Giro D'Italia 2024: Chirps, Buzz and Updates

['Dale]

3 rest day thoughts:

Quintana turns back the clock and demonstrates an incredible climbing performance after being away from competing at the highest level. It must be so damn hard to serve a ban, regroup, reset and rejoin the WorldTour.  

Week 3 is mountain after mountain after mountain stage. The racing has been so hard, fast and intense which will make for a dramatic final week. Will UAE begin to damage control and conserve to continue their Giro-TdF double or will they aim to continue the ongoing annihilation of their GC rivals? Some say that Tadej may aim for the GC triple…

Real tough weather conditions are predicted for this week coming. Bodies will be weary and immune systems depleted. Just add water and wheel spray. Let’s see how the weather gods will impact the Giro.

 Pic: @s_w_images

[Vetplant]

Today...

@BenjiNaesen

I spoke to multiple riders today in relation to their problems with tomorrow's Stage 16, and their opinion on RCS' "solution". "Problem is, we often feel like clowns in a circus." "Tomorrow, it's 0 degrees on Umbrailpass, so the descends are tricky, and there's risk of hypothermia, especially in case of rain or snow." "Even if you are well-dressed in a bunch, you get wet in a few minutes with the water coming from the road." "Even yesterday, after sweating on the climb, I was freezing and cross-eyed in the descent, and that's when it was sunny." "Stopping at the top for a 3-minute neutralised is not realistic. What do you do with the breakaway, the bunch and with the dropped riders? It will take ages for staff to get the riders and get changed to descend." "The safest option is starting the race in the valley after Umbrailpass." "Us riders, we need to stand together but it gets complicated when RCS says they're OK with only 2 teams starting. And invited teams have no say. Call their bluff." #Giro

 

[Vetplant]

 

[Frosty]

[Spafsack]

I see tons of the stage has been cancelled or made shorter, when do they start again today?

[Vetplant]

1 hour ago, Spafsack said:

I see tons of the stage has been cancelled or made shorter, when do they start again today?

 

[Prince]

Start at 2 at Spondigna. 121km from the finish

[Vetplant]

5°C, Rain... What's not to love...

[peepeekaitjie]

1 hour ago, Vetplant said:

5°C, Rain... What's not to love...

these modern riders are soft.

back in my day, we would do a little cocaine, amphetamines and a couple of shots of brandy and would be good to ride 200km in the snow.

[Vetplant]

Adam Hansen
@HansenAdam
As it unfolded:

On the rest day, the CPA first contacted all stakeholders to arrange an agreement based on the weather forecast for stage 16. It was clear that the conditions on Umbrail Pass should invoke the UCI extreme weather protocol, and the riders proposed eliminating this pass to avoid 2 degrees with snow during the long descent. The riders' intention was to have a full race without having to stop and restart due to extreme weather.

The riders stood united in their decision, which was communicated to show the seriousness of their stance. After many hours of negotiations on the morning of the race, the CPA did their best to convey the riders' seriousness in avoiding today's situation.

In the end, it was clear that Umbrail Pass could not have been raced as local authorities closed the pass due to too much snow. If the riders had raced, as the stakeholders wanted, the race would have stopped at the Umbrail Pass. Please remember, the riders' intention was always to race from point A to B and put on a show, exactly like they did and how a race should be.

So ultimately, due to the weather, the original race course could not have been completed. Especially since before the race had even started, it was 0 degrees with snow. If that does not invoke the extreme weather protocol, then what does?

It is 2024; we need to have a clear protocol in place for all stakeholders to understand and accept to preserve the good image of cycling. A "let's see how it goes" approach, especially today, would have resulted in riders on the side of the road, scattered all over the climb, looking for shelter in the snow. This is not the solution for ensuring the riders' health.

[Frosty]

@'Dale must be happy with today's winner #cannondale #EF

['Dale]

And that's it folks:

9:56: The time it takes to mix and cook a lekka omelette, with cheese schredding time included. The vast time difference between 1st step and the 2nd step on the podium.

38: Geraint Thomas, the turbo-diesel engined Welshman shows incredible longevity as he celebrates his 38th birthday on Stage 20. What an ambassador for the Ineos Grenadier team. Likely to show up again for the Vuelta.

6: The number of stages won by the Slovenian superstar. Even the DS said that it was “an unexpected victory and wasn't planned” during the stage that was shortened due to rain and snow. I think it matched sprinters Cavendish and Petacchi in terms of number of GT stage wins?

