The Real Giro 2025 Afternoon

[team fl]

Stade 9, strade bianche. is it * or **? How much will the time loss be for the climbers with little pavé skill? r TAKA was very convinced that this is THE stage that would decide the Giro and predicted at least three minutes! This would be the stage where the Fürst would win the GC. Well, that was not the case, but it was a stage the Fürst won in the end, seconds ahead of fellow stage hunter mates Lucas Papillon from Gipfelstuermer and Alexis Art from Romoc Riders. The best climber was, who could guess it, Baptiste Firiam from r TAKA with "only" 42 secs behind the stage winner. Other climbers were not so close and hence, the GC was turned a bit upside down. But Murdobek, although losing 1 min 26 secs on the stage, kept his Maglia Rosa after his effort yesterday by just one second in front of his team mate Crescenzo Poggiolini, who had the support of all the Italian spectator though. Alex Dixon from Big Donkey follows on the last podium place, 14 secs behind. With almost half a minute of a gap, the Fürst leads the rest of the GC riders. Two other climbers that joined the escape with Murodbek yesterday, Lachance (Big Donkey) and Macedo (Wolfpack Cycling Team) lost almost 3 min already on today's stage. Anyway, tomorrow everybody has a day off to regain energy before the Giro continues with 29 km long time trial. So most likely, Reggy Badenburg (CreditPommes) will be back in Rosa but has to catch up almost 2 min to Murodbek after yesterday and today. Another rider that will gain time on his opponents in the ITT will be Baptiste Firiam. And the rest waits for mistakes in week 2 and 3, I guess.

For the other classements not too much happend besides the usual Maglia Ciclamino flip flop at Team FL. Which means: The Fürst is back in front of Alex. As after the ITT, there will be a stage for a possible bunch sprint, also week 2 will have more of this duel within the team. Lachance kept his Maglia Azzurra, although Paul Weber got very close today. And the Maglia Bianca has two main contestants (who could have expected that!): Liu Bei from Dreizehn and Santiago Tabarz from Tornado Team, who is currently wearing it.

So what to expect for week 2 in Italy? Reggy back in Rosa, still Murodbek in the best position for the moment though with Firiam and Dixon lurking. And don't forget about the Fürst who some still see as GC favourite. Maybe it will somebody else completely, who knows. The order is: ITT, hilly, flat (possible bunch sprint), flat (climber finish with last km 8%), flat (reduced sprint most likely), mountain (with flat finish). The wait for the long and hard mountain stage with long and hard climbs in the end is still going on. Until then, the GC will stay close.

Stage 9:

01. 00:00:00 Fürchtegott Fürst (Team FL)
02. 00:00:01 Lucas Papillon (Gipfelstuermer)
03. 00:00:02 Alexis Art (Romoc Riders)
04. 00:00:05 Yannick Hoebeke (Romoc Riders)
05. 00:00:08 Mickaël Bougault (Gipfelstuermer)
06. 00:00:09 Ryodo Kajiwara (Gipfelstuermer)
07. 00:00:11 Sten Stenberg (Team FL)
08. 00:00:19 Yossi Youshimatz (Team FL)
09. 00:00:23 Sonny Sterling (Romoc Riders)
10. 00:00:42 Baptiste Firiam (r TAKA)

Maglia Rosa

01. 00:00:00 Murodbek Makhamadzhonov (Tukhtahuaev)
02. 00:00:01 Crescenzo Poggiolini (Tukhtahuaev)
03. 00:00:14 Alex Dixon (Big Donkey)
04. 00:00:29 Fürchtegott Fürst (Team FL)
05. 00:01:37 Baptiste Firiam (r TAKA)
06. 00:01:42 Alexis Art (Romoc Riders)
07. 00:01:56 Reggy Badenburg (CreditPommes)
08. 00:02:01 Rodrigo Macedo (Wolfpack Cycling Team)
09. 00:03:01 Tom Trost (Narrenparty)
10. 00:03:05 Lucas Papillon (Gipfelstuermer)
11. 00:03:15 Sten Stenberg (Team FL)
12. 00:03:19 Oskar Stoel (CreditPommes)
13. 00:03:21 Yannick Hoebeke (Romoc Riders)
14. 00:03:30 Olayuk Arlooktoo (Tukhtahuaev)
15. 00:03:30 Santiago Tabarez (Tornado Team)

Maglia Ciclamino

01. 118 - Fürchtegott Fürst (Team FL)
02. 095 - Alex Alailefaleula (Team FL)
03. 072 - Dietmar Barth (Narrenparty)

Maglia Azzurra

01. 068 - Émile Lachance (Big Donkey)
02. 064 - Paul Wenger (Wolfpack Cycling)
03. 050 - Baptiste Firiam (r TAKA)

Maglia Bianca

03. 00:03:19 Oskar Stoel* (CreditPommes)
01. 00:03:30 Santiago Tabarez (Tornado Team)
02. 00:03:44 Liu Bei (Dreizehn)

* will not be eligible for the final Maglia Bianca

Team classement

01. 00:00:00 Tukhtahuaev
02. 00:04:23 Big Donkey
03. 00:06:14 CreditPommes

Stage wins by riders:

2 - Fürchtegott Fürst (Team FL)
1 - Alex Alailefaleula (Team FL)
1 - Rafael Andrade (Dreizehn)
1 - Baptiste Firiam (r TAKA)
1 - Olayuk Arlooktoo (Tukhtahuaev)
1 - Temptation Coventry (Dreizehn)
1 - Stefano Tzimas (Narrenparty)

