place then so be it?

 

[Boehmand]

2 points to make about today:

1.
The organiseres made the right decision to neutralise.
Light rain/showers is actually much worse than heavy rain, especially in a city, because it isn't enough water to wash away all the grease/oil/dirt on the road, so the whole thing just turns into a soapy mess which is highly dangerous at high speed in a big peloton on twisty city roads.

2.
Kooij should be kicking himself tonight.
IMO WvA did the perfect lead out.
He started to ease up before 200 metres, as he noticed Kooij wasn't there and swung off at 200 metres to go, because he wouldn't make it to the line himself - but if Kooij had been there WvA would arguably have delivered him in front at 200-180 metres to go, in perfect position to win.

 

[Lequack]

*** criminals.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1923082982652256349

View: https://x.com/IntermarcheW/status/1923082982652256349

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

I can’t help but think the neutralisation was unfair on the two in the break. What is the level of mayhem that justifies a neutralisation? Sometimes the chance and the effort to get in the break should be rewarded and if the race behind ends up all over the place then so be it?

I guess they were given a 45 second gap with 66 km left rather than with 77 km to go, which gave them a marginally higher chance of surviving. (time gap and distances from memory, not exact)

 

[Netserk]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1923082982652256349

View: https://x.com/IntermarcheW/status/1923082982652256349

Unacceptable that police wasn't more present when the criminals had advertised their intent.