Ciao, here’s an overview of all the Giro stages. There’s the stage profile and a short preview for every day, as well as more on TV coverage and the big stages to watch.
If you want this info over the coming weeks it’s also at inrng.com/giro and available via the fixed “Giro d’Italia” link at the top of the page for desktop users or the drop-down menu for mobile browsers.
It’s always fun to muse over the new names and faces from the cobbled classics with a view to seeing them again in the coming years. Here’s a selection of riders who made a name for themselves…
Another week, another update and the big story is Lotto-Soudal are firmly in 20th place, facing relegation and now they’re hiring riders mid-season to help.
The top of La Redoute doesn’t mark the end of the climbing and just when everyone else wanted a breather, Remco Evenepoel attacked with 29km to go and try as they might, nobody could even follow him. He stayed away to take a solo win in the race of his dreams.
If it’s not over until the fat lady sings, then here’s La Doyenne to chant the end of the spring classics season.
With Tadej Pogačar a late non-starter, there’s contest between Julian Alaphilippe and Wout van Aert and several other contenders.
Thibaut Pinot won the final stage of the Tour of the Alps, putting the long saga of chronic injuries behind him and ending the even longer winless streak and avenging his frustration at finishing second yesterday. Below is a video clip from L’Equipe TV with studio guest Pierre Carrey offering both a portrait and a tribute, worth sharing… and adding an English translation.
Up popped Dylan Teuns. Third in the 2017 edition aged 25, he looked set to win the race as when a young-ish rider can place, they often return and improve thanks to wisdom and in particular how to negotiate the two last bends.
Another week, another look at the promotion and relegation standings. The chart above now says plenty in one glance, Israel and Lotto-Soudal are almost tied for 19th place but well below the relegation line while a four-way scrap for 18th place.
It’s back and it’s bone dry. The cobbles of Paris-Roubaix this weekend will be dusty and the roadside verge baked hard, making it the first ever dry edition for the women… and for the men a return to almost normal with sunny conditions again, seemingly like every time each spring.
This weekend’s Paris-Roubaix has to be the unique race on the calendar. Its cobbles are enough to make the Oude Kwaremont look new. The velodrome finish is unusual but the exceptions don’t end there, this is a race where reaching the showers has become part of the ritual. Even the name stands out, Roubaix is celebrated as a strong brand by the cycle-trade when in the reality it’s France’s poorest town and rarely something to celebrate.