Stage wins by teams:

3 - Team FL
2 - Dreizehn
1 - Narrenparty
1 - r TAKA
1 - Tukhtahuaev
1 - Wolfpack Cycling

Days in the Maglia Rosa

5 - Reggy Badenburg (CreditPommes)
2 - Murodbek Makhamadzhonov (Tukhtahuaev)
2 - Temptation Coventry (Dreizehn)

[team fl]

After today new favorites check:
*****M. Makhamadzhonov
**** R. Badenburg-B. Firiam
*** A. Dixon
** F. Fürst, É.Lachance, C. Poggiolini
* R. Macedo, T. Trost

I think this hasn't changed after stage 9. I guess the GC rankingn will look something like this after the ITT, given all GC riders start with 1000 energy, same form and 100% all the way (which could be questionable for some riders, regarding stage 11):

01. 00:00 Reggy Badenburg
02. 01:30 The Fürst
03. 01:45 Murodbek
04. 02:00 Crescenzo Poggiolini
05. 02:15 Alex Dixon
06. 02:20 Baptiste Firiam
07. 03:25 Rodrigo Macedo
08. 03:30 Alexis Art
09. 04:15 Tom Trost
...

The Fürst will be first chaser after the ITT, but I don't think he hold his advantage, even if it might increase a bit (very optimistically). So essentially for me, it's Reggy vs. Murodbek vs. Baptiste. CreditPommes will have to defend 1:45 against Murodbek, which will be hard enough, and Murodbek will have to defend a bit more than half a minute against Baptiste, who might still get bonifications with stage wins (Murodbek too of course). Poggiolini is out, as long as he's helper for Murodbek. Dixon, and a bit further behind Trost or Macedo (Lachance too far gone imho, but who knows, see stage 8...), could be free radicals who use a stalemate or a fight among Reggy, Murodbek and Baptiste. Again, I think it's very intersting to have strong climbers in the mix, a Huber (80 climber with 70+ ITT) and a 80-70 rider (Art like Lachance imho). At least for now.

[Tukhtahuaev]

Gap to Firiam certainly not as comfortable as I had hoped before the gravel stage. Bonus seconds for Firiam alone could already make up the time difference, so it seems to be an open race now.

Still very happy with how this has gone so far. That big time gain on stage 8 was quite unexpected. Had hoped to get a tiny advantage because no one wants to kill his team before the gravel stage and it worked out much better than I could ever dream. Maybe it would have been better for Taka to weaken his team a little bit and gain less time on the gravel stage instead of losing 3 minutes the day before

[cataracs]

I didn't react to your attack not because I wanted to save energy, but because I think it's CP's job to chase you. And because of his super sensless riding against my classics while gifting FL many seconds in week one he certanly lost any chances of collab from me.

[Robyklebt]

After pavé the stars thing changed again! And will change more after the TT.

Lachance, actually it went well in the pavé stage until I decided not to drop Lanfredini to him, but only to Dixon. We once came back to within 10" of the group ahead with Lachance... but then without fresh puller it exploded in the end. Should have dropped to Lachance, especially since i missed the moment to go in for Dixon, once I went in Badenburg and Trost were back, pff. without them made much more sense.

[team fl]

I didn't react to your attack not because I wanted to save energy, but because I think it's CP's job to chase you. And because of his super sensless riding against my classics while gifting FL many seconds in week one he certanly lost any chances of collab from me.

-> Stage 1, Km 1: Itachi Uchiha (r TAKA) attackiert
-> Stage 3, Km 4: Abdullah Yilmaz (r TAKA) geht mit

This was the foundation for CreditPommes for "collab", I guess.

[team fl]

01. 00:00 Reggy Badenburg
02. 01:30 The Fürst
03. 01:45 Murodbek
04. 02:00 Crescenzo Poggiolini
05. 02:15 Alex Dixon
06. 02:20 Baptiste Firiam
07. 03:25 Rodrigo Macedo
08. 03:30 Alexis Art
09. 04:15 Tom Trost

Let's see how good the prediction was:

01. 00:00 Reggy -> correct!
02. 01:47 the Fürst -> 17 secs off
03. 02:12 Murodbek -> 27 secs off
04. 02:25 Baptiste Firiam -> only 5 secs off!
05. 02:28 Crescenzo Poggiolini -> 28 secs off
06. 02:44 Alex Dixon -> 29 secs off
07. 04:01 Alexis Art -> 31 secs off
...
09. 04:33 Rodrigo Macedo -> Almost a min off!
...
12. 05:04 Tom Trost -> 49 secs off

Guess some have not been riding 100% all the time. Form plays a role too. But good day for Reggy. Question will be if he will be fit tomorrow for stage 11. And ready for week 3.

[Robyklebt]

Lachance continues to be mobbed by FL.

