No I think you’re right. Right to the end 3 riders had the chance to win. Even Gee - nicest guy in the peloton - had a slim chance. And then there were other stories like the return of WVA, and the success of Mads Pedersen.
100% this. I was far more engaged with this Giro than last year's. Was also enjoying the WvA/IDT back story, WvA seemed genuinely apologetic for sitting on like he did for his stage win, and IDT seemed pretty magnanimous about it (apart from the wee gesture on the road near the end). A couple of snippets of them talking and high fiving behind the scenes and I liked seeing IDT consoling WvA after a one of his later 2nd places to Pedersen.
It has been a brilliant Giro. I was initially a bit miffed by the lack of the classic Dolomites stages and summit finishes, which I suppose were left out due to issues in recent years with poor weather causing reroutes and cancellations. However, the parcours turned out to be inspired, opening up the race early on and providing opportunities for different types of riders. I hope the Finestre doesn't end up being a fixture though. It's a brilliant gem of a climb and deserves to be kept that way by sparing use. I'm sure there must be more like it scattered around Italy.
Interesting that Adam Yates, by maintaining his highish GC position (too high for the peleton to let him go off in a break-away) actually helped his brother Simon on another team to win the Giro.
Rouleur is blaming it on UAE team strategy, but I wonder if Adam was being canny......
Just watched a YouTube video about the 2018 race, I hadn't realised that this is the second time that Carapaz sat and watched the winner ride off into the distance !!
For those of us that enjoy a bike racing book. I can recommend Alex Dowsett - Bloody minded, 'my life in cycling'.
It's a great insight into the tough world of bike racing, the ups and downs of him coping with serious illness. It's well written, honest and I'm finding it hard to put down.
B'Hop good result on velogames btw and NBT didn't catch you...;)
while I nearly got lantern rouge:)
B'Hop good result on velogames btw and NBT didn't catch you...;)
Why, thank you. I was 2nd for ages and then lost Ciccone and Ayuso. Congratulations to 'Fazzini'. NBT picked the correct Yates Brother. NJA sneaked in at the last minute and got 3rd. :0)
Not a Grand tour, however the Women's tour of Britain is now on the telly box. BBC red button.
Dalby to Redcar. Lovely scenery and great weather.
Not a Grand tour, however the Women's tour of Britain is now on the telly box. BBC red button.
Dalby to Redcar. Lovely scenery and great weather.
Just went out to watch by the side of the road. Not many other folk about. Police did an excellent job controlling traffic. Snacks from the Middle of Lidl.
Bad move allowing those two up the road.
Reminder, the criterium du dauphine starts tomorrow. Highlights daily on itv4
if you enter a team in velogames the same league will be running: if you entered to giro league then you’ll automatically be in the dauphine league
https://www.velogames.com/cdd/2025/
Reminder, the criterium du dauphine starts tomorrow. Highlights daily on itv4
if you enter a team in velogames the same league will be running: if you entered to giro league then you’ll automatically be in the dauphine league
https://www.velogames.com/cdd/2025/
The code for the STW mini league is 170623027, and that league will cover you for ALL velogames competitions so we can use the same one for the TDF and the vuelta
Reminder, the criterium du dauphine starts tomorrow. Highlights daily on itv4
'Team Chateau Gateau' is in the velogames mini league. I've decided not to choose the winner :0o.
Dauphine stage was a fun last half hour, Fred Wright off the front, the catch, the attacks and then the mad finish. Jake Stewart 5h on his prototype Factor too.
Being cautious about spoilers but when *that* attack happened I yelled "GWAAAAN <redacted>' so loud it scared my cat away.
If you can't put spoilers in the "grand tour 25" thread then where can you ??
If someone opens this thread but didn't want to know the results, my sympathy is non-existent.
You can use the built-in "Spoiler" tags
Like this
Just highlight the spoiler text, hit the button, give it an appropriate title
Really pleased for Jake.
Great stage today, super finish!
Great race so far for Jake and Fred.
Impressive win on his new bike, which he left lying on the floor while celebrating!
Great finish to the Women's Tour de Suisse too.
I'm kind of rooting for Remco at the moment. Will be good to have a spare superhuman to keep the racing interesting if Pog or Vinny have a mishap.
Today should be interesting, some decent climbs. Usual preview on The Inner Ring. I agree on Remco, would love to see him break the duopoly.
https://inrng.com/2025/06/dauphine-stage-6-preview-combloux/
Really appreciate you kicking things off again—had no idea the Giro was already starting! Like others here, I’ve missed a chunk of early season action due to the broadcasting changes. That TNT price tag is rough.
Shoutout for the Velogames league too—nice to keep the tradition alive. I’ve just dusted off my account and joined the mini-league. Team probably won't survive the first mountain stage, but it’s part of the fun.
Also, if anyone’s cycling around Ilford or East London and knows some quieter routes (especially for post-work loops), I’ve been exploring via local resources like this one:
👉 https://estateagentsilford.co.uk/ — it’s mostly about property and services, but oddly found a couple useful bits about greenways and development plans that may impact bike routes in the area.
Anyway, looking forward to some solid race chat here again this year. Let’s see if Pog does Pog things again or if we get a surprise GC shake-up. 👀🚴♂️
reports of Pog's demise exaggerated
reports of Pog's demise exaggerated
There was a lot of talk that he may well have been riding the TT to a plan and a specific pace, not to win but either as Tour prep or as mind games to make people think he was not on form / not having a good day.
Takes a minute on ving on a cat 2 climb, barely looked out of breath
Lets see tomorrow on the big stuff, hopefully a different story or the tour is going to be a forgone conclusion
Normal service resumed.
Yes, I drove down that climb earlier in the week. I think Pog rode up it faster than I drove down.
When you consider that Tadej has ridden the classics season but Jonas has based is full season around race it's pretty mad that they are so close.
Wouldn't surprise me if Tadej was riding tempo at the TT in order to not blow up as he's managing his form
Wouldn't surprise me if Tadej was riding tempo at the TT in order to not blow up as he's managing his form
I did see an ex pro suggesting that it was either a bluff or maybe more likely a training ride for the Tour time trial in that he had a bottle on the bike for what was a short ride which he'd not of done had he been going for the fastest time
Looks like Tadej was back on the correct supplements again. How anyone can pull out that big a gap that quickly is a mystery
Not quite so comprehensive today, though sometimes the speed he kicks at is amazing. After that he was just managing the gap, it seemed ('til Vingo pushed at the end)
I reckon it'll beTdF mind-games all round tomorrow
Good to see Ben Tulett in the top 10 - is going for GC in a smaller race his next step?
I thought Pog was very subdued in the interview at the end of today's stage rather than his usual cheery self.
Once again, it's got dull now that Pogacar is literally just toying with everyone.
Getting the bottle for Sivakov from the team car was more a show of strength than anything I think. A big "look at me" to the whole peloton. I'm strong enough, and have enough of a lead, that I can drop back to the car, collect some bottles and then ride in the wind all the way to the front of the peloton.
And then at the end, he was managing the gap then just eased up and coasted into the finish looking like he'd just finished the Sunday club run. Behind him Vingegaard finished looking like he'd had a shower in his own sweat.
