Itzulia Basque Country 2021, Spain, April 5 - April 10

[Sciatic]

Rain jacket antics?

 

[Krzysztof_O]

A lot of walls and cold weather, should be interesting. Both Pogacar and Roglic are explosive climbers and fast finishers. Plus the TT should give them some advantage over pure climbers. OTOH a pure and in-form climber like Yates will be hard to beat on these steepest sections. Can't look past these 3. My prediction: Pogacar with a small margin over his main rivals.

 

[Vasilis]

All I can predict is that I want to watch this race.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Six days and counting.

 

[cen]

Damn, the roster is packed including some Vuelta 2020 rivalries. I hope PR is back at full health. Can't wait for this.

 

[Remy55]

Looks like Bora brings Buchmann, Schachmann, Kelderman and Konrad.
Strong lineup

 

[Ludwigzgz]

Navarra 265 cases/100k pop. tendence +110%
País Vasco 235 cases/100k pop. tendence +34%
A warning for GP Estella and Itzulia

 

[Anderis]

Notable sprinters: Magnus Cort

LOL, you could have copy-pasted the entire startlist there instead.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Pogacar vs Roglic vs Yates. Doesn't get much better than that. We just needed Remco here to complete the battle between the big 4.

No need, we already know who would win that one.

Ba-dum-tshh

 

[Red Rick]

By the way I really like the new profiles where they even give some gradient indicators in the overall stage profile.

 

[Pantani_lives]

There goes my theory that Roglic and Pogacar are avoiding each other.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

There goes my theory that Roglic and Pogacar are avoiding each other.

It's different: everybody is avoiding Roglic (thus such a weak field at recent PN). After his falls they fear him a bit less and haven't withdrawn from the Basque Tour (yet). Still, it takes only one ominous look by the Terminator and everybody (including the organizers) will exit the race.

 

[Põhja Konn]

If the crash didn't set him back too much I would give Roglic the advantage over Pogacar on this route. These short to medium length climbs with super steep gradients are really playing to his strenghts. The TT coming on stage one should also be slightly more favourable to him. Adam Yates' level in shorter stage races compared to the two Slovenians is harder to estimate but will be really intresting to see.

 

[Bertram Wooster]

Pogacar, Yates and Roglic normally for the podium.

But who will be the best of the rest? My bet: Izagirre

 

[Pantani_lives]

Pogacar, Yates and Roglic normally for the podium.

But who will be the best of the rest? My bet: Izagirre

It hardly ever happens that the three top favorites all finish on the podium. Probably at least one other will sneak in. Landa and Chaves will lose time in the time trial, so Mas, Schachmann and Mollema look more likely. I also wonder if Hugh Carthy can confirm his good Vuelta.

 

[gregrowlerson]

Be interesting to see if anyone can take off from the ramp at the end of the ITT.

This comment goes well with your forum name.

 

[gregrowlerson]

All I can predict is that I want to watch this race.

I wouldn't mind doing so either, but last week free to air tv in Australia showed Catalunya, yet they are not showing Roglic vs. Pogacar next week

 

[hayneplane]

Really hope Roglic isn't gun shy on the steep descents if the weather is bad and avoids crashes. Listing Cort as the sprinter is quite funny as I would not be surprised if Roglic and Pogacar are just as quick on a finish after hard stages in a race like Itzulia.

 

[Faserr]

The Bora squad looks really solid with Buchmann, Schachmann, Kelderman and Konman.

 

[Kaptain Kool]

I wouldn't mind doing so either, but last week free to air tv in Australia showed Catalunya, yet they are not showing Roglic vs. Pogacar next week

Maybe you need to hope that ASO buys Izulia Basque Country in the near future.

 

[Ktarie]

The Bora squad looks really solid with Buchmann, Schachmann, Kelderman and Konman.

Yes, this Bora team looks ambitious (like some other teams as well). Kelderman(n), Schachmann and Buchmann would each be candidates for a top 5 placement. I'm curious about Buchmann before his Giro maiden voyage. I do not see him as the team captain here tbh.

At first I thought that Fabbro would also start, but it looks like Bendedetti slipped into the team.
I'm also looking forward to Aleotti. I'm curious to see if he'll start at the Giro despite his young age.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Maybe you need to hope that ASO buys Izulia Basque Country in the near future.

 

[Blanco]

It hardly ever happens that the three top favorites all finish on the podium. Probably at least one other will sneak in. Landa and Chaves will lose time in the time trial, so Mas, Schachmann and Mollema look more likely. I also wonder if Hugh Carthy can confirm his good Vuelta.

What Mas? Did you watched him this year? Also, this short, steep stuff isn't exactly his thing...

 

[tobydawq]

What Mas? Did you watched him this year? Also, this short, steep stuff isn't exactly his thing...

Mas has a teammate which is much more likely to do a good result here, actually.

 

[Blanco]

Mas has a teammate which is much more likely to do a good result here, actually.

Oh yeah. If he has a Valter legs, he will do even better here...