XDS Astana team

[GenericBoonenFan]

Fausto in the Giro team. No Bettiol.

'Out of shape' according to them.
3rd y'day behind Remco and Almeida.
They could've just said that they want him to score big points in France next week.

 

[Netserk]

A bit ruthless not to take the Italian champion, but they are all-in.

 

[Brullnux]

Masnada/Kuzmin over Bettiol feels an off-bike decision to me. Not sure if it's punishment for Bettiol's underperformance in the classics, or whether his training has been erratic, but he is clearly in form and promises more opportunities for points than the other two.

I'm not sure how many pure domestiques they even need at the Giro, they have Fortunato and Poels (maybe Scaroni) going for GC but it's a follow wheels operation, it isn't like we are going to see the revival of the Astana train. Plus Bettiol can help Kanter out somewhat on flat stages.

 

[Netserk]

Masnada/Kuzmin over Bettiol feels an off-bike decision to me. Not sure if it's punishment for Bettiol's underperformance in the classics, or whether his training has been erratic, but he is clearly in form and promises more opportunities for points than the other two.

Opportunity cost, maybe? Spreadsheets may show a higher expected points haul in other races.

 

[Brullnux]

Opportunity cost, maybe? Spreadsheets may show a higher expected points haul in other races.

Comes at the (not insignificant) risk of pissing him off, which then means he gets a total of 0 points across the French races he is suppose to ride. He's been quite vocal about wanting to ride the Giro since November, and the UCI rankings is a much less desperate issue now. To me points to behind the scenes issues/punishment – it's not at all unlikely that Bettiol, a guy known for an amateur approach, and Vino, who is Vino, clash.

 

[Netserk]

Yeah, very plausible. Maybe he would have needed (as minimum) to win a stage in Romandie, so he went all-in for the ITT.

 

[Sciatic]

Yeah, very plausible. Maybe he would have needed (as minimum) to win a stage in Romandie, so he went all-in for the ITT.

That would be sad if that’s the reason. But we know that kind of thing happens.

 

[Berniece]

Comes at the (not insignificant) risk of pissing him off, which then means he gets a total of 0 points across the French races he is suppose to ride.

He won’t be pissed off, I’m still sure that the riders are getting a huge bonus if they stay in WT with the team

 

[tobydawq]

He won’t be pissed off, I’m still sure that the riders are getting a huge bonus if they stay in WT with the team

That really doesn't mean he won't be pissed off...

Money isn't everything.

 

[Berniece]

That really doesn't mean he won't be pissed off...

Money isn't everything.

Depends how much you are paid, and he must understand the goal of this season, it’s what he signed up for

 

[tobydawq]

Depends how much you are paid, and he must understand the goal of this season, it’s what he signed up for

Stop pretending you know how the guys feels

 

[Berniece]

Stop pretending you know how the guys feels

Okay, let's kill any type of discussion on the topic by looking at it from different sides by just saying he's pissed off.

 

[tobydawq]

Okay, let's kill any type of discussion on the topic by looking at it from different sides by just saying he's pissed off.

How is this worse than you just coming with a sweeping statement about how he isn't pissed off because he earns his money when we have so often seen Bettiol in fact be pissed off, having quite a temper and calling himself the last romantic which probably might suggest that he views the sport differently than Jay Vine?

 

[Mayomaniac]

How is this worse than you just coming with a sweeping statement about how he isn't pissed off because he earns his money when we have so often seen Bettiol in fact be pissed off, having quite a temper and calling himself the last romantic which probably might suggest that he views the sport differently than Jay Vine?

I mean, he has called Vine a meme-rider who crashes in half the races and seems to be a bit of a knucklehead overall. The rants against Vergallito and so on

 

[Brullnux]

I mean, he has called Vine a meme-rider who crashes in half the races and seems to be a bit of a knucklehead overall. The rants against Vergallito and so on

All the more reason why he'd be angry, I think he's the type to feel entitled to the Giro by virtue of being national champion.

 

[pastronef]

spring renewals. from SciCon glasses to Oakley in spring 2023. from Limar helmets to XDS helmets in spring 2025

https://twitter.com/x/status/1920118994117263774

View: https://x.com/XDSAstanaTeam/status/1920118994117263774

 

[TourOfSardinia]

About to turn from red to green.

 

[pastronef]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1921878600057323527

View: https://x.com/raulbanqueri/status/1921878600057323527

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Post Stage 9 of Giro

 

[staubsauger]

PostNL really needs to get their act together, so Cofidis relegates!

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Passing Cofidis today
Inter/Wanty next?