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GIRO STAGE 16 - QUEENS STAGE CHAOS

11:13·24 May 2021

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KEY TAKEAWAYS

Bernal removing his rain jacket and greeting fans at the finish line was a deliberate show of strength — rivals notice that kind of freshness.
Extreme cold kills your dexterity and locks up your shoulders and back — if you bonk on a wet day, it's often because you stopped eating when reaching into pockets got too uncomfortable.
The media hyping Evenepoel as a GC favourite after nine months off the bike was irresponsible — factor actual race history and injury layoff into your own pre-race expectations too.
When race radio loses the helicopter feed, even directeurs sportifs are flying blind — chaos in the peloton often has less to do with tactics and more to do with information blackouts.
If a young rider's first grand tour goes sideways, the smart move is to stop and rebuild — finishing just to suffer through it rarely yields useful training data or race experience.

TOPICS

CYCLING NUTRITION

Bad weather cost us the queen stage but it wasn't without drama.

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KEY QUOTES

“Bernal has 66 hours in. He has a 2 minute and 24 second lead over Daimiano Caruso who is toured today in Donorroide. Hugh Kerti from EF is toured. He is at 3.40, you've last off, strapped to 4. At 4.18, Simon Yates was second. Now he's down to fifth at 4.20, fell apart today.”
Anthony Walsh — Roadman Cycling podcast host

“Remko finished over 24 minutes down today and that's the end of his GC hopes completely. I know he'd no legs for the last week anyway, but it's definitely cemented the end of Remko's GC.”
Anthony Walsh — Roadman Cycling podcast host

“He sat up, took hands off the bars, he was able to take his range jacket off, even though he had his gloves on, which is not easy when you're that cold and the dexterity is gone. Stuffed the range, I could up his jersey and displayed a maggier rose coming across the finish line.”
Anthony Walsh — Roadman Cycling podcast host

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EPISODE TRANSCRIPT3 SECTIONS

Stage Shortened by Weather

The big question is this, how do we use cycling as a tool to improve our health, our happiness, and our longevity? That is the question, this podcast will give you the answers. My name is Anthony Walsh and welcome to the Rowman Podcast. Roman welcome back it's stage 16 this was meant to be a queen stage this was meant to be the most exciting podcast of the entire 0 we started out and Cecile and we were finishing in Corto da Ampezzo 212 of the hardest kilometers the 0 to tell you with 5,700 meters vertical gain and 4 category 1 a sense we'd build it as Bernal, born at altitude and he was finally gonna put a stranglehold on this race. Well that was until the weather hit this morning and there was a collective decision to shorten the stage somewhat dramatically. That's what I want to talk about. Before I do, just a reminder about Patreon, because Patreon's how I fund the podcast, every day I do it but folks don't dismiss this as Joe Rogan dispassionately reading adds about fucking sugar free cereal at the start of his podcast. It's so delicious and nutritious. Definitely doesn't taste like shit. This is an actual sincerely your generosity, small donations they fund the podcast and they make it possible. So to your peers right now who have supported the podcast, you can thank them for your ability to listen to the podcast right now. If you haven't donated yet head on over to patreon.com forward slash Anthony underscore watch and make a small donation over there to the future health of the podcast the link is in the bio. So Hugh Cardi woke up tough British man woke up this morning he seen the weather he smiled he rubbed his hands together he said to his teammates this isn't me making this up he said to his teammates guys today is the day we can win the 0. And somewhere between Hugh Cardi uttering those words and the Italian director dropping the flag on the start of stage 16. There was a decision made, a collective decision it turns out to shorten the stage. The weather apparently was quite bad, we seen very little of the weather and we seen very little of the stage because although it was a shortened stage the broadcasters EuroSport and GCN, I'm not sure where in the world you were watching but they couldn't bring us any pictures. The helicopter couldn't take off, the plane couldn't take off that relayed the pictures. So we had basically no pictures for the entire stage today. So I'm just piecing together recollections from Reuters and post-race interviews, cycling news articles from directors to figure out what happened in the stage. EuroSport basically showed a static shot of the finish line and some highlights from the last few days. But what we do know is that the stage winner also took the Chima Copa the highest point in this year's Jiro D'Italia and that is Colombian sensation Egen Bernal. And we could see in his post-race interview after winning the stage his affinity for Italy and the respect he has for the Maglia roads, the region, the race and a lot of people forget that Cantana is Colombian But when he first left Colombia to pursue a career as a boy gracer, he moved to Italy and that's why we see such a strong affinity with the race and the jersey and respect for tradition and all that came floating true. And he also said he had a point to prove in the interview after here, kind of left wondering who was that point to prove to was the point to prove to himself is that you know any else obviously have a stacked roster with Teal Geg and Hart last year's winner. Garran Thomas, you know, Cara Paz, they've multiple Grand Tour stage winners in the one team and he's been left out of this year. It's toward the France. We don't suspect that's going to be changed. We reckon he's going to go for the Vuelta and try and double up if he wins the euro and do a euro Vuelta double, which would mean at a tender age he's won all three Grand Tours.

