Itzulia Basque Country 2023 (April 3-8)

[KZD]

Fraile with a great leadout for Hayter. I feel that he has not been having a lot of opportunities in Ineos, hope that he can get at least one in his home race. This win should also give a confidence boost to Hayter.

 

[Samamba]

some guys seem to be fairly confident that GC won't be decided on countback in the end:

54 Higuita
56 Uran
57 Landa
69 Bilbao
83 Yates
89 Soler

It might not be the most selective parcours ever, but let's not act like there will never be some differences between the favorites. For example, stage 3 ends on a 1.1km 10% wall. There will be some gaps.

That being said. The countback tiebreaker rule is incredibly stupid and just gives riders more reason to take extra risks in bunch sprints. UCI should absolutely get rid of that rule, just makes bunch sprints in certain - not selective - stage races extra dangerous.

 

[RedheadDane]

Of course it wouldn't be too difficult, I mean, you know how Spanish names work, right?

Yeah, that was my point.

But I'm pretty sure they would never misspell the name of one of the biggest riders in history...

I have no idea what you're talking about.

 

[search]

It might not be the most selective parcours ever, but let's not act like there will never be some differences between the favorites. For example, stage 3 ends on a 1.1km 10% wall. There will be some gaps.

yeah, most likely there will be, but most of the times GC riders participate in sprints even when there's absolutely zero risk of splits and time trial times are going to be taken as the tie breaker anyway - so I was just a bit surprised to see the result, as neither of it is the case here.

 

[search]

Yeah, that was my point.

don't know who is doing the timekeeping for GP Indurain, but many of those companies aren't doing cycling only. So I wouldn't think it's too unlikely they have never heard his name before. That's why they often go with what's in the official database. And also why we got Pierre Roger Latour for years, although that never even was his real name.

And even in Spain just cutting off the 2nd name doesn't always work, like in Ivan Cortina's case.

 

[Rackham]

I think the cat 2 climb which tops out 5km before the finish today is a bit disappointing. It looks really mild:

 

[Valv.Piti]

Whats not disappointing about this race? Honestly, can't remember I have been this indifferent to this race, but maybe it will change when they actually will race some watchable stages.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

I think the cat 2 climb which tops out 5km before the finish today is a bit disappointing. It looks really mild:

Should be a sizeable bunch cresting that one. And then there's a fairly tight roundabout at ~130 metres from the line, which they'll carry a lot of speed into thanks to the descent. Definitely worried about crashes today, it's an irresponsible design IMO.

 

[Rackham]

Should be a sizeable bunch cresting that one. And then there's a fairly tight roundabout at ~130 metres from the line, which they'll carry a lot of speed into thanks to the descent. Definitely worried about crashes today, it's an irresponsible design IMO.

Sure. That's what I was thinking as well. A climb which is more of a false flat than a real climb, followed by a descent finish? That's just asking for trouble.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Kirby keeps calling Skjelmose as Shellmose

For that, Manchester United can be blamed (as they should be, I believe, for at least 73% of the world's ills)

When MUFC signed Ole Gunnar Solskjær in 1996, commentators struggled over the unfamiliar combination of consonants. After a couple of awkwark Match of the Day editions featuring Sol-ska-jay-eer, it became a perceived wisdom that Sol-share was the correct, or at least near enough to be acceptable, solution, and so for 27 years every British male has carried a conviction that they are near fluent in at least that aspect of the Norwegian language.

Have we been wrong all this time? Or is Danish pronunciation different from Norwegian?

 

[QueenStagiaire]

For that, Manchester United can be blamed (as they should be, I believe, for at least 73% of the world's ills)

When MUFC signed Ole Gunnar Solskjær in 1996, commentators struggled over the unfamiliar combination of consonants. After a couple of awkwark Match of the Day editions featuring Sol-ska-jay-eer, it became a perceived wisdom that Sol-share was the correct, or at least near enough to be acceptable, solution, and so for 27 years every British male has carried a conviction that they are near fluent in at least that aspect of the Norwegian language.

Have we been wrong all this time? Or is Danish pronunciation different from Norwegian?

The danish have very different pronunciation

 

[search]

Should be a sizeable bunch cresting that one. And then there's a fairly tight roundabout at ~130 metres from the line, which they'll carry a lot of speed into thanks to the descent. Definitely worried about crashes today, it's an irresponsible design IMO.

I doubt it, the ascent before is hard and narrow, Movistar will probably drop half of the peloton on that trident of climbs already. Would be surprised if it's a big group fighting for the win in the end

As it hasn't been mentioned here yet, as far as I can see: Bilbao is a DNS, by the way

https://twitter.com/x/status/1642962621392363547

View: https://twitter.com/BHRVictorious/status/1642962621392363547

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

The danish have very different pronunciation

Rhod Gilbert would find it difficult to believe you

Link probably won't work outside UK, but it'll show you what episode to search for elsewhere.

 

[RedheadDane]

Situation

• 1
  
  

  1		46	ROMO Javier	0:38
  2		185	EZQUERRA Jesús	0:10
  3		194	BARRENETXEA Jon	6:16
  4		206	GARCÍA PIERNA Carlos	6:18
  5		216	JUARISTI Txomin	6:15
  6		225	JOUSSEAUME Alan	0:10

• P
  
  +5:25

 

[Netserk]

Of course it wouldn't be too difficult, I mean, you know how Spanish names work, right?

Formally, his only surname is Jensen, so it's not equivalent to the Spanish names.

 

[Netserk]

Rhod Gilbert would find it difficult to believe you

Link probably won't work outside UK, but it'll show you what episode to search for elsewhere.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aH-DWK1jg4

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aH-DWK1jg4

Ah, I thought it would at least show the background so that you could trace the episode. QI series N episode 2; Rhod Gilbert refusing to accept any difference between Denmark and Norway, much to the consternation of Sandi Toksvig. If Wales had its own diplomatic channels, Denmark might have broken diplomatic ties. Good fun if you can find it.

 

[search]

Hayter working at the front already now, so Ineos at least doesn't believe in a big sprint. Aberasturi also said that he doesn't expect it. Vendrame said 30 guys maybe

 

[perico]

This has got to be the worst parcours for this race that I can remember, at least in the last decade.

 

[search]

what's so bad about it? It's different, but all stages on from today should see some action in the end at least, and the final one for sure from early on.

 

[CyclistAbi]

With stage profiles like this and considering the field. In a way it's a good thing there is no TT. It's sort of expected Jonas will win this but i don't know. This race should end up being rather open. Personally i wonder on how Carapaz will do. But there is a lot of names on this race capable of surprising if in good form.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

They made the route for Pello Bilbao to win a GCand now he is ill !!

 

[Samamba]

Is that roundabout actually just before the finish lmao?

 

[nightowl]

I worry that none of the stages are hard enough to justify a lot of action from the GC contenders before the last stage. That might make for an epic last day but could also make the rest of the week uncharacteristically dull. Really hoping I’m wrong though

 

[Aimar16]

Carapaz

now Landa 47km solo