It will be fascinating to see how he performs Pogačar. She won White Roads in early March with a solo action of 80 kilometers. Is he as strong now and will he be as aggressive?
The stage number 6 it will be a day of truth and opportunity, though Pogačar He doesn’t seem particularly enthusiastic.
“It’s not like them White Roadshonestly, I would say it’s just a ‘not pleasant’ stage,” Pogačar said on Wednesday.
“We have to be really focused from start to finish. We have to be united as a team by tackling the gravel sections with great care and simply get to the finish line.”
Pogačar, like most riders in the peloton, will opt for slightly wider tires and lower pressures but will use his usual road bike Colnagojust as runners have done recently for the White Roads and even for the Paris-Roubaix.
“There are not many gravel sections in the stage, but you will still have to ride a bike with all the necessary modifications to avoid mechanical problems,” he said Dario Cioni of the Ineos Grenadiers to Cyclingnews as they prepared to protect and support Geraint Thomas in stage 6.
“The setup will probably be the same as a normal race White Roads. You could possibly run the risk of a lighter setup, but that would increase the chance of punctures.”
The risk of punctures and mechanical problems is much higher and this worries everyone. Team cars may be blocked by pursuit groups and team radios may be out of range when a racer most needs assistance. Teams will have extra staff on the course, especially with wheels at the end of the gravel sections. It will be a stressful day for everyone.
Luckily, it will be a dry day, with the Italian summer arriving in Tuscany this week. In 2010, when the Giro d’Italia took on similar gravel roads during the stage in Montalcino, heavy rain turned the stage into a battle for survival. Cadel Evans managed to prevail through the mud and rain to win the stage, but Vincenzo Nibali he crashed and lost time and any chance of final victory.
Racers have often questioned the inclusion of gravel sections in Grand Tours because they can create tension, accidents and wasted time, but race organizers love them for the drama they add to the ride.
“We added gravel sections to test the riders’ cycling skills – even Grand Tour riders should be able to race on gravel,” suggested the race director Mauro Vegni.
“The gravel roads of Tuscany are similar to those of the race White Roads. Many of the gravel roads in Italy, especially in the Siena area, are spectacular and much better than asphalt roads. It will be a spectacular stage to watch on television and for the riders to race.”
By the editorial staff of Inbici News24
Copyright © Reproduction Reserved Inbici Media Group
