Itzulia Basque Country 2024, April 1-6

[kn0s]

Any news of Skjelmose, did he crash or just hold up by the crash? He was standing with his bike

 

[Slavique Nuke]

Pogacar is currently training like a monk at Sierra Nevada

I'm sure his girlfriend is there with him

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Any news of Skjelmose, did he crash or just hold up by the crash? He was standing with his bike

https://twitter.com/x/status/1775547693479211096

View: https://twitter.com/LidlTrek/status/1775547693479211096

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Let's see if he's still in good spirits tomorrow, because he doesn't have a fat ass at all, and if he actually did go down hard, i hope for his sake it won't impede his efforts the rest of the week.

 

[Brullnux]

Let's see if he's still in good spirits tomorrow, because he doesn't have a fat ass at all, and if he actually did go down hard, i hope for his sake it won't impede his efforts the rest of the week.

Mr fat ass adjudicator over here

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Pogacar is currently training like a monk at Sierra Nevada , and Fausto is currently training like a monk at Etna. We are due for a serious battle finally.

A Coppi comeback would be big, if true.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Let's see if he's still in good spirits tomorrow, because he doesn't have a fat ass at all, and if he actually did go down hard, i hope for his sake it won't impede his efforts the rest of the week.

Sir Mix-a-Lot: "Baby got back."
Logic-is-your-friend: "Well, actually that's not true..."

 

[Tim Cahill]

Let's see if he's still in good spirits tomorrow, because he doesn't have a fat ass at all, and if he actually did go down hard, i hope for his sake it won't impede his efforts the rest of the week.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

So will Vingo try something tomorrow? I'm curious to see what happens if someone actually holds his wheel (Rogla or Remco) as it happens rarely. Remember last TdF? After Cauterets loss Vingo was afraid to set the pace while Pog on his wheel, which resulted in no cooperation between the two. Will it be similar here or will he try to kill everyone with his relentless tempo confident in his superiority over the rest? (it's more like a question for Saturday).

 

[Netserk]

So will Vingo try something tomorrow? I'm curious to see what happens if someone actually holds his wheel (Rogla or Remco) as it happens rarely. Remember last TdF? After Cauterets loss Vingo was afraid to set the pace while Pog on his wheel, which resulted in no cooperation between the two. Will it be similar here or will he try to kill everyone with his relentless tempo confident in his superiority over the rest? (it's more like a question for Saturday).

He shouldn't fear any counters if he paces himself decently, so might as well test the others.

 

[Froome]

So will Vingo try something tomorrow? I'm curious to see what happens if someone actually holds his wheel (Rogla or Remco) as it happens rarely. Remember last TdF? After Cauterets loss Vingo was afraid to set the pace while Pog on his wheel, which resulted in no cooperation between the two. Will it be similar here or will he try to kill everyone with his relentless tempo confident in his superiority over the rest? (it's more like a question for Saturday).

I think the two previous climbs will be more important if Vingegaard has ambitions for tomorrow.

If Vingegaard wants to make differences in the last climb, Visma needs to make the race hard, especially in the two previous climbs, to cause fatigue and just allow a restrit group of 20/25 riders in the beginning of the last climb.

 

[Didinho]

I think Gatzaga will be hard enough to make a difference. But still 10km to the finish. If Vingo is better on the steep 2km section he will just solo to victory.

 

[Nick2413]

So what is the outlook on this Vauquelin guy? And will Skjelmose be strong enough to threaten or even hold off the rest?

 

[Offline]

So will Vingo try something tomorrow? I'm curious to see what happens if someone actually holds his wheel (Rogla or Remco) as it happens rarely. Remember last TdF? After Cauterets loss Vingo was afraid to set the pace while Pog on his wheel, which resulted in no cooperation between the two. Will it be similar here or will he try to kill everyone with his relentless tempo confident in his superiority over the rest? (it's more like a question for Saturday).

He would be stupid not to try after Ayuso and Roglic crashed today and forsure can't be on 100% tomorrow.
Vingegaard are winning solo tomorrow.

