Vuelta a España Vuelta a España 2025, Stage 1: Reggia di Venaria – Novara (186.1k)

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Pedersen also doesn't have much support for the sprints. Hoole and Kragh aren't really a sufficient leadout.

So there may be a chance for an outsider indeed, but as mentioned above, I honestly don't really rate any of the competition particular high. Maybe Aniołkowski, if in top shape.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Pedersen also doesn't have much support for the sprints. Hoole and Kragh aren't really a sufficient leadout.

Somehow, it's still one of the better leadouts in this field.

 

[Pantani_lives]

Philipsen could win the opening stage in two GTs in the same year. Did anyone do that since Freddy Maertens in 1977? (Hinault did it in 1982, but the Giro prologue was a team time trial.)

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Philipsen could win the opening stage in two GTs in the same year. Did anyone do that since Freddy Maertens in 1977? (Hinault did it in 1982, but the Giro prologue was a team time trial.)

Philipsen is possibly more likely to do it, but Pedersen could achieve it as well.

 

[Rob5091]

Trek seem to be going all in for Big Mads and letting Ciccone go for stages, which means he'll be trying to lose some time early on, I suppose.
https://cyclinguptodate.com/cycling...et-for-free-role-at-vuelta-alongside-pedersen

 

[search]

Trek seem to be going all in for Big Mads and letting Ciccone go for stages, which means he'll be trying to lose some time early on, I suppose.
https://cyclinguptodate.com/cycling...et-for-free-role-at-vuelta-alongside-pedersen

looks like more of a "no pressure" approach, than a real plan to me. They also said that Ciccone aims to take red in stage 2, so he should be up there from the start, and then will not give up on GC anyway.

 

[MagliaNera]

I don't know where the municipality of Venaria Reale takes all that money to host two Grand Tour starts in two years, but I'll take it – the Reggia di Venaria is really a fantastic sight and a great out-of-town trip (nowadays only a short train ride away) that I'd recommend to anyone visiting Turin for more than a day.

It's a shame three Grand Tours pass through Turin within two years and not a single one of them includes the Superga, though (well, technically the Giro 2024 climbed one of the ascents, but from a much easier side). At least it's now back in Milano-Torino, hopefully for good.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Philipsen could win the opening stage in two GTs in the same year. Did anyone do that since Freddy Maertens in 1977? (Hinault did it in 1982, but the Giro prologue was a team time trial.)

Fabian Cancellara, Tour and Vuelta in 2009.

 

[Red Rick]

I don't know where the municipality of Venaria Reale takes all that money to host two Grand Tour starts in two years, but I'll take it – the Reggia di Venaria is really a fantastic sight and a great out-of-town trip (nowadays only a short train ride away) that I'd recommend to anyone visiting Turin for more than a day.

It's a shame three Grand Tours pass through Turin within two years and not a single one of them includes the Superga, though (well, technically the Giro 2024 climbed one of the ascents, but from a much easier side). At least it's now back in Milano-Torino, hopefully for good.

Vuelta starts in Italy, passing by but not taking the following climbs

- Superga
- Colletto del Moro
- Finestre
- Alpe d'Huez
- Montee de la Bastille

 

[Tim Cahill]

Got up at the crack of dawn, rented a big cinema screen, bouncy castle, fireworks display in the garden all so I can catch Finlay Pickering make his eagerly anticipated GT debut.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Got up at the crack of dawn, rented a big cinema screen, bouncy castle, fireworks display in the garden all so I can catch Finlay Pickering make his eagerly anticipated GT debut.

I think you mean Xavier Finlay Xavier Pickering.

 

[Tim Cahill]

I think you mean Xavier Finlay Xavier Pickering.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

He's probably not going to achieve the same kind of success as Charli Xavier Cinlay Xavier, but I hope his GT debut will go well.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Lidl-Trek should try to drop Philipsen on the climb but they might perceive it as a waste of energy.

 

[tobydawq]

Are they seriously going to use Nicki Sørensen as a commentator for this race?

 

[Cance > TheRest]

Are they seriously going to use Nicki Sørensen as a commentator for this race?

The funeral has begun. Who is on at Max?

 

[Rou]

Nice to see Sagan in the ad of My whoosh.

 

[Potomac]

Total face palm as peacock commentators Rob Roll and Christian Van de Velde think the famous roof top fiat track is a velodrome.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Ermmmmmmmmm just found out they're in Italy???? It's the vuelta they should be in Spain.

Anyway today Fausto late attack tappa e maglia. Written in the stars

 

[Unterlenkerfahrend]

One of the most pointless foreign starts I can remember.
GTs to go abroad should either be done for attractive route reasons or to give a country/region the chance to host GT stages which otherwise wouldn't be possible (Alabania, Bulgaria, even NL/Utrecht a few years ago).

This Italy opening weekend is done in a country/region that has plenty of high level races themselves not to mention a whole own GT every year. And then they manage to pick the most boring terrain possible for the stages.

What almost makes it worse for me is that they're not even attempting to transition in a logistical natural way with a stage through France along the coast. 4 stages of nothingness just so that the all hop onto a plane and continue in Spain as usually

 

[Eyeballs Out]

What's going on here ? A flat stage 1 and the break is NOT made up of two pro conti riders going from the flag?

 

[Devil's Elbow]

That's a lot of people who are interested in a day in the KOM jersey.

 

[YavorD]

Ermmmmmmmmm just found out they're in Italy???? It's the vuelta they should be in Spain.

Anyway today Fausto late attack tappa e maglia. Written in the stars

I get to hear the Italian anthem, so I forgive them.
For that sole reason, every GT should start in Italy.

(Of course, they should be better with the routes)

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Stage 1 Flat stages usually have larger breaks. We had an example of this less than two months ago.

 

[Gratemans]

What's going on here ? A flat stage 1 and the break is NOT made up of two pro conti riders going from the flag?

Vino! 😍