(Presidential) Cycling Tour of Turkey [April 11th-April18th 2021]

[Lequack]

Great racing today. Why is every stage not like this. Come on Tour of Turkey!

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Great race today.

I'm starting to become a fan of Norwegian team Uno-X.

It may just be the orange jerseys, which make them very visible in the peloton, but it seems they are quite active in every race they are invited to, and often part of the finale.

I would not at all be surprised, if the Giro decided to grant them the wild card, that has become available after Vini Zabu dropping out today..... but RCS being Italian, it might of course be EOLO-Kometa instead.

 

[Bonimenier]

Great race today.

I'm starting to become a fan of Norwegian team Uno-X.

It may just be the orange jerseys, which make them very visible in the peloton, but it seems they are quite active in every race they are invited to, and often part of the finale.

I would not at all be surprised, if the Giro decided to grant them the wild card, that has become available after Vini Zabu dropping out today..... but RCS being Italian, it might of course be EOLO-Kometa instead.

It was pretty obvious that Androni Giocattoli was going to get the wild card which was announced a couple of hours ago already.

 

[RedheadDane]

I would not at all be surprised, if the Giro decided to grant them the wild card, that has become available after Vini Zabu dropping out today..... but RCS being Italian, it might of course be EOLO-Kometa instead.

Would be kind of weird to invtive EOLO-Kometa twice, wouldn't it?

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Great racing today. Why is every stage not like this. Come on Tour of Turkey!

Unfortunately they seem to often plan the race in the western part of Turkey, and on the southwestern coast, which is more populous and wealthy...... but also a lot flatter.

I guess it makes sense, as Turkey is a massive country and it's only a 1 week race.

In the eastern part of Turkey, there is a lot of massive mountains.

 

[Broccolidwarf]

It was pretty obvious that Androni Giocattoli was going to get the wild card which was announced a couple of hours ago already.

Didn't catch that, and must admit I thought they were in already - my bad.

Either way, I like Uno-X for how they ride their races.

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Would be kind of weird to invtive EOLO-Kometa twice, wouldn't it?

Yeah, I got it turned around

I remembered some Italian teams was angry by not getting a wild card initially - but thought that was EOLO.


Oh well

 

[Lequack]

Unfortunately they seem to often plan the race in the western part of Turkey, and on the southwestern coast, which is more populous and wealthy...... but also a lot flatter.

I guess it makes sense, as Turkey is a massive country and it's only a 1 week race.

In the eastern part of Turkey, there is a lot of massive mountains.

Yes but you think that with only 1 week of racing you would want them to be exciting.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

It may just be the orange jerseys, which make them very visible in the peloton, but it seems they are quite active in every race they are invited to, and often part of the finale.

I disagree with this. Their jerseys are quite clearly red and yellow, which can make orange, of course, but that's not the case here. Their helmets are orange and red.

 

[Mayomaniac]

I disagree with this. Their jerseys are quite clearly red and yellow, which can make orange, of course, but that's not the case here. Their helmets are orange and red.

Agree, there's only one real orange jersey in the peloton.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

So. Welcome to pro cycling! Very nice 2nd place for Alpecin's Zwift-neo.

Good strength. The tactics need a bit of work, but he's clearly got the physical side of it down pat. Most of the way he really came across like he might become one of 'those' riders. You know, the ones who are always right on the rivet at that perfect level of strength that enables them to respond to attacks but without being strong enough to come around the rider in front of them at any point. The adherents of the Zubeldarian Church of Saint Haimar the Placid. He seemed really at ease when Astana were setting up, and he was quick to respond to every attack, but then he just sat on Kudus long after it was to his benefit and no matter how many times and different ways Kudus tried to appeal for collaboration. And then, once the lead over the chasing duo was conceded, he decided it was time he came to the front at the worst possible moment, at the point where it was clear they were going to swallow Charmig up, and he wound up being made to lead out, which I'm sure he'll learn from in time. He at least didn't waste all his energy on pointless attacks before he could use the evidently great legs for the day he had to make them count, so he's ahead of a lot of riders in that respect already.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Also a quite impressive sprint by Johannessen to take fourth place.

Now I see, that he's been handed a 30 second time penalty for littering, because he a threw a bottle to someone from the race organization outside of the waste zone, who, in Johannessen's words, encouraged him to do so. Now that's just completely stupid.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Agree, there's only one real orange jersey in the peloton.

That's obviously true, but I won't argue against Rally's also being orange, though.

 

[Mayomaniac]

That's obviously true, but I won't argue against Rally's also being orange, though.

Yeah, I kinda forgot about them, but they are cool in my book.

 

[Norbea]

Didn't catch that, and must admit I thought they were in already - my bad.

Either way, I like Uno-X for how they ride their races.

They rode really offensive last year too. It is fun to see they are not pulling any punches even as they are moving up the ladder of races.

 

[johnymax]

I have to confess. Although it was Cavendish (I am not his fan, but it was a nice story to have him back on top) who was winning, I wasn't getting excited too much about those sprint stages to say the least. Today, now that was an exciting finish.

 

[Jungle Cycle]

felt sorry for him...

https://twitter.com/x/status/1382661685333389313

View: https://twitter.com/LosBrolin/status/1382661685333389313

 

[Lequack]

It's Jay Vine time to shine.

The guy has been taking KOMs (25mins. climbs) in Girona from names like James Knox and Simon Yates since he came to Europe last month, let's see how that translates to real races.

Good prediction. He needs more racing in his legs, but he's looking good.

 

[Ludwigzgz]

Rally (Mannion, De Kleijn ) DNS today
Cherkasov & Kuzmin (Gazprom) DNS

 

[Danskebjerge]

felt sorry for him...

https://twitter.com/x/status/1382661685333389313

View: https://twitter.com/LosBrolin/status/1382661685333389313

I thought it was great. Cycling is at its best when someone goes all in and falters at the end. It's far better than everyone saving energy for the final sprint.

 

[Danskebjerge]

Not many stage races with so many of the stages being sprinter stages.

 

[tobydawq]

Damn, poor Greipel, that would have been nice to see.

 

[Bonimenier]

So close for Greipel.

Was about time that Alpecin won a stage after all those second places.

 

[Faserr]

He is getting closer. This time the leadout was perfect.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

First time André has actually looked like he could win in a long time. Problem is that he still didn’t actually win and he’s not going to be better positioned too often. It’s very tough to get around a problem like just not being fast enough any more.

Nice win for Philipsen. He doesn’t get to start too many stage races where on paper he’s the top sprinter and I think he’d be quite annoyed not to bag at least one win.