Giro 2023: Stage 16: Sabbio Chiese – Monte Bondone 203 km, A Mucho Mountain Affair. ***Spoilers***

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  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 13,465
    Dennis says they wanted to get Thomas back into the pink
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  • wallace_and_gromit
    wallace_and_gromit Posts: 3,100
    rick_chasey said:

    Roglic was favourite? Yikes.

    I don't get the hype, I have to say.

    Against Pog and JV it's a no brainer: Not Rog.

    But against a (seemingly, based on 2022) one-paced 37 year old, the unproven Almeida and potential one-hit wonder TGH, it's no great surprise that Roglic (triple Vuelta winner, still in prime years) would be the target of the smart money.
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 26,085
    rick_chasey said:

    Roglic was favourite? Yikes.

    I don't get the hype, I have to say.

    Roglic was the favourite.
    Rest day tomorrow for non-sprinters before racing recommences. It's not over yet.
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • dannbodge
    dannbodge Posts: 1,152
    edited May 2023
    3 Ineos riders in the top 10 of GC.

    Also looks like Almeida TTs wells, so that should make it even more interesting.
  • mididoctors
    mididoctors Posts: 17,610
    rick_chasey said:

    Almeida is only 18s behind on GC.

    Yeah he's going to win the giro
    "If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm
  • kingstongraham
    kingstongraham Posts: 26,570
    edited May 2023
    rick_chasey said:

    Roglic was favourite? Yikes.

    I don't get the hype, I have to say.

    Podium on all the GTs in his career, and winner of Tirreno Adriatico (in front of Almeida) and Catalunya (in front of Evenepoel) this year.

  • mididoctors
    mididoctors Posts: 17,610
    No_Ta_Doctor said:

    rick_chasey said:

    pblakeney said:

    GC finally comes to life!

    In that the GC leader (minus the interloper borrowing the jersey) took even more time? ;)
    In that they raced each other
    Think the only time gaps previously were from TTs, no?
    Roglics down hill attack with TGH and G
    "If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm
  • mididoctors
    mididoctors Posts: 17,610
    kingstongraham said:

    Nice work by Almeida - deserved that.

    UAE came out blazing ... surprised me how strong vine was
    "If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 41,162
    Didn’t expect that. Couldn’t work out at 8k to go if Thomas was in trouble or just blagging to watch Roglic from the back. The latter obviously. Quite an effort for a moderate gain in the end, Roglic owes Kuss big time or the elastic might have broken properly. Nice to see Dunbar reaching his potential too.
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 73,267
    kingstongraham said:

    rick_chasey said:

    Roglic was favourite? Yikes.

    I don't get the hype, I have to say.

    Podium on all the GTs in his career, and winner of Tirreno Adriatica (in front of Almeida) and Catalunya (in front of Evenepoel) this year.

    I think my lack of watching of the Vuelta is coming out here.
    _
  • daniel_b
    daniel_b Posts: 11,627
    edited May 2023
    mididoctors said:

    rick_chasey said:

    Almeida is only 18s behind on GC.

    Yeah he's going to win the giro
    I think my money is now on Thomas - when it was not what I thought at the start, mind you that was when I thought Remco would win it.

    Interesting few final stages - Roglic perhaps slightly below his best but with a full team behind him.
    Thomas looking strong, but with a small team, all be it with a couple of good wingmen.
    Almeida looking to be on good form and also with a pretty strong team around him.
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  • kingstongraham
    kingstongraham Posts: 26,570
    That last TT could do anything to the GC.
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 73,267
    It's a bit bold to back anyone but Thomas with a Mountain TT isn't it? Or is there something about Almeida I don't know?
    _
  • TheBigBean
    TheBigBean Posts: 20,813
    rick_chasey said:

    It's a bit bold to back anyone but Thomas with a Mountain TT isn't it? Or is there something about Almeida I don't know?

    Has a decent TT and climbs in diesel mode. He's also my PTP pick.
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 21,952
    rick_chasey said:

    Roglic was favourite? Yikes.

    I don't get the hype, I have to say.

    4 of the 5 Eurosport "experts" picked him to win, so yeah.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 26,085
    edited May 2023
    TheBigBean said:

    rick_chasey said:

    It's a bit bold to back anyone but Thomas with a Mountain TT isn't it? Or is there something about Almeida I don't know?

    Has a decent TT and climbs in diesel mode. He's also my PTP pick.
    Likewise Roglic, except Remco being my PTP pick.
    Too early for any ladies to be singing.
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • hypster
    hypster Posts: 1,229
    phreak said:

    Maybe Thomas will pull a Basso and just ride everyone off his wheel on the Bondone.

    🎩
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 21,952
    mididoctors said:

    rick_chasey said:

    Almeida is only 18s behind on GC.

    Yeah he's going to win the giro
    In the past he has always struggled on the steeper gradients though.
    Similarly, if Roglic has a weakness, it's that he can fade in the second half of the third week of GTs.
    Thomas's weakness could be that he has a seriously depleted team.

