Ripley wrote:
Congrats to Manuel Martinez on the stage win! Ruben outclassed by the Bahraini duo on the Blockhaus, though. Right now it seems that defending the spot on the podium will be tough enough. But we've still got a long way to go.
Thanks, one to remember for him for sure (and I'm so very bad at sprints in this game)! Blockhaus was dreadful and another prove of how hard rolling climbs are in game.
All things considered, we should be very happy after this first week though. With key stages spread out so widely, it's almost guaranteed that some have their form peak come too early.
Post rest day action for the GC contenders with an almost __________/ stage to Montecatini Alto. Aru's acceleration was too much for anyone as he would chip away at his deficit with this win. Ruben lost 40" due to severely awarded gaps.
1
Fabio Aru
UAE-Team Emirates
4h42'50"
2
Mikel Landa
Bahrain Victorious
+ 9"
3
Julian Arredondo
Movistar Team
+ 17"
4
Davide Formolo
Bahrain Victorious
+ 29"
5
Robert Power
Team BikeExchange
s.t.
-----
9
Ruben Guerreiro
RuralvĂa-CCU Pro Team
+ 39"
Stage 11 | 180 kms | Pisa › Monte Serra
A strong acceleration also made the difference on the second ascent of Monte Serra, this time Landa's. The Basque moved into GC third, within 20" of Ruben.
The bunch handed away the stage win early on yet Chávarri couldn't follow KoM leader Elissonde. Guerreiro had to give everything to catch the elite group with Landa, Aru, Kudus, Formolo and Dunbar, only to get punished on the final short bump... Bahrain now 1-2 in the GC and Kudus only 4" from Ruben's third.
The dreaded mountain time trial was set on Monte Cimone, the highest moutain of the northern Apennines. Caicedo was the first of us to set a fastest time, yet he would end just outside of the top 10.
Ruben was blessed with superb legs for the day. However, Landa seemed to be closing in swiftly at some point. But Ruben handled the steep slopes perfectly, saw Landa blew up and ended up riding 1'25" faster than him. Formolo and Aru finished closer but couldn't keep Ruben from winning the stage.
1
Ruben Guerreiro
RuralvĂa-CCU Pro Team
46'29"
2
Fabio Aru
UAE-Team Emirates
+ 25"
3
Davide Formolo
Bahrain Victorious
+ 37"
4
Börje Kratzert
Team Jumbo-Visma
+ 1'08"
5
Julian Arredondo
Movistar Team
+ 1'13"
Stage 14 | 260 kms | La Spezia › Sanremo
Stage 14 brought us Milano - Sanremo roads with Le Manie, Cipressa and Poggio on the menu. A breakaway with Ion Izagirre stranded at the foot of the final climb.
Team sprinter MartĂnez had a very good day and could just jump wheels when Guerreiro launched an attack on the Poggio. Some reacted and chased, but the catch wasn't made and Ruben secured his first GT stage win outside a time trial.
Mikel Landa was a DNS on the Agnello/ Izoard stage because of a broken wrist. Climbing talent Erbetta dropped his fellow escapees on Agnello and then secured his first big win.
Ruben couldn't follow the attacks on Izoard right away yet managed to catch up and drop the maglia rosa inside the last kilometer. With one week to go, Formolo showed some vulnerability on the last couple of stages. To be continued...
The long flat time trial was expected to knock every rider outside the current top two out of contention and so it did. Except for Ruben, every other GC contender lost at least around two minutes to Formolo. Trek-Segafredo's Tom Wirtgen got a second stage win for Luxembourg going hundreds of a second faster than Drobisch.
The bunch took it easy on the flat 17th stage to Verona. Moreno Moser got away just over the climb to win his second GT stage after winning at Le Tour in 2019.
The first of four key stages to round up this 2021 edition ended on Passo Giau. Ruben overcame a tough moment but couldn't challenge for the win. Aru swept up breakaway riders Erbetta and Herklotz near the top and won his third stage. Ruben ended up gaining a handful of seconds in the overall standings.
