Itzulia Basque Country 2024, April 1-6

Page 24 - Get up to date with the latest news, scores & standings from the Cycling News Community.
Aug 10, 2023
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Definitely a pleasant surprise for Roglic! The only downer is that we have to listen to Carlton Kirby the whole week. He is the worst, even though he can call an exciting finish.
 
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Nice pic

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So cograts to Primoz, I didn't expect him to be that strong! So what's next? Wheelsucking Fatco & Skeletor and stomping them at the end? :D
Haha. Fatco & Skeletor!! I really want to see Remco get away for an epic long solo, with group 2 dynamics, but I think he should save it for TDF. Maybe teaming up with Pogi. After all how many times have we seen Roglic and Vinge refuse to work with the others after a gap is created.
 
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Not too much conclusions from this first ITT. Roglics as some people said is very good in this kinf of ITT, Evenepoel is no technical and Vingegaard is a climber, no so good for an ITT so explosive as a firts stage, other thing is the last stage.

But there is a fact, Roglic has an important advantage to manage and the possibility of bonus, becouse he has a good sprint comparing his rivals.

The situation is perfect to see a great race, becouse Evenepoel, with Landa helping and Vingegaard will try to get time and in the case pof Remco maybe every day. Vingegaard maybe need to win at Eibar like last year, from far, but this year more difficult. he is the best GC rider today but to make that is these kind of climbs to people as Remco or Roglic no so easy. Of course with another parcours no doubtgs, this is for Vibgegaard, but at the Itzulia he needs something too magic to win. with a typical final ar Arrate would be possible just a 3 km attack, but now no.
.We have anothe ambitious riders as Ayuso, Vine, Skjelmose and stages which invited to attack form the favourites from far, so, let to enjoy!
I was close to be today at Irun, nice day to be oon the road, but I hope to be on friday at the start and on Saturday queen stage in one climb supporting them.
 
on pidcock:
"I crashed in the recon this morning, the wind took me out in a corner on the circuit and I hit my hip really hard, and it can't bear weight at all," Pidcock said in an announcement.
"I'm going home now. I had some scans and they didn't show anything but we'll keep looking over the next few days because it doesn't feel very nice."
this sounds exactly the same as when I had a hairline fracture on my femur (greater trochanter) after a silly MTB fall. X-rays did not show any problem, only MRI would have shown a problem... as per the ortho, anyway, as I never opted for the MRI. It took exactly 6 weeks to heal, as fractures do.
 
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I see him as the old king that has seen the holy trinity pass him, for now. The old king might reclaim his throne, while there is a pretender that keeps lurking around in the dark wanting to be viewed in the same light as the others. Waving for justice and wanting to give pizza to everyone, but only the unfaithful can be blinded by this illusion. This mirage has sent many into banishment of the premises, but once bitten there is no cure and they keep coming back.

Then there is the sixth one. A noble knight. He is always mentioned and touted to win in the big races, but never does. He fights, but often falls on his own sword.

Who will be seventh wonder, you may ask? I do not know the answer to this question, but the one who seeks will find him. That is all for now.
Trinity?
 
Haha. Fatco & Skeletor!! I really want to see Remco get away for an epic long solo, with group 2 dynamics, but I think he should save it for TDF. Maybe teaming up with Pogi. After all how many times have we seen Roglic and Vinge refuse to work with the others after a gap is created.
Haha. Two posts and you completely reveal you drink all the Kool-aid.
For the record; each time either of those wo have created a gap and backed off of work late in a race it was so they could cross the line with a gap to the sucker that pulled. They would both turn inside out to close on Remco if their teams had exhausted themselves.

PS: Scribers provide your first "like". He hates wheelsuckers.
 
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Lol, I'm only just now catching up with yesterday's action and results. Roglic and Remco sure know how to keep making races about them/their rivalry, even when Vingegaard and other Ayuso's are in the race.

Even when crashing/taking a wrong turn, they both still comfortably beat Vingegaard and Ayuso. Both the crashing and detour were their own fault but they would have been head and shoulders above the rest without those incidents.

Also today, they'll probably be in the mix in the sprint.

I think it's clear that without the crash Remco would have been in the lead at the intermediate time check (top of the climb) but I also think he would have narrowly lost out in the second part because Roglic' second part (without detour) was insanely strong.

I'm curious how Roglic will race now and who he will focus on because he probably can't counter every attack. I think he might still focus on Remco and gamble that Remco will always try to counter Vingegaard and/or the UAE guys himself (which probably is a pretty safe bet).
 
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Lol, I'm only just now catching up with yesterday's action and results. Roglic and Remco sure know how to keep making races about them/their rivalry, even when Vingegaard and other Ayuso's are in the race.

Even when crashing/taking a wrong turn, they both still comfortably beat Vingegaard and Ayuso. Both the crashing and detour were their own fault but they would have been head and shoulders above the rest without those incidents.

Also today, they'll probably be in the mix in the sprint.

I think it's clear that without the crash Remco would have been in the lead at the intermediate time check (top of the climb) but I also think he would have narrowly lost out in the second part because Roglic' second part (without detour) was insanely strong.

I'm curious how Roglic will race now and who he will focus on because he probably can't counter every attack. I think he might still focus on Remco and gamble that Remco will always try to counter Vingegaard and/or the UAE guys himself (which probably is a pretty safe bet).
I think he will focus on his nemesis - and that's not Remco. No disrespect to the guy, but I bet Rogla doesn't care that much about him yet, whereas Vingegaard... I imagine him and Lev playing darts using Vinge's photo
 
Are there two time bonus/sprints tomorrow, plus one at the finish?
According to the Roadbook (available here) - all the stage details etc. rules in French, Spanish and English.
ARTICLE 7. BONUSES
Bonuses will be awarded at the finish of all stages except the individual
time trial in stage one, with 10 seconds for the first-place finisher, 6 for
the second and 4 for the third.
Also in the stages, bonuses of 3, 2 and 1 second(s) will be awarded in
intermediate sprints to the first three riders to pass through the relevant points.

So, stage 2 has a sprint just 8,7 km from the finish, so that might tempt someone. The last 2 km are uphill too.
 
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