2025 Giro D'Italia

[The Kings Ransom]

I actually thought they had an average Giro but were saved by two strong rides.

Without knowing exavtly what their goals were I think they would be very happy to come away with 2 stage wins. In particular maiden European wins for Plapp and Harper, including on an iconic stage and mountain finish.

They were able to get one of their guys into the breakaway consistently. Probably represented in 8/10 stages a break went.

Zanna maybe a little disappointing when he had his chance.

Depretto first grand tour and finishes with 2 stage top 10s. Looked ok.

Double first grand tour - probably faded the last week.

Englehardt 1st giro after riding the vuelta last 2 years. Not sure what type of rider he is.

Hepburn did a really nice 2nd TT.


I think they ended up with 2 stage wins and maybe 4 other stage top 10’s. Probably scored 500 UCI points.

Early on it seems like they were going for Harper top 10 GC which he clearly wasn’t up to. But other than that, I’m not 100% sure what you would be asking for?

 

[eth-dog]

The lack of a second sprinter or a genuine puncheur showed. It felt climber heavy, one or two of Bouwman, Zana or Double should have been slated for the Tour where they lack another support rider for BOC. Not saying they would have beaten Mads in any of his sprint finishes but we'd have had other options

 

[The Kings Ransom]

The lack of a second sprinter or a genuine puncheur showed. It felt climber heavy, one or two of Bouwman, Zana or Double should have been slated for the Tour where they lack another support rider for BOC. Not saying they would have beaten Mads in any of his sprint finishes but we'd have had other options

Probably shows they were hoping for a better GC result with Harper.

 

[eth-dog]

Probably shows they were hoping for a better GC result with Harper.

Harper has never finished above 16th in a GT which was the only time he's finished top 20. Zana is a better GC option by and large, as is Dunbar. Now obviously Zana is having an average start to the year but pinning hopes on someone who is objectively our 4th best GC rider (and could well be overtaken by Plappy soon as well) is just wild mismanagement of our resources.

 

[Sleezy]

I definitely get the impression that UAE is a team of champions, not a champion team.

When Tadej is there, he's so clearly the leader that the direction is clear. But when he's not...

Well it's nice to be proven right.

Finally caught up with stage 20 this morning, and still in shock at how UAE just totally capitulated on the road. Yeah you got beat, but to just give up at the top of the climb with 20ks to go smacks of entitlement.