    In other words, I dunno.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • DeVlaeminck
    DeVlaeminck Posts: 8,765
    Thomas has to be favourite now I'd say, but not a nailed on favourite - Almeida is certainly the surprise package to me but I don't follow the sport as closely these days so whether he's a surprise package to others ...?
    [Castle Donington Ladies FC - going up in '22]
  • phreak
    phreak Posts: 2,919
    DeVlaeminck said:

    Thomas has to be favourite now I'd say, but not a nailed on favourite - Almeida is certainly the surprise package to me but I don't follow the sport as closely these days so whether he's a surprise package to others ...?

    He's always been a kind of deluxe Zubeldia. Very consistent but never looked like getting the top spot.
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 26,085
    DeVlaeminck said:

    Thomas has to be favourite now I'd say, but not a nailed on favourite - Almeida is certainly the surprise package to me but I don't follow the sport as closely these days so whether he's a surprise package to others ...?

    Almeida usually follows and doesn't attack. His results reflect this.
    Today may have opened his eyes to possibilities.
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,181
    It's amazing how a rider gets an (undeserved) reputation and it becomes a consensus.

    In the 2021 Giro, Almeida was the strongest and most aggressive rider in the final week.
  • jimmyjams
    jimmyjams Posts: 750
    pblakeney said:

    DeVlaeminck said:

    Thomas has to be favourite now I'd say, but not a nailed on favourite - Almeida is certainly the surprise package to me but I don't follow the sport as closely these days so whether he's a surprise package to others ...?

    Almeida usually follows and doesn't attack. His results reflect this.
    Today may have opened his eyes to possibilities.
    You speak of him as if he's 30+ years old and set in his ways but he is only about the same age as Evenpoel, Hirschi, Philipsen, Pidcock, Sivakov and Pogacar, all still young enough to adapt and develop (even Remco and Pog).
  • jimmyjams
    jimmyjams Posts: 750
    rick_chasey said:

    Roglic doesn't look great either TBF. Thomas turning a big gear too.

    I heard that Thomas had two less teeth at the back than the others in the small group towards the finish, so perhaps he was on a 36/28 when the others were on a 36/30 (or 39/30 and the others on 39/32).
    I don't know if Thomas frequently rides slightly 'old school' style, but your fellow half-countryman Mollema is known for it, isn't he?

    (that's no disrespect to either, it's my style too)

  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 26,085
    edited May 2023
    jimmyjams said:

    pblakeney said:

    DeVlaeminck said:

    Thomas has to be favourite now I'd say, but not a nailed on favourite - Almeida is certainly the surprise package to me but I don't follow the sport as closely these days so whether he's a surprise package to others ...?

    Almeida usually follows and doesn't attack. His results reflect this.
    Today may have opened his eyes to possibilities.
    You speak of him as if he's 30+ years old and set in his ways....
    That's just how it feels without doing a Google* to check.
    He has plenty time to develop then.

    *Edit - This is his 4th Giro so that explains the perception.
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 21,952
    pblakeney said:

    jimmyjams said:

    pblakeney said:

    DeVlaeminck said:

    Thomas has to be favourite now I'd say, but not a nailed on favourite - Almeida is certainly the surprise package to me but I don't follow the sport as closely these days so whether he's a surprise package to others ...?

    Almeida usually follows and doesn't attack. His results reflect this.
    Today may have opened his eyes to possibilities.
    You speak of him as if he's 30+ years old and set in his ways....
    That's just how it feels without doing a Google* to check.
    He has plenty time to develop then.

    *Edit - This is his 4th Giro so that explains the perception.
    There is a clue: he's currently wearing the white jersey. ;)
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 26,085
    edited May 2023
    blazing_saddles said:

    pblakeney said:

    jimmyjams said:

    pblakeney said:

    DeVlaeminck said:

    Thomas has to be favourite now I'd say, but not a nailed on favourite - Almeida is certainly the surprise package to me but I don't follow the sport as closely these days so whether he's a surprise package to others ...?

    Almeida usually follows and doesn't attack. His results reflect this.
    Today may have opened his eyes to possibilities.
    You speak of him as if he's 30+ years old and set in his ways....
    That's just how it feels without doing a Google* to check.
    He has plenty time to develop then.

    *Edit - This is his 4th Giro so that explains the perception.
    There is a clue: he's currently wearing the white jersey. ;)
    So can Pogacar. Doesn't stop people forming opinions.
    Opinions can be changed too. ;)  
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • mididoctors
    mididoctors Posts: 17,610
    rick_chasey said:

    It's a bit bold to back anyone but Thomas with a Mountain TT isn't it? Or is there something about Almeida I don't know?

    I was somewhat tongue in cheek ...but otoh

    "If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 41,162
    rick_chasey said:

    It's a bit bold to back anyone but Thomas with a Mountain TT isn't it? Or is there something about Almeida I don't know?

    Based on that ride today Almeida could do well in the TT. Climbing at a steady pace seems to be his thing and he looked really strong.
  • dannbodge
    dannbodge Posts: 1,152
    On a different note.

    I'd love to see Sepp Kuss be given a shot to lead the team.

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