Pro-cycling thread

Ineos didn’t really have the riders for today. Kwiatkowski and Pidcock were up there but neither was strong enough to win. Ganna might have had a shot if he’d done what Stuyven did but he had a different brief.

Stuyven’s move would have failed had he gone a couple of seconds either way. He timed it perfectly.

He said as much and sounded a bit let down.

Was surprised Wellens popped as early as he did, thought he could hang with the best on a climb like that.

I thought Ewen overplayed his hand. He didn't need to show the others he was there and strong, could've just hung around in the middle of the group and tried to hide.

He may be little but I think they'd probably still have spotted he was there in the group wherever he was.

Oh for sure, but he could've made them think he was breathing through his arse, rather than throwing down his own watt bombs.

'Strewth, mate, I'm all in'?

He was borderline attacking at the top!

Well, yes. I can see the 'Strewth, mate, I'm all in' line might have some credibility issues after that.

I didn't hear that. Bht can't blame him. But as Andy said, he was really letting them know he was 100%

It was a great result. I’m glad WVA, MvdP and JA didn’t dominate and I hope Stuyvens’ win shows more riders like him that they can be beaten this year.

I couldn’t quite work out what Ineos were doing. What did they want to happen?

What did they want to happen?

Looking to take over Movistar's WTF tactical reputation?

They were riding for Kwiatkowski, but he didn’t have the legs when it mattered.

Definitely think that there were too many favourites in the finale for any of them to win comfortably.
Also Ewan’s presence, with no one wanting to be his lead out man really went in Stuyven’s favour. Given that he came second anyway, had WVA, MVDP, or anyone else close the gap faster, Ewan would probably have won the sprint anyway.
None of them would have been content with second.

But at the same time, the only guy who didn’t wait to show how strong he was won the race.

Ineos put three potential winners over the Poggio at the front. Kwiatkowski, Pidders and ... er Ewan.

MSR is such a lottery I think that’s a pretty good way of shortening your odds.

Reminder that the £20 for a year of Eurosport player offer ends tonight.

If I have GCN is there any benefit to getting Eurosport too?

Biathlon?

Bats and ball and a net

Insert random other sport here - ski jumping is quite soporific. I actually quite like the ski/snowboard cross, and snow sports slopestyle comp coverage - takes me back to a past life.

I’m really surprised they didn’t position Ganna to do what Stuyvens did, but to the line. A few pundits were predicting that and it seemed like better odds than Kwiato.

I'm not sure Ganna would be able to hang with the front group over the Poggio. He's not very explosive as a rider.

Kwiatkowski has won MSR, and finished on the podium, so he was their best bet yesterday. He just didn't have the legs when it mattered, which happens.

Ganna’s Giro climbing was impressive, but can’t remember the profile of that ascent. Maybe he’s been focussing on different goals since then. Kwiato’s previous MSR wins and podiums are less informative, to my mind, than his form in the last few weeks.

App for the TV? Web app that works properly?