Itzulia Basque Country 2024, April 1-6

[Peyroteo94]

No pressure on the Trek team, and no climb has been ridden hard for Skjelmose so far. While Soler is 40" ahead of the peloton, Bora helps Trek controlling him. Two hardest climbs are done, only one hard climb left.

UAE just needs Ayuso to win the stage. But we have to wait how this will end. Just want to see chaos in this next third category

 

[Netserk]

UAE just needs Ayuso to win the stage. But we have to wait how this will end. Just want to see chaos in this next third category

If that's the strategy, why not pace hard all day with the team?

 

[Peyroteo94]

If that's the strategy, why not pace hard all day with the team?

Ayuso is not Pogacar. They are not sure Ayuso can drop Skjelmose

 

[Squire]

No pressure on the Trek team, and no climb has been ridden hard for Skjelmose so far. While Soler is 40" ahead of the peloton, Bora helps Trek controlling him. Two hardest climbs are done, only one hard climb left.

Yeah, I think they should have been much more aggressive. Skjelmose shouldn't have major problems if the peloton is together at the bottom of Izua.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Trek is cooked. They will need Bora.

 

[KZD]

With Bora helping Trek, Skjelmose is in a very good position to take the overall.

 

[Netserk]

Yeah, I think they should have been much more aggressive. Skjelmose shouldn't have major problems if the peloton is together at the bottom of Izua.

It's certainly the best possible scenario for Skjelmose with also Mollema still ahead.

He was dropped pretty hard here last year though.

 

[AnotherArmChair]

Ayuso probabaly still hurting from the crashes

 

[Squire]

It's certainly the best possible scenario for Skjelmose with also Mollema still ahead.

He was dropped pretty hard here last year though.

Yeah, but at least it looks like it's gonna be up to him whether he wins it or not, and not due to his team being outclassed. Absolutely best case scenario considering what could have happened with more chaos.

 

[Lequack]

Kirby: Here's Skjelmose, isolated, alone (while Tao is at the front of the peloton).

 

[Netserk]

Soler is still only barely a threat in GC, and he will certainly blow up on Izua after the shift he has put in.

 

[Peyroteo94]

55 seconds to Soler

 

[Salvarani]

Perfect tactics from UAE so far.

 

[Lequack]

So they can race without Pog?

 

[perico]

Soler is still only barely a threat in GC, and he will certainly blow up on Izua after the shift he has put in.

Yeah then they can send McNulty or Del Toro before Ayuso. It fails if Soler doesn’t crack and they are stuck before the last climb because I don’t think it’s hard enough

 

[Netserk]

It will be interesting to see if Hindley attacks from the bottom of Izua or if he starts pacing for Schachmann.

 

[Ripper]

Let's see if Soler can mess this up ...

 

[Squire]

Those are some rather nasty bumps on the profile.

 

[Netserk]

Those are some rather nasty bumps on the profile.

Yes, which is why this loop should have been the last one.

 

[topcat]

@Ilmaestro99
Soler is winning the gc (no guns, no knives, just a fair fight).

 

[Froome]

Soler can't survive on Izua, skjelmose and Hindley can catch him.

 

[AnotherArmChair]

Would it not be better for Mollema to drop back and help close the gap to Soler

 

[Lequack]

 

[Netserk]

It's smelling like a Kruijswijk stage victory.

 

[Lequack]

Igor Arrieta is doing an amazing job.