Tirreno - Adriatico 2021, March 10 - March 16

[tobydawq]

Sounds like GC wasn't Wout's primary thought when going after Alaphillippe and it was just a split second decision as suspected:

“It was a surprise for everyone and in one moment you had to decide what to do,” Van Aert justifying his ride in the finale.

“At that point I was aiming for the stage win and so I had to react if I still wanted a possibility to win. When I looked back and saw Mathieu on my wheel, I knew it was a bad situation but it was also a point of on return. Yeah, I led him out, he was in a perfect position and I wasn’t. But I took bonus seconds again today.”

Going after Alaphilippe? There are other riders in the race than those three

 

[jaylew]

Not sure I understand your response.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Not sure I understand your response.

You said Alaphilippe, while it was Stybar he went after.

 

[Blanco]

Sounds like GC wasn't Wout's primary thought when going after Alaphillippe and it was just a split second decision as suspected:

“It was a surprise for everyone and in one moment you had to decide what to do,” Van Aert justifying his ride in the finale.

“At that point I was aiming for the stage win and so I had to react if I still wanted a possibility to win. When I looked back and saw Mathieu on my wheel, I knew it was a bad situation but it was also a point of on return. Yeah, I led him out, he was in a perfect position and I wasn’t. But I took bonus seconds again today.”

So he was, of course, going for the stage...

 

[RedheadDane]

Not sure I understand your response.

Alaphillipe is quite easy to tell apart from the other DQ riders. He's the one in the white jersey with the stripes.

 

[Sciatic]

You said Alaphilippe, while it was Stybar he went after.

Yeah, in fact Alaphillipe was one of the reasons Wout had spent to so much energy by the time he got to the line. When Stybar went, Ala was in 2nd wheel and immediately slowed down to let the gap go out to his teammate. So Wout had to accelerate to go around Ala and then make up the gap that had opened up to Stybar, and of course, MVDP followed Wout. Meanwhile Ala just pretty much coasted in. Not sure why he didn’t jump on MVDP’s wheel, perhaps he was still blocking riders still behind him.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Yeah, in fact Alaphillipe was one of the reasons Wout had spent to so much energy by the time he got to the line. When Stybar went, Ala was in 2nd wheel and immediately slowed down to let the gap go out to his teammate. So Wout had to accelerate to go around Ala and then make up the gap that had opened up to Stybar, and of course, MVDP followed Wout. Meanwhile Ala just pretty much coasted in. Not sure why he didn’t jump on MVDP’s wheel, perhaps he was still blocking riders still behind him.

I think Alaphilippe was having a brainfart. Obviously he should have followed Mathieu... but in the final, he was already pulling at the front, so maybe today he was working for Ballerini? The only logical explanation was that Alaphilippe was already cooked at that moment.

 

[Zoef-Lightning]

As I predicted, the victory for Van der Poel. But that prediction was not difficult. A light uphill. Ideal for Van der Poel. But it could have turned out differently. If Van Aert hadn't responded immediately after the surprising move of Alaphilip, Stybar would have won. And if Van Aert hadn't reacted, and another rider had, after a hesitation of a few seconds, Ballerini could have moved closer..... and beat Van Aert and Van der Poel in the last hunderd meter.
Tomorrow, stage ending on Prati di Tivo, I think the last climb will be to hard, both for Van der Poel and Van Aert. Van der Poel will test his climbing legs.... but if it turns out to be too heavy, he will let it run. Van Aert will hang on as long as possible.... and suddenly crack and still lose quite a bit of time the last few km. Yet if Bernal and Pogacar attack on time.

 

[jaylew]

Alaphillipe is quite easy to tell apart from the other DQ riders. He's the one in the white jersey with the stripes.

And he's not even the Czech champion so i can't make the NC jersey excuse! I guess it seems like there are only 3 riders in the peloton these days. That said, I keep hearing about some pretty good ex-bobsledder from Croatia, Serbia or some other Southern Slavic country who's apparently kicking ass in France somewhere right now.

 

[BlueRoads]

I won't be able to watch tomorrow. I need to get rid of the crumbs of my social life. That will probably be the best stage this month.

 

[Climbing]

All the stages have been great thus far, probably tomorrow will be the most boring, though who knows with this absurd wattages going around, we're back in 2000's...

 

[Krzysztof_O]

All the stages have been great thus far, probably tomorrow will be the most boring, though who knows with this absurd wattages going around, we're back in 2000's...

Pogi will produce 7 w/kg for the whole climb only to retire before the finish line when realizing that MVP is still on his wheel.

 

[jaylew]

I won't be able to watch tomorrow. I need to get rid of the crumbs of my social life. That will probably be the best stage this month.

As long as you catch stage 5 you'll be ok - that one looks like a cracker of a stage. Hang in there!

 

[tobydawq]

I won't be able to watch tomorrow. I need to get rid of the crumbs of my social life. That will probably be the best stage this month.

No, Sunday will be better.

 

[Netserk]

Cyclingcols' profile:

 

[BlueRoads]

No, Sunday will be better.

I'm hoping.

 

[johnymax]

Sunday is going to be nuts. Not a meter of flat in the last 100km
I'm expecting a great battle tomorrow, too.

 

[Escarabajo]

All the stages have been great thus far, probably tomorrow will be the most boring, though who knows with this absurd wattages going around, we're back in 2000's...

1990's

 

[Escarabajo]

Tomorrow they will be braking on the ascend in the corners!!!!

 

[Lequack]

Also for tomorrow's MTF stage, pics from 2012 and 2013.

Photos from Prati di Tivo finish in 2012 - Vincenzo NIBAL wins; Chris HORNER leads — sirotti/rcs
http://www.steephill.tv/2012/tirreno-adriatico/photos/stage-05/

 

[Lequack]

Photos from Prati di Tivo finish in 2013 - Chris FROOME wins — sirotti/rcs
http://www.steephill.tv/2013/tirreno-adriatico/photos/stage-04/

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

As I predicted, the victory for Van der Poel. But that prediction was not difficult. A light uphill. Ideal for Van der Poel. But it could have turned out differently. If Van Aert hadn't responded immediately after the surprising move of Alaphilip, Stybar would have won. And if Van Aert hadn't reacted, and another rider had, after a hesitation of a few seconds, Ballerini could have moved closer..... and beat Van Aert and Van der Poel in the last hunderd meter.
Tomorrow, stage ending on Prati di Tivo, I think the last climb will be to hard, both for Van der Poel and Van Aert. Van der Poel will test his climbing legs.... but if it turns out to be too heavy, he will let it run. Van Aert will hang on as long as possible.... and suddenly crack and still lose quite a bit of time the last few km. Yet if Bernal and Pogacar attack on time.

pretty sure VDP won't test *** and come in at a nice 10 minutes

 

[Wvv]

Two remarks

1. If Alaphilippe doesn't let Stybar go but continues the leadout, Ballerini has a big chance of winning.
2. Van Aert, although I'm really curious and hope otherwise, will lose too much time tomorrow to keep the overall victory in sight. A top ten in the GC would be far from disappointing as well.

 

[jaylew]

pretty sure VDP won't test *** and come in at a nice 10 minutes

Probably, but he has said he wants to at least test his capabilities there at some point and having to leave UAE Tour early messed up those plans.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

This is the second sprint of the day DQS messed up.

And there are still people who think their inane comment is important enough to justify spoiling other people's enjoyment of a race that hey may not have watched yet.