Okay, it's still a little weird that it's actually the second rest day already after just Stage 9, but Giro's gotta make money having other countries host the gig no matter how inconvenient for the riders, so here we are. So what did we learn this fateful first week, (both) my faithful readers? Let's review!
1. You did *not* see Yates winning that opening time trial. I mean, you thought he'd do well, but be honest--not that well!
2. You did *so* see Yates cracking. Not because of his knee, though that is what happened this time--but like clockwork, he'll do it at least once every Grand Tour anyway. Heal up soon--and props to him for being determined to at least start tomorrow to honor the race!
3. Tom Dumoulin. Frankly, I still don't see how a guy with his build can possibly ever have won a race as cruelly (and beautifully) mountainous as the Giro. And seeing him just gutted after his time trial third place--which for almost anyone else would be a career highlight--really sucked. But the way he worked like a dog then celebrated wholeheartedly for his young teammate and virgin Grand Tour stage-winner teammate Koen Bouwman was genuinely a thing of generosity. You could do worse than the proud owner of the Trofeo Senza Fine for a worker bee, buddy!
4. Thomas De Gendt. Like you weren't screaming your damn head off willing him to take that stage? Own it, Pinocchio, you were so either!
5. Biniam Grmay. Okay, he dithered around with van der Poel when he could've bridged up to the break just before the line, and misjudged a coupla sprints. He *just* won Ghent-Wevelgem for !@#&'s sake--can we give him 10 minutes to get adjusted to the Giro before we vilify the poor kid when we all *know* it's just a matter of time? Jaysus!
6. Juanpe Lopez. Dang, calling nature breaks for the entire peloton already? That kid's learned to wield the power of the maglia rosa pretty quick!
7. Don't even say it. Don't even say it. I don't want to curse him. Mikel cra--entirely voluntarily chose to caress the glass-smooth surface of the brand-new tarmac *twice* yesterday. Plus, he sorta owned up to being mildly dented, which stands to reason when you hurtle at said tarmac at like 70 kph. Tratnik's out. Pello's scraped up pretty good. But Mikel *did* stick with Hindley Bardet and Carapaz the whole way up--and even attacked, woot!--the Blockhaus climb nonetheless. Mikel, heal up fast--we believe! And Bahrain, get your !@#$ back together and protect this boy. Landismoooooooooooooooooo!
8. Y'know, I really like and admire Richie Porte. But watching Carapaz's relentless blue train crushing the rest of the GC as their own high-quality helpers dropped off in exhaustion gave me instinctively creepy Discovery-Postal throwback vibes. Plus, they're working for Carapaz, who is the nails-on-the-blackboard, hovering-mosquito, punk-!@# Landa backstabber in my ear. Argh!
9. I am still trying to get my head around the dance portion of the Giro opening ceremony, though as i adore the Giro without reservation and in every way possible, it's clearly my fault for being a low-rent, cultureless American clod. But--ah, forget it, it's clearly my fault!
10. Cav is !@#$ed without Morkov, which means he'll prove me wrong, take all the remaining sprint stages, and wear the points jersey on the final podium in Verona. Oh well Caleb--if you can avoid being spit out the back tomorrow, there's theoretically a chance the break'll choke and you'll come back and take your win!
11. Bauke Mollema. You've still got plenty of time. But we're waiting!
All right, that's the first week down. Next up--well, it basically only *does* go up from here. Aupa Mikeeeeeeeeeel!
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