Giro d'Italia Giro d'Italia 2026, Stage 4: Catanzaro – Cosenza, 138.0k

[Pippo_San]

I was like...GIULIOOOOO...
OPS ITS CICCO

 

[Rob5091]

You know "Wednesday's stage 5" kinda implies there's another stage 5.
Like, a secret stage 5

Damn, the secret's out now!

 

[Mayomaniac]

To be fair, they came closer than they have done a lot of times when they've done that much work in the past, and their plan was at both clear AND logical, whereas a lot of the time getting one of the two is enough of an achievement. They still have three guys in solid positions on the GC, Aular will obviously drop away but Mas and Rubio are both well-placed. Romo is only a couple of minutes off. Juanpe López is now far enough back to stagehunt.

Usually at the Giro at least post-2019 they send an odds-and-sods team with a "somebody will get there or thereabouts in the GC, everybody else go figure something out" approach, whereas this looked like they have actual plans and form. Whether they can capitalise on it is another question of course - there's a good chance of Movistar reverting to type and doing something crazy in the coming days, while Enric Mas has perhaps what could be described as the absolute polar opposite of killer instinct, but for the moment signs are relatively positive for the Friars.

Sciandri in the car, which is significant. He and Lastras are typically their best DSes.

Sciandri was leading the Landa-Carapaz duo as a DS back in 2019, he's good.

 

[Samamba]

The fact that Turner is leaving Ineos definitely played a role today

 

[Sciatic]

You know "Wednesday's stage 5" kinda implies there's another stage 5.
Like, a secret stage 5.

Funny; however, it is a common English usage to phrase it that way

 

[AmRacer]

You know "Wednesday's stage 5" kinda implies there's another stage 5.
Like, a secret stage 5.

It's Wednesday's stage 5, not any other day's stage 5.

 

[Escarabajo]

Thats gotta be the worst DS decision of the year. Sacrificing a GT stage win for no reason at all.

Now it’s his fault!

Apparently it has nothing to do with him getting beaten outright by the other two speedsters. Nothing suggests he would have beaten them anyway.

 

[Red Rick]

Ben Turner seemed absolutely livid

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Turner's greatest contributions to cycling this year have been crashing for no reason, but sure, he shouldn't be helping his GC leaders when they need it.

 

[Red Rick]

Turner's greatest contributions to cycling this year have been crashing for no reason, but sure, he shouldn't be helping his GC leaders when they need it.

Not when they drop on a climb like this.

 

[Escarabajo]

Aular and Narvaez are very good at these stages. There was no guarantee that Ben would have won, TBH. Additionally it was a small difference to Bernal's group so they probably thought that there was not going to be a big effort.

 

[Red Rick]

Aular and Narvaez are very good at these stages. There was no guarantee that Ben would have won, TBH. Additionally it was a small difference to Bernal's group so they probably thought that there was not going to be a big effort.

Ben Turner literally beat Philipsen on a super similar stage and finish int he Vuelta.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Not when they drop on a climb like this.

Today was exactly the sort of day where it made sense since it was actually possible to save Bernal, which it won't be if it happens on a harder stage.

 

[Breh]

If you are getting dropped on a climb like this, there will be no GC placement to salvage whatsoever.

 

[awavey]

you can see the knot they got in though, you cant give up on a GC contender on stage 4, whilst equally its only day 4 how is their GC contender needing that kind of help, where were the rest of the team ? etc etc etc.

its funny because "Eurosport" actually interviewed Ben on the start line literally as they started, the interesting thing in hindsight is that he was confidently talking about being in the mix for the stage win later on. So the team hadnt completely vetoed the chance from the start, it has to be something that developed later, but he also said as the question was posed to was he the team lead for the stage win, and he said "yeah but we also have a big nice Italian guy, we'll see after the climb whats going to happen..."

 

[Escarabajo]

you can see the knot they got in though, you cant give up on a GC contender on stage 4, whilst equally its only day 4 how is their GC contender needing that kind of help, where were the rest of the team ? etc etc etc.

its funny because "Eurosport" actually interviewed Ben on the start line literally as they started, the interesting thing in hindsight is that he was confidently talking about being in the mix for the stage win later on. So the team hadnt completely vetoed the chance from the start, it has to be something that developed later, but he also said as the question was posed to was he the team lead for the stage win, and he said "yeah but we also have a big nice Italian guy, we'll see after the climb whats going to happen..."

