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Think we’re all on 4-6 riders left? @Jaysus has 2-3. Start List was 176, down to 126 (which is about average since Covid hit.)
Honestly I’m just trying to understand the sport more. Been a casual since LeMond. Got into it deeper bc Armstrong, but between him, Landis, Rasmussen, OK yeah everyone lol…got jaded & gave up on it for a long time.
Looking forward to the next two stages regardless of Velogames. None of the three likely GC podium are really imposing their will, def could go any direction.
Think we’re all on 4-6 riders left? @Jaysus has 2-3. Start List was 176, down to 126 (which is about average since Covid hit.)
Honestly I’m just trying to understand the sport more. Been a casual since LeMond. Got into it deeper bc Armstrong, but between him, Landis, Rasmussen, OK yeah everyone lol…got jaded & gave up on it for a long time.
Looking forward to the next two stages regardless of Velogames. None of the three likely GC podium are really imposing their will, def could go any direction.
That’s basically where I’m at. I’d watch the tour in July. Found it fascinating what these guys can do day after day. Especially being the shlub that I am.
Tried following the Vuelta last year. This is my foray into the Giro. Did the GCN+ TV package for the month.
As far as the fantasy games go, I try and pick guys I’ve heard of, and like, to keep my interest. Was a fan of Jens Voigt, Sylvain Chavanel, Thomas Voekler, Romain Bardet, Pierre Rolland and now Thibaut Pinot. In addition to the American guys.
Tomorrow’s TT profile is insane, couple stretches are 22%
Do people expect any more changes? People saying it’s up for grabs but I think the top 3 are settled - GT is superb TTer. But it's extreme enough to make people believe there could be a big swing.
Stage 20
Climb
Cat
Finish
Length
Avg Gradient
Monte Lussari
1
km 18.6
7.3 km
12.1%
Weather
Around 10-15°C. Mostly sunny.
Stage breakdown
It’s finally time for the last GC stage of the 2023 Giro, the much dreaded cronoscalata (uphill ITT) to Monte Lussari.
The race has moved to Tarvisio, a mountain resort in the northeastern corner of the country. Roglič should almost feel at home here, Slovenia is just 10 kms away. The first 11 kms are mostly flat, and parts of it take place on a cycling path; then, with 7.5 kms to go, the ascent begins. Monte Lussari is a brand new climb, never used before by the Giro or any other race. It’s been paved for the occasion- it was a narrow gravel road before that. The first 5 kms are ruthlessly steep, the average is 15% but the gradients go above 20% at times. The climb eases for a short while, around the 2 kms to go banner, before picking up again for another km where the gradients get up to 22%. Inside the last km the riders will find a brief descent before a short punchy ramp to the finish line.
The Giro used to have uphill ITTs somewhat regularly but they fell out of favour in recent years, the last proper stage of this kind was the 2016 Seiseralm stage won by Alexander Foliforov; in recent years, there have only been shorter ones such as the opening stage in 2019 to San Luca or the short uphill finales used in Budapest last year and Ortona three weeks ago.
★★★ Thomas
★★ Almeida Roglič
Geraint Thomas. He hasn't looked exactly flashy, but he's ben reliably solid all race long, so he's our safest bet.
Hopefully Primož Roglič won't have too many dejavus: the last time he tackled an uphill ITT on stage 20 of a Grand Tour, leaving right after a young UAE rider in the white jersey, things didn't go too well for him. Jokes aside, he's been in rising form in recent days, and he usually thrives on steep ramps like tomorrow's. His ITT performance in Cesena was also pretty good, although he was 16" behind Thomas on the day.
João Almeida has been lagging behind his other two rivals these last couple of days, but in the end he didn't lose much, so he shouldn't absolutely be counted out; perhaps he will fare better on a single climb. He wasn't stellar in Cesena, but his overall worth as a TTer is out of question.
Alright this is exactly as ridiculous as we expected, lol.
Bike exchange after the flat portion. Road (trail) is freshly paved. Limited moto coverage on the climb bc the road is tiny, they’ve tried a few overhead shots but they’re riding through a mature forest so we can’t see much. They tried to put in an intermediate time check at 14.3km but couldn’t get any internet signal.
The Monte Lussari is ludicrous. 5km at 15%!! Two sections are 22%. One cable car at the top is the only way down.
Anyone has a mechanical I presume we’ll see them walking haha.
How the gap between Roglic and Thomas evolved in the finale:
3,3 km to go:
Roglic 34:03
Thomas 34:19 (+0:16)
2,5 km to go, 200m after Roglic mechanical (Roglic lost ~17 sec there):
Roglic 38:05
Thomas 38:14 (+0:09)
0,8 km to go:
Roglic 42:20
Thomas 42:49 (+0:29)
FINISH:
Roglic 44:23
Thomas 45:03 (+0:40)
Basically, Thomas lost Il Giro in the last 2 km where Roglic was 30 sec faster than him. With 1 km to go, Thomas was still in virtual Maglia Rosa but then got tired, his pedalling got visibly very heavy. Anyway, without the mechanical, it wouldn't have been close and zero drama.
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