 

[saunaking]

All I hear CK talking about constantly for the last 3 days is Hayter. Getting to be a meme at this point

At least he can recognize him!!

 

[saunaking]

Because it's cycling. Should the race stop after every crash? Ridiculous. It has never been so. Racing is racing and crashes are part of it, you race on. Now, if the peloton deems it just to not go full gas after a crash to let the race leader back in the bunch, then it's only because of a contemporary sense of "fair play," but it's not been historically the case.

I don't know what you're talking about. For at least 20 years it has been customary to 'wait' for a fallen GC leader.
Are you talking about the 1960s?? I have no clue what happened back then

edited to add - No the race 'should' not stop after every crash. The beauty of cycling is the group decides to slow or not depending on many factors. And if you have seen these recent podium circle-jerks you would expect a stop in racing anytime anybody falls lol.

 

[red_flanders]

I don't know what you're talking about. For at least 20 years it has been customary to 'wait' for a fallen GC leader.
Are you talking about the 1960s?? I have no clue what happened back then

You're right, it has been that way for about the last 20 years. But I have the same perspective as @Extinction. Attacking in feed zones, nature breaks, and some other times has always been frowned upon, and while I think not attacking the yellow jersey was also, it didn't feel like it does now. It felt a lot more cutthroat in the 80s and 90s anyway. Ciapucci would attack in tunnels, feed zones, etc. Pissed people off but there was no penalty, he kept doing it.

But this idea that you wait for a competitor who crashed his own damn self into a ravine was...let's call it "new". And that was either Lance at best trying to be magnanimous, and at worst totally playing head games with Ullrich. I'll let you catch up and destroy you again kinda thing.

Then everyone else got it in their head that you can't attack here, you can't attack there, you always have to wait for the yellow jersey, chaingate, more whining, lots of clutching of pearls, etc, etc.

Today's action I think was more the old school, where the group waited for a race leader in a race where the stakes aren't that high, and he might not have been at fault. I think that's the right thing. But if a rider crashes on a descent (or similar) 'cause they were under pressure? Tough. Pour it on and eliminate them from the race. You attack in yellow and your chain drops? Seeya. Shite happens.

 

[Gargamel35]

I don't know what you're talking about. For at least 20 years it has been customary to 'wait' for a fallen GC leader.
Are you talking about the 1960s?? I have no clue what happened back then

edited to add - No the race 'should' not stop after every crash. The beauty of cycling is the group decides to slow or not depending on many factors. And if you have seen these recent podium circle-jerks you would expect a stop in racing anytime anybody falls lol.

I'm also sure group would wait for Remco or Vingegaard if they would crash (and not even wearing leader jersey). It's a respect towards top guys in the sport.

 

[tobydawq]

Any updates on Ayuso?

 

[Gargamel35]

Any updates on Ayuso?

"He has suffered abrasions to his left arm & bruises to hip but thankfully no other significant injury or concussion"

 

[saunaking]

You're right, it has been that way for about the last 20 years. But I have the same perspective as @Extinction. Attacking in feed zones, nature breaks, and some other times has always been frowned upon, and while I think not attacking the yellow jersey was also, it didn't feel like it does now. It felt a lot more cutthroat in the 80s and 90s anyway. Ciapucci would attack in tunnels, feed zones, etc. Pissed people off but there was no penalty, he kept doing it.

But this idea that you wait for a competitor who crashed his own damn self into a ravine was...let's call it "new". And that was either Lance at best trying to be magnanimous, and at worst totally playing head games with Ullrich. I'll let you catch up and destroy you again kinda thing.

Then everyone else got it in their head that you can't attack here, you can't attack there, you always have to wait for the yellow jersey, chaingate, more whining, lots of clutching of pearls, etc, etc.

Today's action I think was more the old school, where the group waited for a race leader in a race where the stakes aren't that high, and he might not have been at fault. I think that's the right thing. But if a rider crashes on a descent (or similar) 'cause they were under pressure? Tough. Pour it on and eliminate them from the race. You attack in yellow and your chain drops? Seeya. Shite happens.

