Well that was damn exciting wasn’t it…

I don’t think there’ll be much between them in the TT tomorrow either !

Why do Ineos have the Odious name thrown at them then ?

Get in Teo

Brilliant. With bonuses are they both getting a pink jumper tonight?

I *think* it goes off position on the stage but commentary is just saying that it’ll go to tenths of a second which would mean Jai gets it.

It’s potentially worth Tao not getting pink – means he can use his own TT kit, not some hastily knocked up pink “aero suit”.

Given there is probably a very small advantage of wearing your own team skin suit in the tt I imagine neither rider is that keen to be in pink tonight.

Yep, Jai in pink.

Tao is the better TTer but then Jai will have the advantage of being off last and getting split time info.

Tao will be in the white jersey skin suit won’t he?

I think the atmosphere in the Ineos camp may be a lot better than in the Sunweb one this evening, could be enough to make a difference.

As an aside can anyone recall the general perception in Grand Tours that you needed to be at least 25 before you could seriously compete for the win. It seems now that 25 is starting to look like the upper age limit!

I think the atmosphere in the Ineos camp may be a lot better than in the Sunweb one this evening, could be enough to make a difference.

I don’t see why it should be. Sunweb have got 1st and 3rd place, all that’s happened is a couple of riders have swapped the jersey (sort of). Jai never attacked his own team-mate, he just followed Tao up until the point that WK was properly dropped and out of the picture. Only then did he attack so he’s not been a disloyal teammate.

Another brilliant stage; this Giro has been very, very entertaining.

Tao will be in the white jersey skin suit won’t he?

He will. But both the Giro and Ineos are sponsored by Castelli so it’ll be the same kit in a different colour.

It seems now that 25 is starting to look like the upper age limit!

Given that the winner of the TdF got both overall and Best Young Rider and that the same thing will happen here, perhaps it’s time to replace Best Young with Best Old. A nice white jersey for the highest placed rider over the age of 30!

in these marginal gains days, is it beyond the budget of these teams to have a skinsuit already on standby in case. I mean, there’s a chance TGH could have been in either pink or white from a week ago. I’d have even thought a decent seamstress working ‘all night’ could have one made from scratch?

don’t think kelderman is out of this yet, he’s much better tter than the other two. It’s whether it’s long enough to make up the time.

Yeah dropping 1 min+ over 15km is a big ask, particularly for both of them.

Does anyone know what sort of time I’d need to be checking the live stream tomorrow to watch the top 10?

Does anyone know what sort of time I’d need to be checking the live stream tomorrow to watch the top 10?

First rider off at 13.20, last rider finish approx 16.30 from the Giro site but I can’t see if that’s local time or GMT (clocks go back tonight in UK, not sure if Italy do the same?)

That’s the best news I’ve had all day. An extra hour in bed!

Second ever GT to be decided by a TT. Could rescue Ineos’ entire season. Will be glued to Eurosport tomorrow.

Second ever GT to be decided by a TT

2020 TDF
2020 Giro
1989 TDF

Am sure there have been more, unless you meant final day TTs.

2011 tdf

Been a few Grand Tours decided on final day TT:

Leader's jersey on final stage (ITT) → GC winner

1989 Tour | Laurent Fignon → Greg LeMond
2001 Vuelta | Oscar Sevilla → Angel Casero
2002 Vuelta | Roberto Heras → Aitor Gonzalez
2012 Giro | Joaquim Rodriguez → Ryder Hesjedal
2017 Giro | Nairo Quintana → Tom Dumoulin

— ammattipyöräily (@ammattipyoraily) October 24, 2020

And a few more on penultimate TT:

Grand Tour has also been won/lost on penultimate stage ITT in recent years. These came to mind first: 2000 Giro (Casagrande → Garzelli), 2003 Vuelta (Nozal → Heras), [2006 Tour (Pereiro → Landis)], 2011 Tour (A.Schleck → Evans). Some Grand Tour may be missing. #Giro103

— ammattipyöräily (@ammattipyoraily) October 24, 2020

All that said, I don’t think a grand tour has ever been this close for the final stage. It should make for some decent viewing. Imagine if Wilco Kelderman pulled out a total Beast Mode TT tomorrow?

Absolutely fabulous.

I was laughing my socks off when phenomenal Rohan appeared (again) after the longer attack by the 2 youngsters.
Then clapping and dancing with Tao getting over the line in front of Jai. Those 2 just brilliant.

Such enjoyable racing.

Apologies if it’s mentioned up thread but has anybody else found the Eurosport/GCN coverage utterly cringe worthy? When the Vuelta started, it was a relief to watch ‘proper’ coverage rather than Grumpy Wiggins spouting forth…

Completely agree.

Eurosport coverage is unwatchable with the sound on. Both the delivery and content is appalling with them not having anymore of a clue whats going on than I have. Plus they seem to hate each other. Then you have that idiot Wiggins just rambling on afterwards.

Millar and Boulting have a great connection and often add vital info most would have missed. Plus Imlach who is awesome and the hilarious fade out tracks each day. Classic sports commentary.

Edit: it doesn’t help that the camera work from the Giro is nowhere near as good as the other 2 tours though.

Agree.
I’m reading Ned’s book atm. When David Millar was dropped from TdF in 2014, Ned went looking for him to ask if he would join the ITV4 commentary team. Instead David sought them out and asked to join, if they would have him. What luck.
It’s obvious that Ned and David are friends, they gel, they read each other’s minds and they know their stuff. Lots of Preparation and revision goes into these grand tours and it shows.

I too find it hard to listen to the Vuelta commentary but find Ron Hatch to be a little better on the Giro.

My favourite is Chris Boardman, who is also superb along side Boulting and Millar.

final day TTs

Sorry I thought that bit was obvious. BTW, most GTs are LOST in TTs not won. Last day TT. Already excited.

Apologies if it’s mentioned up thread but has anybody else found the Eurosport/GCN coverage utterly cringe worthy? When the Vuelta started, it was a relief to watch ‘proper’ coverage rather than Grumpy Wiggins spouting forth

I finb Brian Smith a tad challenging at times and this seems to be a recent thing she used to be quite good, but Wiggins can be good value at times. Completely disagree about Boulting and Millar – terrible pair and they suck the enjoyment out of watching racing. Never really bought into the idolatry for Millar either.

The Eurosport commentary is definitely suffering for having to cover two grand tours simultaneously meaning that you have to put up with the same pair for the entire race, really helped when there was a bit of rotation. I don’t dislike any of the commentators, all of them repeat themselves a lot though.

Game on then.

I said previously that Rob Hatch was quite grating with his over-pronunciation but he’s bearable compared to the awful nasal tone of Brian Smith.

Millar and Boulting are far and away the best commentary double act and the way that ITV4 rotated the commentary to bring in Chris Boardman, Peter Kennaugh and Matt Rendell was good, it ensured you never had to listen to any one person for too long.

he’s bearable compared to the awful nasal tone of Brian Smith

sorry, but I find that mildly offensive. It’s OK to not like him for what he says but to dislike someone because of an accent, or the sound of their voice that someone has no control over is a bit OTT for me.

I too have a quite distinct vocal charaecteristic and if someone felt my work contribution was in some way less valid because of that I’d be right pissed off.

anyway – barring mishaps, it’s TGH isn’t it?

Oh well here we go!

I set my stopwatch and had Tao ahead by 40s a couple of roundabouts ago.

your stopwatch needs checking – 10s on official

This is utterly brilliant 😁

Tried again, 21s at Jai’s last corner

mrs tao looking for a flat in monaco ?

This is phenomenal.

Fascinating finish