Teams & Riders The official Egan Bernal is the new Egan Bernal thread

[SHAD0W93]

I dunno but a real hunger bonk would drop a little more than Bernal did no?

Imagine an Ullrich 98 hunger bonk with cold weather on top.

 

[Cookster15]

I honestly just think he is getting third week weaker, it happens a lot especially when you have battered everyone for the first two weeks. The question is: how weak is he?

I think you guys are better spotting this than I am. But I still hope it’s just a hunger bonk. He’s young and I don’t see why he would fade.

 

[SHAD0W93]

Imagine an Ullrich 98 hunger bonk with cold weather on top.

Now that I think about it that 96, 98, and 03 Tours are the ones that got away from Ullrich. Sure he Riis was strong but I think Ullrich could have matched him. Plus Ullrich said Riis had inspired the team which he could have did with Ullrich leading. But then maybe the 97 domination doesn’t happen. Then 98 even though he totally let himself go he was in prime position to win besides Pantani going crazy on the stage and Ullrich not eating or wearing warm clothes losing 9 minutes. Not one he could have won but in fact 01 it has been said he was in his best shape ever and barely taking outside help (if you believe that) and still got curb stomped leading to his depression. Then 03 if that went a little different could have been the one he took from Lance, especially if he actually rode the final TT instead of watching a video of the route.
But if he won 4 Tours would he be as loved?

 

[dazaau]

Did Bernal struggle? yes. Did he put time into, or at least hold, against all his rivals bar Yates? yes. It was hardly a bonk. It also followed a rest day which can be tricky.

I think he'll be fine but I hope it's exciting from here cause I love the drama. Yates needs 3.5x more time than he gained in this stage. So Bernal will have to get worse from here for it to be close.

 

[Anybody_but..]

I think he unfortunately has real back problems. Yesterday immediately after the slow start he was dancing in pedals and arching/bending his back up and down.
But we may get to know what was going on next week at the earliest.

 

[Eclipse]

A sensible and measured leaders ride today, but again some worrying signs of weakness.

Still feeling confident he's going to win it (the team helps of course) but I have to admit I didn't see this tail off coming.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Some posters here were prematurely calling his ride most dominant Giro.
Anyway, he is well placed for the victory here unless spectacular things happen tomorrow.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Some posters here were prematurely calling his ride most dominant Giro.
Anyway, he is well placed for the victory here unless spectacular things happen tomorrow.

Agree, its more of a Froome win in his later years now, finishing the race early and using his team while being 95% in the last week.

 

[Anybody_but..]

As I said, was really afraid after Wednesday's stage, but after today's.. - this Giro is over.
All these haters stories will not change it.

 

[Escarabajo]

As I said, was really afraid after Wednesday's stage, but after today's.. - this Giro is over.
All these haters stories will not change it.

Come on man. Anything can still happen. Hold tight!

 

[Escarabajo]

At Giro'06 Basso had a margin of 9 minutes+ over the 2nd guy and 19 minutes+ over the 5th. That's what you call a dominant Giro! Ridiculous form by Basso back then, one of the strongest performances I've ever seen (he was like peak Armstrong). Soon afterwards his connection with Fuentes was revealed though.

Noltalgic times those!!

 

[Bonimenier]

As I said, was really afraid after Wednesday's stage, but after today's.. - this Giro is over.
All these haters stories will not change it.

I'm confused to which stories you are referring. Enlighten us, please.

 

[Salvarani]

He can afford to ride calculated and lose some more seconds.

It is still risky business when you have started to get dropped though.

At the end of the day, it is just what he has left to give and what the others have and Im sure they will go for it. If they gain a minute or so tomorrow it will be some suspense going into the final time trial.

If he rode smart today he might have more in the tank to manage and have a "safe" distance in the time trial. We will see.

He is definitely in pole position but that could change quickly if he has another bad day.

 

[Põhja Konn]

He should have big enough gap to ride a controlled race and avoid going too deep tomorrow, unless he went a lot deeper today than must of us believes. We'll see tomorrow.

 

[Anybody_but..]

I'm confused to which stories you are referring. Enlighten us, please.

You shouldn't be so confused. Some of our Masters admit that are haters.

 

[bNator]

You shouldn't be so confused. Some of our Masters admit that are haters.

I don’t think you calling other people haters is appropriate - the way you keep trashing Nibali...

 

[Escarabajo]

So the gossip in several podcasts is that it was total dehydration on Wednesday. So it makes a lot of sense the way he just dropped completely the way he did. And he was sweating a lot. The last time I saw that on a leader was Armstrong in 2003 Tour. Armstrong said that he needed at least 3-4 days to recuperate completely. Tomorrow might be a little fresher than the last 3 days and could help him more. But today He was a little better than 2 days ago.

 

[Anybody_but..]

I don’t think you calling other people haters is appropriate - the way you keep trashing Nibali...

Of course you are right.
In some circumstances the only way is to do the same.

 

[Oldermanish]

He can afford to ride calculated and lose some more seconds.

It is still risky business when you have started to get dropped though.

At the end of the day, it is just what he has left to give and what the others have and Im sure they will go for it. If they gain a minute or so tomorrow it will be some suspense going into the final time trial.

If he rode smart today he might have more in the tank to manage and have a "safe" distance in the time trial. We will see.

He is definitely in pole position but that could change quickly if he has another bad day.

Smart riders win GTs more than those that expect to hammer people for 3 weeks. It's also a hopeful sign that riders aren't lining up to the gas pump each night. He responded when he needed to and the others may have not. Very exciting final stages, though.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Job done, more than strong enough today.

Time to rest up and prepare for the Vuelta while his challengers slog it around France and then Tokyo.
Potential to tick off all 3 GT’s by the age of 24?

 

[SHAD0W93]

Job done, more than strong enough today.

Time to rest up and prepare for the Vuelta while his challengers slog it around France and then Tokyo.
Potential to tick off all 3 GT’s by the age of 24?

Beats Contadors 25. Who’s the youngest to do it or was that Contador?

 

[Red Rick]

Beats Contadors 25. Who’s the youngest to do it or was that Contador?

That was Contador.

But he can't beat Contador for only needing 4 GTs to win all 3.

 

[Poursuivant]

Managed his efforts very well.

 

[Pricey_sky]

That was Contador.

But he can't beat Contador for only needing 4 GTs to win all 3.

I highly doubt Contador’s record of winning all 3 within the first 4 raced will ever be beaten. Even doing it by the age of 25 is a huge ask.

 

[Red Rick]

Just want Roglic vs Bernal vs Pogacar at the Vuelta now.