I appreciate the insight and some historical examples. But I'd be interested to hear about attacking a GC leader when they crash. I'm not talking about the feedzone, tunnel and other traditionally frowned upon times. I keep waiting for Healy to do this and I would support it. I am 100% on Contadors side regarding chaingate. Its not attacking someone who is physically incapable of responding.

Its a tricky situation. In my opinion there are cases where Niabali 'attacks' a fallen Kruiswick, but in my mind, NiIbali put him under pressure purposely and it worked, so of course he should continue. I only followed this sport since the late 90s and one of the reasons I love it is these strange traditions.

While Jonas waited for Tadej after his crash, Jonas would have been correct to continue since Jonas had Tadej under pressure from dropping him in previous stages.

Like you say - this was a situation with low stakes and the decision was made to wait.

 

[houtdffan]

I appreciate the insight and some historical examples. But I'd be interested to hear about attacking a GC leader when they crash. I'm not talking about the feedzone, tunnel and other traditionally frowned upon times. I keep waiting for Healy to do this and I would support it. I am 100% on Contadors side regarding chaingate. Its not attacking someone who is physically incapable of responding.

Its a tricky situation. In my opinion there are cases where Niabali 'attacks' a fallen Kruiswick, but in my mind, NiIbali put him under pressure purposely and it worked, so of course he should continue. I only followed this sport since the late 90s and one of the reasons I love it is these strange traditions.

A mechanical? Yeah, they should wait. A crash? That usually is the rider's own damn fault

Rog should have been farther front in the peloton.

Princess Primrose Roglic deserved to lose 5 minutes today

 

[saunaking]

A mechanical? Yeah, they should wait. A crash? That usually is the rider's own damn fault

Rog should have been farther front in the peloton.

Princess Primrose Roglic deserved to lose 5 minutes today

You're wrong - what do you mean he deserved to lose 5 minutes? Who decides what he 'deserves'? The peloton of course.
I am not saying the peloton HAD to wait. I am saying its good that they did, they took a decision based on a bunch of factors and waited.
If Trek would have lit it up and kept a gap, I wouldn't be mad, just SUPER interested in the dynamics and future repercussions.

 

[red_flanders]

I appreciate the insight and some historical examples. But I'd be interested to hear about attacking a GC leader when they crash. I'm not talking about the feedzone, tunnel and other traditionally frowned upon times. I keep waiting for Healy to do this and I would support it. I am 100% on Contadors side regarding chaingate. Its not attacking someone who is physically incapable of responding.

Its a tricky situation. In my opinion there are cases where Niabali 'attacks' a fallen Kruiswick, but in my mind, NiIbali put him under pressure purposely and it worked, so of course he should continue. I only followed this sport since the late 90s and one of the reasons I love it is these strange traditions.

While Jonas waited for Tadej after his crash, Jonas would have been correct to continue since Jonas had Tadej under pressure from dropping him in previous stages.

Like you say - this was a situation with low stakes and the decision was made to wait.

To be candid, I'm not the best person to comment – my perspective is actually fairly limited and I'm going on what I feel like I remembered.

Back in the day, one pretty much "learned" the sport by what the commentators were telling you, at least for an American. The only coverage I saw was the Tour in the summers, and I didn't speak Flemish, so it was mostly listening to my uncles talk about what was happening and hearing some rider interviews in English. And whatever Flemish I could pick up. Some for sure, but any subtlety was lost. I'm sure there are a couple old coots on the forum who were around and who speak the right languages. They can offer more accurate perspective.

But the Armstrong thing felt genuinely new and odd. Like him clumsily trying to figure out what it meant to be the Patron. Same thing when he gifted Ventoux to Pantani. Trying to be gracious, but in reality was insulting a true champion. You don't gift Pantani a climb. Come on.

 

[johnymax]

A mechanical? Yeah, they should wait. A crash? That usually is the rider's own damn fault

Rog should have been farther front in the peloton.

Princess Primrose Roglic deserved to lose 5 minutes today

Nominated for worst post of the century.