Tour of the Alps 2026, April 20-24

[Rob5091]

Pidders "worst day ever on a bike" story,
https://cyclinguptodate.com/cycling...m-pidcock-blunt-after-tour-of-the-alps-return

...the Yorkshireman dismissed any suggestion that second place was a notable achievement under the circumstances. “Yeah, but there’s no sprinters here, so that’s not very difficult, is it?” he said. “I just followed in the wheel. I had no sprint at all.”

Will he be here for the entire race, I wonder.

 

[the asian]

I believe Pidders has made a mistake, rushing back so early after the crash.

 

[Wyndbrook]

Not sure

I believe Pidders has made a mistake, rushing back so early after the crash.

Probably, but ' Pidders being Pidders' is just the way he is.

 

[Berniece]

Interesting to see how Pellizzari comes back from altitude. Might be his second victory ever in his career

 

[Rob5091]

Stage 2 - Looking at the profile, all the GC hopefuls should be there at the start of the last climb, so we'll see who has good legs.

 

[Unterlenkerfahrend]

Bit of a weird finish today. I've actually cycled that road when I was in Vinschgau on holiday two years ago. It actually goes way higher up to the Zufritt lake but they're only doing a third of it and finish a bit in the middle of nowhere (?). Coincidentally almost at the exact same spot where I turned around because I was tired haha.
GPX is giving me a visitor center as the finish but it's still very random just on the side of the road, there isn't even a village around it.

 

[Netserk]

Bit of a weird finish today. I've actually cycled that road when I was in Vinschgau on holiday two years ago. It actually goes way higher up to the Zufritt lake but they're only doing a third of it and finish a bit in the middle of nowhere (?). Coincidentally almost at the exact same spot where I turned around because I was tired haha.
GPX is giving me a visitor center as the finish but it's still very random just on the side of the road, there isn't even a village around it.

yep on the way up to val martello as in the 2014 giro

finish here at 15.4 km to go at naturparkhaus culturamartell

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Live now, Tudor and Red Bull controlling for Storer and Pellizzari

 

[Samu Cuenca]

It's already been 5 years since they last rode most of this stage, but finished in Naturns/Naturno. That also means it's been 8 years since I last crossed the Reschenpass by car and 9 years since I last did it from the Austrian side. Time flies.

Like I also posted in the 2021 trace thread, I very much enjoy the difference between the scenery during the last part of the climb from Nauders and the one you get when you enter Vinschgau/Val Venosta and pass the two lakes. I also especially like the couple of hairpin turns on the descent to Mals/Malles Venosta. I will be going back to Italy this summer, but it would be too much of a detour to visit this area again, so that will have to wait at least one more year.

The break is not too far from the border now, but I don't think Davide Bais will be taking his second MTF victory today.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Big tailwind until the final climb, the Vinschgau is known for being windy (and having as little average annual percipitation as Sicily)

 

[Mayomaniac]

It's already been 5 years since they last rode most of this stage, but finished in Naturns/Naturno. That also means it's been 8 years since I last crossed the Reschenpass by car and 9 years since I last did it from the Austrian side. Time flies.

Like I also posted in the 2021 trace thread, I very much enjoy the difference between the scenery during the last part of the climb from Nauders and the one you get when you enter Vinschgau/Val Venosta and pass the two lakes. I also especially like the couple of hairpin turns on the descent to Mals/Malles Venosta. I will be going back to Italy this summer, but it would be too much of a detour to visit this area again, so that will have to wait at least one more year.

The break is not too far from the border now, but I don't think Davide Bais will be taking his second MTF victory today.

I love the Vinschgau, even If I'm from the other end of Südtirol (Eastern border). Feels like the most puristic (least transformed by tourism) part of Südtirol. Also straight up people who question authorities and want to do things their own way.

 

[Mayomaniac]

That said, from Schlanders downwards it's full blown apple kulak territory...

 

[Potomac]

I remembered to watch this morning

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Shame to see the monagasque purito doing domestique work here

 

[Berniece]

Headstart of 45s for the attackers

 

[Ilmaestro99]

FORZA GAFFURI!!!!

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Finn!

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Pozzovivo looking good

 

[Cance > TheRest]

Yeah, Gaffuri (and Picnic) could really do with a win. But I fear it is not gonna happen today.

STORERCAR seems to be in trouble

 

[Tim Cahill]

Gaffuri will depend on snookers, Finn's leader being behind is good for him as he looks apprehensive to attack

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Bunch of absolute clowns sitting on the wheel of a 43 year old doing a comeback cos he got bored

 

[Rou]

The Redbull Bora real leader thread will be fun later today.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

The Redbull Bora real leader thread will be fun later today.

Even Roglič would drop Bernal and Arensman, though

 

[Rou]

How about we create 'Real INEOS leader' thread?
BERNAL is showing signs of life again.

 

[Berniece]

Finn is going to win this I think, unless he needs to ride for Pellizzari to keep the others back