Giro d'Italia stage 20, Stage 20: Alba – Sestriere 190 km

[Zoetemelk-fan]

Chiappucci did not become a great champion but until Pantani he was the unofficial holder of the most exciting cyclist in the peloton title, which is a very important title for me.

A real pity the new generation didn't have the pleasure to enjoy Chiapucci live on screen.
And what a contrast to the 1992 Tour Sestriere stage climbing in a dense sea of fanatic tifosis to today's almost empty roads...

 

[Eclipse]

Astana have been a shambles but good on them for trying to keep this in check and taking up the pace . I'll have a lot of respect for Fuglsang if he tries to pull off some madness here rather than settling for trying to sneak a stage win.

 

[RedheadDane]

Astana have been a shambles but good on them for trying to keep this in check and taking up the pace . I'll have a lot of respect for Fuglsang if he tries to pull off some madness here rather than settling for trying to sneak a stage win.

Is Sestriere a mountain you usually sneak stage wins on?

 

[Eclipse]

Is Sestriere a mountain you usually sneak stage wins on?

I more mean it would be easy to consider following the rest of the action and hoping to be let off the front if Ineos and Sunweb look at each other later on today vs taking a major punt on attacking earlier.

 

[Krokro]

Astana driving the pace?
Could be fun if Fuglsang has epic Vino legs today!

 

[BlueRoads]

Is Sestriere a mountain you usually sneak stage wins on?

Démare does.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Why is Viviani in that break, if he didn't even contest the intermediate sprint? Did he have a problem?
Cofidis is at the bottom of the prize money ranking, so it is a bit disrespectful to his teammates and staff, if he didn't go for it.

 

[RedheadDane]

Why is Viviani in that break, if he didn't even contest the intermediate sprint? Did he have a problem?

I suspect it might simply a matter of being ahead for the climbing, so he won't have to worry about the time cut.

 

[TomLPC]

Part of the reason I carried on watching cycling during times of disgrace was that I enjoyed hearing about the history and geography of some of these regions.

A large amount of these mountain passes were either built as good tactical spots for ancient warlords with big ideas or ski resorts.

In this case its a ski resort.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

I suspect it might simply a matter of being ahead for the climbing, so he won't have to worry about the time cut.

It probably is. I didn't see the sprint, but it looks like some of the other fast men at least recognized its existence.

 

[JosefK]

Maybe not in the bag for the break at this point. Gap down under 6 minutes with 75 km to go.

 

[gregrowlerson]

Astana driving the pace?
Could be fun if Fuglsang has epic Vino legs today!

He already has his liquor!

 

[richwallone]

INEOS means business today, taking over the front of the peloton... I take any result as long as Keldo is out of the pink.

 

[Breezy1985]

Part of the reason I carried on watching cycling during times of disgrace was that I enjoyed hearing about the history and geography of some of these regions.

A large amount of these mountain passes were either built as good tactical spots for ancient warlords with big ideas or ski resorts.

In this case its a ski resort.

Or both. Good skiing spots for holidaying warlords

 

[Breezy1985]

INEOS means business today, taking over the front of the peloton... I take any result as long as Keldo is out of the pink.

I want loads of looking between the top 3 while Bilbao shoots off alone like Carapaz last year

 

[RedheadDane]

Or both. Good skiing spots for holidaying warlords

I just had a mental image of someone going down a ski slope in full plate armour. Thank you, thank you very much!

 

[richwallone]

What could have been... Damn French they only care about their own Tour, messing it up for Giro and Vuelta...

https://twitter.com/x/status/1319946129795055616

View: https://twitter.com/laflammerouge16/status/1319946129795055616?s=20

 

[DanielSong39]

Ambush can absolutely work today
With that said, I expect all the GC riders to stare at each other, soft pedal to the end and finish ST miles behind the break
Hoping for an Ineos TTT, that would be a sight to watch

 

[Red Rick]

What could have been... Damn French they only care about they own Tour, messing it up for Giro and Vuelta...

https://twitter.com/x/status/1319946129795055616

View: https://twitter.com/laflammerouge16/status/1319946129795055616?s=20

 

[titan31]

Ineos finally riding now

 

[DanielSong39]

Perfect timing from Ineos

 

[Tigerion]

Kelderman would normally be the best, and Hindley and TGH won't beat him on a flat course, if he avoids mishaps.
Hindley is the worst among them. You'd normally expect Bilbao to be better than THG, but that wasn't the case on the longer ITT in this Giro. Bilbao may have the advantage again on this route.

Has HIndley ever had a time trial that he has actually cared about?

 

[killswitch]

Like at Helm's Deep the outcome depends on Rohan. If Dennis and Hart can drop Kelderman like on Stelvio, Tao can deal with Hindley on the last climb. The shallower gradients are better for Wilco though and he can get help from allies like Fuglsang.

 

[Gigs_98]

Still kinda hoping the attacks will start on this climb already. If Nibali and Fuglsang want to attack later it will be a repeat of the Stelvio with them getting dropped before they can even try something.

 

[Gigs_98]

Like at Helm's Deep the outcome depends on Rohan. If Dennis and Hart can drop Kelderman like on Stelvio, Tao can deal with Hindley on the last climb. The shallower gradients are better for Wilco though and he can get help from allies like Fuglsang.

Isn't it more like the Battle of the Pelennor fields, where Rohan isn't actually one of the main parties of the battle, but is crucial for the outcome anyway.