Giro d'Italia 2023

eagle eye

Chat about setting this up in the race thread so here it is.

Stage 1 winner: Remco Evenepoel

Stage 2 winner: Jonathan Milan

Stage 3....

A climbing sprinters stage by the looks of things although you could see a late break from a fast puncheur. There's a 10% section toward the end where somebody could go.

I'd suspect it's between Pederson, Groves, Matthews and Magnus Cort.

mewso

So was Remco right to call out Groves? Elbows towards a finish are a dime a dozen.

De Bhál

2 gone up the road, can hear the pain in the commentators voices as they have 200 odd kms to talk about nothing with not even a decent breakaway to discuss the members of

retalivity

Remco loves a good whinge, he was complaining throughout the whole Vuelta last year as well.

Pedersen for me today, the climbs at the end should shed most of the natural sprinters, and Trek missed out completely yesterday with the crash.

Dodge

About 160km to be fair. The last 40km could be very decent if a team fancies making it hard

You have to feel sorry for the two lads who wanted 10 more to join them though

odyssey06

Any idea on when today's stage would be expected to finish - 330? 4? Later?

De Bhál

in the article linked below, it says 5:15 CET, which I think is 2 hours ahead of GMT...so 3:15 for us, but watching the roll out they were a bit behind so there is that

https://cyclinguptodate.com/cycling/preview-giro-ditalia-2023-stage-3-pedersen-and-matthews-the-main-favourites-for-hilly-day

mewso

Pretty sure CET is one hour ahead of us.

De Bhál

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120569336#Comment_120569336

I was sure of that aswell but I typed "cet to gmt" in to google search and it came back with 'Central European Time is 2 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time'

I typed it in as time calculations wouldn't be my strong point, daylight savings hour goes back or forward is like honours maths for me working out what time it would be in the morning. Smart phones are my saviour when they automatically update.

Anyway yeah i was sure it was 1 hour and someone will come on here to point out where I fcuked up

mewso

Yeah it's messy. We are on GMT+1 during the summer (post hour forward) period and then back on GMT when we go back an hour in the autumn. GMT remains a constant regardless of the time of year.

De Bhál

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120569624#Comment_120569624

Thanks for that. Bit embarrasing to be at this stage of my life and asking such things, but never too old to learn.

so during the winter there's a two hour difference between Dublin and Rome and one in the summer?

Dodge

No. Always a one hour gap. Both countries observe daylights saving time

De Bhál

Ok thanks, back to the cycling so...

eagle eye

Was just looking at the climbs at the end. I fancied Pederson too but there's a nasty section on the cat 3 climb where the gradient hits 10% at one stage. We know both Roglic and Remco like their stage wins and it wouldn't surprise me to see one of them go on a steep section and the other one follow. This would destroy any sprint trains. You've got a cat 4 after that which would help them if they do go, sprinters will be tired after the cat 3. The finish is hilly too.

retalivity

From Eurosport/GCN there, the road into the finish looks very greasy

Dodge

Deserved win for the team who gave the stage everything

odyssey06

The Team Jayco tactics and hard work of the likes of Dunbar and Scotson drilling it pay off for Michael Matthews.

mewso

Deserved win indeed although Pedersen might not be happy with that slight deviation towards the end.

odyssey06

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120570823#Comment_120570823

Yeah I thought Pedersen was going to pip him but that movement knocked him off his rhythm.

Dodge

Pedersen can have no complaints IMO. Wasn’t a swerve.

MangleBadger

If anybody is to have complaints it is probably Groves against his teammate Oldani blocking him in and forcing him to slow.

Dodge

In the end, Healy was 21st and Eddie was 26th

Eddie up to 19th on GC and Healy up to 32nd.

Tomorrow looks like one for a strong break

retalivity

Remco to look to give the Jersey away? Pinot has set out his stall for KOM, if he gets in the break tomorrow and it stays away he could end up in pink

eagle eye

Stage 4....

