Cycling: Until yesterday was Simon yates (Mitchelton-Scott) the dominator at the Giro d'Italia. But now the tide could turn in just three days. Especially today, the competitors have a good chance of winning the battle. There are three strategies to choose from, which the sports directors are guaranteed to have thought about.
Strategy #1: Be patient until the final climb
On the 19th stage of the Giro d'Italia, 184 kilometers have to be covered from Venaria Reale to Bardonecchia. The highlight of the tour - the Cima Coppi - is already tackled in the middle of the stage. After the Colle delle Finestre, it's still more than 70 kilometers to the finish. Between the summit of Mount Sestriere and the foot of the final climb, there are almost 40 kilometers of downhill or only slight uphill. After an attack on the Finestre, the climbers will not find their preferred terrain. Hard to imagine that, for example, a Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana) can fight the approaching field all alone in the wind. It is not for nothing that the classification riders usually wait until the final climb on such tough mountain stages. Because if Simon Yates still has strong helpers at his side after the Finestre, the Brit can take it easy - and the gap will still be closed. So the simplest tactic would be to wait until the final climb.
Strategy #2: Relay station after the Finestre
Even if waiting until the final climb is not very spectacular, this tactic is used on most mountain stages. No wonder, because after all, the professionals only take a small risk with this strategy. At the end of a tour, however, drivers always have less to lose – and can therefore take more risks. Then a relay station is often used. Helpers are sent to the escape group. In the breakaway group, they then take part in the leadership work in order to gain a certain advantage. At some point, however, the phase of rest begins, because the helper does not have his own top result in mind, but only helping his captain. The latter takes it easy until his attack in the main field and then catches up with his comrades. Now he enjoys the slipstream and can take it easy for the final climb.
Astana and Sky have to be in the escape group
Tactics with relay stations seem to make particularly good sense for today's stage. After the Colle delle Finestre and the Sestriere mountain classification, volunteer services are worth their weight in gold. This strategy is perfect for the Astana and Sky teams, as they have good and experienced climbers in their ranks and their captains Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana) and Chris Froome (Sky) have nothing left to lose anyway. If, for example, Luis Leon Sanchez, Jan Hirt, Wout Poels and Sergio Luis Henao are placed in the breakaway group, Lopez and Froome can attack on the Finestre and then be piloted comfortably up to the final climb. The basic requirements for this strategy are a) successfully infiltrating the breakaway and b) successfully distancing Simon Yates.
Mitchelton-Scott must find countermeasures
Should it actually happen that the Astana and Sky teams want to install relay stations, Simon Yates' team will be in demand. It is then necessary to show the appropriate reaction to this action by the competition. For example, Mitchelton-Scott could ensure that no top helpers from the opponents get into the breakaway group. But then Yates has to use his team for the tracking work from the start. This creates another problem, since Yates' helpers exhaust themselves and probably won't be able to be with him anymore after Finestre at the latest. Another countermeasure would be to smuggle helpers into the escape group yourself. These do not have to contribute to the speed and could easily be ordered back if the captain got into trouble.
Strategy #3: 184 km full attack
Should the challengers not succeed in installing a relay station, they can send their helpers to work directly in the peloton. The Colle del Lys has to be crossed before the Finestre. With Astana, Bahrain Merida and Sky constantly attacking and keeping the pace high, Mitchelton-Scott will have to react and waste their energy. Then going up to the Finestre, riders like Wout Poels can set a tremendous pace, so Simon Yates will soon be isolated. Then there are more mountain classifications on the program, which the favorites have to master alone. The unprotected leader can thus be attacked alternately. Since Simon Yates cannot follow every attack, but can hardly expect any support when tracking, he could be completely exhausted by the end of the climb.
Yates could find an ally in Dumoulin
It is difficult for the sport directors to form alliances before the start of a stage. You don't know yourself which constellations will actually arise later in the race. Looking at the current trends, Chris Froome, Domenico Pozzovivo and Miguel Angel Lopez are probably the most likely. Simon Yates, on the other hand, spoke of being tired himself. And Tom Dumoulin is actually too heavy to be able to go on the offensive at Finestre. A scenario is quite possible in which, after the Finestre, the two first-placed professionals have to fight against their three pursuers - and form an alliance. The Sunweb team as a whole will not be of much help, as the team around Dumoulin is simply not strong enough in the high mountains. First and foremost, however, Yates must hope to have good legs himself. Furthermore, Esteban Chaves and Mikel Nieve could be the saviors in need. Either way: If you don't have good legs today, you will lose a lot of time ...
Anton Rittiner says
Read their reports with enthusiasm every day. Thank you very much.
Are curious how it turns out today.