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

[Gregor_Slovenia]

Insane power numbers. From the fottage it seems Roglič far more faster than others on final wall.

 

[Red Rick]

Imagine that Roglic was way faster in that final bit.

 

[JosefK]

I will gladly accept misjudging Vingegaard's ITT prowess today. Good job Maximus Johnnymus.
Could the people who lol'ed across the topic claiming Pogacar was going to tear everything to bits and he was the only one that'd would finish close to Roglic, please check in at the front desk. There are a few faces claiming to have been lost.

I must accept my comeuppance. I was sure Pogacar was going to go megaton-level nuclear, but he looked more like his pre-TDF self today (which is still very good).

 

[Krzysztof_O]

I've read that Pogacar will have the mountain jersey for being the fastest on the first climb. Maybe he started too strong for today's form. Anyway we should witness some agressive rides by him and Yates, hopefully it will be fun to watch.

 

[Escarabajo]

why is team Qhubeka is riding with 6 riders?

I thought Uran was riding this race. Weird. Maybe he prefers the Tour of the Alps.

So Sergio did not start for being in contact with somebody who had covid. His test was negative but he was still pulled out. That was weird.

https://www.revistamundociclistico.com/2021/rigoberto-uran-y-sergio-henao-finalmente-no-tomaron-la-partida-en-la-vuelta-al-pais-vasco/

 

[yaco]

I am interested to see how Pogacar performs after the demanding TA stage race - Some of the leading riders have complained about the brutality of the race and of course have been a touch under their top form - I assume Pogacar should be OK because he's had a break and riding a stage race is different to a one day race.

 

[johnymax]

I've read that Pogacar will have the mountain jersey for being the fastest on the first climb. Maybe he started too strong for today's form. Anyway we should witness some agressive rides by him and Yates, hopefully it will be fun to watch.

He said he maybe started too strong, but it was just a matter of a couple of seconds. They were all close to each other, Pogi, Rogla, McNulty, Vingegaard, Yates. Surprisingly Yates is second in KOM competition despite being "only" 5th at first check point. I thought at first that the KOM line was the same as the check point, but appatently this wasn't the case.

 

[CyclistAbi]

There was this lad, he sat there all day long, had lunch, fiddled with the phone a bit, got bored and took a light walk ... and won.

Cycling must be easy!

 

[CyclistAbi]

Beautiful win by Roglič, JV youngsters surprised too, tactical masterclass by JV.

Hard not to be euphoric about it.

P.S. Tomorrow it starts all over again, first real test for the JV team. Whatever you do just DO NOT isolate Roglič! Mayhem ahead!

 

[Offline]

Kind of nice to see Pogacar a bit like a human again. No-one can win every time. Hope this will give a bit freedom to ride offensive with McNulty and Hirschi.

 

[Sciatic]

I must accept my comeuppance. I was sure Pogacar was going to go megaton-level nuclear, but he looked more like his pre-TDF self today (which is still very good).

I’m thinking about the pretty well accepted maxim that the final TT at the end of a grand tour is a different animal than one at the beginning of a stage race, and tend to show riders who have strong 3rd weeks in addition to TT skills. Not that it explains everything about today’s result, but I think it should be taken into consideration if you’re comparing this result to the PDBF TT.

 

[CyclistAbi]

As for Kirby phenomena, yes he is obviously biased, but he obviously likes cycling.

P.S. Hard to blame him for that.

 

[Bonimenier]

As for Kirby phenomena, yes he is obviously biased, but he obviously likes cycling.

P.S. Hard to blame him for that.

I hate people who like cycling.

 

[CyclistAbi]

My bad, i meant love cycling. As that includes getting burned from time to time too.

P.S. And occasionally you can hear Kirby combusting.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Kind of nice to see Pogacar a bit like a human again. No-one can win every time. Hope this will give a bit freedom to ride offensive with McNulty and Hirschi.

I don't believe such freedom will again be given anytime soon. Up to a point that was done in the past and it was exploited as a weakness.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

First climb Strava segment:

PS: Piccoli finished 2:09 back, so I think he was just going for the fastest climbing time.

So Rodriguez was 16 seconds faster than McNulty over these 2.4 km, but 43 seconds slower over the 4.7km that included it, therefore 59 seconds slower in 2.3 km. That is some inconsistent pacing.

 

[Lequack]

So Rodriguez was 16 seconds faster than McNulty over these 2.4 km, but 43 seconds slower over the 4.7km that included it, therefore 59 seconds slower in 2.3 km. That is some inconsistent pacing.

I've checked the page and Rodriguez' time is not longer up there for some reason. But Pogacar did upload his ride now, so he has the KOM, and also he was fastest officially since he got hte KOM points. So perhaps some errors with Rodriguez' time .

Cagoensos | Strava Ride Segment in Bilbao, Spain

www.strava.com

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Rogla possibly more comfortable downhill.

Loved the gearing data at the start ramp.

This was about as un-technical a descent as you can get in this neck of the woods, however. Wide roads, comparatively simple gradients (it was on a major road) and very few technical corners. More of it to do with power and aero on the downhill I'd anticipate.

 

[Bonimenier]

This was about as un-technical a descent as you can get in this neck of the woods, however. Wide roads, comparatively simple gradients (it was on a major road) and very few technical corners. More of it to do with power and aero on the downhill I'd anticipate.

There was a corner from McNulty on the broadcast where he kind of messed up. He had to break quite hard when several other riders barely lost any speed. It's actually possible he lost the TT right there.

 

[Lequack]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXtbXLr-RhE

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

I must accept my comeuppance. I was sure Pogacar was going to go megaton-level nuclear, but he looked more like his pre-TDF self today (which is still very good).

I was kidding man, i expected Pog to finish 1 or 2 as well. But there've been some people who like to act as if some riders are untouchable gods and all the others are a joke and shouldn't be in the same race, ridiculing the thought of someone possibly putting up a fight.

 

[IndurainsTdF1994]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXtbXLr-RhE

Pogacar and Roglic did race at LBL and the Worlds last year, post TdF.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

So under the weather Pog gets 1900+ m/h of VAM. Not that bad. Judging by his and McNulty's time they will attack in the mountains.

 

[Lequack]

Leading motorbike overcooked it yesterday on a descent

https://twitter.com/x/status/1379145826136645632

View: https://twitter.com/Fauerzaesp/status/1379145826136645632?s=20

 

[CyclistAbi]

Looking at stage 2 there is a large hill at the end. Roglič being a ski jumper, he likely just won't miss such opportunity that present itself.

Pogačar will likely attack, that is whenever he feels he has the legs for it. I sincerely doubt he will wait until stage 6. Yates and Ineos don't have the luxury of letting Roglič to perform that jump. Maybe here JV youngsters will get an opportunity to rest a little.

A lot of bad weather, dangerous descends and hills ahead this week. The real racing basically starts today.