Tour of the Alps 2021 (April 19th-23rd)

[pastronef]

Fun fact: tomorrow Moscon will be wearing the leader's jersey on his birthday (I hope that's the only reason why it's a special date to him...)

and he won in Innsbruck, the town where he lives

 

[RedheadDane]

Anyway, something a bit more lighthearted, Ganni wasn't the only one in the family out with a broken wrist, Lola had a similar problem:

Awwww... Poor Lola.

 

[yaco]

This is merely a 'training race' as the parcours is not challenging enough for riders of this calibre - It's a chance for the second tier riders.

 

[MTV]

I don't have a favorite yet - any suggestions so I can help with positive thouths?

 

[MTV]

I can do international too

 

[BlueRoads]

I don't have a favorite yet - any suggestions so I can help with positive thouths?

Bardet, for some reason I really want Bardet to shine here - please send positive vibes.

The past years haven't been easy for him, hailed as the next French Tour winner he was always under immense pressure and it must be hard not being able to live up to expectations. Then last year at the Tour he looked surprisingly good, but that crash and the concussion took him out. Now he's in a new environment and maybe he likes it there, but I still think DSM are tyrants and he has to suffer them in order to try and get back to at least the level he was. It's not easy against the young guns of today.

 

[MTV]

Ok done!

 

[Escarabajo]

Nice to see Santiago Umba so active. Very young fellow. Only Uran and Bernal made the transfer that young. I wish him the best, because the last crop of Colombian youngsters have not fared very well. We'll wee how he finishes the race.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Bardet, for some reason I really want Bardet to shine here - please send positive vibes.

The past years haven't been easy for him, hailed as the next French Tour winner he was always under immense pressure and it must be hard not being able to live up to expectations. Then last year at the Tour he looked surprisingly good, but that crash and the concussion took him out. Now he's in a new environment and maybe he likes it there, but I still think DSM are tyrants and he has to suffer them in order to try and get back to at least the level he was. It's not easy against the young guns of today.

Good shout. Always liked Bardet, more than Pinot actually. Less drama, less excuses and less obnoxious behavior by his entourage and fans. Nothing against Pinot himself, he's been handed the short end of the stick when it comes to luck on numerous occasions, but that's also true for Bardet.

 

[wheresmybrakes]

I like bardet but unless he can stay within 3 days of his rivals in ITT's in the GC's he is never gonna have a chance.

 

[RedheadDane]

I like bardet but unless he can stay within 3 days of his rivals in ITT's in the GC's he is never gonna have a chance.

He could have an okay chance in this race, though.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Imagine if they replaced the first stretch along the motorway today with the road over the Kühtaisattel. It wouldn't make the stage much longer, but it would definitely make it harder.

 

[Earns1985]

So a big GC day today....
I think the decisive attacks have to come on the Kaunergrat already. If the teams are clever, they will put a few of their guys in the breakaway, so that they can help their leaders after the Kaunergrat.

 

[Pinot's goat]

I like bardet but unless he can stay within 3 days of his rivals in ITT's in the GC's he is never gonna have a chance.

The only good ITT GC contenders in the Giro are Almeida who loses lots of time on multi mountain stages, Mcnulty who loses lots of time on any stage with a long mountain and Evenepoel who has not raced this season. There is a good chance that ITT will not be significant at the Giro.

 

[Mayomaniac]

The Bardinai teamcar casually insulting some uni students who don't know how to ride their bikes on it's way to the official start (those guys 100% deserved it).

 

[Red Rick]

Has Froome been dropped yet?

 

[Mayomaniac]

The younger Bais and the younger Vacek are in the breakawayy.

 

[WKA311]

And Engelhardt again, going for the sprint.

Really looking forward to see how some of the young/inexperienced guys climb today. Skjelmose, Vaceks, Palzer, Zwiehoff, Umba, Lipowitz, Ardila, Colleoni, Traeen etc.

Regarding the bigger favourites, I'm hoping Fabbro and Bardet will do well.

 

[Mayomaniac]

And Engelhardt again, going for the sprint.

Really looking forward to see how some of the young/inexperienced guys climb today. Skjelmose, Vaceks, Palzer, Zwiehoff, Umba, Lipowitz, Ardila, Colleoni, Traeen etc.

Regarding the bigger favourites, I'm hoping Fabbro and Bardet will do well.

The Vaceks are rather different riders. Karel's main weapon was always his insane acceleration, Mathias is mor of an allrounder, a top TTer in the junior ranks and he also packs a decent sprint.
Mathias Vacek was also a good XC skier in the Junior ranks, last year he won the junior NC in the mass start and finished 7th in the individual. He also finished 11th and 15th in the youth olympic games last year. He only really trained for XC skiing during the off-season, so his results are pretty impressive.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Quintana smells blood.

 

[WKA311]

The Vaceks are rather different riders. Karel's main weapon was always his insane acceleration, Mathias is mor of an allrounder, a top TTer in the junior ranks and he also packs a decent sprint.
Mathias Vacek was also a good XC skier in the Junior ranks, last year he won the junior NC in the mass start and finished 7th in the individual. He also finished 11th and 15th in the youth olympic games last year. He only really trained for XC skiing during the off-season, so his results are pretty impressive.

Yep, thats why its interesting to see them both in this race here.

 

[Earns1985]

Quintana smells blood.

No camera at the end of the peleton?
Three Ineos riders (Sosa, Martinez, Sivakov) behind Arkea.

 

[Escarabajo]

Dani Martinez!!!!
Big difference in the attack!

 

[Mayomaniac]

Is that Umba near the front?
Edit: Apparently it's Cepeda.

 

[SafeBet]

Alex Cepeda and Torstein Traeen surprises of the day thus far.