1
Fabio Aru
UAE-Team Emirates
5h08'18"
2
Benny Erbetta
CCC Team
s.t.
3
Silvio Herklotz
Israel Start Up Nation
s.t.
4
Börje Kratzert
Team Jumbo-Visma
+ 23"
5
Merhawi Kudus
Team Qhubeka ASSOS
s.t.
-----
6
Ruben Guerreiro
RuralvĂa-CCU Pro Team
+ 23"
7
Davide Formolo
Bahrain Victorious
+ 41"
Stage 19 | 205.3 kms | Selva di Val Gardena › Livigno
Stage 19 included the Cima Coppi atop the majestic Passo dello Stelvio. Our own Jonathan Caicedo set a brutal pace about halfway the climb, and caused many to get dropped from the breakaway. Herklotz did the rest and near the top the breakaway was down to them two. Jonathan seemed to crack near the summit of the second climb, yet he would make it back to drop Herklotz definitively 700 meters from the final KoM banner. A short descent later he could celebrate his second GT stage win with us.
Ruben tried a thing on the Stelvio but could not go for a long range solo attack. He had a tough patch on the second climb and tried to go alone in the descent to the line but Kudus closed the gap. No GC changes today.
And there I thought Ruben would regain the lead with the TT and have to defend it till the end. Instead Formolo beat him - I had no idea he could do TTs. Well, 2nd is just about certain, which would be a good result. Plus another stage win, nicely done. Is there still a minute to be gained on the final two stages?
Ripley wrote:
And there I thought Ruben would regain the lead with the TT and have to defend it till the end. Instead Formolo beat him - I had no idea he could do TTs. Well, 2nd is just about certain, which would be a good result. Plus another stage win, nicely done. Is there still a minute to be gained on the final two stages?
So did I, but both time trials were a little too flat and he didn't have his best day on both occasions... Even if he doesn't manage to gain enough time on the final weekend, two stage wins and a podium finish shouldn't leave him with many regrets.
Ripley wrote:
Ah, yes, I know the variant. Certainly still two great opportunities to turn the tables. And if not we at least get an Italian winning his home GT.
One more than on most final weekends indeed.
If not, Formolo will make it winning his home GT twice in a row!
Guerreiro had his work chasing Formolo going up the last climb. He didn't have much left in the tank when he finally caught up but it turned out to be enough to take another handful of seconds.
No pan flat run into a regional or major city to conclude a Grand Tour this time; the ultimate stage featured no less than five ascents of the brutal 2nd cat Monte Maddalena just outside of Brescia.
Two laps in, Guerreiro got involved in a major crash that would cost both Nibali and Arredondo their top 10 spot in the final GC. Ruben and Latour made in back in time for the final climb.
Guerreiro wanted to follow first knowing that he had used up energy earlier on. He let Kudus and Aru go and when Formolo finally went, he found himself boxed in by two Bahrain riders. It was far too late to do something back when he could eventually pass 'em. All he could do was secure his second place in both the GC and points standings after Baillifard beat König for the last 2021 Giro stage win.
In the end, Davide Formolo makes it two overall wins in a row, this time without winning a stage though. The high amount of TT kilometers and a crash of his only remaining GC rival on the final day gave him the edge this year.
Second Grand Tour overall podium finish for Ruben, yet this time he couldn't finish on the highest step.
Very few sprint finishes this year but the points jersey is for a sprinter anway. This jersey winner riding for Bahrain Victorious did manage to win a stage to top things of.
1
Niccolo Bonifazio
Bahrain Victorious
130 pts.
2
Ruben Guerreiro
RuralvĂa-CCU Pro Team
115 pts.
3
Fabio Aru
UAE-Team Emirates
108 pts.
4
Moreno Moser
INEOS Grenadiers
72 pts.
5
Davide Formolo
Bahrain Victorious
70 pts.
Final mountain standings
Benny Erbetta definitely got his career going with this race. If not for Aru he could have won a second stage next to this jersey as well.
GIRO D'ITALIA (2.GT) 