[team fl]

Here the statistics after stage 10:

Stage 10:

01. 00:00:00 Stefanos Tzimas (Narrenparty)
02. 00:00:38 Reggy Badenburg (CreditPommes)
03. 00:01:04 Anderson Appollo (Romoc Riders)
04. 00:02:44 Temptation Coventry (Dreizehn)
05. 00:03:09 Lautaro Lucifero (Team FL)
06. 00:03:22 Baptiste Firiam (r TAKA)
07. 00:03:32 Sten Stenberg (Team FL)
08. 00:03:34 Sergey Kriushenko (Tornado Team)
09. 00:03:36 Oleksandr Piskun (Tukhtahuaev)
10. 00:03:40 Liu Bei (Dreizehn)

Maglia Rosa

01. 00:00:00 Reggy Badenburg (CreditPommes)
02. 00:01:47 Fürchtegott Fürst (Team FL)
03. 00:02:12 Murodbek Makhamadzhonov (Tukhtahuaev)
04. 00:02:25 Baptiste Firiam (r TAKA)
05. 00:02:28 Crescenzo Poggiolini (Tukhtahuaev)
06. 00:02:44 Alex Dixon (Big Donkey)
07. 00:04:01 Alexis Art (Romoc Riders)
08. 00:04:13 Sten Stenberg (Team FL)
09. 00:04:33 Rodrigo Macedo (Wolfpach Cycling Team)
10. 00:04:33 Yannick Hoebeke (Romoc Riders)
11. 00:04:33 Liu Bei (Dreizehn)
12. 00:05:04 Tom Trost (Narrenparty)
13. 00:05:19 Lucas Papillon (Gipfelstuermer)
14. 00:05:34 Olayuk Arlooktoo (Tukhtahuaev)
15. 00:05:37 Santiago Tabarez (Tornado Team)

Maglia Ciclamino

01. 118 - Fürchtegott Fürst (Team FL)
02. 095 - Alex Alailefaleula (Team FL)
03. 072 - Dietmar Barth (Narrenparty)

Maglia Azzurra

01. 068 - Émile Lachance (Big Donkey)
02. 064 - Paul Wenger (Wolfpack Cycling)
03. 050 - Baptiste Firiam (r TAKA)

Maglia Bianca

01. 00:04:50 Liu Bei (Dreizehn)
02. 00:05:37 Santiago Tabarez (Tornado Team)
03. 00:05:53 Oskar Stoel* (CreditPommes)

* will not be eligible for the final Maglia Bianca

Team classement

01. 00:00:00 Tukhtahuaev
02. 00:03:49 CreditPommes
03. 00:06:48 Big Donkey

Stage wins by riders:

2 - Fürchtegott Fürst (Team FL)
2 - Stefano Tzimas (Narrenparty)
1 - Alex Alailefaleula (Team FL)
1 - Rafael Andrade (Dreizehn)
1 - Baptiste Firiam (r TAKA)
1 - Olayuk Arlooktoo (Tukhtahuaev)
1 - Temptation Coventry (Dreizehn)

Stage wins by teams:

3 - Team FL
2 - Dreizehn
2 - Narrenparty
1 - r TAKA
1 - Tukhtahuaev
1 - Wolfpack Cycling

Days in the Maglia Rosa

6 - Reggy Badenburg (CreditPommes)
2 - Murodbek Makhamadzhonov (Tukhtahuaev)
2 - Temptation Coventry (Dreizehn)

Red Lantern

- Jon Cox (Gipfelstuermer)

[Robyklebt]

Fickle Donkey changes his predictions a lot

***** R. Badenburg, B. Firiam
**** M. Makhamadzhonov
*** C. Poggiolini
** A. Dixon, F. Fürst
* É. Lachance, R.Macedo, T. Trost.

Poggiolini there due to Tukh still having 2 cards.

[team fl]

Stage 11, the day after the ITT, the day before a possible bunch sprint stage. This year in the afternoon, this means action, action, action! After some control in the peloton, a huge group went, but got caught on the climb to the Alpe San Pellegrino. Well, not caught, but obliterated. Big Donkey, r TAKA and Tukhahuaev used the situation when Reggy Badenburg in the Maglia Rosa could not keep up an most other GC contenders were isolated. Before the last climb, CreditPommes managed to bring Reggy Badenburg back, but only to be distanced again. In the end, the strongest climber decided the stage for himself and so Baptiste Firiam is the third rider after the Fürst and Tzimas with two stage wins. All four climbers in the front could win some seconds on Reggy but are still around 2 min away. But week 3 is creeping up slowly!

Here the statistics after stage 11:

Stage 11:

01. 00:00:00 Baptiste Firiam (r TAKA)
02. 00:00:00 Tom Trost (Narrenparty)
03. 00:00:00 Alex Dixon (Big Donkey)
04. 00:00:00 Murodbek Makhamadzhonov (Tukhtahuaev)
05. 00:00:06 Lucas Papillon (Gipfelstuermer)
06. 00:00:07 Alexis Art (Romoc Riders)
07. 00:00:07 Fürchtegott Fürst (Team FL)
08. 00:00:10 Rodrigo Macedo (Wolfpack Cycling Team)
09. 00:00:10 Crescenzo Poggiolini (Tukhtahuaev)
10. 00:00:12 Liu Bei (Dreizehn)

Maglia Rosa

01. 00:00:00 Reggy Badenburg (CreditPommes)
02. 00:01:42 Fürchtegott Fürst (Team FL)
03. 00:02:00 Murodbek Makhamadzhonov (Tukhtahuaev)
04. 00:02:03 Baptiste Firiam (r TAKA)
05. 00:02:26 Crescenzo Poggiolini (Tukhtahuaev)
06. 00:02:28 Alex Dixon (Big Donkey)
07. 00:03:56 Alexis Art (Romoc Riders)
08. 00:04:31 Rodrigo Macedo (Wolfpach Cycling Team)
09. 00:04:46 Tom Trost (Narrenparty)
10. 00:04:50 Liu Bei (Dreizehn)
11. 00:05:13 Lucas Papillon (Gipfelstuermer)
12. 00:05:37 Santiago Tabarez (Tornado Team)
13. 00:06:11 Olayuk Arlooktoo (Tukhtahuaev)
14. 00:07:38 Émile Lachance (Big Donkey)
15. 00:07:54 Oskar Stoel (CreditPommes)

