"Good morning gentleman, considering it was a hard day yesterday and a hard day tomorrow, we will do about three hours on the bike today. With some sprints on top of that, we need to stay ready for tomorrow.
After a meal and some rest, it's media time. So keep your cool in front of the reporters. That's about it, let's go out and enjoy ourselfs today"
Overheard on the ride
"I overheard Elli say he snapped his hip. That's serious for sure. Do you think he will get the same treatment as Alberto?"
"I guess somebody will do a 100 km attack at some point, i mean, risk it for the biscuit."
"The bonus money will be awesome this year - im glad to be here!"
The same as before the Giro, please write questions for the squad. I'll pick the best ones and use them in the Press Conference. This one will stay open for a good while, so we can get some questions.
Such a shame, they were gorgeous screens. maybe you could take a while off reports to try get them all together on imgur or something?
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant." [ICL] Santos-Euskadi | [PT] Xero Racing
Will you be helping Bernard in the KoM fight and what do you think of the Amgen results?
To Jasper:
Are there any more individual opportunities left for you?
To Giacomo:
Are you looking at being aggressive to defend your points lead or banking on full points on flat days (if there are any?)
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant." [ICL] Santos-Euskadi | [PT] Xero Racing
Giovanni Ellena:"Welcome everybody, lets get right into it, you sir - go ahead!"
jandal7:To the team, who are your picks for the GC?
[1] Tom Dumoulin
[2] Vincenzo Nibali
[3] Simon Yates
jandal7:To Bernard, what are your tactics for defending the KoM lead?
[1] "Stay with the favourites and try to score points from the peleton"
[-1 Mountain]
[2] "I will be on the offensive, follow riders like Gregor Mühlberger and Alessandro De Marchi who is shaping up to be the biggest non-gc riders that can challange me"
[-1 REC]
jandal7:To Giacomo, are you looking at being aggressive to defend your points lead or banking on full points on flat days?
[1] "I'll take it as it goes, i do have a commanding lead"
[-1 Sprint]
[2] "Yes, there is no rest for the wicked. I won't leave anything up to chance"
[-1 ACC]
jandal7:To Daniel, will you be helping Bernard in the KoM fight and what do you think of the Amgen results?
[1] "Yes, that's my job the last week, im ready. The field was strong, Froome looked amazing aswell as Quintanna"
[-1 REC]
[2] "No, i've been given the chance to try my own luck. So you will hopefully see me in the breakaways from this point on. Froome and Quintana played with the rest, looked boring"
[-1 RES]
Giovanni Ellena:"Thank you all for coming, see you all in Milan!"
Post your answers like this:
1: [2]
2: [1]
And so on. Thank you
The youtube header is clickable and goes to youtube.
"Good morning gentleman, i hope you've had a great day off. I know i enjoyed it. Today the goal is to get Bernard in the break, and felle free to join him. The more help he can get, the better. So, about the stage.
This queen stage across the Alps will feature a double pass over the Stelvio, first along the Bormio side, and then taking a first-ever climb up the Swiss side. The stage starts from Rovetta, and initially, the route climbs slightly, cutting across the Val Camonica. Next, the peloton clears the Mortirolo Pass along the southern side, as in 1990, with gradients topping out at 16% in the last kilometres. Then comes a narrow and very technical descent leading to Grosio, where the route will run up the Adda River valley, heading for the first passage in Bormio that marks the beginning of a 100-km “circuit”. First, the route climbs up the Stelvio Pass (Cima Coppi), with a very technical descent leading to Prato allo Stelvio, and then enters Switzerland, heading for the Umbrailpass (Giogo di Santa Maria). The climb totals 13.5 km, at a steady 9% gradient, with peaks topping out at 12%. Another technical descent (with a few tunnels along the route) then leads all the way to Bormio (already stage town at the Giro for fourteen times). The final 20 km are essentially downhill. A little after the red flag, in Bormio, the route takes a U-turn and levels out, heading for the finish after a few 90-degree bends."
