The Real Giro 2026 Afternoon

[Robyklebt]

Donkey finishing with a lucky punch... Bongiorno wins, makes it a good Giro, didn't expect that anymore.

Formwise, Lafuente on Pila, less beause of Pila, more wanting to have a better TT, a bit more time, easier to gain time there than "save" the same amount in the last 2 stages. Iskanderov then Cari, wanted later, but was afraid he might be too strong then for Lafuente, stupid thought, less helpers...last 2 days would have been fine. Form was made when I had no clue about this Abdurashitov anyway, thought it possible to be in rosa, at least virtual, real GC men after the TT at the time. Would have been an interesting Giro, no Abdurashitov, Donkey with Bonjour and Gjeldnes.. under attack every day, not very optimistic to defend it in a Giro with that many super classics. And then SWP and L with lesser ones but ready to use them for attacks. Brrr, anyway, only theoretical, so did the form to get an early advantage. Cari sort of the kind of standard I expect, seemed to make lots of sense for many, stage hunters too, never top, except Cari, but always there... so wanted to avoid it, but as I said... stupid ideas of Iskanderov being too strong for Lafuente... pah.

Bongiorno was Napoli... 87 now, probably pretty standard as well. Rest was irrelevant, ah, Gallego sometime in the last week, Andalo maybe, yep.

Finally with the lucky punch today satisfied, my team pretty much sucked. Helpers definitely, leaders ok, just overpowered by others, Bongiorno by the flat of Palamarchuk (and Frizzante, but even that poor guy never got the wheel) Lafuente by Abdurashitov. So fully relied on SWP for my second place in GC, never did a meter for sprint (well, only the days we didn't get one) and with the lack of reg (or any other good skill for some of my riders) wasn't much in the attack either. Then out of sync with the classic festival too.. could have been better, but really not much, considering I regularly missed the start as well... and I like my computer. Not the mobile. But in the end I reached my goals, second place in GC, easy, nothing to do, and the goal that wasn't even one anymore really, seemed too hopeless, a stage. And the other goal reached too, money, that was the reason for the weakish team, finally made 600k plus, with better helpers but still not winning riders like Gjeldnes and Bonjour wouldn't have earned more (ok, intermediates maybe) but paid more. Now fairly solid financial situation, even went down to 68% tax, sold Lanfredini and Lüthi for 2% more!

We heard there is a post Giro criterium in France in July or so, we might show up there. While suffering through endless 14h races in June, and coming too late there too every time.