Giro d'Italia Giro d'Italia 2025, Stage 8: Giulianova > Castelraimondo (197 km)

Netserk · May 17, 2025

noob said:
Is Ayuso worse than Rogla on gravel? Bernal I know is good!

Hard to say. It is not so much a question of power or closing a gap, but positioning in the peloton. I think Ayuso will more easily make it through tomorrow.

noob · May 17, 2025

Tricycle Rider said:
What in god's name is Orla wearing today? Those super poofy sleeves...

I wish I could see them too, but here there's no studio

pastronef · May 17, 2025

I'm so happy for Plapp! finally! well deserved, what a ride. grande!

Tricycle Rider · May 17, 2025

noob said:
I wish I could see them too, but here there's no studio

This is probably a good thing because some of Orla's fashion choices are very questionable for a sporting event, or just in general. The guys in the studio always look sporty and comfy though.

Netserk · May 17, 2025

Ulissi is used to the classic way to get a leader's jersey with a back-zip.

noob · May 17, 2025

Netserk said:
Hard to say. It is not so much a question of power or closing a gap, but positioning in the peloton. I think Ayuso will more easily make it through tomorrow.

Ouch if it's about positioning I don't have the biggest faith in Rogla ;/

Netserk · May 17, 2025

EddyMazzoleni said:
Astana 1-2 in GC plus KOM jersey and it feels 2015 all of a sudden.

In the GC group Roglic is either not feeling great or really distracted, I can't tell.

Ayuso had two teammates between him and Rogla in the peloton, and I think they let his wheel go in the last corner to create the gap.

pastronef · May 17, 2025

Netserk said:
Ayuso had two teammates between him and Rogla in the peloton, and I think they let his wheel go in the last corner to create the gap.

I've learned too much, by suffering at his every win, that Rogla knows what he's doing. I'm just waiting for the moment he'll gain time on his rivals. you know it'll happen, you don't want to, but it'll happen

titan31 · May 17, 2025

QueenStagiaire said:
25 UCI points for free for non-GC riders and Bardiani takes it? I guess the relegation teams didn‘t have the right guys to be let go there

Cofidis had Samitier and Astana had Poels. Both of those could probably have gone for it

Netserk · May 17, 2025

Netserk said:
Ayuso had two teammates between him and Rogla in the peloton, and I think they let his wheel go in the last corner to create the gap.

It can be seen on the multi-screen feed. Ayuso is 3rd in a line of 5 UAE riders. Shortly before the last corner he looks back over his right shoulder first and then his left, and as he sees that Rogla is boxed in, he attacks just before the corner. Then you have 4 UAE riders clogging up the front behind him.

jmdirt · May 17, 2025

I LOVE it when the winner comes from a break!
Congrats LP!

EDIT:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5YivhLPftU

Samu Cuenca · May 17, 2025

RedheadDane said:
What?

I guess riding for Jayco is like being in a prison.

Red Rick · May 17, 2025

Netserk said:
Hard to say. It is not so much a question of power or closing a gap, but positioning in the peloton. I think Ayuso will more easily make it through tomorrow.

This may come as a shocking fact to many, but Roglic started Strade Bianche 3 times in his first 3 seasons at Jumbo, back when he still needed training wheels, and he didn't crash out once.

EddyMazzoleni · May 17, 2025

Netserk said:
It can be seen on the multi-screen feed. Ayuso is 3rd in a line of 5 UAE riders. Shortly before the last corner he looks back over his right shoulder first and then his left, and as he sees that Rogla is boxed in, he attacks just before the corner. Then you have 4 UAE riders clogging up the front behind him.

Ok, that explains the gap at the finish. Yet I still wonder why he keeps sitting deep in the group and not on Ayuso wheel on the climbs, that just risks giving Ayuso a gap

Salvarani · May 17, 2025

Samu Cuenca said:
I guess riding for Jayco is like being in a prison.

Jayco does sound like a name for a prison.

Oldman · May 17, 2025

Devil's Elbow said:
Isn't that 95% of California? Or America in general for that matter?

"America" has continuous mountain ranges from Patagonio to the Arctic circle. The state of Alaska, alone has more and taller mountains than all of Europe. The NW states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana along with British Columbia contain the Cascade and Rocky mountains which rival anything in Europe. No cities, interstates or heavy traffic exist there. California has great roads North of San Francisco and NE of LA. The Tour of California was obligated to ride through their sponsor's neighborhood. That's Amgen and Specialized which are pretty much based along Interstate 5.
I think the last T of C include hilly areas that Jens Voight has his fondo. They are gorgeous, narrow and frightening to descend with bad pavement. One stage descended to the mouth of the Russian River connection to the Pacific at Jenner. Levi Leipheimer rode to the front and gave the whole peloton the "chill out" signal because of the sudden 20% sections. Most of the pros hated riding around that region because it was too hard for that time of year.
Lovely roads to ride with few people, houses or cars.

movingtarget · May 17, 2025

Samu Cuenca said:
I guess riding for Jayco is like being in a prison.

He's on day release............

jmdirt · May 17, 2025

Salvarani said:
Jayco does sound like a name for a prison.

Except it was so named because the founder wanted to be as free as a bird (Jay...the company logo).

Oldman · May 17, 2025

pastronef said:
I'm so happy for Plapp! finally! well deserved, what a ride. grande!

I love their kit, too. Matches a bike made for me years ago.

AupaPyama · May 17, 2025

My idea is that Roglic is riding the Giro first two weeks very energy efficient. No attacks, no waste of energy by sudden reactions on Ayuso. No sprints. Kinda like Valverde 2010 GC Vuelta style. You saw his reaction on the minor time less on Ayuso yesterday with a smile. Media were saying it is 1-0 for Ayuso are forgetting the time trial. It is 1-1. In the last week Roglic will go full gas. Remember Catalunya?

Another question/remark: in the last 10k the peloton was closing the gap on the break and it seems Roglic was holding pink. Then UAE took command and commentators were saying that UAE was riding to keep Roglic in pink. But at the finish the gap was not closed while the parcours was hard enough. I think UAE took command and slowed down to get Ulissi in pink. He was an UAE teammate last year and kind of a mentor for the young guys.

Oldman · May 17, 2025

AupaPyama said:
My idea is that Roglic is riding the Giro first two weeks very energy efficient. No attacks, no waste of energy by sudden reactions on Ayuso. No sprints. Kinda like Valverde 2010 GC Vuelta style. You saw his reaction on the minor time less on Ayuso yesterday with a smile. Media were saying it is 1-0 for Ayuso are forgetting the time trial. It is 1-1. In the last week Roglic will go full gas. Remember Catalunya?

Another question/remark: in the last 10k the peloton was closing the gap on the break and it seems Roglic was holding pink. Then UAE took command and commentators were saying that UAE was riding to keep Roglic in pink. But at the finish the gap was not closed while the parcours was hard enough. I think UAE took command and slowed down to get Ulissi in pink. He was an UAE teammate last year and kind of a mentor for the young guys.

Considering UAE can race like rabid hyenas I think the effort was designed to keep Primoz in the jersey. Any work RedBull did was to minimize the final gaps and keep him safe. I totally agree on his strategy as stages 16, 19, 20 appear to have some heavy lifting that may see him on his own without his prime climber teammate.

I'm optimistic he's looking to take a conservative path if he can do it. As others have pointed out he should try to win the Giro. If he can cakewalk that effort to set up a T d F effort; he should do it. He's not Pogacar and can't look for every stage win, anyway.