Watching the peloton - Professional Road Racing thread 2026

[stompandgo]

For the final climb?

That's my take. It's super steep and the GC contenders should all be together at that point.

 

[stompandgo]

Eulalio has returned to the field with some help from Commissaire 1 with a barrage.

 

[stompandgo]

Lidl-Trek and Visma at the front pulling hard. The gap is down to 30s. 25km to go.

 

[stompandgo]

The break is caught. A solo rider is dangling off the front. Lidl, Visma, NSN driving the front. 20km to go. Where is Ganna?

 

[stompandgo]

The climb is about to start. INEOS, Unibet, Lidl, driving. Now on the climb.

Eulalio attacks and is clear. Kuss pacing Jonas. Narvaez and Milan still near the front.

 

[stompandgo]

Jonas attacks 200m from the summit and takes the KOM. He is staying in the top three. About a dozen riders have opened a gap of 10 seconds. Milan, Narvaez, and Magnier in the field. Bernal, Gall, and Hindley next to Jonas.

 

[stompandgo]

Eulalio attacks to bridge. Rain at the finish. Gap at 15s. 4.5km to go. Eulalio rides through the leaders to take the lead with another rider. Gap to 7s.

 

[stompandgo]

2km to go, it's going to be a field sprint. Milan stuck to Magnier's wheel.

 

[stompandgo]

Magnier with the win after Milan checked up behind Magnier's last leadout man. Absolutely perfect execution. Magnier 3 wins, Milan zero.

 

[Rás Cnoic]

That was clinical. Only caught the last 5km will try and see proper highlights later. So 2 big juicy mountain days to go then Rome and maybe Magnier will make it 4 at the colusseum!

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Love it! Had to leave at 10 km out. At that time, the commentators were saying that Magnier had little chance on the final wall.

As with weather forecasters, I've learned to put no stock in their predictions. But I do admire their perseverance.

 

[stompandgo]

Magnier made it because Lidl and Quickstep helped both him and Milan over the top. Both teams wanted the head to head sprint.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Magnier made it because Lidl and Quickstep helped both him and Milan over the top. Both teams wanted the head to head sprint.

Thanks! Please explain.

 

[stompandgo]

Thanks! Please explain.

Both teams were at the front on the climb. It is very unusual for sprinter teams to lead a climb. They kept things close enough to the leaders so that they could be caught for the sprint.

 

[stompandgo]

Today is the queen stage, which is typically the most difficult stage near the end of the race that will decide the GC winner. A category 1 climb after a long run uphill, followed by four category 2 climbs, one at the finish. I am working today, so no race reporting after 09:00. I will try and put it on in the shop.

 

[stompandgo]

The peloton has split on the first category 1 climb. A number of GC contenders are up the road, along with Kuss, with the rest of Visma leading the main group at 1:16. No threat yet to GC.