Bike Racing

[Graham Breeze]

Well I was going post about what a great ITT it was yesterday and especially in such appalling conditions. However, the news this morning is all about Remco's abandonment of the Giro having tested positive for covid. That leaves G in pink with Roglic only 2 seconds down and TGH on 5. It will be interesting to see how this plays out in the mountains with Jumbo having arguably the stronger team but with Ineos having the tactical upper hand with 2 riders in contention.

And I only read on one of the cycling websites this weekend that it's still a long way to Rome!

[Witton Park]

Well I was going post about what a great ITT it was yesterday and especially in such appalling conditions. However, the news this morning is all about Remco's abandonment of the Giro having tested positive for covid. That leaves G in pink with Roglic only 2 seconds down and TGH on 5. It will be interesting to see how this plays out in the mountains with Jumbo having arguably the stronger team but with Ineos having the tactical upper hand with 2 riders in contention.

Just imagine he was diagnosed with a common cold. Do you think he'd be bombarded with vitamins and would try to get through the next couple of days?
He's clearly not so bad judging on performance in the TT, probably coming out of it and with a rest day to be had.

But hey let's use the C word and keep the international hysteria going.

[Marco]

However, the news this morning is all about Remco's abandonment of the Giro having tested positive for covid. That leaves G in pink with Roglic only 2 seconds down and TGH on 5. It will be interesting to see how this plays out in the mountains with Jumbo having arguably the stronger team but with Ineos having the tactical upper hand with 2 riders in contention.

Filippo Ganna has already abandoned the race with Covid-19, so it remains to be seen how many more of the Ineos team come down with it and are forced to quit.

Whilst the advantage has probably swung towards Jumbo-Visma, there are only three truly mountainous stages left (13th, 16th, and 19th) so there could be ambushes by people further down the field at anytime.

[PeteS]

I don't suppose any team or rider is safe from covid but you would hope Ineos at least have some protocols in place to try and prevent infection spreading. It would be interesting to know who Ganna's room mate was though!

It may well all be over by stage 20 but the last ITT 18km ending with a 7k climb average 12% may yet prove decisive. Short, yes, but you could easily lose 20-30 seconds and who knows maybe more after 3 weeks of racing.

[PeteS]

An absolute mare of a stage yesterday with more covid retirements, TGH out with a fractured hip and Oscar Rodriguez narrowly missing serious injury after some numpty took his front wheel out.
Some very strange tactics today but looking forward to some shake up on the GC tomorrow when we hit the big stuff.

[Witton Park]

I Marco,

I don't know if Admin knows, but I'm a bit of an underground admin

I can't see any pending posts at all, so not sure what the issue is.

[Marco]

But back to Roglic: I think it is pretty cool to take the jersey for the first time on the penultimate day. It gives the impression that you leave the baubles for lesser men because you know that overall victory will be yours so why divert your focus on PR duties?

Interestingly Cycling Weekly named Roglic as the favourite before the Giro started - and not Evenepoel. So it got that right.

I've moved the racing part of your post here, Graham, as I don't want to reply on the wrong thread.

I think Roglic was lucky. Evenepoel had to pull out with Covid, as did Ganna, and Tao G H fractured his hip in a crash. Despite all this, Roglic only won by 14 seconds.

I know you wanted Ineos to lose, as you don't like the Ineos (formerly Sky) team, but had Thomas had the services of Ganna and Tao G H then he would have gained more time before the final time trial. Of course had Evenepoel not contracted Covid, then we'd be looking at another Belgian grand tour win

[Marco]

I Marco,

I don't know if Admin knows, but I'm a bit of an underground admin

I can't see any pending posts at all, so not sure what the issue is.

Sorry to have not answered you before, but have been away on holiday and been unable to get a secure internet connection.

The post in question was on this thread on the 9th May - ironically it was in a reply to you.

I'm not sure what happened, but on about the 11th it appeared without alteration. I think Noel, or one of the Admin team, put their hand down the back and fished it out of the overflow tank

[Graham Breeze]

I've moved the racing part of your post here, Graham, as I don't want to reply on the wrong thread.

I think Roglic was lucky. Evenepoel had to pull out with Covid, as did Ganna, and Tao G H fractured his hip in a crash. Despite all this, Roglic only won by 14 seconds.

I know you wanted Ineos to lose, as you don't like the Ineos (formerly Sky) team, but had Thomas had the services of Ganna and Tao G H then he would have gained more time before the final time trial. Of course had Evenepoel not contracted Covid, then we'd be looking at another Belgian grand tour win

Well yes I am a dedicated ATBI (any team but Ineos) but in the "what if" debate I recall Roglic had a bad day and Thomas didn't...however I had expected Evenepoel to win assuming he didn't throw a hissy fit along the way. But given the story as it actually happened I thought Roglic did a Champion's ride in the TT and with the mechanical as well...he deserved his win.

[PeteS]

I'm not sure what everyone else thinks but I'm not a fan of this bike change thing in mountain TTs. To my mind they should finish on the bike they start with and if they do have a mechanical, then they should be replaced with a similar bike.