Itzulia Basque Country 2025, April 7th-12th

[noob]

Which UAE DS was it that was interviewed?

 

[noob]

Armirail looked like a deer caught in headlights on the podium, guess he doesn't like the camera much. (And that's okay too.)

Euskaltel rider too!

 

[Sciatic]

Yup, it really delivered

The whole race was very good.

 

[zlev11]

great route this week, good race

 

[KZD]

Much better route than in the last years, delivered some very good racing.

Almeida clearly a step above everyone, won two stages and could even have been more. Del Toro also showing some good legs ahead of Il Giro. A shame that some bad luck affected riders like Lipowitz and Skjelmose but that's racing. Good final stage from Mas and Healy really put on a show. Schachmann managing to hang on to the overall podium and Nys finally doing well after a few disappointing stages.

 

[Escarabajo]

I don’t want to be a party pooper, but is there any reason why Almeida didn’t let Mas take the stage win? I can’t see why not—Mas helped him, Almeida had already won a stage, and the overall race was his. And trust me, Mas isn’t exactly my favorite rider, but why didn’t João let him have it?

 

[QueenStagiaire]

I don’t want to be a party pooper, but is there any reason why Almeida didn’t let Mas take the stage win?

Mas didn‘t really help him much because Almeida had it all under control anyway, Almeida didn‘t gift the win because it‘s a race

 

[RedheadDane]

it's really just soooo annoying that he's always unlucky

I guess at least today was fairly standard; his wheel slipped out on a wet corner, and even though he didn't appear to be seriously hurt, his bike had gotten (slightly) damaged.
He didn't turn into an icicle.
He didn't get a hernia (actually, two hernias) by getting up from the breakfast table.

 

[Unchained]

Mas got Valverded, this time it was deserved, asking for the stage win on camera, have some pride come on.

Mas had the gas to ride shoulder to shoulder with Joao, could have asked his question without screaming it a meter away from the moto!! Having a face to face with Santa Clause and being told " No"

 

[Netserk]

I don’t want to be a party pooper, but is there any reason why Almeida didn’t let Mas take the stage win? I can’t see why not—Mas helped him, Almeida had already won a stage, and the overall race was his. And trust me, Mas isn’t exactly my favorite rider, but why didn’t João let him have it?

Almeida helped Mas more than the other way around. 1st in GC was already decided, so pulling gained nothing for Almeida. Whereas each pull by both riders helped Mas to 2nd in GC.

So if anything, Mas should have gifted the stage to Almeida for even more help.

 

[danielzu]

1 second between martin and velasco. Vino will be angry

 

[Sciatic]

Almeida helped Mas more than the other way around. 1st in GC was already decided, so pulling gained nothing for Almeida. Whereas each pull by both riders helped Mas to 2nd in GC.

So if anything, Mas should have gifted the stage to Almeida for even more help.

Well, pulling helped him secure the stage win, so that’s not nothing

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Nice of mas to gift the stage to almida in exchange for his cooperation

 

[RedheadDane]

Skjelmose actually had a puncture, that's why he crashed. And why he needed to swap bikes with Nys.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1911096637562163504

 

[Links2003]

Well, pulling helped him secure the stage win, so that’s not nothing

Yes, but a second place wouldn't have helped Almeida at all. For him, it was all about the stage. Mas, on the other hand, needed the help to finish on the podium. Mas therefore had to cooperate and help Almeida to the stage, otherwise he wouldn't have ridden.
Moreover, the time of "gift" victories in modern cycling is almost over. Today, almost every race is ridden to the finish and to victory.

 

[SHAD0W93]

1 second between martin and velasco. Vino will be angry

And 5 seconds between 11th and 10th.

 

[Oldman]

Mas didn‘t really help him much because Almeida had it all under control anyway, Almeida didn‘t gift the win because it‘s a race

He's learned well from the Guy on his team that doesn't gift either. Tadej usually isn't in the same finishing picture as those he beats, though. Hopefully the two will be able to work out who now leads UAE in the big stage races....