Competitive Cycling

[Nickslikk2112]

Laurence Pithie won stage one of five of the Quatre Jours de Dunkerque - I used to work in accounts for a French owned company, they don't have a great grasp of numbers.

Lewis Askey pluckiest Brit in 3rd.

[Nickslikk2112]

And Remco Evenepoel's gone down even further in my estimation, turns out he's an Arsenal fan.

[dom]

Ha!  He's gone up in mine!

[Nickslikk2112]

Stage win for Alec Segaert, took off like a rocket with 3km to go.

Pissed on Movistar's chips after they'd ripped it up on the climbs to try for an Orluis Aular victory.

Eulalio managed to extend his lead by picking up the Red Bull bonus seconds.

Ethan Vernon pluckiest Brit in 4th. Best Cyclocrosser Toon Aerts in 2nd.

Ben Turner's chances blew with a rear wheel puncture 15km out.

[Thenop]

With some thanks to his mate Victor who kept the pack from chasing for 10 crucial seconds. That, and his immense effort, gave him the win.
Fantastic, cycling at its finest, rolling back the years to Cancellara who won numerous stages like this.

3 Belgians in the top 5 even with Aerts and Stuyven. 

[Nickslikk2112]

Belatedly caught up with the last hour and a half of today's stage.
Good win for Alberto Bettiol, he took off like a rocket at the top of the last climb.

Pluckiest Brit - again - was Mark Donovan in 5th. He's up to 36th on GC now!

[Thenop]

Was a bit of a boring stage, the last few km were OK I guess. Good for the peloton to rest up for tomorrow - The Big One.

Nice win for Bettiol indeed, unlucky for Leknessund who seems to become number 2 more than once.
Scenery was nice enough though!

[Nickslikk2112]

Scenery was nice enough though!

Of the Grand Tours, Italy always looks the best.

[Nickslikk2112]

That was more like a cycling stage. Sunshine, Alpine valleys, snow capped peaks and lots of climbing

Lizard Lips puts an end to Eulalio's sojourn in pink. Doesn't look as impressive as Pogi, but he's a bit more calculating, might be saving something for the Tour.

Eulalio keeps on the podium, Arensman - he doesn't like it hot- loses his third place to Gall

Tim Rex wins the "He's going to pop surely, but he's still  going" prize for his pull on the Lin Nor (I think) climb

[Thenop]

And two times Dutch pride in the top 10 with Arensman and Poels.
Arensman should step up though, he wants a podium spot.

[Nickslikk2112]

Breakaway day and a win for Fredrik Dversnes on his Grand Tour debut.

Not enough sprinters teams committed to the chase, hoping others would bring it back. Third fastest Giro stage ever, most riders will have gone quicker than they did in the TT

Magnier won the minpr places sprint ahead of Groenewegen, pluckiest Brit Ethan Vernon in 8th.

Not sure about the neutralisation, most crashes are down to rider error or rider stupidity.

[Thenop]

Dversnes, what happened there?

Only 4 chances to sprint and the teams botch it like this. That will be a very serious team debrief for them...

5th and 6th do show who are the strongest here: Magnier and Groenewegen. They will be very displeased. I suspect Groenewegen will leave after today. There is nothing for him to win anymore.

Neutralisation was mostly on behest of Vingegaard who complained to the race management it was too dangerous. He did so while having 1 hand loose and leaning into the car.

[Nickslikk2112]

Lot's of teams moaning about the break being motor paced by the camera bikes. Didn't look any different to any other day to me.

Our TV commentary at one time did say that team cars and neutral service were a bit close behind the break with team cars being called up a lot which can give a boost.

[Nickslikk2112]

Lizard Lips putting a bit more cement onto his top step position.

Eulalio off the podium.

Felix Gall up to 2nd, Arensman up to 3rd.

Good stage that, even had Ciccon throwing his toys out of the pram.

[Thenop]

2 times Dutch pride in the top 10 again, Poels was tenth. Well done.

Real hero Victor Moustache did it today, he was pale when he finally had to give in. Bernal did good work for Arensman as well.