Maglia Ciclamino

01. 118 - Fürchtegott Fürst (Team FL)
02. 095 - Alex Alailefaleula (Team FL)
03. 072 - Dietmar Barth (Narrenparty)

Maglia Azzurra

01. 126 - Émile Lachance (Big Donkey)
02. 074 - Baptiste Firiam (r TAKA)
03. 064 - Paul Wenger (Wolfpack Cycling)


Maglia Bianca

01. 00:04:50 Liu Bei (Dreizehn)
02. 00:05:37 Santiago Tabarez (Tornado Team)
03. 00:07:54 Oskar Stoel* (CreditPommes)

* will not be eligible for the final Maglia Bianca

Team classement

01. 00:00:00 Tukhtahuaev
02. 00:08:53 r TAKA
03. 00:10:44 Big Donkey

Stage wins by riders:

2 - Baptiste Firiam (r TAKA)
2 - Fürchtegott Fürst (Team FL)
2 - Stefano Tzimas (Narrenparty)
1 - Alex Alailefaleula (Team FL)
1 - Rafael Andrade (Dreizehn)
1 - Baptiste Firiam (r TAKA)
1 - Olayuk Arlooktoo (Tukhtahuaev)
1 - Temptation Coventry (Dreizehn)

Stage wins by teams:

3 - Team FL
2 - Dreizehn
2 - Narrenparty
2 - r TAKA
1 - Tukhtahuaev
1 - Wolfpack Cycling

Days in the Maglia Rosa

7 - Reggy Badenburg (CreditPommes)
2 - Murodbek Makhamadzhonov (Tukhtahuaev)
2 - Temptation Coventry (Dreizehn)

Red Lantern/Maglia Nera

- Jon Cox (Gipfelstuermer)

[Robyklebt]

Donks plan of course was to attack with Lachance. Ideally alone, if necessary with the group from a few days ago. If possible not with everybody, meaning including Firiam. Firiam prevented the attack by siebing and then riding with Mori. A bit too early, a bit later sieb better, attack wasn't coming for a few km yet either, thought we're too close. But made sense for Taka, no energy wasted by following the attack, more riders in front that potentially help than with the attack. Was well done. I was already a bit afraid the Taka didn't know the "sieb" thing, was relying on attacks, which of course is bad for me. Sieb, ok, good, like it, made sense too. Was rather well done as I said.

Donkey then rode anyway in front. Which actually might even have helped Credit Pommes. And myself I thought, but not really sure, both options had advantages and disadvantages: I stop, very likely the group behind then comes back fast, the group with Uchiha and 2 Tukh classics, one probably used. If they join the peloton, there's a big "risk" of an attack before the next hill, then Firiam goes again, and this time has stronger pullers ahead. I follow with Dixon, good for me. But can I follow? Just a lot of 6%, sieb probably not working? Or might, since Badenburg is weak in flat... but an attack possible this time, and then Dixon just can't follow, then I'm stuck behind with Badenburg, while in front Uchiha, Arlooktoo ride away from the already weakened Eef. Not good, so went for the safety for Dixon option and rode. And think that benefitted CP more than Taka actually, since it closed the race, waiting would have opened it up, unless CP keeps riding, which in some way he probably would have had too, since he had nobody coming from behind. But then saving energy for my heroes a good idea too:) But anyway, safety first.

Plan of course was to attack, but the sieb wasn't mine, was earlier than I could attack, attacking when Mori was in tempo not an option either since we caught the group before the GPM. So Lachance got the points, Dixon in the end followed the heroes and got 3rd place on the stage, 4" gained on Murodbek. Tukh going down!

[team fl]

Stage 12, flat stage with some hills in the beginning. But theoretically a flat stage for a bunch sprint. long story short, the early escape managed to save 1 sec to the peloton with the sprinters and Zafarmurod Rakhmonaliev (Tukhtahuaev) was the winner out of that group. In the back, Alex showed what he would have been capable of, but to the delight of the Fürst, there was no change of the Maglia Ciclamino!


Stage 12:

01. 00:00:00 Zafarmurod Rakhmonaliev (Tukhtahuaev)
02. 00:00:00 Gareth Cole (Gipfelstuermer)
03. 00:00:00 Camille Roy (Big Donkey)
04. 00:00:00 Yerkin Toktybay (Tukhtahuaev)
05. 00:00:00 Jon Cox (Gipfelstuermer)
06. 00:00:01 Alex Alailefaleula (Team FL)
07. 00:00:01 Thijs Toornstra (Romoc Riders)
08. 00:00:01 Arend Jongh (CreditPommes)
09. 00:00:01 Dietmar Barth (Narrenparty)
10. 00:00:01 Hubert Sapielak (Tukhtahuaev)