The stage started as we had hoped, Bernard, Stuyven and Gogl managed to get loose with Gregor Mühlberger. The perfect situation.
At the start of the climb of Passo del Morirolo, the break was set, and Bernard and Mühlberger could fight it out for the KOM points.
Behind the break, it was Orica and Sunweb setting the pace, trying to keep the breakaway on a tight tie.
Further up the road, the top was inching closer, and Julian Bernard went for the points, with Mühlberger right on his wheel.
Over the top, Bernard takes first place, and increases his lead in the KOM competition.
Passo del Stelvio, the legendary mountain pass, was next. And the break now had over 15 minutes to the peleton. If they could keep working togheter, they would fight for the stage win aswell as KOM points.
Bernard again, allmost catching Mühlberger off guard.
Like over the top of Passo del Morirolo, Bernard was first.
The peleton, still together, was 24 minutes behind as they went over the top of Stelvio. Todays winner was in the break. Trek - Segafredo looking good, with a 75% chance of winning today.
As the breakaway enters Switzerland, the group of four was now only three. As Stuyven, after doing a lot of work in the front, had enough.
Gogl felt good apperently, as he chucked on the big ring - and went of the front. Forcing Mühlberger to do the work in the chasing group behind.
With the group now a couple of KM's up the road of the climb of Umbrailpass, Mühlberger still was unable to completley close the gap.
Back in the peleton, finaly somebody felt the need to attack the Maglia Rosa of Tom Dumoulin. The irishman, Dan Martin, went hard of the front. Trying to create a gap.
The team of Domenico Pozzovivo, Ag2r responded to the attack. All hands on deck!
Up the road, Mühlberger finally seemed to get a grip on Gogl. As the gap started to come down.
As Gogl was back together with the duo behind. Bernard went on the counter, like clockwork. Mühlberger, having done all the work to bring Gogl back, was unable to respond.
Over the top of Umbrailpass, Bernard now was leading the race with a proper margin. Can he hold off?
The juice in the legs of Pozzovivo's helpers seemed to have ran out, Landa went on his own. Right behind, Nibali was close by.
The move by Landa and Nibali, made all the others respond. It all came back together.
Up the road, Bernard claims another stage win. What a ride by the Trek - Segafredo squad, and of course, the frenchman.
Over the top, the week one champion, Simon Yates. Was in serious trouble. Trying his best to chase back into the group of Dumoulin.
Landa leads the Maglia Rosa group over the line, leaving Zakarin and Yates for dust.
A great day in the saddle for us, with a stage win and a great ride by the team.
"Good morning gents. What an effort yesterday, wow! Today, everybody has a free pass to try something. Bernard, you just follow Mühlberger if he tries. Before we ride, quickly about the stage.
The stage is wavy, with a few technical climbs in the first part, such as Aprica and Passo del Tonale after the start from Tirano. A long drop then takes the peloton across the Val di Sole. The route goes up again in the second half: first comes the Giovo categorised summit, then comes a long false flat up, leading all the way to the finish in Canazei"
A tailormade stage for a potential breakaway, the stage goes up and down all day, with the GC favourites still hurting from yesterday. So when a group of nine tried their luck early on, nobody was suprised.
Over the climb of Aprica, Bernard was the first over the top. No suprises there.
Over the climb, the group of nine was now a group of seven. As Wallays and Belkov could not keep up the pace.
As the start of Passo del Tonale, the break had time to look at each other, as the peleton had eased up on the pressure.
At the top, it was between Mühlberger and Bernard. Bernard was the strongest.
Then Giovo was next, and Bernard set the pace. The fight for KOM points was still on.
Mühlberger beat Bernard to the line this time. As the duo has gotten very close during this Giro. Being in multiple breaks together.
When the peleton went over Giovo 11'33" later. As predicted, the breakaway would fight for the stage win today.
With 20 KM left, the cat and mouse game begun. Mathias Frank attacked, with Alessandro De Marchi and Dario Cataldo on his wheel.
It quickly came back together, as soon as contact was made, Dario Cataldo went again.
