Itzulia Basque Country 2025, April 7th-12th

[Unterlenkerfahrend]

I fear a McNuggets heartbreak coming up for Schachmann.

 

[Berflamand]

I'm not watching, only following live stats. Did Fisher-Black fall into a sinkhole between T1 and the finish or did he go for the KOM points like (I suppose) Uriarte?

 

[Faserr]

I'm not watching, only following live stats. Did Fisher-Black fall into a sinkhole between T1 and the finish or did he go for the KOM points like (I suppose) Uriarte?

Sinkhole

 

[Unterlenkerfahrend]

I'm not watching, only following live stats. Did Fisher-Black fall into a sinkhole between T1 and the finish or did he go for the KOM points like (I suppose) Uriarte?

He was late to the start and basically rushed off the ramp right away (I think the clock had started already).
Think he was full of adrenaline and waaay overpaced the first part because of that.

 

[kingjr]

The biathlete is progressing at a serious rate. Some of the Germans I've spoken to refuse to hype him too much though, I think maybe a few too many false dawns?

Because despite his progress, there is not much he can win in a world where Pogačar, Vingegaard, and Evenepoel exist.

 

[search]

He was late to the start and basically rushed off the ramp right away (I think the clock had started already).
Think he was full of adrenaline and waaay overpaced the first part because of that.

I thought so too, but his Strava file looks more like he went for the KOM indeed. His time loss in the beginning also was minimal (1-2s max, based on the 1st part, not visible here)

 

[RedheadDane]

Skjelmose wearing the champions kit.
Guess just like UCI can tell Price-Pejtersen that he can't wear it, they can also tell Skjelmose that he has to wear it.

Come on, DCU! Get this mess cleared with the UCI, so Price-Pejtersen will get a chance to actually wear it.

 

[tobydawq]

Good thing it isn't raining inside the basketball arena, it looks really slippery as it is.

 

[tobydawq]

Skjelmose wearing the champions kit.
Guess just like UCI can tell Price-Pejtersen that he can't wear it, they can also tell Skjelmose that he has to wear it.

Come on, DCU! Get this mess cleared with the UCI, so Price-Pejtersen will get a chance to actually wear it.

Maybe he should just not be cheating when riding TTs in the future.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Skjelmose clearly not up to speed yet. In that light, don't think it makes sense for Nys to forfeit the GC here already, if it turns out he needs to turn himself inside out for 8th they could always choose to let it go but on a route with shorter climbs and descent finishes galore he really could have been a dark horse.

 

[tobydawq]

Skjelmose clearly not up to speed yet. In that light, don't think it makes sense for Nys to forfeit the GC here already, if it turns out he needs to turn himself inside out for 8th they could always choose to let it go but on a route with shorter climbs and descent finishes galore he really could have been a dark horse.

Wait ten minutes with that assessment. Skjelmose always rides faster in the second part of a TT. Always.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Skjelmose doesn't look smooth.

 

[RedheadDane]

Lafay clearly needing Ganna to show him the way.

 

[jimmy_8888888]

Why lately riders seems to get lost in stage/race?

 

[tobydawq]

Martínez' beard has become even more aggressive.

 

[tobydawq]

Nice, Schachmann will really win!

His first win outside the Sibiu Tour in four years. I'm so happy for him!

PCS have already added the stage to his win tally with seven minutes still to go for McNulty.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Mcnulty tanked....

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Calamitous TT for McNulty, domestique duty it is for him.

 

[tobydawq]

Where did Leonard come from? And don't answer Canada....

 

[titan31]

Was expecting a lot better from McNulty there

 

[Tim Cahill]

Michael Leonard that's right.

He destroyed that Avenir tt which had actual guys in it so he's always had it in him.

 

[Didinho]

Quickstep madterclass.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Well, Schachmann has won an Itzulia opening TT before, ahead of Martínez when he was more aero due to lack of beard.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Where did Leonard come from? And don't answer Canada....

From 14th atop the KOM, so seems like a fairly normally paced TT?

This kind of shorter TT is also the one thing he's shown promise at with Ineos, most notably when he won his Avenir stage last year. So a surprise, but not a random result given the field.

 

[Unterlenkerfahrend]

Really really happy for Schachmann here. Nice guy and great for him to finally win a stage again at WT level after over half a decade.
Additionally I also always feel bad for guys losing an ITT at the last moment after sitting in the chair for hours. Schachmann was in there for almost 3 hours!