Maglia Rosa

01. 00:00:00 Reggy Badenburg (CreditPommes)
02. 00:01:42 Fürchtegott Fürst (Team FL)
03. 00:02:00 Murodbek Makhamadzhonov (Tukhtahuaev)
04. 00:02:03 Baptiste Firiam (r TAKA)
05. 00:02:26 Crescenzo Poggiolini (Tukhtahuaev)
06. 00:02:28 Alex Dixon (Big Donkey)
07. 00:03:56 Alexis Art (Romoc Riders)
08. 00:04:31 Rodrigo Macedo (Wolfpach Cycling Team)
09. 00:04:46 Tom Trost (Narrenparty)
10. 00:04:50 Liu Bei (Dreizehn)
11. 00:05:13 Lucas Papillon (Gipfelstuermer)
12. 00:05:37 Santiago Tabarez (Tornado Team)
13. 00:06:11 Olayuk Arlooktoo (Tukhtahuaev)
14. 00:07:38 Émile Lachance (Big Donkey)
15. 00:07:54 Oskar Stoel (CreditPommes)

Maglia Ciclamino

01. 118 - Fürchtegott Fürst (Team FL)
02. 107 - Alex Alailefaleula (Team FL)
03. 087 - Camille Roy (Big Donkey)

Maglia Azzurra

01. 126 - Émile Lachance (Big Donkey)
02. 074 - Baptiste Firiam (r TAKA)
03. 064 - Paul Wenger (Wolfpack Cycling)


Maglia Bianca

01. 00:04:50 Liu Bei (Dreizehn)
02. 00:05:37 Santiago Tabarez (Tornado Team)
03. 00:07:54 Oskar Stoel* (CreditPommes)

* will not be eligible for the final Maglia Bianca

Team classement

01. 00:00:00 Tukhtahuaev
02. 00:08:55 r TAKA
03. 00:10:45 Big Donkey

Stage wins by riders:

2 - Baptiste Firiam (r TAKA)
2 - Fürchtegott Fürst (Team FL)
2 - Stefano Tzimas (Narrenparty)
1 - Alex Alailefaleula (Team FL)
1 - Rafael Andrade (Dreizehn)
1 - Baptiste Firiam (r TAKA)
1 - Olayuk Arlooktoo (Tukhtahuaev)
1 - Temptation Coventry (Dreizehn)
1 - Zafarmurod Rakhmonaliev (Tukhtahuaev)

Stage wins by teams:

3 - Team FL
2 - Dreizehn
2 - Narrenparty
2 - r TAKA
2 - Tukhtahuaev
1 - Wolfpack Cycling

Days in the Maglia Rosa

8 - Reggy Badenburg (CreditPommes)
2 - Murodbek Makhamadzhonov (Tukhtahuaev)
2 - Temptation Coventry (Dreizehn)

Red Lantern/Maglia Nera

- Jon Cox (Gipfelstuermer)

[Robyklebt]

Maglia nera added, and soon he's out.

Today the usual, Donkey escape, there's nothing else I can do here really.... and actually I don't even like attacking on flat/hilly stages all that much, but somehow my best chance for a stage. Today tried for Lüthi, x attempts, a group that didn't have good chance, tight control, but was still worth a try. Never really worked, Henrun with the puller started helping too late, then with the leader Henri Effort too late too, yes, he probably wasn't fit, lots of red and all for him, but still, 20km a lot. So when then Tornado went out too, Donkey said finished and save some energy for Lüthi, better 300 or whatever it is than 100.

Final then Taka with some risks, waited long to put in Uchiha, relying on Eef to stay in basically, too bad he did... but on the other hand like that Dixon won 4" bonificatoins, excellent.

Anyway, tomorrow more of the same I guess, Donkey in attack. Tired of it, but can't stop now, then the group goes through and I'm even unhappier Waiting for the third week...

4 riders out today, Rik from FL the only one that seemed to have an interest, Narren who should have for sprint tomorrow no, Gipfel no, Henrun maybe because of lack of experience neither. So the red number he had today didn't look that deserved anymore either, ok, was for yesterday, today no fighting spirit. Hm, will that help tomorrow for the escape?

Ah, Roy, Trofeo Fuga should be his easily... but unfortunately now he is a bit in that ciclamino region... so FL likes to control him (made sense acctually, especially since after there was the possibility to go for the intermediate), will have to find a way to allow him to escape (for little reward) without sending FL in panic mode. With Fürst he already has the rosa safe already after all, he could ignore ciclamino

[Robyklebt]

Today... attack. Surprise. Had to, this looked like a stage that due to its open end might be one for the escape. Sprinters or can't they come back. FLalcor started, CP joined, Taka rode too, not sure why, but not wrong, if he wants to try for classics, why not. Then maybe others, only one that rode according to my masterplan was Narren. Who then of course won...
Front group looked good for a moment, until it became clear that Gipfel was off the whole day. He came on for a second around km 130? Put his puller on red and wasn't seen again... Too bad, an online Gipfel might have made the guys in the back work, we're faster in front, way faster, 3 pullers, and the leaders can join green much earlier. Ok, maybe he thought he could be online today, but then couldn't, still, hanging your riders on others when you are off the whole day? Not the right thing to do. And seems Gipfel had basically the whole team hanging. Papillon a la limite ok, he's his GC rider, that of course is ok, even necessary. Maybe not for GC riders at that level, but still ok. The rest? Come on, be on!
Anyway, the peloton rode well, sprint, which was ok for me too, as usual I had high hopes for Toulet, 9th place, bah. Couldn't follow Rauch's acceleration at 150. Probably was disturbed in the lane change by Toornstra. Blaah. Nothing working as I hoped today. Not that he would have gotten a much better result, ok, 5th instead of 90 probably. Or 6th. Oh well, next time.

