Competitive Cycling

[Thenop]

LidlTrek day with the MadsMachine and Captain America 1 and 2. Impressive teamwork led by the strongest of the three: Vacek.

By the looks of it the first yellow ever for UnoX with Traeen. Caught a glimpse of a proud Hushovd, big smile on his face.

And green for Pedersen of course.

[Thenop]

Uneventful until 5.5k before the finish. Nasty crash!

But Kooij was so strong, will he be the one that wins most of them this year?

[Nickslikk2112]

First sprint stage goes to Olav Kooij. Chaotic finish with a crash just outside the 5km safety zone.

Long lonely day for Baptiste Veistroffer after a long dau off the back with Arnaud de Lie the other day.

Missed Pogi coming in, but he came in safely, there could be some gaps from the crash, but they are wondering if the commissaires will give everyone the same time as the crash was so close to the safety zone. We'll see, what does Trumo think?

[Thenop]

The man is not human, he cannot be.
The best of the rest is insanely good but needs to bow his head. We are not even a week in and we have a winner.

Del Toro thought, the way he ate up Evenepoel on the finish, also hats off to that.

[Nickslikk2112]

LOL

Just looked at the result after a day of automobiles, planes, buses and trains.

So much for Traeen keeping the yellow!

[Thenop]

LOL

Just looked at the result after a day of automobiles, planes, buses and trains.

So much for Traeen keeping the yellow!

Traeen had an extremely bad crash, he was lucky to finish. I would be surprised if for back on tomorrow.

[David L]

Amazing to see the way Pog destroyed the Tourmalet today!

[Nickslikk2112]

LOL

Just looked at the result after a day of automobiles, planes, buses and trains.

So much for Traeen keeping the yellow!

Traeen had an extremely bad crash, he was lucky to finish. I would be surprised if for back on tomorrow.

Ah, didn't know that I could have been queuing at Naples Airport

[Thenop]

And Traeen is out with a broken rib and a concussion. Wise decision given his medical history.

[Thenop]

Mighty Merlier in spite of Mighty Mathieu doing lead out for Philipsen.
Best Dutch Giant today was Artz in 7nd place, good result for him.

Kooij ending in 23rd place 

Otherwise a bit of a snooze stage with a remark: they finally seem to have found an agreement on having the GC riders drop back already way before the 5k neutralisation. Smart and safe.

[Nickslikk2112]

Yes didn't mind missing today through being in Pompeii for Opeth
Did watch some om
N Italian TV

[Thenop]

Again Merlier, so much stronger than the rest.
Girmay 2ns, Kooij 3rd and only the Philipsen who was extremely pissed yesterday when he came in 5th.

Nice stage to watch due to the surroundings, all castles all the time.

[Nickslikk2112]

Castles? Pah! I've just seen Opeth in a Roman Amphitheatre 

Just had time to watch the end of today's stage now I'm back from hell, well done Turbo Tim!

[Nickslikk2112]

And MvdP most combative rider and stage winner. Very rarely will I commit to saying who will win the stage, but I called it for MvdP.

PLuckiest Brit Pidcock in third, but he probably suffered from an earlier mechanical problem.

[Thenop]

Impressive win by MvdP, really what a powerwin.
Pidcock showed himself burning the end turned out to be too lightweight.

Curious how UAE kept chasing, for what? A stage win? Surely they don't need it. Could have saved energy going into the resting day with 40 degrees.