There was a bit of fight for the breakaway today. Nothing huge, but a bit.
A group of 4 (Tarling for Ineos, 1 FDJ, 1 Picnic, 1 Q36.5) detached after, say, 10 km, followed by a group of 2 (1 Polti, 1 Decathlon). Bardiani and Cofidis were not allowed by the peloton to join them. Only when the peloton stopped, the gap grew, and when it had grown enough, the first group could slow down a bit and the second group finally joined them (they probably never ave managed otherwise) to make a group of 6.
I see that Marcellusi was relegated. I think he was the rider who, during the sprint preparation, was ‘shouldered out’ of his good position in the wheels of Pedersen by Strong… If that’s the action which is penalised (it can very well be something else), that’s a bit unfair, because he indeed retaliated to attempt (in vain) to regain or at least share the position, but the first bad move is Strong forcefully pushing the Bardiani rider out of the position he had been occupying for a fair while.
Stage 3 : Vlorë, 160 km (Sunday 11, dep. 13:15-13:25, ETA 17:00-17:25)
Stage with medium difficulties, 25 points to the winner.
The ‘3 km’ rule applies for falls/incidents within 5 km from the finish.
Delays : 11% if ≤ 35 km/h; 12% if ≤ 39 km/h; 13% otherwise.
Standings after stage 2:
It looks as if we had had a Team Time Trial, but we haven’t…
There was a bit of fight for the breakaway today. Nothing huge, but a bit.
A group of 4 (Tarling for Ineos, 1 FDJ, 1 Picnic, 1 Q36.5) detached after, say, 10 km, followed by a group of 2 (1 Polti, 1 Decathlon). Bardiani and Cofidis were not allowed by the peloton to join them. Only when the peloton stopped, the gap grew, and when it had grown enough, the first group could slow down a bit and the second group finally joined them (they probably never ave managed otherwise) to make a group of 6.
I see that Marcellusi was relegated. I think he was the rider who, during the sprint preparation, was ‘shouldered out’ of his good position in the wheels of Pedersen by Strong… If that’s the action which is penalised (it can very well be something else), that’s a bit unfair, because he indeed retaliated to attempt (in vain) to regain or at least share the position, but the first bad move is Strong forcefully pushing the Bardiani rider out of the position he had been occupying for a fair while.