Itzulia Basque Country 2024, April 1-6

[JosefK]

Bora still in the GC mix, even after Rog's exit.

 

[hfgon1]

Ccoming like 30th in a group full of climbers

15th. Better than expected.

 

[Samamba]

Terrible parcours. Sure doesn't help that all the favorites are gone but this race is ending tomorrow and it feels like it hasn't even started yet.

 

[Gigs_98]

Can we complain about the route now, @tobydawq?

Do you think this was a bad stage?

 

[Escarabajo]

Can we complain about the route now, @tobydawq?

Well, I can start. Yesterday SKJELMOSE said that there could be a harder stage or stages so there would be less riders fighting for position at the end. That is a start.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Hayter is overdue for being booted from Ineos. Don't think I've ever seen someone complete the transition into useless shadow of his former self at that young an age.

Kirby is overdue for being booted from the commentary booth. Don't think I've ever seen anyone be that reliable at misidentifying riders, and that includes Jez Cox and early-career José Been.

 

[AnotherArmChair]

My God that was a beautiful Kirby passage. Mistaking Rodrigues for Hayter, then Manny Bookman for Aular.

You couldnt make it up ...his 2 obsessions in one
Plus does he know the Bora Kit one wonders ?

 

[Netserk]

Do you think this was a bad stage?

Yes, given the rest of the route and what was possible.

 

[Tim Cahill]

My God that was a beautiful Kirby passage. Mistaking Rodrigues for Hayter, then Manny Bookman for Aular.

My favourite Kirby moment was the incredibly dramatic and memorable moment of Evenepoel cracking on stage 13 in the Vuelta, the Tourmalet stage, you would expect a bit of reverence and maybe some sincere words.

It pans to Remco looking like he's about to burst into tears going up the mountain, team around him consoling him, then a familiar white jersey comes along side him and you just hear.

'ARRRRGGHH NO.... THERE'S GEOFFREY SOUPE'

We had to rewind it multiple times. was absolutely howling

 

[DNP-Old]

This was already the penultimate stage? Lol, what a tragic race.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Hayter is overdue for being booted from Ineos. Don't think I've ever seen someone complete the transition into useless shadow of his former self at that young an age.

Kirby is overdue for being booted from the commentary booth. Don't think I've ever seen anyone be that reliable at misidentifying riders, and that includes Jez Cox and early-career José Been.

Today I watched a video of 2011 Roubaix with Phil Liggett in commentary and he misidentified the group he was seeing about a dozen times and was annoyed that Hushovd didn‘t ride with Cancellara.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

This was already the penultimate stage? Lol, what a tragic race.

It's devolved into a promising one-day race, only with the field decimated by effectively five stages worth of Scheldeprijs.

 

[roundabout]

Do you think this was a bad stage?

It seemed to have been raced hard from to start to finish, but still ended with 30+ guys sprinting for the win.

And it will probably be the second toughest road stage this week.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Hayter is overdue for being booted from Ineos. Don't think I've ever seen someone complete the transition into useless shadow of his former self at that young an age.

Kirby is overdue for being booted from the commentary booth. Don't think I've ever seen anyone be that reliable at misidentifying riders, and that includes Jez Cox and early-career José Been.

 

[hfgon1]

It seemed to have been raced hard from to start to finish, but still ended with 30+ guys sprinting for the win.

And it will probably be the second toughest road stage this week.

I think it was an pretty interesting stage. Normally yesterday would have been the second hardest stage and we would look different on this stage. Not a bad route design in my opinion.

 

[Escarabajo]

I think Betancur had better results than Hayter. And a better excuse for sucking. The Empanadas in Colombia are a delight!!

 

[DNP-Old]

Hmm. Big difference is Banana Man couldn't give a darn. Hayer otoh is actively trying, is in contract year and working towards his magnum opus in July.

 

[Eyeballs Out]

Aular's seated-sprint was a thing of beauty

 

[Netserk]

I think it was an pretty interesting stage. Normally yesterday would have been the second hardest stage and we would look different on this stage. Not a bad route design in my opinion.

In isolation, this was decent. A typical reduced bunch sprint of Itzulia.

As the third hardest stage?! No, this was yet another wasted opportunity.

 

[search]

It seemed to have been raced hard from to start to finish, but still ended with 30+ guys sprinting for the win.

And it will probably be the second toughest road stage this week.

I'd still say it was a pretty good stage, and at no point clear how it would end. It came down to a sprint, but when a solo victory looks still about as likely with 500m to go, it's surely not a bad stage design.

 

[AnotherArmChair]

What is Betencur up to now ...does anyone know ?

In fairness Betencur had the excuse of burgers and beers

 

[Tim Cahill]

Younger than Mikel Landa by the way. Ye of little faith, Bananito will return, Movistar need someone for the Ardennes/Giro!

 

[DNP-Old]

What is Betencur up to now ...does anyone know ?

In fairness Betencur had the excuse of burgers and beers

 

[DNP-Old]

Hayter will be ready for Paris, I have no doubts. The way he is destroyed Ganna in the TP two years ago is something I haven't seen often. His road career otoh is fading.

 

[Volderke]

What is Betencur up to now ...does anyone know ?

In fairness Betencur had the excuse of burgers and beers

I don't know what Betancur is doing, but H2H with Hayter, they have a very similar graph.
If they are supposed to evolve the same way, Hayter is past his peak.

Carlos Betancur versus Ethan Hayter

Head to head career results between Carlos Betancur and Ethan Hayter. The overal score is 54.5% for Carlos Betancur versus 45.5% for Ethan Hayter. A comparison on same race results, time trial points and the points per age.

www.procyclingstats.com