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

[JosefK]

Pogi looks really strong, too.

 

[Gigs_98]

Otoh we never see proper mid-mountain stages at the Tour. So by extent also no good short mid-mountain stages.

Fair enough. Anyway, don't want to open this discussion once again, I think it has been discussed to death already. But the constant narrative that making stages shorter is the easy solution to all the tours problems just annoys me.

 

[BlueRoads]

That worked out as well as possible for JV, and about as badly as possible for UAE. Although I also think Pogacar was a little bit below his best.

You think he wasn't amazing? He was in front for about 60k and most guys who just followed couldn't hang on.

 

[Alexandre B.]

Obvious deal between Roglic and Gaudu was obvious.

Hey, @Alexandre B. aren't you happy to know that France now has more wins in all than Denmark has WT wins?

A sight of relief.

 

[Broccolidwarf]

What a breakthrough season for Vingegaard.

First WT win at the UAE Tour.
2 wins and the overall win at Coppi e Bartali
2nd overall and winner of the youth jersey (ahead of Pogacar) today.

 

[Vasilis]

Roglic gifts wins if the other rider gives him a hand. I said that when the Mader debacle happened and was confirmed today.

Yeah well wasn't saying there was anything wrong with it, but it still looks like a contrast and feels like a way to shut up the haters.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

This would've been a spectacular warmup for tomorrow, but...

but the opening stage of the Tour of Turkey has been snowed off...

 

[Gigs_98]

On another note, if Roglic had blown up on Arrate like Carthy did he would have lost the race. This race was actually far from over before the final climb.

 

[BlueRoads]

What a breakthrough season for Vingegaard.

First WT win at the UAE Tour.
2 wins and the overall win at Coppi e Bartali
2nd overall today.

It really is a breakthrough season for him and I'm happy, but your obsession with the Danish riders while not caring for anybody else is insane. If someone's born 15 k across the border he's suddenly less interesting?

 

[HelloDolly]

Why? It wouldn't have improved Bilbao's GC standing.

Well

1. You dont know that until the race is over

2. Pello lost one place by a second

3. He was lying in 3rd Landa could have helped him by not going to the front and pushing on when he was behind the 2nd goup and also helping him stay with 2nd goup later...but nothing

Bahrain had a guy on the podium and didnt ride to keep that place at all

 

[TourOfSardinia]

GC

The first time Roglic had to really work for his GC win.
Respect I guess.

 

[Broccolidwarf]

It really is a breakthrough season for him and I'm happy, but your obsession with the Danish riders while not caring for anybody else is insane. If someone's born 15 k across the border he's suddenly less interesting?

Feel free to use the built-in ignore function on the board buddy

 

[Red Rick]

Fair enough. Anyway, don't want to open this discussion once again, I think it has been discussed to death already. But the constant narrative that making stages shorter is the easy solution to all the tours problems just annoys me.

Good high mountain short stages would simply go start > HC > cat 2 > cat 2 and it would be carnage.

 

[Netserk]

Basque country is very lucky that there isn't corona over there.

No documented super-spreading event outdoors yet, afaik. Far better to gather outside and then keep your distance indoors.

 

[Cinemaniak]

Not sure I've ever seen a stage race of this quality where one team ends up finishing first and second on GC.

Catalunya '21 with INEOS 1-2-3

 

[IndurainsTdF1994]

Catalunya '21 with INEOS 1-2-3

"this quality"

 

[Devil's Elbow]

"this quality"

I guess he misinterpreted quality as referring to the startlist. Which is also my fault tbf.

 

[Netserk]

He freely worked for Roglic's GC on Arrate. Fair share of the work, fair share of the honours.

And his own GC.

 

[Speadge]

Again? What Mäder did for him? Situation isn't even remotely similar. Gaudu this gift earned.

Roglic wants to look nice after beating Mäder

 

[BlueRoads]

Feel free to use the built-in ignore function on the board buddy

I usually don't do that.

Instead I'm still dreaming of a world where Danes cheer for Slovenians, Slovenians for Frenchmen, Frenchmen for Colombians and Colombians for Belgians. But sometimes in this forum I'm losing hope.

 

[Netserk]

It really is a breakthrough season for him and I'm happy, but your obsession with the Danish riders while not caring for anybody else is insane. If someone's born 15 k across the border he's suddenly less interesting?

While I find it lame too, it's a bit meaningless to reduce it to arbitrary geography. A Dane from Southern Slesvig would of course be cheered on too.

 

[Sciatic]

but the opening stage of the Tour of Turkey has been snowed off...

Stop with spoilers

 

[TourOfSardinia]

but the opening stage of the Tour of Turkey has been snowed off...

I guess that's why they do the cool down

 

[Netserk]

The moment the race was lost:

I take it the Ineos rider that let the gap go is Yates? (with Vingegaard on his wheel).

 

[Luthor]

Last stage in a race is never boring with Roglic in the mix.