Whereas we’re ready for the motion to kick off, why not have a learn of my profile of Vegard Stake Laengen, Tadej Pogačar’s teammate for each Grand Tour since 2020. He is not one for the limelight, however he is additionally at this Giro.
“It is not Strade Bianche, to be trustworthy, it is only a ‘not good’ stage, I’d say,” Tadej Pogačar mentioned on Wednesday, enjoying down his possibilities of a decisive assault.
“We must be actually concentrated from begin to end. We must be collectively as a group going to the gravel sectors with nice focus and simply arrive to the end line.”
(Picture credit score: Getty Photos)
Some non-starters already at the moment: Michael Woods and Nadav Raisberg, each of Israel-Premier Tech. The previous, a multiple-Grand Tour stage winner, was pressured to withdraw with concussion.
Florian Lipowitz of Bora-Hansgrohe, has additionally departed the race as a result of illness. The younger German was fifth on Sunday’s first summit end, and seemed promising in his first Grand Tour.
It’s properly value refreshing your thoughts on who’s main the Giro d’Italia general, and in all the opposite classifications too. (Trace, Pogačar would possibly characteristic)
(Picture credit score: RCS/Giro d’Italia)
Here is at the moment’s profile, which has simply two category-four climbs. It’s the greyed-out bit, although, the gravel, which begins with about 50km to go, which is fascinating.
The primary sector, from Vidritta-Bagnaia, is 4.4km lengthy and is straight away adopted by the 4.8km Bagnaia-Grotti sector. Bagnaia Grotti varieties the second fourth-category climb of the day, and has pitches of 15%, so the race might be gained right here.
After all, it is not Strade Bianche, however Pogačar does have a behavior of long-range assaults on the race…
In the present day’s stage will kick off about 12:00 BST, so whereas we anticipate the motion to start, let’s recap yesterday’s shocking stage six.
“It was an extended, lengthy group pursuit,” Thomas mentioned put up stage. “We did an incredible break, and I don’t consider it. It was actually exhausting within the last. Each pull was full fuel. It’s unbelievable.”