Bernal's Statement Victory

I would imagine, I don't have the stat, but I'd imagine he'd be the youngest rider in history to win all three Grand Tours, which will be pretty epic. And what I thought is interesting actually is if you look at Bernal coming across the finish line the last few hundred meters if anyone's been out on a really wet cold spin you'll realize how hard it is to do everything the dexterity in your fingers is gone your shoulders get stiff your neck gets stiff your back gets stiff you don't want to go into your pockets to eat it's difficult to get your bottles out of the cage so you find yourself a lot of time in this static position. Very, very difficult to move when you get that cold and the cold really gets into your bones. But I contrasted this and I noted it in the last couple of hundred meters that, at the end of the day, the brand out of energy levels in the last couple of hundred meters, he sat up, took hands off the bars, he was able to take his range jacket off, even though he had his gloves on, which is not easy when you're that cold and the dexterity is gone. Stuffed the range, I could up his jersey and displayed a maggier rose coming across the finish line. Then he stops and he goes and embraces Colombian fans and he high-fives fans who've waited at the finish line in the cold. Contrast that with some of the other guys coming across the line. They're shivering, they're broken, it looked like he took a victory knocking some time into rivals today, but also he took a moral victory and a mental victory over his rivals by just demonstrating that level of freshness after winning the stage. So briefly how it went from what I can piece together, a big break went to the day. We We had Vincenzo Nibali in there, Gioa made a Davide formula where they come to big GC threats. Dan Martin and Nicholas Roach were also in there. We didn't see the pitchers but apparently Dan Martin and Nicholas Roach were dropped and missed the front split in the break on a wet descent where they didn't. I don't know, quite have the nerves, the skill, the position and the look, whatever you want to call it to make the front of the split. So the break continued without them. It was a strong break, but then Inios did a lot of roiding today, but really the gap to the break came down when EF took it up and we really really strong roiding from Tour of Flanders, winner Betio, TJ Van Gardren, Kerr, EF really ripped the race to pieces and put some really good roiders like 2nd and GC, Yates dropped him, dropped the last off and they decimated Remko. I'll get to that one in a second. But when EF stopped riding it kind of looked like Martin Es from Ineos might be able to ride. He was the only Ineos rider left but he couldn't. So instead Bernal took it up with about 6'7k to the summit of the climb and the descent to the finish. Attacked no one could follow and from there it was the Bernal show. But as I said, Remko. Remko was a real victim. Remko finished over 24 minutes down today and that's the end of his GC hopes completely. I know he'd no legs for the last week anyway, but it's definitely cemented the end of Remko's GC You can't help but wonder the role of the media in Remko's demise and it's hard for a kid who's still let's not forget Remko's still a young kid and the Cyclo media were billing them as a favor for the race coming into this Someone that's never ridden the grand tour who's been off the bike for nine months They were billing them as one of the favorites and the media built him up so much and he's a young kid and he can't book Boy Into It. And now that same media are just tearing him down and he's a kid with such a promising future, if not the brightest future in the sport.

