ANDREA VENDRAME’S COUP
He did an incredible number. I know Andrea well. At Romandia, before the Giro d’Italia, he was flying. Until now we expected something more from him. Instead today he took the break by force, then in the final he had all the best against him, excluding the men in the ranking. He totally earned it.
THE PERSPECTIVES OF SANCHEZ AND STEINHAUSER
Sanchez and Steinhauser are interesting riders, they are showing themselves in different stages, so these are important signs. They can aspire to one-day races, but perhaps also try to make the rankings in the future. Steinhauser, for example, had arrived at the Giro to make the rankings, perhaps aiming for a tenth place. At the beginning, however, he wasn’t well, then he found his condition again after the first nine stages.
VELASCO AND ASTANA
Velasco is a boy who, when he goes, also goes fast. The problem is that the whole of Astana is not spinning, it is one of the teams with the least results. I have always seen Velasco alone, I have never seen a team around him. At the moment it is one of the weakest.
THE GHOST OF MONTE GRAPPA ARRIVES
Tomorrow will be tough for many. Maybe not for Pogacar, but be careful from behind: for the backup positions more than one could have failures. The climb is long and hard, with a lot of difference in altitude, to be tackled twice: they really wanted to hurt the runners… They will climb in 50-55 minutes, it will do some damage.
THE FALL OF THOMAS
Thomas’ fall is clearly his fault. These are things that happen, they happened to me too. But you don’t have to turn around like that when you have runners in front of you. It must be said that there was excellent fair play from everyone else. In cycling it is normal to see these things.
WILL POGACAR MAKE THE EMPTY SINCE THE FIRST CLIMB TO MONTE GRAPPA?
He can do it, today he saved the team money. Tomorrow he will leave 4-5 minutes to the breakaway, the team is strong and will set a fairly important pace until the tough stretch. Then Majka will come into play, who when he shoots breaks the group and there are 15 left, after which he will decide what to do. He could make a breakthrough from the first climb of Monte Grappa. I don’t think it’s necessary, he could also wait for the second, still giving good gaps. Then it’s clear that he just needs to put third gear, because the others go into second.
TIBERI BETWEEN THE WHITE JERSEY AND PODIUM IMAGE
The first climb of Monte Grappa must be calm. In the second, if he realizes he has it, he must try for the podium. It’s not easy, he has two important opponents ahead of him, but hope is the last to die. He is in a position where he can seek the podium, but if he were to miss out, then he could lose the white jersey. If he sees Thomas or O’Connor in difficulty, he will have to give his all, also risking taking Arensman with him.
THE MEN MOST AT RISK ‘CRISIS’
Definitely O’Connor, but the one who could fail is Tiberi himself, because he knows himself less in the third week. However, he is also the one who was seen to risk the most in the last stages. I expect a tough fight for places, with some failures, but not reversals.
DID POGACAR NOT PUSH TO THE MAXIMUM IN THIS GIRO D’ITALIA?
In my opinion Pogacar gave everything in the first stages. Then he was forced by the team to have management. They have the goal of also doing the Tour, he couldn’t think of spending 100%. In my opinion he kept a 10% margin.
PREVIOUS EPISODES
The presentation of the Giro d’Italia
First stop: “This is how Pogacar makes enemies. Oropa will be a test for Tiberi”
Second stage: “Pogacar has only one Achilles heel. Tiberi and Pellizzari are not ready yet”
Third stage: “Pogacar is spending too much and could pay. Milan must trust their teammates”
Fourth stage: “Milan can win 3-4 stages, but watch out for Pogacar for the cyclamen. And Ganna…”
Fifth stage: “Pogacar could leave the pink jersey”
Sixth stage: “Pogacar can give more than 30″ to Thomas”
Seventh stage: “Pogacar leaves only one glimmer of hope. Tiberi: better a placing or a stage?
Eighth stage: “Tiberi will understand his limits in the Dolomites. Pogacar is making a lot of enemies”
Ninth stage: “Milan needs a running director. Pogacar is creating discontent”
Tenth stage: “Tiberi does well to attack. The team is making him responsible”
Eleventh stage: “Tiberi proved he is strong. Milan is pure power”
Twelfth stage: “I hope Bahrain doesn’t work too hard and finds itself with fewer men in the third week”
Thirteenth stage: “Milan in Cipollini’s footsteps. Pogacar will earn on the clock”
Fourteenth stage: “Ganna was afraid of Pogacar. Tiberi, watch out for a bad day”
Fifteenth stage: “Tiberi does not come out reduced. Pogacar bores, but also creates enthusiasm”
Sixteenth stage: “Tiberi and Pellizzari on the right path. Piganzoli is a lot of stuff on his debut”
Seventeenth stage: “Pogacar can win the Giro, Tour and Vuelta. Like a 250 bike versus a 125″
Eighteenth stage: “Milan shouldn’t make certain mistakes. DSM and the French are the most disappointing teams.”
