Pro-cycling thread

No news that I've heard from the Giro rest day - does that mean good news?

Facepalm!! Totally too slow

Over 16 hours too slow...

On Covid tests? Results will be released this morning.

From the Giro app...
In accordance with the Giro d’Italia health protocol, established as part of the “Rules to be followed for the resumption of the road cycling season in the context of the coronavirus pandemic” drawn up by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), and in compliance with the measures of the Italian Health Ministry, all teams (riders and staff) were tested (PCR control tests) on 18 and 19 October.

A total of 492 tests were carried out:
– One rider from UAE Team Emirates tested positive for Covid-19; he was referred to his team doctor who organized isolation measures and took necessary action, in compliance with the World Health Organisation (WHO) rules, concerning contact cases.
– One staff member from Team AG2R La Mondiale tested positive for Covid-19; he was referred to his team doctor who organized isolation measures and took necessary action, in compliance with the WHO rules, concerning contact cases.

Gaviria the UAE rider who is positive. He caught the virus at the UAE Tour back in February too. Poor bastard. I wish him a full and fast recovery.

wild. that's very unlucky - afaik reported cases of people who have contracted it twice are extremely low

Properly unlucky...

But overall looks hopeful for the giro making it to the end?

He needs to look at how he is acting and who he surrounds himself with it seems.

Could be a false positive like Mathews. Not sure catching it a second time is just bad luck though.

The stage is about to begin, so i guess we are going to Milan! The next few stages look ridiculously difficult, even without the snowy conditions

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Just caught up with last stage highlights as was away at the weekend. If Tao had ridden to the line and not sat up and freewheeled across he would now be on the podium - bit of a rookie error.

Think today is going to have to be Vuelta watch, with Giro text follow. Not quite sure where work fits in.

In honesty I don't know that this is really true. It could turn out he's out at night licking doorhandles but it doesn't take much more than bad luck to get it. I know people here who meet almost nobody in their day to day life but somehow in the brief time they've gone shopping or what have you, they've managed to contract it. I just don't see that since the last rest day, Gaviria has been doing dodgy stuff unless, of course, he assumed he was immune.

If Tao had ridden to the line and not sat up and freewheeled across he would now be on the podium - bit of a rookie error.

I always wonder why GC candidates who have a gap on their nearest rivals don't sprint to the line (assuming they have any energy left). Given the effort made to get an extra bonus second or two, it seems like leaving money on the table.

Fair enough. I just see a lot of people not getting it and here he is not performing and getting it twice... You know

He was about to take the biggest win of his career and had very little understanding of what was happening behind him.

Vertical exercise tiredness?

Hit the wrong button.

You'd think the team would be in his ear - ride to the line - every second could be useful etc.

Clearly this only works if he's not taken the radio out.

Regardless of what they are saying publicly they must have the podium as a major target now, and be looking to see if they can take advantage of any slip/blow ups.

DS should have been in his ear about roughly what the situation was. Given he was making a GC move (as well as the stage win) he maybe could have been a bit more focused on maxing his advantage and podiuming. (yes - podiuming).
Obv all much easier said from the comfort of my #armchair.

By the time they've been over the Stelvio the gaps will be measured in weeks, months and years. I expect fewer than 10 riders to make it to Madrid.

if any of the giro riders make it to madrid, I will eat my chapeau

Well the Vuelta does start tomorrow so maybe a few will just roll over and join in

The fact is, there's a new generation of young riders doing their own thing, making their own rules. They are unburdened by the trauma of puberty, with naturally hairless legs and the old guard will just have to make way, all the way to Paris.

*starts today