Well, that's that and another Grand Tour has sadly came to fruition. The peloton's slug around Italy was one that will certainly be looked fondly back on. Entertainment, panache, chaos: this Giro d'Italia had a little bit of everything in it. So, Let's look back together on the amore infinito.
Pogacar in cruise control at Giro d'Italia
How can anyone dislike Tadej Pogacar? It still blows my mind that the Slovenian has a small number of haters within cycling. He just loves to have fun riding his bike. And boy did he certainly have fun during this Giro d'Italia picking up six stage victories with an absurd time gap of +9:56 to Daniel Martinez in second place. For Tadej and UAE Team Emirates, it's almost similar to playing Pro Cycling Manager on easy mode, nobody could come within a sniff of him. The Pogacar cannibalism continued with the Maglia Azzura romping home despite the best efforts of the youngest rider in the race, Giulio Pellizzari. As ever, the implications for the Tour will always come into question but you have to say Pogacar never really got out of third gear, that's the scary thought for the opposition come July. If Jonas Vingegaard is at his peak though, my word we could have another fantastic battle to witness. On top of that, Primoz Roglic and Remco Evenepoel will be lining up as well!
Pogacar never really got out of third gear. That's the scary thought for the opposition come July
What impresses me the most with Tadej is his team work and comradery as evident on stage 9 into Naples. His almighty pull to reel in the lone escapee Jhonatan Narvaez in order to gift a chance to UAE Team Emirates' sprinter Juan Sebastian Molano was something to behold, how often does the leader of a Grand Tour do that? Not often! Through watching many of the pre & post-race interviews, you truly get a sense of the admiration that his teammates obtain towards him, positive vibes only.
Milan VS Merlier
Now this was a battle! Ending with three victories each, you could probably say that is a fair reflection on the battle, although Milan did have the bad luck on Stage 21. Tim Merlier gave the middle finger to a lot of his doubters, including some Domestique members, who said he couldn't win a stage in the second or third week of a Grand Tour. Does he have a shot at making the Tour? I still think it's all in for Remco, despite the fact that Merlier would be open for a Juan Sebastian Molano kind of job doing domestique work for Evenepoel at Tour de France combined with sprinting. On the other hand, to watch Jonathan Milan sprint was jaw dropping. You're left questioning yourself how it's even humanly possible for a human's head to rattle around that much! Do any of the pair challenge Philipsen? It is a tough question to ask and at the end of the day I think Jasper just edges it ever so slightly.
Tim Merlier gave the middle finger to a lot of his doubters who said he couldn't win a stage in the second or third week of a Grand Tour
Overall the 'flat stages' were a great watch with moments such as Cofidis breaking their duct via Benjamin Thomas on stage 5 into Lucca after a howler by the sprint teams. We saw action on Stage 3, won by Tim Merlier, which saw Tadej Pogacar & Geraint Thomas shoot up the road in the final kilometres. And then Stage 9 into Naples, where Narvaez was caught in the final one hundred metres with the victory going to Olav Kooij, another rider who silenced his doubters. It must be said that I personally cannot recall a 'boring stage' and it would take me a while to recall as such.
Young Guns
The young guns of the peloton of this year's Giro d'Italia certainly laid their ground with riders such as Georg Steinhauser, Giulio Pellizzari & Davide Piganzoli all being my pick of the bunch. Starting with the revelation Georg Steinhauser, my oh my did the young German show the world what he can do. Picking up a victory from the breakaway on Stage 17 on the Passo Brocon and two third places on Stage 15 & 19. He certainly has a tremendous future ahead and for his development, there is no better place than where he currently is, EF Education - EasyPost.
It would not surprise me if Pellizzari is snapped up by a WorldTour team in the very near future
Moving onto Giulio Pellizzari of VF Group Bardiani - CSF Faizanè. Oh so close to grabbing a richly deserved victory for himself and the team, who are winless at the Giro since Giulio Cicconne won Stage 10 in 2016. If it wasn't for Tadej Pogacar being there he probably would have won Stage 16. Unfortunately the young Italian ended up with Pogacar's pink jersey as a gift after the Slovenian dropped him in the final kilometre. Again just like Steinhauser, his effort and determination was incredible to see, especially on the Monte Grappa stage where he fought valiantly to try and win the maglia azzura. It would not surprise me if Pellizzari is snapped up by a WorldTour team in the very near future as he could be a real asset at somewhere like BORA - hansgrohe.
Under Appreciated
Many riders during this Giro have gone slightly under the radar, one being Einer Rubio of Movistar Team. If his time trial skills were on an actual capable GC rider level, the man would have finished possibly in the top five. But I guess it is the same old story with Movistar riders and their time trial ability! On the other hand, the 1.64 metre Colombian worked excellently with his compatriot Nairo Quintana.
If Einer Rubio's time trial skills were on an actual capable GC rider level, he would have finished possibly in the top five
Now this is a man who I think definitely doesn't get the true credit he deserves and it is the Norwegian Vegard Stake Laengen of UAE Team Emirates. Some of the pulls that Vegard was able to do were mind blowing with it being evident the most on the Monte Grappa Stage . It is Vegard's third Grand Tour win working for Tadej Pogacar and that for certainly is not going to stop there.
The Inconsistent becoming consistent
Daniel Felipe Martínez, what a Giro he had. Finishing as the best of the rest in second place of the general classification, his best ever finish in a Grand Tour. Daniel certainly proved myself and I am sure many others who were expectant that he would eventually crack in the later stages wrong. He kept getting stronger! It also was apparent that Martínez was isolated in many of the third week stages due to his teammates suffering with a variety of issues. It was a great shame to see the young German, Florian Lipowitz abandon the race on Stage six, as this duo of Martínez & Lipowitz would have worked gelled perfectly.
Despite being isolated, Martinez defended himself perfectly against attacks coming from the INEOS Grenadiers duo Arensman - Thomas
Despite being isolated, Martinez defended himself perfectly against attacks coming from the INEOS Grenadiers duo Arensman - Thomas. 'Attacking is the best defence', is what he must have thought on the way to Livigno. After a high pace set by Arensman, Geraint Thomas tried to steal Martinez's second place in GC, but the Colombian answered with the pedals. Next up for Martínez will be to support the yellow jersey aspirations of Primoz in July. To be continued!
Comments