Eugene Oppelt

Stage 20 is the big and threatening speed bump to glory for the Maglia Rosa, according to many reports. Will lack of experience at Grand Tour level derail the Mexican’s GC or is he simply too well conditioned and talented to ‘break the old and conventional ways’ of winning over 3 weeks? Go, Richie!

That’ll warm me up 🫥

The high high and the low lows of professional sport.

Something like 22 000 m vert over the next 4-5 stages. Can the 21 year old surprise and climb like an angel until Rome? Will Roglič exit and reset for the Tour de France after seemingly struggling with injuries on both hips? Can Yates overcome his rivals and win GC after coming so so close in 2018 thereabouts? Great photograph:

The Namibian on a podium in the land of stats and stripes - cool stuff

Recovery-from-gogga week 😝

The high mountains beckon and this is the state of GC affairs. Remarkable.

The Maglia Rosa extends his lead extensively and there’s a moerse GC shake up after a big crash on a wet circuit finalé. There will be quite a bit of strategy discussions now which will lead to more dramatic and intriguing race scenarios up Mont Grappa tomorrow. “After a tough year, the team believed in me and signed me… and after illness in spring, they gave me an opportunity quite soon to go for it… glad I could reward them with a win…” - Kasper Asgreen, Stage 14 winner Pic: Getty Images

The MadsPederson Show, also featuring Wout and Isaac 📸 @GiroDItalia

Meanwhile…

I want a teammate like Wout. 500 meters in the wind and then a steady lead out around the 270 degree bend until the Olav could finally get a stage victory - his 40th professional victory. The maglia rosa extends his lead and/or takes seconds from other rivals, allowing Ayuso to consent and save matches while keeping his powder dry for Week 3 where the GC battle will intensify. Precious points for Team Picnic PostNL with a second spot, as they continue to battle getting out of the relegation zone. Pic credit: Getty Images

Innovation! The finish stage now becomes a circuit race and not just a cobbled sprint finish - that’ll be intense

A rainy late afternoon that would’ve levelled the playing field somewhat, especially near the top. Daan Hoole taking all-out risks on the corners and earns his biggest career win with a mere 7 seconds over the impressive Josh Tarling. Mountain time imminent. Hmmm. Don’t blink.

"It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle." - Ernest Hemingway

A rare interview with Jonas, after recovering from concussion and other bits about life, training and the Tour

“Never doubt Wout” - TNT’ commentary The Belgian’s 50th professional victory and he demonstrates why he is a champion after a terrible 12 months after crashing at high speed last Spring. He now also joins the ‘3’ Club having now won a stage in all of the Grand Tours. And there’s another new Maglia Rosa and he’s Mexican. Team UAE will be smiling and perplexed at the same time with Del Toro’s sensational finish today. It was an Italian drama today going into the rest day with a very key time trial looming. Pic credit: Andrea Pialo

Wout woke up this morning, licking his lips, and said “this is my kinda stage…” And Bernal looking fantastic in that awesome Colombian national jersey at the head of the race. Getty Images

Gordon’s Bay ⛵ And new-bike-day for a bruuu

Art meets engineering, if you love either

Two hours of racing before the breakaway broke away. One team’s interest feeds into the desires of another team with Red-Bull Hansgrohe wanting to relinquish the GC lead and another wanting to earn previous points and prestige. What a week for the team with that splendid MAAP kit: Plapp’s biggest career win probably as the breakaway from the breakaway. And longstanding sports director of more than a decade have been abruptly asked to leave the team with immediate effect which is a very rare situation for formal in the middle of a season. Such is the highs, lows and mysteries within the corridors of high performance teams. And there’s a new Maglia Rosa! It’ll make a former Olympic champion-now-team manager grin from ear to ear. Massive success at the Tour Of Hungary and now today’s GC success. The stakes are quite existential for the XDS-Astana team as they are battling with the threat of relegation. Just beautiful racing on a scenic and idyllic day for racing in Italy. Pic: Getty Sport Images

The more real side of David Millar as he meets himself at the Traka 560. Beautiful content. "This feels like when I was 18 years and I was about to race a 100 miles for the first time. I was scared... I have never ridden through the night before now until now... it was a complete unknown..."

The first summit finish after about a 100 miles. Today will be propper battle for stage glory. Team bus discussions would've been intense and concentrated as Lidl-Trek have been dominating the tour so far and other teams would want to press forward their interests. I am hoping Romain Bardet can showcase his climbing superpowers in his final Grand Tour. However, the final ascent may not be long enough to favour him. Day for the breakaway? Hmmm.

Memory lane, French Alps 2018, Col du Laularet 🇫🇷

Stop trolling, man.

Working yourself into chronic exhaustion is a form of bullying. Go ride your bike, Cupcake.