Likely a breakaway. This is a big opportunity for Ben Healy as the GC contenders will be happy to let the break go and give away the Maglia Ross.

Unless a GC threat gets in the group the breakaway will take it. The profile of the stage just looks really good for Ben.

Of course the Italians will want to take this and have the leader's jersey for a few days. I'd consider Ulissi, Rota, Fortunato and Albanese as the Italians most likely.

Outside of those I think McNulty, Buitrago and Zana deserve consideration.

Thing is anybody could win it so long as they are not considered a GC threat.

Brian?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120572829#Comment_120572829

Stage is made for Healy. McNulty looked goosed yesterday.

I expect a break full of smaller teams plus some potential stage winners to get away.

I expect at least 2 rider from Green Project-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè to be in the break. My new favourite team..... what a name!! Filippo Magli is in my fantasy team so I'm hoping he goes for it today.

mewso

One slight hitch is that yesterday Pinot showed he wants the Maglia Azzurra so he may go with the break and while he isn't the threat he used to be GC wise I can't see him being allowed too much time.

retalivity

Healy determined to be in the break here

mewso

Over 50k and no break

De Bhál

fcuk sake Barguil, I have you in my Fantasy cycling team, get your act together

dastardly00

Eddie is lurking up near the front of the peloton... I wonder will he put in an attack

Squidgy Black

Flashbacks to the Sky train days there seeing Ineos driving the whole way up the climb with 5 of them at the front

Paddigol

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120575229#Comment_120575229

** shudder **

odyssey06

Eddie was 9th on the stage.

Inquitus

Healy shipped 12 minutes, stage hunting ?

Dodge

He was always stage hunting to be fair. Tried to get in the break today. Always need a bit of luck getting in the right one

Dunbar impressed today. Looked like he sprinted a bit at the end. Presumably aware of the UCI points

mewso

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120575855#Comment_120575855

Very good performance considering how hard a day it was. Looking forward to fridays stage now.

eagle eye

Stage 5

Looking at it there's a possibility of a breakaway but the sprint trains will try chase it down.

The likes of Cavendish won't be making it as they'll be dropped by halfway most likely.

So if the break doesn't make it you are looking at Pederson, Groves and Matthews as the most likely I think.

If the breakaway is going to make I think it it has to have 15+ riders in it.

I really haven't a clue whose most likely but I was thinking that Filippo Gana might fancy his chances.

retalivity

Ackermann was with the main group for longer than a lot of the other sprinters yesterday, and is in decent form, he should be in the mix as well. Don't see a break staying away

Dodge

Might be a stage to watch early on and hope for a decent break to form. The last hill does seem too far from the finish to effect the sprinter teams (even if there are no real sprinters this year)

Macy0161

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120578060#Comment_120578060

Like you say, the real issue is the lack of pure sprinters. Are Trek/ Jayco/ Alpecin going to go to the effort to isolate one or two (who have shown questionable form up to now).

dahat

I think Pedersen is the one today , he was savage disappointed losing to Matthews feeling he should have went earlier.

No mistake today from Mads.

mewso

A dog (presumably a Roglic fan) runs out in front of Remco and down he goes. Drama ensues but all seems fine again.

breezy1985

Looks like a rotten day out there. Can't see the peloton being up for it.

Mefistofelino

For a team all about the marginal gains, the Ineos rain jackets are very "bloated"-looking. From the waist up, it looks like a rugby club charity cycle.

neris

enough crashes today weathers not helping

odyssey06

Carnage... about 3 different crashes including Cavendish going over the line. Roglic needing to take a team mates bike.

neris

Cav chomping tarmac again, he seems to like it down there

Dodge

Remco down twice. Roglic probably down. Pink jersey chasing for 5km. Cavendish sliding across the line in 5th

Chaos

mewso

Kelly saying fair play to Cav finishing 5th sliding across the line :)

Mefistofelino

Hatch does love the auld hysteria.

Paddigol

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120579913#Comment_120579913

My ears are bleeding at the mere thought of his commentary...