Itzulia Basque Country 2023 (April 3-8)

[Didinho]

Meh Landa sadly seemed done, Vingegaard barely sprinted.
Side note: massive joke how the chasing group had a motor in front of them the whole descent. I know it often kept a reasonable distance but at +70km/h that still has an impact not to mention the advantage of direct visualization how the curves are shaped.

There was also one in front of the front duo for a lot of the descent. It was even one with a photographer, while the broadcast camera was behind them.

 

[Escarabajo]

Landa LOL. First helping, then on Vingo's wheel and at the end couldn't sprint a fat guy in sandals

 

[Andy schleck]

I am trying really hard, but even the most simple things about Vingegaard annoy me.

I like the guy. He is a offensive rider and it appears to be a humble, discrete, a guy with a small ego.

 

[yaco]

Don't think Yates will aim for Down Under again next year. He has been looking meeh since he came back to Europe.

I am not overly concerned as he's riding the TDF - When he lost rode the TDU he ended third in Poland, won Tirreno and had to withdraw from the Giro with COVID.

 

[Berflamand]

Mauro Schmid has four 2nd places and two 3rd places so far this season. He did win the general classification of the Settimana Coppi e Bartali but he's due a win on the road.

 

[yaco]

Everyone going on about Ineos and EF but Jayco have hardly being going great

Jayco has been riding and they have two riders in the top 10 in GC - Sobrero is riding above expectations, although he may struggle in stage 6, while Yates is just going.

 

[JosefK]

Despite the disappointing lack of a sprint at the end, Landa looked very good. Climbing as well as Vingo and descending very well ... maybe a chance to climb a little better even if the right circumstances prevail.

 

[DNP-Old]

I like the guy. He is a offensive rider and it appears to be a humble, discrete, a guy with a small ego.

To each their own.

 

[Andy schleck]

Landa saw that he didn't put time to Vinegaard and that the gap was coming down from behind. So he stopped pulling to save the legs for the coming days, smart rider.

Your sense of humor is awesome Ilmaestro.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Jayco has been riding and they have two riders in the top 10 in GC - Sobrero is riding above expectations, although he may struggle in stage 6, while Yates is just going.

10min efforts are in the cards for Sobrero, long climbs are his weakness.
Given his wins in the italian u23 one day races I'd send him to ride lbl.

Gall once again up there in this race, great news.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Your sense of humor is awesome Ilmaestro.

Pantani of the aliexpress was pretty funny to me as Landa fan

 

[entre nous]

Landa should have sat at the top let the group come back and limit the loss?

 

[yaco]

10min efforts are in the cards for Sobrero, long climbs are his weakness.
Given his wins in the italian u23 one day races I'd send him to ride lbl.

Gall once again up there in this race, great news.

Sobrero is going to the Giro, so there is a chance he could ride LBL - Will say that Jayco is poor at placing their riders in suitable races.

 

[theyoungest]

I am trying really hard, but even the most simple things about Vingegaard annoy me.

The main thing being that he rides for Jumbo, of course.

Despite the disappointing lack of a sprint at the end, Landa looked very good. Climbing as well as Vingo and descending very well ... maybe a chance to climb a little better even if the right circumstances prevail.

I think the Vingegaard we're seeing now is a lot better than the one in Paris-Nice, so for Landa to basically be at the same level is quite impressive. I don't know how he messed up that finish though, should have taken that corner first.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Sobrero is going to the Giro, so there is a chance he could ride LBL - Will say that Jayco is poor at placing their riders in suitable races.

The guy was doing 7 w/kg for 10min in the Tour of Slovenia 2 years ago, when he finished with Pogacar and Ulissi on that garage ramp. In top shape he's great on short, steep climb and a really good tter. If this race had one he could finish even higher on the gc.

 

[Valv.Piti]

In this edition, I quite like the no TT. If there had been one, there was no reason for Vingegaard to try to put time into everyone.

Tomorrow looks like a very solid stage, should be better than the other muro-day

 

[DNP-Old]

The main thing being that he rides for Jumbo, of course.

You assumed, and you assumed wrong. Do not assume.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Landa was quite a ways back when he started that bridge

The sensations are good, he never could sprint anyway

 

[theyoungest]

You assumed, and you assumed wrong. Do not assume.

Sorry, should have added the smiley. Of course I know you love that team.

Landa was quite a ways back when he started that bridge

The sensations are good, he never could sprint anyway

Maybe not, but this was a sprint he could have won, especially sitting on the wheel for 2 k.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Positive surprises so far are Landa and that no one team can really impose itself on the race. Should make for an interesting final stage at least.

 

[Extinction]

Landa made the fatal mistake of trying to pass right on the barriers, when he should have accellerated left, which may have netted him the win.

 

[Red Rick]

Gaudu and Mas have been underwhelming so far.

 

[Rackham]

Gaudu and Mas have been underwhelming so far.

Gaudu is going in the wrong direction form wise. He's supposed to build on Paris-Nice, not go backwards. No idea what's up with him.

It was a fun finale IMO. Vinge very strong, Landa almost just seemed happy to be on his wheel & Quick-Step was doing all the work behind them on the descent whilst the others looked like they were on a cyclotourisme ride doing diddly-squat.

 

[search]

Gaudu is going in the wrong direction form wise. He's supposed to build on Paris-Nice, not go backwards. No idea what's up with him.

he was sick after Paris-Nice, so probably lost a bit there. Main goal are also the Ardennes for this part of the year, and not Itzulia

 

[Rackham]

he was sick after Paris-Nice, so probably lost a bit there. Main goal are also the Ardennes for this part of the year, and not Itzulia

I don't believe that (the main goal part).

His main, main goal is the TdF. They're desperate for it (Gaudu, his team & France itself). Itzulia is an opportunity to win a WT stage race against the winner of last year's TdF whom Gaudu beat just one month ago.

The Ardennes? Okay, good luck against the likes of Pogacar & Evenepoel.