Afternoon Post Giro Criterium in France 2026

[team fl]

Stage 3, over 40 degrees celcius... Despite the heat, an early escape group formed a bit after the start from Carcassonne to Foix. In the peloton, Tukhthauaev and SouthWest Packers controlled. The first for Artem's or the Sultan's stage chances, the second for GC. Meanwhile, Steingrimur was sitting confortably in the peloton wearing Yellow, but visible marked from yesterday's stage. Not much happened during the first half of the stage until the beginning of the Col de Coudins, when Wiener Zentralfriedhof attacked. The tempo got high in the peloton, even more sweat and exhaustion. At the Col de Montségur, the peloton exploded and Team Bubendorf rode in the group of GC favourites against Tukhtahuaev and Gipfelstuermer, both with their sprinters still there, as well as Team FL who rode for Yellow. The decisive attack in the front group happened at km 169, when Darren Hayes (Team Bubendorf) and Guido Buchwald (Quickstep) decided to esacpe and ride as duo until the finish line. The group around Yellow almost caught up, but the two escapers managed to finish with a duel at the finish line, where Darren Hayes proved to be the stronger sprinter in the end. So, finally Team Bubendorf got his stage win after missing two opportunities for Richard Anderes. Nothing noteworthy changed in the classements.

Standings after stage 4:

General classement:
01. 00:00:00 Steingrimur Steinsson (Team FL)
02. 00:00:50 Jamshid Abdurashitov (SouthWest Packers)
03. 00:02:25 Guido Buchwald (Quickstep)
04. 00:02:49 Corentin Poitrenaud (Tukhtahuaev)
05. 00:02:55 Salvatore Meeus (Flandrien)
06. 00:02:56 Manfred Matt (Team FL)
07. 00:03:08 Mario Baudoin (Quickstep)
08. 00:03:14 Azimbek Iskanderov (Big Donkey
09. 00:03:17 Felikss Fokerots (Team FL)
10. 00:03:25 Francesco Arré (Quickstep)

Points classement:
01. 069 Erling Ousland (Big Donkey)
02. 050 Darren Hayes (Team Bubendorf)
03. 047 Hung Cung (RC Cost)

Mountain classement:
01. 010 Ole Skoglund (Flandrien)
02. 008 Thomas Veloso (ECS Cycling)
03. 007 Erling Ousland (Big Donkey)

Youth classement:
01. 00:00:00 Steingrimur Steinsson (Team FL)
02. 00:02:49 Corentin Poitrenaud (Tukhtahuaev)
03. 00:03:25 Francesco Arré (Quickstep)

Team classement:
01. 00:00:00 SouthWest Packers
02. 00:00:12 Team FL
03. 00:03:09 Quickstep

Stage wins by riders:
1 - SouthWest Packers (TTT)
1 - Darren Hayes (Team Bubendorf)
1 - Erling Ousland (Big Donkey)
1 - Ivo Peraza (RC Cost)

Stage wins by teams:
1 - Big Donkey
1 - RC Cost
1 - SouthWest Packers
1 - Team Bubendorf

Days in Yellow:
2 - Jamshid Abdurashitov (SouthWest Packers)
2 - Steingrimur Steinsson (Team FL)

Most combative rider:
1 - Federico Vigni (Big Donkey)
1 - Abylaykhan Zhangylyshbay (Tukhtahuaev)
1 - Mikkel Sørensen (Flandrien)
1 - tbd

Days with the Red Lantern:
3 - Laszlo Szabolcs (Quickstep)
1 - Julien Louis (Gipfelstuermer)

[Robyklebt]

Not much to do today for me... Kebede was fried by Bondarew yesterday, probably, anyway, at some point I saw that he had 280 or something like that left, started at 560 today, fighting on 5% forever I guess.

Was thinking about joining the escape again, but finally didn't, Ole was eager, but we told him to stay back. Aurélien the original plan, but maybe keep some guys fittish?
So nothing to do, Ousland in tempo at the intermediate to get some points for green. Giving it up tomorrow would be fine, but better score a bit more today to keep it for sure. He's becoming a bit of a problem though, he should continue attacking, but if he becomes a danger for green? Won't be let go? Hm, damn.

Good Hölzel attack, maybe could have used Adams before the last climb and then go alone with Hölzel? Like that only had 9" on top, Iskanderov in tempo didn't help, but the reason for the tempo wasn't in front, was more in the back, attempt to sieb all classics and then see what goes on. For Adams-Hölzel IMO would have been worth continuing even with that small advantage, Badenhorst only 71 flat, wasn't going to win in the flatter parts, then when Hayes and Buchwald go, at least still be in front.. .

For the sprinters good try by Tukh and Gipfel too,, but turned out to be too hard, as was a danger from the start, such a long climb makes big time differences. We'll see if there's another try tomorrow, no idea about the relative fitness by the Tukhs compared to others.

Hm, forgot to send this before Argentina Egypt... so it's after now.

[flockmastoR]

Had this idea that hölzel can pull up Adams when he is weakened enough super fast and that Adams than can withstand the chase in the downhill-ish. Thought that the Buben will catch me latest on those +3 passage. So I hoped the resting allows me to follow later (depending on what km he attacks. Was about to fake block the last 3 but don't think to fool him there). Problem was that nobody from the front was hanging with a classic, if so more help in front + going for hölzel and his followers. Would still be interested to know how long my 2 guys would have withstand the sprinter group. Don't expect to stay in front of them but the attack was fun.

