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[jaylew]

Tough finale led to a bit of a surprise result.

 

[RedheadDane]

NIZZOLO!

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Poor by Ewan.

 

[jaylew]

Well, looks like one of the favorites for the last team to get a win is out.

 

[Koronin]

Nice stage win for Nizzolo. Helps when you are well positioned.

 

[tobydawq]

I think that's only Nizzolo's second WorldTour win after roughly three million second places, give or take.

 

[sir fly]

I guess Nizzolo was least affected by the ascents.
Good sprint by Bennett, as well, but his position was a bit off.
Nice effort by Mitchelton and Impey. That was the way to maximize their chances.
Boiled down nicely at the end.

 

[Velolover2]

Never underestimate the power of kingpin Bjarne.

 

[yaco]

Ewan was in prime position with 1km to go behind Kluge and then somehow disappeared - Kluge did a brilliant lead out.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Tough finale led to a bit of a surprise result.

Yes, Consonni is a lot better on this kind of stage than in a sprint after an easy stage. I'd like to see both him an Nizzolo in more ony day races.

 

[Cookster15]

Impey is making Porte work hard for his title. riding they way he is, Impey might be hard for Porte to shake on Willunga. That climb levels out towards the end and Impey might be able to chase back on. Is there a headwind forecast?

 

[F_Cance]

All the Pedersen comments are weird. It's January, and he's obviously here as a helper.

and he does that very well, winning bonus sprints against an in form Impey.

 

[Armchair cyclist]

Good stage: lots going on that would make it a good instructional video for Race Watching 101.

 

[The Hegelian]

Impey is making Porte work hard for his title. riding they way he is, Impey might be hard for Porte to shake on Willunga. That climb levels out towards the end and Impey might be able to chase back on. Is there a headwind forecast?

I doubt this. Willunga is more Porte's than the Cauberg is Gilbert's.

He'll get time on Impey for sure. Plus time bonus = Porte's GC to lose.

However, this is Porte we're dealing with; something often goes wrong.....

Simon Yates at 11 seconds to Porte is probably a bigger danger.

 

[tobydawq]

I doubt this. Willunga is more Porte's than the Cauberg is Gilbert's.

He'll get time on Impey for sure. Plus time bonus = Porte's GC to lose.

However, this is Porte we're dealing with; something often goes wrong.....

Simon Yates at 11 seconds to Porte is probably a bigger danger.

Impey could get bonus seconds in the intermediate sprints and last year he was same time as Porte on Willunga.

 

[yaco]

Bonus sprints occur after 64 and 106 kms, so doubtful that MS can keep the peleton together with the hard finish at Willunga Hill.

 

[Velolover2]

Porte is the best at 8 minutes efforts. Willunga Hill is his throne.

Other than Roglic and Alaphilippe, I can't see anyone beating him there. Maybe a peak shape Yates brother?

 

[Earns1985]

Interesting stage today!!
As I though Mitchelton Scott really tried it on the climb. Unfortunately for them the sprinters came back.
In the end the important factor had been Gibbons. He let a gap behind Kluge, Nizzolo and Consonni so that Bennett and the others lost the important meters.
Tomorrow the Willunga Hill will be climbed two times. Don´t know if Mitchelton will already try something on the first passage. If they arrive together on the feet of the last passage I think Porte will win this and the TDU.

 

[KZD]

Porte is the best at 8 minutes efforts. Willunga Hill is his throne.

Other than Roglic and Alaphilippe, I can't see anyone beating him there. Maybe a peak shape Yates brother?

Valverde could but he is not there either.

 

[F_Cance]

Bonus sprints occur after 64 and 106 kms, so doubtful that MS can keep the peleton together with the hard finish at Willunga Hill.

that's the only question imo. last year Porte could not gap Impey on Willunga, bc he came back in the last 300 meters. So if Impey can collect some bonus seconds along the way, Porte needs a gap to Impey

 

[rick james]

It would have been fun if the front group worked together after the final climb, the last 20k would have been really good viewing

 

[movingtarget]

impey needs more bonuses of course. It will come down to a handful of seconds as usual unless Porte goes completely bonkers and Impey has a bad day but Impey has showed that this is a race that really suits him.

 

[tobydawq]

It would have been fun if the front group worked together after the final climb, the last 20k would have been really good viewing

Well, they kind of did, but if Porte had helped contribute, we would already have witnessed the biggest tactical blunder of the year.

 

[movingtarget]

The biggest problem is that he tries to keep this kind of shape for Paris-Nice and other spring races.
If one would sacrifice some of his spring goals resetting and having a proper peak for the Tour would be possible, but the guy seems to be unwilling to make changes.

The week long stage races seem to be his strength. If he avoids illness and doesn't miss racing like last year he should be looking at a top 10 in the Tour. He finished 11th last year with an interrupted preparation. He always seems to get in good training when he returns to Australia in the summer and enjoys the early season races so he probably never even thought about a later start to the season which is odd but for Porte maybe not.............the fact that he rode his best TT for a while in last year's Tour which was early in the race but crumbled on the climbs in the second half suggest he just didn't have the condition for a really good three week performance even with some shortened stages.

 

[Ranagazoo]

Interesting stage today!!
As I though Mitchelton Scott really tried it on the climb. Unfortunately for them the sprinters came back.
In the end the important factor had been Gibbons. He let a gap behind Kluge, Nizzolo and Consonni so that Bennett and the others lost the important meters.
Tomorrow the Willunga Hill will be climbed two times. Don´t know if Mitchelton will already try something on the first passage. If they arrive together on the feet of the last passage I think Porte will win this and the TDU.

It's the unnoticed stuff like this that wins stages. Not sure if Gibbons meant to let a gap go, but if he didn't Bennett would have taken the win easily. Smart tactics from NTT