After today's sprint though Ciclamino is wide open again somehow. Alex doesn't manage to take over from Fürst, so Firiam starts looking rather dangerous possibly. Looks like intermediates are for Alex for a while? And Roy probably still with escape ban, he didn't go today because thought he probably wouldn't be allowed to go (correct too IMO, if today the group goes through, with Roy scoring points he could be very close or even in ciclamino, so I rather went for Lanfredini today)

Tomorrow last stage of the pre-Giro, prediction: FL tries to go for the first intermediate, after that a group goes. In the end... ? Hill sprint looks a bit difficult. Wolff, Tornado, has one very good helper, Sherif, 82 flat, but not that much else. And Wolff might be too strong for the others to collaborate. Stenberg, 66, nr 2, he might, but he might prefer going for Fürst. And Lautaro is not the ultimate hero to help. Next Omura, Uchiha, Mori in support, but goal no. 1 is most likely a time gain on Reggy. Eef next, for him it's keep Reggy safe. Next is already Lüthi, excellent man, maybe I'll ride for him with Uru...Ok, Bougault 59 sprint too, but will Gipfel be online? If yes, unlikely he rides for him, more attacking with Kajiwara and Papillon I guess. Ok, maybe I hang Uru there then. Anyway, rest day coming, so everybody has double the energy to spend, don't think it looks too much like an escape. But just in case, Donks plans to be there!

[Robyklebt]

Happy Donkey. Tired also.

Got a stage, now full concentration on the GC! Knew that today Lüthi had chances, so he was leader from the start. Early with Lanfredini in escape to have him for the downhill etc, to bring Roy back if necessary, to ride a bit for Lachance escape in case he is alone, but of course that seemed unlikely. 4 leaders, Lachance free, at times helper for Dixon even before the Monte Grappa. Problem for Taiaroa then, reacted to late, 1 km missed, alone in the back, Glück dropped, riding, Credit Pommes and co waited, very nice, thanks!

Grappa, Lachance got his points without issues, continued a bit, looking if maybe Tukh, who had managed to save somebody over the Grappa, then would just use him as loader, but no, rode, so ok, wait. Roy further back than I hoped, nobody slightly behind wanted to work, so Lanfredini came back from the back, ride, come back, together with FL, later Taka. Anyway, Roy back, was loaded too, then bring him over the second climb, worked.

Had to chase a bit, the Gipfels ahead, then just ride with Roy, waiting for the Kajiwara attack. It came, surprisingly Bougalt wasn't following. Seemed logic to follow Lüthi there, seemed clear I was riding for him to everybody I thought. The question was what to do with Roy, follow thus taking with you a few more and leaving Dixon exposed or not follow, decided not too, but since Bougault didn't, didn't matter. Then clear, Lüthi has to ride. Not get spooked by Kajiwara not riding 52 vs 59,, he might join in the end, I would have in his place, but he didn't. Ok, he then fucked up the sprint to make up for that, why not follow Lüthi? Imo from Lüthi's wheel... he has rather good chances. I have to go at 150 probably. Like this I did and Hoebeke who had attacked earlier couldn't follow, unexpected, or did he follow somebody else there. Weird, but ok, Gipfel obviously is only there with half an eye even when online... hope he stops the hanging with his non-GC riders when he's completely offline though...Could have given him another -1 today, Battistella there again, but ok, today he did come on at some (late) point, plus I'm now in an excellent mood. Donks rode well enough, in the end a bit of a present by Gipfel with his sprint and others not following, thought there would be more. Both Kajiwara attacking and Lüthi following seemed clear. But ok, GC covering by everybody too.

In the back Taka and Tukh could catch me rather easily of course, but hoped they wouldn't see the benefit for themselves, Taka rode a bit, making me cry, but in the end Lüthi saved 1". Firiam interestingly enough wasn't even in the Makhamadzhonov/Arlooktoo group. 3" gained for Makhamadzonov. But 6" for Lachance, he got the REd Bull thingy Oh well, at this point I'm pretty much in GPM mode with him anyway. Firiam if he wants it still can get it rather easily, but well, let's try to keep it for Lachance.

Great race by Credit Pommes though. He was under constant pressure today. Not attacks, but the threat of attacks was there the whole day, sometimes that's worse than when the attack comes, actually always worse I think. Once the attacks come, the cards are played, you have to ride, basically it's clear what has to be done. It's before that you have to wonder which rider to use, minimize time gain on attack, keep the best guy or go in with him? Enormous race today by CP I think. He was in danger at different times, and if somebody like Uchiha goes before the 9, followed by some Arlooktoo.. maybe even some Lüthi (he wasn't on follow though) a sieb by Firiam, they go... can be a lot of time. But all worked well for him. Taka losing his nerves slowly, looks more and more like a Makhamadzhonov win then

Anyway, happy Donks. Think a 0 stages Giro was very possible. With my sprint skills, 2 of 3 43 sprinters, 4 guys in the worst 10 sprinters in the Giro, next is Lanfredini with 46. And those are the guys with mountain. 86 climbers, nice and well, but vs 90 and 88, a bit limit. Lüthi my one big chance, 72-59, he trained, great guy, Of course there's better sprinters around still, but with 59 he is there. Toulet in case he gets some Sapielak-juice, but needs a double dose, and lots of inspiration the second chance, for the rest I have to rely on a very lucky punch with Uru (also very unlikely) Lanfredini or Roy (that seems more possible). Now have a stage! Chasing the maglia azzurra, preferred it green, but stupid Mediolanum (berluscazzo related makes it worse) wanted it blue, ok, let's fight for that then.

