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

[Pinot's goat]

I think Yates is a little bit over his peak form. Still good enough for top 5, though.

Where did Higuita and Carapaz finally end?

Yates often fades in the third week of grand tours so maybe two one week races in three weeks is a little too much for him to keep his god tier one week race form, similar happened in 2019 when he was not as good at Itzulia as he had been at Volta/Tirreno.

 

[Pinot's goat]

Higuita 11 @ 0:20
Carapaz 28 @ 1:22

I would not read too much into Carapaz time here. I am certain he will drop 80% of the people ahead of him in this race come the Tour time.

I think Carapaz will be the guy at the Tour who can get closest to the Slovenians.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Aru 22nd, 1.03 down, ahead of Mas, G. Martin and Carapaz (looks like he really blew up after they caught him), that's a lot better than I expected.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

I think Carapaz will be the guy at the Tour who can get closest to the Slovenians.

I would say the same if not for flat TTs. The route suits Thomas better (if he manages to reach his best form that is).

 

[Froome]

I would say the same if not for flat TTs. The route suits Thomas better (if he manages to reach his best form that is).

Thomas can reach the best form, but it will not be enough to beat roglic or pogacar. They're in another level. Just remco in the future or the old froome can fight with pogi and roglic.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Thomas can reach the best form, but it will not be enough to beat roglic or pogacar. They're in another level. Just remco in the future or the old froome can fight with pogi and roglic.

It's about who can get closest to the Slovenians (not beat them) and Thomas is a good candidate for that (but with his form you never know, a few beers here and there can make a difference).

 

[Strawberry_Jams]

Yates often fades in the third week of grand tours so maybe two one week races in three weeks is a little too much for him to keep his god tier one week race form, similar happened in 2019 when he was not as good at Itzulia as he had been at Volta/Tirreno.

If you look at the overall results in 2019, that is the conclusion you'll come to, but he won the last stage in the Basque Country and he lost time due to a puncture in the gravel roads, so could have easily won if it wasn't for that.

 

[johnymax]

Yes, we did. Every time Pogacar withdrew his efforts, riders from behind came back because Roglic wasn't willing to contribute.

Well of course he eased up a bit, but he was always taking turns when Pogačar moved from the front. You think it was an easy think to do to follow those Pogi's attacks? Pogacar wanted to get rid of Roglic, that's why he pushed as hard as he could. He couldn' drop Rogla, but both were on the limit. Also I get the feeling Roglic can't sustain a crazy pace for as long as Pogačar. A bit like MvdP vs WvA.

 

[topt]

Yes, we did. Every time Pogacar withdrew his efforts, riders from behind came back because Roglic wasn't willing to contribute.

contribute what ? there is no drafing on 20% climb, roglic had to do the same power as pogacar, doesnt matter who was infront, it was pogacar attacking roglic covering

 

[Koronin]

Why did Valverde stop there ...eh still has legs...was he nullified cos he was on the front and didnt know what to do ??

This is unfortunately the evidence of age finally catching up with him. 2017/2018 Valverde wins the stage. On the other hand, the fact that he is still that close is a good sign for him.

 

[topt]

Our Slovenian duo Pog and Rog is just 10 levels above others. Tactic games between them, so small gaps to others. But this is so great. Winter dreams are becoming reality again.

please stop embarrassing our country here

 

[Red Rick]

please stop embarrassing our country here

Well they are almost doing track stands and still finishing 1/2

 

[IndianCyclist]

Now the real question is who will "win" third place in the TDF

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Now the real question is who will "win" third place in the TDF

A lot can happen in the meantime, i.e injuries, falls etc. I remember the forum hyping so much Contador vs Froome duel at the Tour'14 (it was called "Alien vs Predator" here) and look what happened.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Maybe that's it! He's like Benjamin Button; constantly grows younger.

This actually makes a lot of sense. It would mean that he's regressing because he is now entering his teens.

 

[johnymax]

please stop embarrassing our country here

Why is he embarrassing the country by expressing his view? He is embarrassing himself, if you think it's embarrassing what he has to say. But he might be onto something here. If one level is half a second, then 10 levels would be 5 seconds, which is exactly the gap Rogla and Pogi had on Valverde & Co. It's all maths.

 

[Blanco]

Why did Valverde stop there ...eh still has legs...was he nullified cos he was on the front and didnt know what to do ??

Well, 128 times he did know what to do, more than all this guys together

 

[BlueRoads]

There's no denying Pogacar and Roglic are a good deal better than the others. However I wonder why you have to bring "our Slovenians" into the sentence, but okay.

 

[Fernandez]

He couldn't sustain the effort until the finish, so he took a breather for a couple of seconds and then used the last bit of his sprint to get 3rd.

Clearly

 

[ice&fire]

Why did Valverde stop there ...eh still has legs...was he nullified cos he was on the front and didnt know what to do ??

Age is catching up him. He's forgotten what to do to win.

 

[Fernandez]

Age is catching up him. He's forgotten what to do to win.

So he is that old that he is even loosing memory?

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

please stop embarrassing our country here

Sorry. He meant 20 levels.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Vansevenant and Van Wilder doing well. Completely expected this from Van Wilder, but Vansevenant is really surprising me this year. Now 10th and 15th in GC.

 

[ice&fire]

So he is that old that he is even loosing memory?

As long as he doesn't lose the way to the finish is all well

 

[IndurainsTdF1994]

A lot can happen in the meantime, i.e injuries, falls etc. I remember the forum hyping so much Contador vs Froome duel at the Tour'14 (it was called "Alien vs Predator" here) and look what happened.

It's tough to imagine that they can sustain this crazy level until July, and that others won't improve. There must be dips in form, the only question is the timing, to say the obvious.

And remember that the length of a stage race is a real factor for Roglic. And that Pog doesn't have a team for a 3-week GT (though some of them might win a stage or two). This latter fact should be more relevant this year than last, when he apparently wasn't considered to be a threat by Roglic.