Competitive Cycling

[Nickslikk2112]

Anna van der Breggen won today's stage of the Vuelta Feminina today and took over the GC lead. Paula Blasi came in second.

Pluckiest Brit Francesca Hall in 67th

That was a brutal 3.9km climb and tomorrow is the Angliru 11km of Brutality. Bring it on.

[Thenop]

Seen that, that was brutal indeed. 27% incline? Jeebus, my car would take issue with that.
But fantastic she managed to get this done, quite a story hers as well. Winning everything, stopping, sitting in the car, and then return to do this.

[Nickslikk2112]

Well that came to life 25km or so from the end. Came close to death for some too.

Going to be lots of bones to pick out of that, but crashes happen.

Guillermo  Silva won the stage must be a first for a Uruguayan. Florian Storck second, Giulio Ciccone 3rd.

If Jay Vine didn't have bad luck he'd have no luck at all. Doubt Adam Yates will start tomorrow.

[Thenop]

What a horrible vraag that was. Yates looked like hell, mud and blood covered. In fact, except for one,the entire UAE squad was on the ground.

Good for Vingegaard trying to test Pellizari like that. Will be an interesting watch.

[Nickslikk2112]

Marc Soler out for UAE too. That's a pity I enjoy seeing Marc Soler doing Marc Soler things. You never know what he's going to do - and nor does he,

[Nickslikk2112]

Petra Stiasny took the first win for a woman up the Angliru, Paula Blasi put Anna van der Breggen to the sword and took the Maillot Rojo for Spain.

Francesca Hall again the pluckiest Brit in 53rd.

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I was right Adam Yates didn't take the start - late onset concussion.

Watching the breakaway each day I'm getting a liking for the glossy black Aurum bikes with gold lettering that Polti Visit Malta ride.

[Nickslikk2112]

Second win for SeppoFroggo Magnier. Beating Jonathan Milan and Old man Groenewegen.

Pluckiest Brit Sean FLynn in 15th.

Breakaway nearlly did it.

[Nickslikk2112]

Filippo Fiorelli won Tro Bro Leon, great bonkers race.

Lewis Askey pluckiest Brit in 3rd.

[Nickslikk2112]

That's more like it now we're back in Italy.
Movistar ripped it up on the climb of the day for their man Orluis Aular, dropping all the pure sprinters - Kayden Groves and Arnaud de Lie had dropped themselves out - along with race leader Silva and nearly shelling out Egan Bernal.

Jan "What does team mate mean" Christen ripped it up from over 1km out, but fell back for his teama mate Jhonatan Narvaez to take the stage. Giulio Ciccone's 3rd gave him the bonus seconds to take the Maglia Rosa.

Pluckiest Brit Ben Tuner in 4th. Not too shabby after all the work he did to bring Bernal back.

[Nickslikk2112]

Another day, another Maglia Rosa! Afonso Eulalio got away in the break and made it to the end. But he didn't win the stage, Igor Arrieta took that. They both escaped fromn the break, both slid out on the final run in to the finish. First Arrieta, then Eulalio. Arrieta then missed a corner letting Eulalio away, Arrieta then pulled back 10 seconds on the last uphill kilometre.

Thought it all might explode on today's Cat 2 climb, but the foul weather probably put paid to that. I didn't bother going out today because of a few showers. These guys were white water rafting at one point. Then again they're paid for it. If the GC riders had gone for it it could have been carnage on the downhill run in.

[Thenop]

Complete chaos indeed, great win for Arrieta who never thought he had a chance this Giro.

And a new pink jersey wearer.

Most surprising: LidlTrek did nothing to defend Ciccone's pink jersey.

[Nickslikk2112]

Most surprising: LidlTrek did nothing to defend Ciccone's pink jersey.

Ciccone tried...

Trouble is, half the team are there for Milan and Derek Gee is the GC man. Ciccone was suffering from the cold too.

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Davide Ballerini wins the sprint into Naples. Big crash on the last corner took out Milam and Groenewegen. Magnier came in third - Soudal's best sprinter Tim Merlier won in Hungary yesterdy.

Pluckiest Brit Ben Turner in fifth.

Always gives a messy sprint does Naples.

[Thenop]

Terrible crash that, Groenewegen was on pole position there. Shame rally.

Well done Ballerini. Italians winning in Italy always a good win.