Giro d'Italia Giro D'Italia 2025 Stage 9: Gubbio – Siena (181km)

[Blanco]

He had no reason to collaborate, though, since del Toro was racing into pink and van Aert has at least nominal GC threat teammates.

Besides, del Toro is negotiating from a position of weakness. Van Aert is the favourite in the sprint between the two, so del Toro couldn't really offer him anything in return to do a "you take stage I take pink" kind of deal either.

I disagree. If you're a real champion, you don't sit for 15km on some youngsters wheel, just to out sprint him at the end.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

Del Toro really did look like

What kind of posts even this? I know belgians are very passionate about cycling but this type of posts are arrogant. I read things like this constantly about Remco and WVA.

The funny thing for me is that I picture Contador furiously typing your posts, and it makes them even more absurd to me.

 

[OWIOWI]

I always was a big Van Aert fan. And always (though I am Austrian) cheered for Flemish riders. But I definetly did not like the wheelsucking he did today. And I do not understand, that some here consider that as tactically suberbe. It was simply wheelsucking. And unfair. That was not the Wout, I was supporting through all those years. For example against Mathieu.

And I also think, that his best years are behind him. I do not see him winning Flanders and Roubaix anymore. Okay, if neither Mathieu nor Tadej or Mads are there, than maybe...

 

[noob]

This may not be of any interest to most of you but the 3 best looking men in cycling were 1, 2 and 3 on todays stage

Reason enough for Netflix to get over to the Giro

Finally understand why the cat went under the sofa this stage

 

[zlev11]

WVA rode it perfectly, if you dont understand that then you dont understand cycling. being able to hold onto del Toro on the final ramp wasn't guaranteed even while sitting on.

 

[Unchained]

No idea what that means, but you have to remember Lidl is not really a GC team - sure Ciccone rides GC and when it doesn't detract from the main objective, which is stage wins, they support him.

But you will not see them sacrifice a potential stage win for Ciccones GC... unless they suddenly think he can podium - that would change everything.

Trek is riding great, and are all over the place!! Pedersen flying and punishing others whenever possible, as elevation changed Ciccone took some bold moves trying to get away going uphill, very respectable ride and result, didn't sit on. And today Trek out there mixing it up with multiple riders making moves!! Mathias Vacek put it all out there and tried to cross a big gap and made it!! Absolutely awesome! No reason for hanging his head, great effort. Trek is riding impressively so far!!

 

[RedheadDane]

Finally understand why the cat went under the sofa this stage

It spotted Tiberi on the screen? (Sorry...)


I can't really comment on whether Del Toro is good-looking. That would be kinda creepy, what with the 16-year age-gap between us.

 

[Boehmand]

How can you say that when Vacek was able to bridge? If Vacek had been pacing the Ciccone group together with Konrad and with a bit of help from other riders instead of attacking it's no reason to believe that it was impossible?

For some unknown reason, you seem to think Ciccone is the only one in the team who can win the stage - and that the entire team should have been dedicated to him today.

Fair enough if that is your position, but I disagree.

 

[EddyMazzoleni]

they were awful today. whoever dragged Roglic to the front before the 1st sector (I thought it was Denz but the commentators said Moscon) and Pellizari were good. everyone else awful. reminds me of the Tour last year when they also laid a huge egg on the gravel stage.

Pellizari was great, he worked alone for 30+ km against multiple people in the Ayuso group and lost only 15 seconds.

 

[TastyGroceries]

I disagree. If you're a real champion, you don't sit for 15km on some youngsters wheel, just to out sprint him at the end.

I always was a big Van Aert fan. And always (though I am Austrian) cheered for Flemish riders. But I definetly did not like the wheelsucking he did today. And I do not understand, that some here consider that as tactically suberbe. It was simply wheelsucking. And unfair. That was not the Wout, I was supporting through all those years. For example against Mathieu.

And I also think, that his best years are behind him. I do not see him winning Flanders and Roubaix anymore. Okay, if neither Mathieu nor Tadej or Mads are there, than maybe...

It's shocking for me that a rider gets criticized for riding in the only sound way given the race situation. He had absolutely no reason to take turns, they were not getting caught back and Bernal and then Del Toro were pushing for their GC ambition. If you add the fact that Simon Yates was behind and that Wout Van Aert was probably on his limit, it'd be the worst racing decision ever to take a turn there.

Sure, he's far from his best shape and it's hard to imagine him winning a monument right now. But that doesn't mean that he's supposed to ride as if he was the strongest rider and miss the opportunity to win a prestigious GT stage by making unsound tactical decisions.

 

[pelotonIQ]

Oh boy, Ayuso doesn't look happy one bit that Toro is in maglia rosa. Shades of Vuelta 23' Kuss/Vingegaard

 

[Boehmand]

What I'm saying was that Vacek should have from the start never gone with Harper/solo to chase the front and kill his legs doing so, he should have worked with Konrad to pull back the front group, which would have been the best strategy both for the stage win and for GC. Instead of that it was a complete mess with Vacek chasing the front group alone and Konrad working at the same time in the Ciccone group.

That's such an easy call to make after the stage, anyone can do that.

At the moment in the race it seemed like the right decision, to have one rider go after the front group (and he made it across), and 2 others sticking with the main GC riders.

Ciccone is not the only winner on the team.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I disagree. If you're a real champion, you don't sit for 15km on some youngsters wheel, just to out sprint him at the end.

If you're a real champion you also should know better than to collaborate with a rival to distance your own team's GC leader just for the sake of pride.

