Giro d'Italia Giro d'Italia 2026, Stage 9: Cervia – Corno alle Scale, 184.0k

[Oldman]

I watched @100 k of the race and I thought tactically is was great by multiple teams, but Movistar and Trek particularly. The final climb proved that nobody can really handle speed changes by Vingegaard. Ciccone rode an almost perfect race, he did everything right but in the end was just physically incapable of keeping mountain pace, I think he timed it almost perfectly because there was a couple of times when the gap was steady and not increasing and there became no reason to work as a group of 5, he attacked everyone and only Rubio had staying power and when Rubio started eating into the cushion, Ciccone flushed him also, was @2:20-2:35 enough handicap time for Vingegaard not to catch and pass him? Nope.. If Ciccone wanted to win he would have needed a @4:30..5 minute buffer on last 10.4 kilometers.. Vingegaard was better for many reasons but riding hard in a small breakaway burned too many matches for Ciccone..bold effort.. Everyone had to know that with @10.5 k at 5.5-6% with some steep sections Vingegaard was going to try to roll away.. Almost nobody could or did answer his medium effort attack.. Today had to really give him confidence for the overall GC.
Gall looks very good.. Nobody Bora looks great..
Haters or lovers, there was nothing boring about today..

Gall and Decathalon achieved what they had planned and Jonas rode like a pro. Gall did a ton of work and had Jonas checking his numbers a few times; to the point he waited to the optimum stretch to take the stage. He is controlling this race but still isn't near Tour strength which will be great to see.
The race is still in the hands of a courageous Pink jersey newbie. Great to see and not as boring as this could've been. Funny though; Gulio thought the race was all about keeping control of him rather than shaking up a GC and opportunistically winning the stage.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

There should be no discussion of Pog in the giro threads. He isn't in the race and he has his own thread if people are compelled to talk about him.

People have to post about him elsewhere because his thread is all about Pidcock and BMX these days for some reason.

 

[RobertCrawley]

It's actually a perspective not a point of fact, the majority of pro bike racers have no expectations to win, many go for years or an entire career without winning. Many shop around hoping to go to a lesser race and get a win..post grand tours every country offers up some easier stuff.. Sometimes with 5,6 races on the same day but scattered all over.. But if you are saying collectively as an organization, the objective is to win you are right.. But most races end with a @150 losers..

Of course, I was referring to Jonas and Visma.

 

[canina82]

It seems Pellizzari is ill. We'll see if he recovers on the rest day or a DNS on Tuesday.

Stomach problems.

 

[Escarabajo]

That’s an ego pissing contest between those two. Equally ridiculous btw, but if I was Decathlon I would remember this for the TDF

All Decathlon has to do is an Astana 2015!

 

[Valv.Piti]

All Decathlon has to do is an Astana 2015!

They have Landa, but no Aru unfortunately, not as a great of a route at all and not the strongest team either. But Gall can do a lot of damage himself, but he is unfortunately probably limited to the last climb. Well, you can't attack before the last climb anyways apart from stage 19 over Giau this Giro, and maybe we will see a last desperatation attack from him depending on the race situation.

 

[Andy262]

Have to say Vingegaard is possibly the least likeable rider I have ever seen. A one dimensional wheelsucker, profiting from lesser riders effort.

 

[canina82]

Two things can be true. Vingegaard clearly did the thing which maximized his chances to both win the stage and gain most time on his apparent #1 competitor. But it's also a little disappointing to see a rider of Vingegaards caliber ride this defensively against a rider of Galls caliber. Nothing wrong with it, but not exactly screaming panache either. I think this kind of racing is just a lot easier to swallow if it's Contador wheelsucking Foome in the 2014 Vuelta because they are both at least in the same paygrade.

Or Pogacar in the 2024 TdF.

 

[carton]

Impressive ride by Gall and Decathlon, I understimated how much he had improved. Great ride by Arensman as well on a stage that didn't look promising for him.

 

[Cassirer]

Have to say Vingegaard is possibly the least likeable rider I have ever seen. A one dimensional wheelsucker, profiting from lesser riders effort.

This is baffling. I kinda get new "pogacar the goat fans" who maybe react kind of sensitive to anyone who has ever beat their star, but you have been on a cycling forum for almost 12 years. I would have liked to see him take turns today as well but how can you look at the average stage race vingegaard has done and come in good faith to the conclusion he's not an attacking, versatile rider?

 

[Daywalker600]

Vingegaard still has a Tour to win later on. This is just a warm up, luckily with this competition he can ride at 90% or less and still win.

In order to win TdF and beat Pogi, he'll have to show much much more, firstly, he'll have to take the initiative and ride more agressive, attacking, pushing hard, look for every hole.