Bardet's Confusion and GC Standings

If you're going to pick out three young Reuters, he'd definitely be up there in the top three Reuters for the next decade of the sport. He's learned a lot in two weeks of race and I think Remcon needs to pack it up, Patrick LeFevre, the quickstep boss now needs to get him, pack it up, go home, rebuild, he's learned he doesn't need to suffer on for the next week. I was talking about how fuck lads were coming across the line and no one really epitomized that more than Roman Bardet who had a great standout ride because he wasn't a brilliant GC ride from him up to this point. Came across the line and the interviewer was talking microphone on his face and he said I'm second. The French I'm second he didn't realize basically the quote was I'm second he didn't realize that There was only a solo winner, Egan Bernal, up the road. He said, okay, I'll talk of Vincent Honeebli who still ahead of me. That's not so bad at all then. So that shows you the confusion that reigns in that, not upon their own reigns, the confusion that reigns supreme in these sort of days, it's chaotic. It's not just the fans watching on TV that having a clue what's going on because the directors and the car rely on those pictures to give information to the Royal Theatre so they don't have a clue what's going on. So it's just carnage and chaos out in the roads. No doubt the stuff is recorded on the problem is relaying it back to TV broadcasters. So I hope at some day, I definitely hope for Bernal's sake. At some day we do get to see these horrific mental conditions that Bernal attacked and sealed the giro d'italia. I'm going to say it. He's not there yet, but he has to really fuck it up now. He's a to go through GC. Bernal has 66 hours in. He has a 2 minute and 24 second lead over Daimiano Caruso who is toured today in Donorroide. Hugh Kerti from EF is toured. He is at 3.40, you've last off, strapped to 4. At 4.18, Simon Yates was second. Now he's down to fifth at 4.20, fell apart today. Chaconae, you know, it's still talking for the podiums at 4.31. Our day was the big move, up to 502. Martin is from any else, it's at 717. Tabes Vos from Jumbovism, their best place-roeder. They've had a really disappointing race at a 20 and Yoe Almeida, a 10 minutes in 10th place. And one wonders where Yoe Almeida would be if he didn't wait for Remko Evernpault on the gravel days, but we will never know. Tomorrow, folks, it is a rest day. So I will be back the day after that. from Jaron again for another Tour de France Freudian slip and another Jiro de Talia daily podcast. Right safe tomorrow, roadmen, and chat to you then. Hey everybody, it's Anthony again. Really quick, I want to invite you to join arguably the best thing I've ever put out inside the roadman community. It's a challenge. It's a challenge called a 14 day kickstart challenge. So regardless of where your fitness is at right now, this is going to be the catalyst for making the faster you're making the leaner. I've created this challenge to take the guesswork out of everything. It's 14 days of training plans regardless of what your level is. There's a master's beginner, advanced, there's meal plans, shopping list and even a video course holding your hand and talking you true at all. So what I recommend you do right now is just stop everything, press pause on this audio and go to roadmansoycling.com forward slash 14 day or check out the link in the bio. That's roadmancycling.com slash 14 day.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What happened at Giro d'Italia 2021 Stage 16?+

Stage 16 of the 2021 Giro d'Italia was drastically shortened by organisers due to severe weather conditions on the planned route from Sacile to Cortina d'Ampezzo. The bad weather also grounded helicopters, leaving broadcasters without aerial footage for the majority of the race. Despite the chaos, Egan Bernal won the stage and strengthened his lead in the overall classification.

Who won Stage 16 of the 2021 Giro d'Italia?+

Egan Bernal of Ineos Grenadiers won Stage 16 and also claimed the Cima Coppi, the award given to the first rider over the highest point of the race. The stage victory tightened his grip on the maglia rosa heading into the final week. Anthony Walsh analyses the win in this episode of the podcast.

What happened to Remco Evenepoel at the 2021 Giro d'Italia?+

Remco Evenepoel suffered a severe collapse on Stage 16, finishing over 24 minutes down on the stage winner. He had returned to racing after a nine-month injury layoff, and Anthony Walsh argues that cycling media bore some responsibility for overhyping his participation before he had proven his condition. The result raised serious questions about expectations placed on young riders returning from long absences.

Why was the 2021 Giro Stage 16 shortened?+

Organisers shortened Stage 16 due to severe weather in the mountains on the route between Sacile and Cortina d'Ampezzo. The conditions made it unsafe to run the full queen stage as planned, meaning fans and broadcasters were robbed of what should have been one of the most decisive days of the race. The helicopter grounding further reduced the quality of coverage available to viewers.