Next is the GC, with the wrong leader doesn't look too good, but if Lachance stops chasing mountain points at least I have the right helper. We'll see. Profit from a hopefully 3 way fight in front somehow. Or 4 way fight? Fürst, Fürst, who knows what Fürst wants?
Tomorrow rest day, so no posting by Donks, favorite check will have to wait for Tuesday morning then.
Let's celebrate Lüthi in the meantime!

[cataracs]

I haven't even realized Murodbek followed Itachi until now lol...Tukh is not going to win, take my word. It's either Reggy or Firiam.

[team fl]

2nd rest day. time to update the statistics. First, we need to document the latest stage results, then the usual classement stuff:

Stage 13:

01. 00:00:00 Baptiste Firiam (r TAKA)
02. 00:00:02 Murodbek Makhamadzhonov (Tukhtahuaev)
03. 00:00:03 Alex Dixon (Big Donkey)
04. 00:00:04 Tom Trost (Narrenparty)
05. 00:00:05 Rodrigo Macedo (Wolfpack Cycling Team)
06. 00:00:05 Alexis Art (Romoc Riders)
07. 00:00:06 Crescenzo Poggiolini (Tukhtahuaev)
08. 00:00:06 Émile Lachance (Big Donkey)
09. 00:00:07 Fürchtegott Fürst (Team FL)
10. 00:00:08 Lucas Papillon (Gipfelstuermer)

Stage 14:

01. 00:00:00 Hannes Rauch (Narrenparty)
02. 00:00:00 Hubert Sapielak (Tukhtahuaev)
03. 00:00:00 Rafael Andrade (Dreizehn)
04. 00:00:00 Gino Degreef (Romoc Riders)
05. 00:00:00 Arend Jongh (CreditPommes)
06. 00:00:00 Thijs Toornstra (Romoc Riders)
07. 00:00:00 Dietmar Barth (Narrenparty)
08. 00:00:00 Alex Alailefaleula (Team FL)
09. 00:00:00 Damien Toulet (Big Donkey)
10. 00:00:00 Torger Wolff (Tornado Team)

Stage 15:

01. 00:00:00 Noah Lüthi (Big Donkey)
02. 00:00:00 Ryodo Kajiwara (Gipfelstuermer)
03. 00:00:00 Botond Becze (Tukhtahuaev)
04. 00:00:00 Yannick Hoebeke (Romoc Riders)
05. 00:00:01 Murodbek Makhamadzhonov (Tukhtahuaev)
06. 00:00:01 Olayuk Arlooktoo (Tukhtahuaev)
07. 00:00:01 Itachi Uchiha (r TAKA)
08. 00:00:01 Fürchtegott Fürst (Team FL)
09. 00:00:01 Liu Bei (Dreizehn)
10. 00:00:02 Mickaël Bougault (Gipfelstuermer)

Maglia Rosa

01. 00:00:00 Reggy Badenburg (CreditPommes)
02. 00:01:36 Fürchtegott Fürst (Team FL)
03. 00:01:43 Baptiste Firiam (r TAKA)
04. 00:01:43 Murodbek Makhamadzhonov (Tukhtahuaev)
05. 00:02:17 Alex Dixon (Big Donkey)
06. 00:02:22 Crescenzo Poggiolini (Tukhtahuaev)
07. 00:03:51 Alexis Art (Romoc Riders)
08. 00:04:26 Rodrigo Macedo (Wolfpach Cycling Team)
09. 00:04:40 Tom Trost (Narrenparty)
10. 00:04:47 Liu Bei (Dreizehn)
11. 00:05:11 Lucas Papillon (Gipfelstuermer)
12. 00:05:37 Santiago Tabarez (Tornado Team)
13. 00:06:14 Olayuk Arlooktoo (Tukhtahuaev)
14. 00:07:28 Émile Lachance (Big Donkey)
15. 00:07:54 Oskar Stoel (CreditPommes)

Maglia Ciclamino

01. 139 - Alex Alailefaleula (Team FL)
02. 134 - Fürchtegott Fürst (Team FL)
03. 112 - Baptiste Firiam (r TAKA)

Maglia Azzurra

01. 166 - Émile Lachance (Big Donkey)
02. 080 - Baptiste Firiam (r TAKA)
03. 067 - Paul Wenger (Wolfpack Cycling)

Maglia Bianca

01. 00:04:47 Liu Bei (Dreizehn)
02. 00:05:37 Santiago Tabarez (Tornado Team)
03. 00:07:54 Oskar Stoel* (CreditPommes)

* will not be eligible for the final Maglia Bianca

Team classement:

01. 00:00:00 Tukhtahuaev
02. 00:09:25 r TAKA
03. 00:10:51 Big Donkey

Stage wins by riders:

3 - Baptiste Firiam (r TAKA)
2 - Fürchtegott Fürst (Team FL)
2 - Stefano Tzimas (Narrenparty)
1 - Alex Alailefaleula (Team FL)
1 - Rafael Andrade (Dreizehn)
1 - Olayuk Arlooktoo (Tukhtahuaev)
1 - Temptation Coventry (Dreizehn)
1 - Noah Lüthi (Big Donkey)
1 - Zafarmurod Rakhmonaliev (Tukhtahuaev)
1 - Hannes Rauch (Narrenparty)

Stage wins by teams:

3 - Narrenparty
3 - r TAKA
3 - Team FL
2 - Dreizehn
2 - Tukhtahuaev
1 - Big Donkey
1 - Wolfpack Cycling

Days in the Maglia Rosa

11 - Reggy Badenburg (CreditPommes)
2 - Murodbek Makhamadzhonov (Tukhtahuaev)
2 - Temptation Coventry (Dreizehn)

Red Lantern/Maglia Nera

- Gil Sousa (Wolfpack Cycling)

[team fl]

So, statistics are set. But what was week 2 like? And what's to come in week 3?