 

[Brullnux]

In order to win TdF and beat Pogi, he'll have to show much much more, firstly, he'll have to take the initiative and ride more agressive, attacking, pushing hard, look for every hole.

He did that last year. Vingegaard does attack when he's behind, more so than when he's in front.

 

[Gratemans]

And the kissing, not celebrating with his teammates that worked for him, and then calling his wife...

And those are all things you are allowed to criticise him for in my book, I hate that too.
But calling him a loser for not working with Gall after he attacked, and launching an attack himself in the end is utterly ridiculous. Then you just let your hate for him blind you. Because this is cycling 101.

 

[Gratemans]

I cannot for all that is holy see why Jonas Vingegaard should be criticised for kissing his children or phoning his wife or kissing his teammate

Kissing his teammate is perfeclty fine.
But the whole family thing.. I get that you love your wife and children, but do you really have to focus on them all the time, deliberately in front of a camera? There have been loads of GT winners who probably love their family just as much, but chose to not rub our faces in it after every. single. victory. That just smells like pr to me.
Coming back to kissing a teammate: in fact I actually would like him to acknowledge his teammates a bit more often in front of the camera right after a race.

And on the topic of how he raced this stage: any cycling fan with only the tiniest ability to objectively analyse a race will agree that this is how you should race it. Vingegaard rode this one completely by the book.

 

[Hugh Januss]

Have to say Vingegaard is possibly the least likeable rider I have ever seen. A one dimensional wheelsucker, profiting from lesser riders effort.

I like Vingegaard much more than I like your thoughts about him. That's not a high bar.

 

[Gratemans]

I like Vingegaard much more than I like your thoughts about him. That's not a high bar.

I wasted a lot of letters. I should have just typed this.

 

[proffate]

I can give Danish people a pass for supporting thier countrymans anti-cycling and anti-entertainment behaviour on the bike. I, like 99% of others in here watch cycling for entertainment, I will always root for the guys that bring the action and excitement.

Is Gall the type to bring excitement? Objectively the least entertaining type of rider and looks like a door on a bike.

 

[proffate]

Have to say Vingegaard is possibly the least likeable rider I have ever seen. A one dimensional wheelsucker, profiting from lesser riders effort.

"Racing is licking your opponent's plate clean before starting on your own."

 

[Gratemans]

"Racing is licking your opponent's plate clean before starting on your own."

Sometimes I feel this whole joint would be better off being separated into two parts:
Those who enjoy bike racing, and those who enjoy particular bike racers.

 

[Cookster15]

But the whole family thing.. I get that you love your wife and children, but do you really have to focus on them all the time, deliberately in front of a camera?

Not sure what’s wrong with this? Since his obvious suffering in the 2024 Tour I’ve enjoyed Jonas sharing his close family. I think it’s a nice touch in a brutal sport.

This is a personal thing for Jonas. We are not him. It’s not for us to judge. Everyone copes differently.

 

[Gratemans]

Not sure what’s wrong with this? Since his obvious suffering in the 2024 Tour I’ve enjoyed Jonas sharing his close family. I think it’s a nice touch in a brutal sport.

This is a personal thing for Jonas. We are not him. It’s not for us to judge. Everyone copes differently.

I'm not judging anybody. I'm expressing my opinion on what he deliberately shows us on camera. Of course, you're completely free to disagree.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

And the kissing, not celebrating with his teammates that worked for him, and then calling his wife...

He kissed the photo on his stem before he crossed the line. Please explain how he could have celebrated with his teammates at that point.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

I don’t hate Vingegaard. I hate his actions, and his behaviour as a cyclist in relation to his family.

And actually I don’t hate those actions. Too strong of a word. I thinks it’s ridiculous

Is it ridiculous when other riders greet their loved ones after a finish, perhaps before team mates?

Is it ridiculous when Evenepoel does it? Because I have never seen you criticise him for it.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Some of us complain about Vingo’s attitude because we believe he’s able to do much more than this. If you want to ride with a calculator, it’s alright, but don’t expect much love from the fans, We don’t care who wins but how.

I would suggest that most of the comment about the way Vingegaard rode comes from people who care very much about who wins, and that the who in question is Vingegaard's main rival. There is little point in him "expecting much love" from that cohort, no matter what he does.

 

[Rob5091]

So Decathlon thought Vingegaard would attack first, but he didn't and Gall ran out of teammates so off he went -
https://cyclinguptodate.com/cycling...t-sees-jonas-vingegaard-take-the-win-from-him

Vingegaard says everything going to plan so far -https://cyclinguptodate.com/cycling...t-week-with-a-perfect-day-at-corno-alle-scale

We are where we wanted to be, obviously. I'm in a good situation at the moment for GC. So far, everything is looking good for us. We're happy where we are."