The Cycling News forum is still looking to add volunteer moderators with. If you're interested in helping keep our discussions on track, send a direct message to
In the meanwhile, please use the Report option if you see a post that doesn't fit within the forum rules.
Thanks!
First professional win for Pippo Fiorelli.Meanwhile Fiorelli won the first road stage of the Tour of Sibiu, Nicolas dalla Valle finished 2nd and Andrea Piccolo 3rd.
It's gonna be interesting to see how Piccolo will do on the big Balea Lac MTF tomorrow, if he's in this kind of shape he should be one of the favourites.
He deserves it, at the NC he looked like he wasn't feeling the chain.First professional win for Pippo Fiorelli.
Kanter looked good in this finish. I don't really know what to make of him, he doesn't win anything but is now often there in the races he should be.
Will they take him to the Tour or Vuelta?
Aleotti wins on Balea Lac after a powerful attack by Uijtdebroeks who then pulled him almost to the line.
Vanhoucke second, Cian third.
Or someone who they thought was Chris Harper.And Chris Harper fourth.
Or someone who they thought was Chris Harper.
But not Vingegaard.
Or someone who they thought was Chris Harper.
But not Vingegaard.
De Bod and Piccolo have the engine to do well on such a MTT on a not so steep climb. Aleotti isn't bad either and I also rate the 2 Belgians highly. Could be a close call.GC is quite open ahead of tomorrow's MTT.
Aleotti
Vanhoucke 10"
Uijtdebroeks 15"
Leemreize 27"
Piccolo 31"
Berwick 33"
De Bod 34"
Leemreize rode a solid TT at the end of the Giro and he seems in good shape.De Bod and Piccolo have the engine to do well on such a MTT on a not so steep climb. Aleotti isn't bad either and I also rate the 2 Belgians highly. Could be a close call.
Yeah, but in an uphill tt on 5-6% gradients soneone's engine is probably more important than just TT skills, that should help Piccolo.Leemreize rode a solid TT at the end of the Giro and he seems in good shape.
I'd probably put my money on him and De Bod.
Piccolo and Cian are untested in TTs at this level (+Piccolo likely has had very limited TT training in the past couple of years).
I agree on most points, but Aleotti is probably more of a punchy classics rider than a pure climber. He's at his best on short, steep climbs.Don't see why pure TT skills would be relevant for tomorrow. No TT bike and a 9k climb at 6ish% followed by a 3k false flat. Engine is going to be important, but the climb is also pretty irregular with 2km over 8% en 2km over 7%, so pure climbers like a Vanhoucke or Alleotti definitely have a chance.
Cian was probably the strongest in the race today, impressive stuff.
Seems like both Piccolo and Leemreize rode on their TT bikes. Considering where they finished, I don't think it was the best strategy.
It´s always a big and common mistake in a uphill TT with no crazy gradients, maybe ir you are Dumoulin and you have the reputation of climbing like a a beast in your TT bike, well ok (still a mistake despite some goods results with it). Pretty sure that Leemreize perfomance was not worse than his teammate Harper...Seems like both Piccolo and Leemreize rode on their TT bikes. Considering where they finished, I don't think it was the best strategy.