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KEY QUOTES

“Bernal has 66 hours in. He has a 2 minute and 24 second lead over Daimiano Caruso who is toured today in Donorroide. Hugh Kerti from EF is toured. He is at 3.40, you've last off, strapped to 4. At 4.18, Simon Yates was second. Now he's down to fifth at 4.20, fell apart today.”
Anthony Walsh — Roadman Cycling podcast host

“Remko finished over 24 minutes down today and that's the end of his GC hopes completely. I know he'd no legs for the last week anyway, but it's definitely cemented the end of Remko's GC.”
Anthony Walsh — Roadman Cycling podcast host

“He sat up, took hands off the bars, he was able to take his range jacket off, even though he had his gloves on, which is not easy when you're that cold and the dexterity is gone. Stuffed the range, I could up his jersey and displayed a maggier rose coming across the finish line.”
Anthony Walsh — Roadman Cycling podcast host

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What happened at Giro d'Italia 2021 Stage 16?+

Who won Stage 16 of the 2021 Giro d'Italia?+

What happened to Remco Evenepoel at the 2021 Giro d'Italia?+

Why was the 2021 Giro Stage 16 shortened?+

GIRO STAGE 16 - QUEENS STAGE CHAOS

KEY QUOTES

Stage Shortened by Weather

Bernal's Statement Victory

Bardet's Confusion and GC Standings

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

NEVER MISS AN EPISODE

READ THE GUIDE

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TOUR DE FRANCE STAGE 1 CHAOS

GIRO STAGE 20 - INEOS HAVE RUINED CYCLING

GIRO STAGE 19 - ONE HAND ON THE TROPHY

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GIRO STAGE 16 - QUEENS STAGE CHAOS

KEY QUOTES

Stage Shortened by Weather

Bernal's Statement Victory

Bardet's Confusion and GC Standings

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

NEVER MISS AN EPISODE

READ THE GUIDE

RELATED EPISODES

TOUR DE FRANCE STAGE 1 CHAOS

GIRO STAGE 20 - INEOS HAVE RUINED CYCLING

GIRO STAGE 19 - ONE HAND ON THE TROPHY

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WHY GIRONA IS THE BEST PLACE IN EUROPE TO TRAIN ON A BIKE

TOUR DE FRANCE STAGE 1 CHAOS

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GIRO STAGE 16 - QUEENS STAGE CHAOS

KEY QUOTES

1.Stage Shortened by Weather

2.Bernal's Statement Victory

3.Bardet's Confusion and GC Standings

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

NEVER MISS AN EPISODE

READ THE GUIDE

RELATED EPISODES

TOUR DE FRANCE STAGE 1 CHAOS

GIRO STAGE 20 - INEOS HAVE RUINED CYCLING

GIRO STAGE 19 - ONE HAND ON THE TROPHY

RELATED CONTENT

WHY GIRONA IS THE BEST PLACE IN EUROPE TO TRAIN ON A BIKE

TOUR DE FRANCE STAGE 1 CHAOS

GIRO STAGE 20 - INEOS HAVE RUINED CYCLING

LIKED THIS EPISODE?

GIRO STAGE 16 - QUEENS STAGE CHAOS

KEY QUOTES

1.Stage Shortened by Weather

2.Bernal's Statement Victory

3.Bardet's Confusion and GC Standings

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

NEVER MISS AN EPISODE

READ THE GUIDE

RELATED EPISODES

TOUR DE FRANCE STAGE 1 CHAOS

GIRO STAGE 20 - INEOS HAVE RUINED CYCLING

GIRO STAGE 19 - ONE HAND ON THE TROPHY

RELATED CONTENT

WHY GIRONA IS THE BEST PLACE IN EUROPE TO TRAIN ON A BIKE

TOUR DE FRANCE STAGE 1 CHAOS

GIRO STAGE 20 - INEOS HAVE RUINED CYCLING

LIKED THIS EPISODE?

Stage Shortened by Weather

Bernal's Statement Victory

Bardet's Confusion and GC Standings

Stage Shortened by Weather

Bernal's Statement Victory

Bardet's Confusion and GC Standings