Giro d'Italia Stage 18: Morbegno – Cesano Maderno, 144km

[DJ Sprtsch]

Ayuso might not start

Stung by a bee

Thought he got hit by a bull?

 

[Squire]

Who can storm heaven on Ascension Day?

A shame Cofidis didn't bring Herrada.

 

[Boehmand]

Bunch sprint for sure, the last 50K are way too easy for it all not to come back together (baring crashes or similar).

Sunny warm weather with little wind.

I'm picking Kooij, Groves or possibly Van Uden for this one.

Pedersen may have a shot, if Lidl makes the race really hard, but the problem is that also tends to favour Groves.

Caveat is it's stage 18 - so fatigue may change everything.

 

[search]

van Aert apparently said that he aims for the break, so I struggle to really see anyone but Alpecin and maybe DSM interested in a sprint.

There's also more of a tailwind in the 2nd part and a very technical circuit in the end, so it's hard to make up ground. If the break is strong (and I see no reason why it wouldn't be), it should make it.

 

[Boehmand]

van Aert apparently said that he aims for the break, so I struggle to really see anyone but Alpecin and maybe DSM interested in a sprint.

There's also more of a tailwind in the 2nd part and a very technical circuit in the end, so it's hard to make up ground. If the break is strong (and I see no reason why it wouldn't be), it should make it.

I'm really surprised - apparently Pedersen is also aiming for the break (according to the pre-stage coverage).

IMO It only works if it is a huge break (or break of all elite riders), with so much flat at the end, but I have been proven wrong before

 

[Boehmand]

Pedersen just said in the pre-stage interview, that Lidl wants a big break to go today, so they take all the points for the points jersey.

No word on whether he wants to be in it himself - but that seems obvious

 

[DarkBlue]

Pedersen and Vacek to go for the break, if WVA gets in there too it will only be Alpecin chasing and break will stay away.

 

[SafeBet]

Ayuso stung by a bee / wasp but will start

https://twitter.com/x/status/1928054782826025445

View: https://x.com/Pelamity/status/1928054782826025445?t=EC_Ri9vS-Qlw9ta0pHIy5A&s=19

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Great weather conditions at the start.

 

[search]

IMO It only works if it is a huge break (or break of all elite riders), with so much flat at the end

Groves said that they need to catch the break before the circuit to have a chance, so (if true), that basically cuts the distance in half.

 

[Boehmand]

Ayuso stung by a bee / wasp but will start

https://twitter.com/x/status/1928054782826025445

View: https://x.com/Pelamity/status/1928054782826025445?t=EC_Ri9vS-Qlw9ta0pHIy5A&s=19

Dude just can't catch a break

 

[Boehmand]

Groves said that they need to catch the break before the circuit to have a chance, so (if true), that basically cuts the distance in half.

The circuit may be more diffult than it looks on paper

 

[noob]

Is there anyone in the peleton who has been riding with just one eye?!?!

 

[Boehmand]

Ayuso saying he has trouble seeing of out one eye because of the swelling

 

[Potomac]

One Eye-uso

 

[noob]

He'll risk crashing out both himself and others in this condition.

 

[Red Rick]

One Eye-uso

 

[Cycling111]

He'll risk crashing out both himself and others in this condition.

The team should force him to retire.

 

[noob]

The team should force him to retire.

Definitely!!! There should be protocols for it even.

 

[AnotherArmChair]

I dont think Ayuso should start...he has a big risk of crashing and he is of no use to anyone least of all himself

Sometimes cycling lacks common sense

 

[gregrowlerson]

One Eye-uso

This is one of those walk the tight rope 'best post ever vs. banned' posts. I'm siding with the former.

 

[noob]

If he choses to hang out with the grupetto today then possibly he could heal up but it's complete madness

 

[QueenStagiaire]

nearly 40 in the front group

 

[noob]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1927439551003316647

View: https://x.com/faustocoppi60/status/1927439551003316647

 

[AnotherArmChair]

Imagine going on hooneymoon with Carlton Kirby...all day long talking about rock formations