51:47: The time it took for Tadej to break the climbing record on Strava Segment up Monte Grappa by more than 5 mins. Bliksem.

34: The number of slapies to the Tour de France. Min dae indeed. Remco and Roglič is ready to line up at the Dauphinè. Vingegaard was spotted training in Mallorca. I imagine that he will head to a high altitude camp shortly too before tapering. I am watching out for Bernal who has steadily improved in stage racing since his life-threatening crash.

Closing remarks:

What an unusual GC race with the maglia rosa dominating from week 1 and stretching the lead with every possible opportunity. Remarkable. His dominance will bring on many questions about the credibility of his results. Regardless, his versatility and charisma is entertaining and awesome to watch. New year, new coach, new Pog!

On a recent interview with his mum, the journalist asked what is something he is not good at. She replied that his handwriting is not the best. For now, as it goes, 'The WorldTour peloton is living in Tadej's world.'

Finally: A good tour for the man mountain, Jonathan Milan and Lidl-Trek. Glimpses of sherpa genius by Quintana, turning back the clock. A good GC tour for Bora's Martinez; could Primoz and Hindley continue podium success? Will Allaphillippe make it to the Tour after his breakaway success, exciting the fans in his 'home race'?

Edited May 26 by 'Dale

[SwissVan]

5 hours ago, 'Dale said:

And that's it folks:

9:56: The time it takes to mix and cook a lekka omelette, with cheese schredding time included. The vast time difference between 1st step and the 2nd step on the podium.

Sorry but that’s just UNBELIEVABLE
 

HOW TO MAKE A NICE BIKE LOOK FUGLY, paint it pink

\/

Pardon the editing of the OP’s original post

[Frosty]

13 hours ago, SwissVan said:

HOW TO MAKE A NICE BIKE LOOK FUGLY, paint it pink

Now you can see them building the bike

 

[Shebeen]

18 hours ago, 'Dale said:

And that's it folks:

9:56: The time it takes to mix and cook a lekka omelette, with cheese schredding time included. The vast time difference between 1st step and the 2nd step on the podium.

38: Geraint Thomas, the turbo-diesel engined Welshman shows incredible longevity as he celebrates his 38th birthday on Stage 20. What an ambassador for the Ineos Grenadier team. Likely to show up again for the Vuelta.

6: The number of stages won by the Slovenian superstar. Even the DS said that it was “an unexpected victory and wasn't planned” during the stage that was shortened due to rain and snow. I think it matched sprinters Cavendish and Petacchi in terms of number of GT stage wins?

51:47: The time it took for Tadej to break the climbing record on Strava Segment up Monte Grappa by more than 5 mins. Bliksem.

34: The number of slapies to the Tour de France. Min dae indeed. Remco and Roglič is ready to line up at the Dauphinè. Vingegaard was spotted training in Mallorca. I imagine that he will head to a high altitude camp shortly too before tapering. I am watching out for Bernal who has steadily improved in stage racing since his life-threatening crash.

Closing remarks:

What an unusual GC race with the maglia rosa dominating from week 1 and stretching the lead with every possible opportunity. Remarkable. His dominance will bring on many questions about the credibility of his results. Regardless, his versatility and charisma is entertaining and awesome to watch. New year, new coach, new Pog!

On a recent interview with his mum, the journalist asked what is something he is not good at. She replied that his handwriting is not the best. For now, as it goes, 'The WorldTour peloton is living in Tadej's world.'

Finally: A good tour for the man mountain, Jonathan Milan and Lidl-Trek. Glimpses of sherpa genius by Quintana, turning back the clock. A good GC tour for Bora's Martinez; could Primoz and Hindley continue podium success? Will Allaphillippe make it to the Tour after his breakaway success, exciting the fans in his 'home race'?

And he was so close to getting pink on stage 1. No freebies, ever

[Irvin85]

What a performance by Pogi. The way he manages to drop the best .1% of the best .1% cyclist in the world that actually ends up at World tour level is fascinating to watch. Putting over two minutes on them and then crossing the finish line, looking like he hardly broke a sweat is just incredible. He must be in the best form of his life at the moment. 

A generational talent for sure. I cannot wait for the Tour to see the 4 top GC dogs in battle. I hope all of them starts the race in their best possible form. I doubt that Pogi will carry much fatigue into the tour, this was merely a training ride for him as no one came close to challenge him.