The hardest day possible ahead of the Pyrenees with Paugačar (@antiaall3s) sprinting inside top 10 after countless attacks, splits, and some crashes too. Van Aert has only himself to blame this time, Philipsen won fair and square. Girmay, better safe than sorry, settled for 4th.
I wished Ayuso good luck last morning, but the curse was more powerful and he was stopped by covid. For once, Pog can at least be happy about his recently sharpened immunity.
The battles of seconds are almost behind us. Now it's up to Visma to assert dominance in the war of minutes (/ tens of polka-dot points). Today and tomorrow will give us strong hints about the amount of serious contenders in both classifications.
Unless a miracle happens in Lourdes, I don't see Abrahamsen defending his jersey, but he'll certainly give it a go. Tough test for Gee's and Healy's GC ambitions too. Maybe they'll trade them for a later stage win.
French word of the day: GRAILLE. You can't climb without a proper munch.
Stage 14 starts at 1:20 pm.
#GiroRosa: Look who's back. Liane Lippert strikes in Chieti! Once again "copying" #TDF2024, the race is heading to the high mountains for its final weekend. The Italian menu actually looks even more brutal with Lanciano and Blockhaus. Home star against the impossible sprinter-climber, day 7. Don't miss the fun!
Stage 7 starts at 10:40 am.
Today's stage starts in Paugačar and ends in Saint-Lary-Soulan Pla T'Adej.
I hope i hope i oh so hope this is a good sign. 🤞
@Picks_by_Awer To be fair, Paugačar was seen on a sign on the side of the road yesterday. But, yes, love it.
I think this is not ahead of the Pyrenees, but the start of them. I also think, tomorrow's stage will be even harder.
Unpopular opinion: If WvA wants to rebrand himself as a sprinter (Sagan-style), he should also start to behave like one and not always snitch others out to the commisaires. But then again, Visma gonna Visma, amirite?
@antiaall3s Well noticed anyway! (I was watching Giro at that moment) And yeah, ofc, Pau = Pyrenees, especially at the Tour; it was kind of weird to see a non-mountainous stage end there.
Regarding WvA, personally, I'll gladly take his less "manly" version, if I have to choose. Not a big fan of Sagan in his careless days, putting others in danger and then complaining anyway (in his case about lack of cooperation from those he wanted to outsprint)
@Picks_by_Awer The manly part, agreed. But what i meant to say is that sprinters understand that it's often messy, lanes get changed, elbows touch etc. And if there is no intent, that is part of the game.
This year WvA already got two people declassified for such "normal" behavior.
The worst i have seen was that Lotto driver yesterday (name?), who with his shoulder body checked Capiot to then look back while shaking his head. That guy should be ousted from the race, someone could have died.
Awer
Anti. 🐘