Itzulia Basque Country 2022 April 4-9

[Red Rick]

I'm gonna have to update my list of better climbers than Roglic.

Clearly need to add some 30 odd names.

 

[JosefK]

The Tour is 3 months away. It's ok to not always be at 100% in prep races.
Also, the GC situation is now very open before the most demanding stage. Jumbo doesn't have the jersey and can go all out tomorrow. Yes, they don't look particularly good atm but things can change quickly in cycling so who knows?

Nibali in 2014 didn't look so great in the spring before the Tour, but he was dominant at the TDF that year (after Froome and Berto crashed out).

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Seriously vingegaard is an idiot

 

[Samamba]

Evenepoel second best on the finish climb. Well, we'll never know if Vingo and Vlasov were better.

They were overtaking him just before they crashed so I doubt it. Anyways a positive sign. Don't think he'll be able to hold on to that yellow jersey tomorrow but he's definitely in for a realy good result.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Vingegaard stopping just before the finish in confusion over what the white line was.

 

[ppanther92]

I really hope this is just a change in training strategy for Rogla to be ready for the TDF, if not he really is declining

I think his chances for sure do not become larger to finally win a Tour. Intuitively I would say he is already very slightly declining and Pogacar is only getting better. And he was already the lesser cyclist before. But I mean still great career as late starter. Not everyone can be a Tour winner.

 

[JosefK]

Pogi sitting on his sofa, watching and laughing.

 

[tobydawq]

I'm gonna have to update my list of better climbers than Roglic.

Clearly need to add some 30 odd names.

Maybe Van Aert passes him and gets into the fabled top 50?

 

[Rollthedice]

In the space of a few days Roglic has declined. For others it takes years.

 

[Vesica]

Hahaha Cycling 101 by Rodriguez. That was one hell of a stupid performance by Soler.

did Eurosport just cut off the images of V + V crash?

 

[Eeslliw]

I really hope this is just a change in training strategy for Rogla to be ready for the TDF, if not he really is declining

I think he lost some of the recovery capabilities (age...). I don't think training can solve that.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

The Tour is 3 months away. It's ok to not always be at 100% in prep races.
Also, the GC situation is now very open before the most demanding stage. Jumbo doesn't have the jersey and can go all out tomorrow. Yes, they don't look particularly good atm but things can change quickly in cycling so who knows?

It's also normal for riders to become less strong with age in week-long stage races while their GT level stays high. Every year Froome was a bit weaker in the Tour build-up, every year people questioned whether this was the year and every year it wasn't. You can substitute Froome for a bunch of other great riders here.

 

[Red Rick]

Roglic laughing during interview. What a guy.

 

[Eclipse]

I really hope this is just a change in training strategy for Rogla to be ready for the TDF, if not he really is declining

Is the most likely explanation not simply that he's just another rider picking up a bit of a spring bug?

 

[Pirazziattacks]

In the space of a few days Roglic has declined. For others it takes years.

Yeah well who had he stomped lately? No one, clearly over the hill.

 

[Red Rick]

Maybe Van Aert passes him and gets into the fabled top 50?

I only make that list during Olympic years.

 

[Eeslliw]

Pogi sitting on his sofa, watching and laughing.

Do you really think he was worried before?

 

[titan31]

I honestly don't think Roglic tried there. He didn't look tired at all or that he was struggling on that final climb. There were others who looked like they were fighting their bike and Roglic looked comfortable imo.

 

[Faserr]

Tomorrow could be a really good stage. Evenepoel will suffer on the steep climbs and Quick-Step doesn't have the best team. Ineos is going strong.
I think they will really ride aggressiv nearly the whole stage and it will be a brutal battle. Evenepoel was really strong today, but it chould be a disadvantage that he's in yellow after todow.

 

[Red Rick]

I honestly don't think Roglic tried there. He didn't look tired at all or that he was struggling on that final climb. There were others who looked like they were fighting their bike and Roglic looked comfortable imo.

Roglic just got boxed in 15 times today.

It is officially canon.

 

[ppanther92]

What GT is Martinez doing this year? Looks really good.

 

[JosefK]

In the space of a few days Roglic has declined. For others it takes years.

It's been ages since he's even won a stage. Career in tatters!

 

[gunara]

Mas did lots of work in that group, right?
I mean for his extremely low standard, which doesn't have to be much at all.

 

[Phillip O'Garner]

What GT is Martinez doing this year? Looks really good.

TDF apparently.

 

[Carrick-On-Seine]

Have GCN no

Maybe Van Aert passes him and gets into the fabled top 50?

Incoming press conference about three leaders at Le Tour.