Alessandro De Marchi brought Cataldo back, and Mathias Frank went on the counter.
Frank was brought back, and like clockwork - Bernard went on the counter. Alessandro De Marchi followed close.
With 5 KM left, Bernard tried to get rid of Di Marchi.
The duo out in front was brought back by Víctor De La Parte and Simone Sterbini. And with 1 KM left, the stage would be decided in a sprint. Who had anything left?
Julian Bernard, almost getting a leadout by Simone Sterbini, takes it on the line. What a Giro so far for the frenchman.
In the peleton, Giacomo Nizzolo takes the remaining points.
This Giro has been all about Bernard. What a ride for him today.
"Gooooood mooooorning Vieeeeeetnaaaaaaam! Attention! I know we all are getting tired of Prosseco by now, but damn it, i want some more! Bernard, follow Mühlberger if he tries something. Besides that, let's get Nizzolo safely to St. Ulrich. So, gentleman, about the stage.
This queen stage starts from Moena which has been stage town six times and goes across the Dolomites taking in 5 consecutive categorised climbs, with not even a single flat stretch in between: Passo Pordoi (2016 KOM Damiano Cunego), Passo Valparola, Passo Gardena, Passo Pinei and Pontives (final climb). The stage features a remarkable rise and drop of a little less than 4,000 m in 137 km, with average gradients of approx. 7% and topping out at 15%. The roads are always moderately wide and well surfaced. The stage arrives in Ortisei, already arrival of the Giro in 1940 and 2005. The Pontives categorised summit (4 km before the finish) marks the slope change in the closing climb. Next on the route are a false-flat uphill drag, up to 1,500 m before the finish, and a steep stretch up to 500 m before the finish, with gradients topping out at 13%."
At the flag drop, De Marchi and Gregor Mühlberger went for it. To nobodies suprise, Bernard was right on their wheel. The trio got company by Nelson Oliveira.
Over the top of Passo Pordoi, Bernard was the first over.
The peleton wanted to save their energy to the end, wich was clear over the top. As the quartet out front had gotten 15 minutes.
At the start of the climb up to Passo Valparola, things started to happen, as riders was dropping out the back of the peleton.
Over the top of Passo Valparola, Bernard once again, was first over.
Passo Gardena Grodnerjoch was next, and the break still had allmost 15 minutes.
Over the top, Bernard was the first over once again.
At the descent down from Passo Gardena Grodnerjoch, disaster struck. Four riders had to end the stage in the back of a team car.
Over the top of the penultimate climb of the day, Passo di Pinei Panidersattel, Bernard made it four out of four.
With the last climb to the finish left, Pontives, Olivera attacked with De Marchi, as Bernard had a puncture. He was now over 2' behind the duo out front.
Bernard managed to claw his way back, but as soon as he got contact - De Marchi went solo.
Things started to heat up in the peleton aswell, as Nibali and Landa tried to put pressure on Dumoulin.
Nobody wanted to help an now isolated race leader. As Tom Dumoulin had to do all the work in the front.
The Maglia Rosa managed to bring back the duo. But as soon as he got contact. Landa went again.
Nibali went after Landa, as once again, Dumoulin had to do the work behind.
At the front of the race, De Marchi got the best of Bernard, as he claims the stage victory.
Behind the breakaway, the 3rd and 7th man in the GC now had buildt a gap to the race leader. Could this bring them within striking distance?
Over the line, Nibali and Dumoulin managed to gain time. The fight for pink was still on!
Another breakaway win, as the GC guys fought it out. Still a bunch of chances to make a dent left.
Rovetta
Such a shame, they were gorgeous screens. maybe you could take a while off reports to try get them all together on imgur or something?
Tom Dumoulin
Simon Yates
Mikel Landa
Daniel Martin
Rigoberto Urán
Julien Bernard
Michael Gogl
Tejay Van Garderen
Ilnur Zakarin
Caleb Ewan
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Jasper Stuyven
Bahrain - Merida
Mathias Frank
Nelson Oliveira