Week two was horrible. At least for Team FL. Two possible stage wins for Alex. One missed against the early escape by 1 sec and one with a sprint to forget. But the most important reason: Rik is gone. The never tired belgian working horse lost the fight against the time on stage 13 and had to leave the Giro. The first time ever a Team FL rider doesn't finish a GT. He will be missed in week 3 as well. But then again, week three offers two more opportunities for Alex, while the ones for the Fürst seem to be gone. Stage 17 looks possible, but without Rik, the team has to focus more on the things that are really important: The fight for the Maglia Ciclamino. Alex is still the best shot, so bunch sprint for the win. Maybe after his win at stage 14, Narrenparty becomes a more reliable partner for the remaining two flat stages.

Other than that, it's not as bad as it sounds in the first passage: The Fürst is still second in the GC, although the team management is happy for him to stay in the top 10 after the mountains of week 3. And he is still in the fight for the Ciclamino, only outperformed by Alex so far, his own team mate. Those two are in the top positions after week 2. Behind them, it's Baptiste Firiam, whose team already actively rode against points for Alex. And there are a lot of mountains to come. So what's the goal for week 3 then? Well, have another stage win would be nice, keep the Fürst in the top 6 of the GC and win the Ciclamino either with the Fürst or Alex. All of this looks doable, but it's decided on the road, not in the forum...

Well, that's that for Team FL, but what's up with the afternoon Giro in general? As written many times before, it's action action action. No stage with some rest, it's action every day. And not only in the race, also in the chat. Interstingly, it's not Big Donkey with the most annoying chat presence, it's r TAKA this time. Although it gives the afternoon a certain spiciness, it's a bit over the top. At least he has officially admitted by now that Firiam can win it all. It has always been and will be in week 3 as well Reggy vs. Firiam, with some interference (!) by Murodbek and Dixon. The Fürst seems still to be feared by some, but after stage 16, he should be out of the conversation. Unless they let him win by pure stupidity.

What should be a fun competition is the fight for the Maglia Azzurra. Although Émile Lachance has made it clear that he won't give it away voluntarily, week three offers lots of opportunities to gather points in the mountain classement. 19 GPMs with 478 points left on the road, if you cross every GPM first. So will Émile do everything to defend the Maglia Azzurra? If yes, to what expense? Also in this category, the biggest threat is Baptiste Firiam with currently 80 points. As the best climber by far, he may gather enough points to catch up. But I am sure, there will be other riders looking greedily at all those GPMs upcoming.

So theoretically, Firiam could still win GC, Ciclamino and Azzurra. Or lose it all. Week 3 should be his week though. But I guess, Reggy will not just hand the Maglia Rosa to him, so there should be some effort involved. CreditPommes did well so far defending it. And then there's the rest lurking behind Firiam, waiting for the mistake, like Murodbek, Dixon, or even Poggiolini (and the Fürst of course!). My conclusion is: If you want entertainment, watch the afternoon Giro. Can't get better than that: A spicy chat, lots of action on the road and no classement seems to be decided yet. It is indeed the only real Giro, the afternoon Giro!

[Tukhtahuaev]

The field seems rather tense before the start of our final week. I am really looking forward to see how Taka is going to make sure that I don't win in a way that is not actively against his own interest.
Entertainment is almost guranteed in which clearly is the most interesting Giro edition for our neutral spectators.

[Robyklebt]

What neutral spectators? There are none. Everybody is cheering for Onkel Donkel!

Anyway. I like it. Best Giro in years. For the first time in ages, it's not a 2, or sometimes even 1 horse race.

Reggy vs Firiam, 2 horses (amazing it took Taka 2 weeks to come to that conclusion) but that constellation opens it up for Makhamadzhonov at the very least. To a lesser degree to Onkel Donkel.

Don't even remember when we had more than 1 challenger for the last time... Might be Zipoli's Giro? Or Gaurains? Don't remember how big of a threat CC was then, top climber, actually top everything leader, but no real support for the climber... Maybe really Zipoli then? 2017? Anyway, Badenburg vs Firiam vs Tukh climbers vs Onkel Donkel climbers. Cool. It was supposed to be Fürst vs Mori, boring 2 mules race, we got lucky that all the interference resulted in this more interesting scenario.

[Robyklebt]

Oh, checking a bit, 21 3 riders from 3 different teams within 30" . But only remember that fantasticos basically annoyingly gifted me that somehow. Eiffel shouldn't have won... And no memories of DeWit at all. But possibly was then? Or possibly 22? Will have to check the race threads, I suspect there's a bunch of informative posts there

[team fl]

Tim Eiffel the man, the myth, the legend!

[flockmastoR]

Oh, checking a bit, 21 3 riders from 3 different teams within 30" . But only remember that fantasticos basically annoyingly gifted me that somehow. Eiffel shouldn't have won... And no memories of DeWit at all. But possibly was then? Or possibly 22? Will have to check the race threads, I suspect there's a bunch of informative posts there

22 was Trakhtenbrot time. I, as a spectator, am waiting for the Mori comeback

[Hansa]

Entertainment is almost guranteed in which clearly is the most interesting Giro edition for our neutral spectators.

the morning takes that spot easily