Itzulia Basque Country 2024, April 1-6

[Eddy Evenepoel]

UAE's classic '5 leaders and inshallah' strategy actually worked after we were having a good laugh at their team at the start of the race

930 UCI-points for GC this race for UAE. The Sheiks should be happy.

 

[zlev11]

that was a great stage. shame about the rest of the week.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Tbh stage 4 looked very decent, and the time trial should have been worth watching, but wasn't. I think all they need to do is drop one of stage 2 or 3 for a selective day on some proper muros and you have a perfect race in this region.

Leintz-Gaztaga isn't a particularly interesting climb for the region I'm afraid. Fairly wide, smooth and a lot more regular than many. They needed something better with either stage 1 or 2, and a proper murito type on one of the other stages ideally.

I mean, I wish they'd do something other than the same old same old around Eibar as the queen stage so they could maybe vary the Eibar stages a bit more, but since the Euskal Bizikleta folded, it's been everpresent by contract so there's not much you can do about it and at least those stages keep delivering - I just would rather they weren't the only stages delivering.

 

[yaf]

Even though the race would have been a lot different with the big 3 i was shocked by hindley today i thought he is on the same level as ayuso and expected the two fight

 

[Lequack]

Skelmose watching the lady dance on the podium was like😑 😂

He was like: I'm in the wrong country, the Spaniards worked me over.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1776643463703826862

View: https://twitter.com/TimBonvilleGinn/status/1776643463703826862

 

[perico]

Ayuso would still be the first human

Ayuso could very well be on that same level. He’s still 21 years old and already has a GT podium and a GT top 5. Only thing is he’s not going to lead UAE in the biggest races when Teddy is on form.

 

[yaf]

He was like: I'm in the wrong country, the Spaniards worked me over.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1776643463703826862

View: https://twitter.com/TimBonvilleGinn/status/1776643463703826862

Thats the worst thing that could ever happen to skelmose😂😂😂

 

[Ricco']

He was like: I'm in the wrong country, the Spaniards worked me over.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1776643463703826862

View: https://twitter.com/TimBonvilleGinn/status/1776643463703826862

Free material for @OutOfCycling on twitter

 

[Peyroteo94]

Thats the worst thing that could ever happen to skelmose😂😂😂

After seeing this, Skjelmose is wondering why he made the podium.

 

[Netserk]

UAE's classic '5 leaders and inshallah' strategy actually worked after we were having a good laugh at their team at the start of the race

It didn't harm them and it turned out well for Soler, but it wasn't what won them the race. Ayuso just simply dropped Skjelmose twice.

 

[ice&fire]

Spanish conspiracy 😄

This is beginner level compared to the '85 Vuelta

 

[Unchained]

Soler, Ayuso, Del Toro all raced great. The situation for Soler was absolutely awesome, you guys tow me for 20k and then we will sprint for it. Olney was impressive.. guy drank some extra coffee today, great race and result. Del Toro blew out his transmission and in the end even micro Esteban Chavez had a little more juice than Isaac. Del Toro from 15th to 7th overall for his efforts. Carlos Rodriguez is, was impressive in every way today, including his post race interview and the way he worked his butt off w Ayuso..couldn't have been better.. Nice to see Chavez in the mix..Bilbao is a solid racer..

 

[jmdirt]

Way to go TAKE a race! Congrats!

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDa_yB8Id-Q

 

[Lequack]

Sepp got the mountains jersey in the end

 

[Valv.Piti]

Leintz-Gaztaga isn't a particularly interesting climb for the region I'm afraid. Fairly wide, smooth and a lot more regular than many. They needed something better with either stage 1 or 2, and a proper murito type on one of the other stages ideally.

I mean, I wish they'd do something other than the same old same old around Eibar as the queen stage so they could maybe vary the Eibar stages a bit more, but since the Euskal Bizikleta folded, it's been everpresent by contract so there's not much you can do about it and at least those stages keep delivering - I just would rather they weren't the only stages delivering.

Yeah I mean we agree, you just talk about them as stage 1 and 2 where as I thought they were 2 and 3. Anyways, Leintz-Gaztage probably isn't that selective (I think it would have been raced very hard though this year), but thats not really a problem if you have a hard time trial and a muro stage on one of the pointless stages and the queen stage to top it off.

 

[Billie]

Soler has surely played a vital role in more putches/raids (some of them unsuccesfful) like these in more stages than ayone else?

final stage Paris Nice when he won
The sprint he lost against Gaudu on la farrapona
The one when he didn't want to wait in the rain in Andorra
Mur de Peguere with Landa when Tour finished in Prat d'albis
When he chased down Quintana in the Galibier stage
Angliru last year


When i think of Satellite rider he surely is the first to come up with.

 

[Froome]

What was the time ayuso needed to climb izua?

 

[pastronef]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1776625363533115559

View: https://twitter.com/tatxu73/status/1776625363533115559

 

[RedheadDane]

Sepp got the mountains jersey in the end

Is it just me, or does the first quick glance make it look like that jersey has a rather unfortunate pattern, considering all the crashes...?

 

[samhocking]

Very dubious thing for Hayter to do in a contract year tbh.

Olympic year, there is no way he's throwing all that away for a sprint in this race. He has bigger fish coming.

 

[Salvarani]

Olympic year, there is no way he's throwing all that away for a sprint in this race. He has bigger fish coming.

Yup, there is money in the Olympics and a lot of exposure for that. More than in these races.

His own team and others with knowledge in cycling knows what he can do, but he is all in for the Olympics this year.

 

[Nick2413]

Wow what an end to the race. Impressive by Rodriguez and great descending skills. Soler always involved in drama. Just have to find him Spanish riders to work for and he will do it no questions asked.

 

[Red Rick]

I liked the 2021-2022 stage design better. Krabelin is too early now

 

[Salvarani]

Final stage was perfect and the design made the racing great.

Will be few races that will deliver this type of racing this season.

One of the best stages in a while.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Ayuso only 13s off Vingegaard's time last year, who was flying, very decent.