I think the team supported the decision to go for the stage win from the beginning. It’s just that nobody expected Bernal to crack on a climb like this, so they had to make a quick call.

Several former riders and commentators mentioned that you simply can’t give up on Stage 4 — it’s far too early in the race. On top of that, Bernal has been riding very well lately, so they probably assumed he was just having a temporary bad moment before making the final decision. Time will tell.

 

[AnotherArmChair]

You dont give up on a Tour and Giro winner on stage 4 ...simple
Bernal is their best bet on GC
He could have been having a bad day after the rest day and could yet come good
If Turner had not helped and still lost there would be many voices saying why did he not help Bernal

 

[Oldman]

I was like...GIULIOOOOO...
OPS ITS CICCO

Love it. The LOCALS GITTN' FEISTY!

 

[RedheadDane]

Funny; however, it is a common English usage to phrase it that way

It's not that thing - dunno what it's called in English - where you say the same thing twice in the same sentence?
So, instead of either "Wednesday's stage" or "Stage 5", it became "Wednesday's stage 5".

 

[carton]

It’s a tough one regarding the Turner order. I‘ve sensed both Bernal and the team have actually been downplaying his chances. Bernal actually said yesterday that we’d have to wait and see if the form is there to go for GC given his imperfect build up. And he has certainly seemed subpar so far this Giro. On the flip side, he is the second most accomplished rider on the start list, and he seemed to be fairly close to on par with some of the top contenders for the podium (i.e. Pellizari, O’Connor, Arensman, Gee-West) just two weeks ago.

And despite his great legs yesterday, Turner wasn’t a lock for the win. He would have had only Arensman for help against Aular and Narvaez who are both quick and were better supported. And had he not dropped back, and had the race played out similarly, my bet would be that he would have ended-up sprinting for second, as Christen would have actually taken it with Sobrero either not there or too gassed to help catch him.

Regardless, Netcompany-Ineos is and brought a GC team with GC ambitions. It would have been not just an unnessary risk but a clear capitulation to place those solely on the shoulders of Arensman so soon, particulary on a hot, fast climb after a rest day. And they did succeed in buying a clearly-not-yet-willing-to-give-up Bernal an extra day.

So bottom line, IMHO it was as tough call, but the right call. And Turner did an impressive job carrying it out. Yeah, it’s a big missed opportunity for him, but I don’t think proving himself once again as a very good rider and a great teammate will hurt his career.

Now, I also find it somewhat odd that not just Bernal, but also Sheffield and Haig, dropped on a day where over 40 guys made it to the finish. Clearly there are serious doubts that Bernal will be able to keep up today. And while Arensman is a far better bet to be there given his form so far, he also has something to prove on a stage like this. So today will be crucial for this Netcompany-Ineos team and their Giro GC ambitions.

 

[yaco]

Today was exactly the sort of day where it made sense since it was actually possible to save Bernal, which it won't be if it happens on a harder stage.

The bigger issue is where was haig or Sheffield. It shouls not be up to Turner to bring back Bernal.

 

[Red Rick]

I think the team supported the decision to go for the stage win from the beginning. It’s just that nobody expected Bernal to crack on a climb like this, so they had to make a quick call.

Several former riders and commentators mentioned that you simply can’t give up on Stage 4 — it’s far too early in the race. On top of that, Bernal has been riding very well lately, so they probably assumed he was just having a temporary bad moment before making the final decision. Time will tell.

Bernal got dropped by like 20 guys on stage 2

 

[tobydawq]

If you are getting dropped on a climb like this, there will be no GC placement to salvage whatsoever.

You should rewatch 2018 Gran Sasso with focus on Chris Froome.

 

[tobydawq]

The bigger issue is where was haig or Sheffield. It shouls not be up to Turner to bring back Bernal.

That's a lie. It was only Arensman, Bernal and Turner.

 

[Roku]

Honestly, lt's been five seasons since Bernal has done a GC in a GT which could put him in the mix for a podium place. Those days are long gone. Last year's Giro is his best GC since his 2021 Vuelta (6th) and he was quite far from the podium.

But I understand is hard do ditch a team co-leader for a potential stage win, especially when he has been riding well lately.