2026 Stage Races Thread

[Daka]

MVDP wins an exciting sprint, after a few times climbs, we have a new overall leader of Tirreno Adriatico!
Pellizzari takes a surprise 2nd in a bunch sprint against some big names takes bonus seconds over Del Toro on the line.

He now leads the race overall, looks like it's shaping up to be an exciting GC battle. plenty more to come.

 

[Daka]

Vingegaard goes solo with 20km to go laying down the law.
Visma never contains the break & attacks this early. Huge Grand Tour gaps!

 

[Orange Agent]

JV is flying, gonna be interesting to see how long this goes for. A monty to win the Giro, beyond that, hope for the best. WVA v MVDP, well what a joke. Wout is bordering on hubbard level.

 

[Daka]

JV is flying, gonna be interesting to see how long this goes for. A monty to win the Giro, beyond that, hope for the best. WVA v MVDP, well what a joke. Wout is bordering on hubbard level.

Vingegaard looks a lot better than the previous 2 years, this of the stage of season.
I reckon Wout is passed his best now, really lacks that punch even some GC riders seem to have more these days.
MVDP is miles ahead of him now.

 

[eth-dog]

JV is flying, gonna be interesting to see how long this goes for. A monty to win the Giro, beyond that, hope for the best. WVA v MVDP, well what a joke. Wout is bordering on hubbard level.

Wout is cooked. He's not even at Bling's level anymore

 

[eth-dog]

This circuit is brutal. I think IDT wins tonight, but RBH will want the break to win by around a minute.

 

[eth-dog]

Interested to see RBH tactics today, and Jorgenson's. Roglic needs to attack and tire IDT out but I'm not sure if it'll be overly successful.

 

[Daka]

Del Toro looked strong yesterday bit of a statement to the rest of them.
Jorgenson in good touch, only one able to go with him.

Queen stage, I can't see how Del Toro loses.

 

[Daka]

Jonas Vingegaard wins the 2026 Paris-Nice by 4:23 on 2nd place Dani Martinez. It's the biggest gap since 1939!

People will say it's not the best top 10, but it was just the way the race panned out, split apart by the stage 4 conditions, good riders usually position themselves well and it unfortunate about Ayuso crashing out who would have put up a good fight. Jonas has had bad luck in this race previously while being favorite.




He also won the other classifications minus the white jersey (not eligible).

Is there a more iconic photo than Jonas in green!?

 

[Daka]

Isaac Del Toro is the champion of 2026 Tirreno-Adriatico, the first Mexican winner in the history of the race. We can say this is the biggest victory of his career so far.



Jorgenson finishes 2nd after Visma worked to get Matteo the sprint bonus seconds.
Pellizzari finishes 3rd
In what an exciting race at times.

 

[eth-dog]

Catalunya startlist is taking form, and it's probably the most stacked I've seen this season between Gaudu, Onley, Bernal, Carapaz, Uijtdebroeks, Rubio, Gee-West, Lipowitz, Evenepoel, Landa, O'Connor, Almeida, Pidcock and of course Vingegaard. Gonna be a really good race hopefully.

 

[Daka]

Will be super intesting to see who is better Remco or Lipo,
they have been in altitude training. I expect Evenepoel to better than what he showed at UAE Tour.

 

[Daka]

Not the greatest team support for Jonas.
outside of Kuss.

 

[The Kings Ransom]

Not the greatest team support for Jonas.
outside of Kuss.
View attachment 2559008

Nordhagen looked good in UAE tour on the mountain stages.

 

[eth-dog]

Not the greatest team support for Jonas.
outside of Kuss.
View attachment 2559008

Nordhagen and Piganzoli are good on climbs. Also doesn't need that much outside of Kuss.

 

[Daka]

Nordhagen and Piganzoli are good on climbs. Also doesn't need that much outside of Kuss.

Nordhagen looked good in UAE tour on the mountain stages.

I didn't think Piganzoli was that great at Paris-Nice.
It's never good a sign when you DNF I can't remember if he crashed or got sick.
but I am pretty sure Zingle didn't crash and he never completed the race.

Victor was by far Jonas's best support rider at Paris-Nice

Maybe I did underrate Nordhaden he can be good here, he was decent at the UAE Tour Kings Random was right.

 

[eth-dog]

Godon won last night. Good sprint.

Coppi e Bartali starts tomorrow. Mauro Schmid probably the favourite for the overall. Max Schachmann and Axel Laurence probably the ones behind him.

 

[Daka]

Can't help but feel Pidcock & Remco are wasting their energy early on bunch sprints stages.

Pidcock probably isn't targeting the GC to be fair and is probably more going for stages & getting some miles in the legs with some mountain stages, but Remco Evenepoel should 100% be going for GC.

 

[eth-dog]

Can't help but feel Pidcock & Remco are wasting their energy early on bunch sprints stages.

Pidcock probably isn't targeting the GC and is probably more going for stages & getting some miles in the legs with some mountain stages, but Remco Evenepoel should 100% be going for GC.

No ITT for him to get any time on Jonas, who will put minutes into him on stages 4, 5 and 6. Lipowitz much more suited to this parcourse.

 

[Daka]

No ITT for him to get any time on Jonas, who will put minutes into him on stages 4, 5 and 6. Lipowitz much more suited to this parcourse.

This guy's ambition is to win the Tour De France, I just can't see him ever doing it, if he isn't willing to compete for GC in a strong fielded one-week stage race.

 

[eth-dog]

This guy's ambition is to win the Tour De France, I just can't see him ever doing it, if he isn't willing to compete for GC in a strong fielded one-week stage race.

It's definitely possible. In 2028 Jonas isn't likely to be as good as he is now and it's likely one that Tadej will miss due to the Olympics, with Del Toro and Seixas not reaching their peak by then.

Him not chasing GC in a race like this isn't a big deal. If Jonas weren't here it's a different story but it's more important to get miles in the legs. He's still tied favourite for a podium spot come July.

 

[Daka]

It's definitely possible. In 2028 Jonas isn't likely to be as good as he is now and it's likely one that Tadej will miss due to the Olympics, with Del Toro and Seixas not reaching their peak by then.

I am not even convinced he'd beat those guys at the Tour now, since he already lost to Del Toro at the UAE Tour because of his air conditioning wasn't working that had a TT he was in the lead, if he is getting dropped badly on Jebel Mebrah wait till he faces back to back Alpe d'Huez stages.



Also skip and watch from 5mins onwards, even Patrick says Remco can win MSR.

 

[yaco55]

Godon won last night. Good sprint.

Coppi e Bartali starts tomorrow. Mauro Schmid probably the favourite for the overall. Max Schachmann and Axel Laurence probably the ones behind him.

Jayco has a loaded team for this race and should get good results.

 

[eth-dog]

I am not even convinced he'd beat those guys at the Tour now, since he already lost to Del Toro at the UAE Tour because of his air conditioning wasn't working that had a TT he was in the lead, if he is getting dropped badly on Jebel Mebrah wait till he faces back to back Alpe d'Huez stages.



Also skip and watch from 5mins onwards, even Patrick says Remco can win MSR.

I don't think it matters too much, the UAE result that is. He's trying to peak for July, he should finish top 5 here then the Dauphine is more important, will start as favourite we ith no Pogi or Jonas.

 

[eth-dog]

Queen stage of Catalunya tonight with 3x Cat 1's, 1x Cat 2 before the MTF on Coll de Pal. Should sort the wheat from the chaff