 

[Escarabajo]

I always was a big Van Aert fan. And always (though I am Austrian) cheered for Flemish riders. But I definetly did not like the wheelsucking he did today. And I do not understand, that some here consider that as tactically suberbe. It was simply wheelsucking. And unfair. That was not the Wout, I was supporting through all those years. For example against Mathieu.

And I also think, that his best years are behind him. I do not see him winning Flanders and Roubaix anymore. Okay, if neither Mathieu nor Tadej or Mads are there, than maybe...

Breath deeply and relax.

1- He had no reason to collaborate with Bernal or Del Toro since Simon Yates was trailing behind.
2- More importantly, he physically couldn’t afford to if he wanted a shot at winning the stage.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

I always was a big Van Aert fan. And always (though I am Austrian) cheered for Flemish riders. But I definetly did not like the wheelsucking he did today. And I do not understand, that some here consider that as tactically suberbe. It was simply wheelsucking. And unfair. That was not the Wout, I was supporting through all those years. For example against Mathieu.

And I also think, that his best years are behind him. I do not see him winning Flanders and Roubaix anymore. Okay, if neither Mathieu nor Tadej or Mads are there, than maybe...

I don't agree with any of this. He sat on because he could. He had no good reason to pull, as it was clear Del Toro was stronger, Del Toro was going to take Pink, he has a teammate who will vie for the podium, he is still recovering from long term injury and short time sickness, and he hasn't had a win, and really wanted one, so he rode like he had to in all of those scenarios. Sure, it would have been better to see Wout of old, doing work and burining himself up, but that isn't who he is today, but he still won. I am not willing to write off his future chances yet. You and others may be right, but I can't give in to that yet.

 

[Blanco]

So he should just piss on Yates' GC ambitions?

He couldn't have done anything else today, impossible to make everyone happy. Nice to see that ilmaestro didn't take this cheap shot, though.

What cheap shot?
So you really think a champion like Van Aert should be proud of this ride? Cause I don't. Would Van Der Poel do something like this, or Boonen, or Sagan, hell even Valverde in the small groups do his share of work.
And what piss on Yates, he could go on the front doing smaller and weaker turns than Del Toro, time difference would be the same or 10 sec more at most. His ride today was strong, but I wouldn't be proud very much with it.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

If you're a real champion you also should know better than to collaborate with a rival to distance your own team's GC leader just for the sake of pride.

He was allowed to ride, and if it surprises you that he was allowed to do so, then I am wondering what in the world would make you think it would have ever been anything different. Your hate for the team is evident, but this take is ridiculous.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

WVA rode it perfectly, if you dont understand that then you dont understand cycling. being able to hold onto del Toro on the final ramp wasn't guaranteed even while sitting on.

You posted about it perfectly.

 

[TastyGroceries]

That's such an easy call to make after the stage, anyone can do that.

At the moment in the race it seemed like the right decision, to have one rider go after the front group (and he made it across), and 2 others sticking with the main GC riders.

Ciccone is not the only winner on the team.

No, it was obviously the right decision at that moment of the stage as well. The team was criticized for their tactics well before the end of the stage. It never made any sense to send Vacek killing his legs bridging a group with 2 GC threats, given that at the same time the team was using Konrad to reel Bernal/Del Toro back.

 

[Boehmand]

I disagree. If you're a real champion, you don't sit for 15km on some youngsters wheel, just to out sprint him at the end.

Nobody remembers in 10 years - only the palmares count.

Some of the most revered riders in cycling history were complete arseholes on the road (some in civilian life as well).

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

What cheap shot?
So you really think a champion like Van Aert should be proud of this ride? Cause I don't. Would Van Der Poel do something like this, or Boonen, or Sagan, hell even Valverde in the small groups do his share of work.
And what piss on Yates, he could go on the front doing smaller and weaker turns than Del Toro, time difference would be the same or 10 sec more at most. His ride today was strong, but I wouldn't be proud very much with it.

Yes, absolutely, 100%.

You wouldn't have been happy if he'd won under any scenario, so why pretend your take has anything to do with anything else but hatred of a rider.

 

[Jan the Man]

WVA rode it perfectly, if you dont understand that then you dont understand cycling. being able to hold onto del Toro on the final ramp wasn't guaranteed even while sitting on.

Precisely - he has had it the other way where he was the strongest and people have sat on him - today he did what he had to do in the final 15km.and held on during the final ramp. Chapeau.

MOM goes to del Torro. - clearly the strongest rider on the day. Also chapeau to Ineos for trying. Thought Tarling, Turner and Rivera put in great rides.

 

[KoopaCycling]

I like that Del toro straight up wanted pink and the stage win. However knowing the result , it can be said he would have been better off had he made a deal with Van Aert. I like that he didn't. For both riders and for cycling. But hindsight tells me he would have gained more time had he made a deal. Not that i have faith in del toro for GC. But this route is light, he is talented, and we have no clue what his ceiling is GC wise.

 

[Red Rick]

I'll say it again:

Lidl's main objective is not GC for Ciccone, it's stage wins.

You may think Ciccone could have somehow made it to the front, if Vacek had dropped back earlier - and then ferried Ciccone all the way back to the front (a front Vacek couldn't stick with himself - I disagree.

MvdP or another mutant might have been able to do something like that, but Vacek is not a mutant - not yet at least.

Think it's absurd to sacrifice helping Ciccone for a super low% shot at Vacek.

 

[MartinGT]

Chuffed for WvA.