Itzulia Basque Country: 8-13 April 2019 *Spoilers*
blazing_saddles
Posts: 20,671
Don't know how much interest good 'ol Pais Vasco will generate around here, but might as well make the effort as there a couple of hours live each day on Eurosport.
This year there's a pretty poor weather forecast, too.
Stage 1: Zumarraga I.T.T. (11.9 km)
Stage 2: Zumarraga - Gorraiz (149,5 km)
Stage 3: Sarriguren - Estibaliz (191,4 km)
Stage 4: Vitoria-Gasteiz - Arrigorriaga (163,6 km)
Stage 5: Arrigorriaga - Arrate (149,8 km)
Stage 6: Eibar - Eibar (118,2 km)
This year there's a pretty poor weather forecast, too.
Stage 1: Zumarraga I.T.T. (11.9 km)
Stage 2: Zumarraga - Gorraiz (149,5 km)
Stage 3: Sarriguren - Estibaliz (191,4 km)
Stage 4: Vitoria-Gasteiz - Arrigorriaga (163,6 km)
Stage 5: Arrigorriaga - Arrate (149,8 km)
Stage 6: Eibar - Eibar (118,2 km)
"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
0
Posts
Why bother ending stage 6 on a descent?
Interesting field too - should be some good racing every day.
Alaphillippe, Kwiatkowski, Martin.
Thomas, Buchmann, Landa, Anacona, Adam Yates, Nieve, Dani Martinez, Ben King, George Bennett, Mas.
Then there's Astana, who have Pello Bilbao, Izagirre, Izagirre, Fraile, Lutsenko, LL Sanchez and Fuglsang.
Cos the road going up is both very narrow and very steep.
Plus the fact the descent will be technical and oh, the finish will be in a town full of spectators.
Detailed updates? No chance.
Here you go. ES with English, just starting. Unfortunately, I can't do anything about Kirby.
http://tiz-cycling.live/
Jumbo all trying to ride Peter Weening's gears up a 21% ramp, (George Bennett fell over, while another had to walk) while Mollema is an age behind. Oomen little better.
Thanks for the link - good end to a long Monday
https://twitter.com/inrng/status/1115270319768518656
The official profile doesn't entirely do it justice...
Also, the riders face 4.8 kilometres of unpaved road, but this is unlikely to effect the race. However, it is likely to be wet.
Bust his collarbone at his first race this year - Mallorca. So guess been on the path to recovery since.
Live now with 75kms and all the gravel roads still to go.
#alaphillippepostal
i dont like him, he's rat boy but there's no denying he's got some talent. Do you reckon he's on the sauce then?
DQS rider was the first man down which took out Mas and Alaphillipe. Could mean a spell off the bike for the Frenchman; his classics campaign now in question.
I think Castroviejo (because of his injuries) must have been the Sky rider who flew over his bike and Thomas (lost 5 minutes) went off into the ditch. Elissonde finished over 9 minutes back along with Kwiatkowski, didn't look good either. He's not yet appeared in the results. A dozen riders still missing.
Edit: Alaphillipe was last to finish , he lost over 11 minutes.
https://www.teamsky.com/article/castrov ... ajor-crash
Presumably he will rest up for a couple of days then resume training.
Leaves him light on racing prior to Ardennes week though, so he may opt to stretch his legs in Brabanse.
But the racing this year... I saw complaints on Alaphillipe before but man, this Schachmann, he's peeing into the peloton! 3/4 stages, and was second in the other. Now there's only Arrate between him and the GC
http://www.altimetrias.net/aspbk/verPuerto.asp?id=302
Here's better breakdown on them, anyhow.
Stage 6 looks very tasty. Short, punchy and with a really tough penultimate climb.
This profile has the numbers.
Yep, stage 6 looks very tasty, and could be a brilliant stage but it is short, and an advantage over 30s would quench the thirst for GC attacks. That's why I say Arrate is the key. Traditionally, that's where the GC men have burned their matches.
What I suspect will happen is that tomorrow the bunch will have a high pace, but will get together (except a small breakaway) to Arrate, where climbers will give it a go. Since Arrate isn't very long, Schachmann should only lose a bunch of seconds to people like Daniel Martinez and maybe Landa (depending on his form). But then, what do I know? Let's just enjoy the race.
for some reason the moorland they go through reminds me of the trough of bowland.
Net result being that Bora still hold onto two thirds of the podium and Izzagirre finds himself 54 seconds adrift of a climber, instead of 52 seconds behind a puncheur.
Hopefully Astana will think that Fuglsang moving up two spots on GC was worth the overall.
The final stage proving to be the decisive one.
Adam Yates takes the stage win, KoM jersey and moves up to 5th on GC, having lost 72" on the gravel roads of stage 2.
Dan Martin moved up to finish second overall and second on the stage.
Ion Izzagirre takes the overall, after Astana and UAE gang up on the unfortunate Buchmann, who, in a final twist of fate, lost a podium spot after following the camera bike and missing the final turn to the finish.
Tadej Pogačar with another incredible week long ride for one so young.
I'm seasoning my hat as we speak. I guess the previous day's effort took a toll on Buchmann. It was heartbreaking to see him lose a podium spot like that, too.