Eugene Oppelt

Gritty stuff by the Maglia Rosa. The jersey seem to add an extra 0.5 watts/kg in the finalè. @veloncc

“I don’t have energy to train…” You need to train to get the energy.

Rest day tomorrow and the individual time trial to follow. It’s hard to call whether the breakaway artists will have their day again as the GC rivals would likely want to make big moves, especially Red-Bull’ and Trek’ who need to get in touch. Jonas looking steady and stoic as usual and just achieved a cool milestone of having won a stage in each Grand Tour.

A moerse day at the office for the Giro peloton. Some would argue that this is the day where the podium will be decided. It's Blokhaus day. The longest Grand Tour stage over the last 5 years. 18 kms at 8%, comparable to Mt Ventoux. Go, Jonas!

Remarkable that the race was not neutralised or shortened due to the angry weather gods. Many suggest that the Giro should be swopped with the Vuelta as the climate is a relatively better around Spain than on the Italian boot. Love it when the breakaway wins. Pic: Getty Images

Peanut butta with Nutella

Winter is coming IMG_0937.mov

The puncheurs had their way today and at, roughly 5 w/kg, they could distance the men with the big thighs and top end speed. The GC guns kept their powder dry because tomorrow will be a good test with a 4000 m + vert tomorrow. And 3 weeks is a long time.

Today's task - very short stage with a key climb that sets up the perfect dramatic finish. Today is all about the climb midway. The race manual says it’s “easy” and 17km at 5% sounds steady but zoom in because there’s 14km at 6% and the first 8km are close to 7% which is Alpine enough to drop plenty, all on a twisting side road too. Sauce: Inner Ring

Magnier!!! Wearing the Maglia Rosa so far from home is a massive achievement and career milestone for Guillermo Thomas Silva, the man from Uruguay. 📸 Getty Images

"When it rains, it pours; but it's your choice if you drown in it or dance in it." - H. C. Paye

Even in the women’s space, the winners are becoming younger and younger. I attribute this to sports science.

Going through the Balkan mountains today. Bulgaria, I've never been. With 14km to go the climb of out Lyaskovets stings. It’s 2.5km at 9.5% and has long parts of 12% and even an 18% moment on the way up thanks to some tight hairpins. It’s all on a small road in woodland so moving up is costly or probably impossible making this a crunch point for stage contenders and GC riders alike. Sauce: The Inner Ring

Can the 22 year old Magnier hold on to the Maglia Rosa? The breakaway artists will be licking their lips. There may be an audacious GC attack. Hmmm. Let's see.

That’ll warm me up