No chance as well because swp riding with a classic and climber with the tukh flattie. I guess I just didn't find tukh's comment about this senseless tempo as he comments on all other senseless tempo today as well (enzano in the rolling escape group, the yes alone of Buchwald), he might be busy with other stuff.

[Robyklebt]

After sort of outsider wins, Donks, Cost, then yesterday Bubendorf, more unknown comebacker than outsider, today we're back where GTs in the afternoon usually are. Tukh winning. Everybody recovering no escape, only Flandrien that was 1 km or 3" away from the sensation with Verbeke then sprint, 1 train, Palamarchuk wins, all as it's expected mostly when Tukh is there. No attempt to go without the flat sprinters today, but Palamarchuk didn't need that anyway. Winning the battle for the wheel vs Wotruba and that was it I guess.
Tomorrow Tourmalet, weird parcours for the TdF this year IMO, not sure what that stage is supposed to be exactly. Iskanderov says he knows, it's for him. Ok.

[team fl]

Not much more to say about stage 5. Was happy that Verwimp was in the mix in the end, but he chose the wrong wheel. Steingrimur still in Yellow is nice, but today will be the last day, most likely. Then he's free to get it again .

Standings after stage 5:

General classement:
01. 00:00:00 Steingrimur Steinsson (Team FL)
02. 00:00:50 Jamshid Abdurashitov (SouthWest Packers)
03. 00:02:25 Guido Buchwald (Quickstep)
04. 00:02:49 Corentin Poitrenaud (Tukhtahuaev)
05. 00:02:55 Salvatore Meeus (Flandrien)
06. 00:02:56 Manfred Matt (Team FL)
07. 00:03:08 Mario Baudoin (Quickstep)
08. 00:03:14 Azimbek Iskanderov (Big Donkey
09. 00:03:17 Felikss Fokerots (Team FL)
10. 00:03:25 Francesco Arré (Quickstep)

Points classement:
01. 096 Artem Palamarchuk (Tukhtahuaev)
02. 080 Victor Delpierre (Gipfelstuermer)
03. 069 Erling Ousland (Big Donkey)

Mountain classement:
01. 010 Ole Skoglund (Flandrien)
02. 008 Thomas Veloso (ECS Cycling)
03. 007 Erling Ousland (Big Donkey)

Youth classement:
01. 00:00:00 Steingrimur Steinsson (Team FL)
02. 00:02:49 Corentin Poitrenaud (Tukhtahuaev)
03. 00:03:25 Francesco Arré (Quickstep)

Team classement:
01. 00:00:00 SouthWest Packers
02. 00:00:12 Team FL
03. 00:03:09 Quickstep

Stage wins by riders:
1 - SouthWest Packers (TTT)
1 - Darren Hayes (Team Bubendorf)
1 - Erling Ousland (Big Donkey)
1 - Artem Palamarchuk (Tukhtahuaev)
1 - Ivo Peraza (RC Cost)

Stage wins by teams:
1 - Big Donkey
1 - RC Cost
1 - SouthWest Packers
1 - Team Bubendorf
1 - Tukhtahuaev

Days in Yellow:
3 - Steingrimur Steinsson (Team FL)
2 - Jamshid Abdurashitov (SouthWest Packers)

Most combative rider:
1 - Federico Vigni (Big Donkey)
1 - Abylaykhan Zhangylyshbay (Tukhtahuaev)
1 - Mikkel Sørensen (Flandrien)
1 - Kenneth Verbeke (Flandrien)

Days with the Red Lantern:
4 - Laszlo Szabolcs (Quickstep)
1 - Julien Louis (Gipfelstuermer)

[team fl]

Stage 6, first mountain stage, first big GC roundup. It went up to the Tourmalet, followed by a long steady climb, but not really hard enough for the climbers to get rid of the classics. As expected, an early group formed that was chased by Team Bubendorf, riding again for Richard Andres. The race was ridden in a fast pace and at the Col d'Aspin, the peloton was reduced a lot already. The maillot jaune was gone as well, and so it was clear the Jamshid Abdurashitov (SWP) would take it bad, most likely.

At the top of the Tourmalet Richard Andres attacked with a team mate, the rest of the main group only saved by some safety tempo by the Sultan eyeing for mountain points. So SWP took over in the main group of favourites, but couldn't shed much of the time gap around 10 seconds. And so the door was open for other attacks. At least that's what Johann Hölzl (WZRF) must have been thinking at km 170, when he attacked, followed by Guido Buchwald (Quickstep). They caught up to the Bubendorf duo fast and to make a long story short, attacked again and arrived as a duo at the finish line, where Guido Buchwald won the sprint against Hölzl. Stage win for the 6th rider from the 6th team after 6 stages is a good variety I'd say.

The classements got mixed again: Abdurashitov is back in yellow, Corentin Poitrenaud (Tukhtahuaev) wears white for real now. While Richard Anders couldn't win the stage, he wears the Polka Dot jersey after today's stage, leading in the mountain classement. Green still belongs to Artem of course.

Standings after stage 6:

General classement:
01. 00:00:00 Jamshid Abdurashitov (SouthWest Packers)
02. 00:01:04 Guido Buchwald (Quickstep)
03. 00:01:59 Corentin Poitrenaud (Tukhtahuaev)
04. 00:02:02 Manfred Matt (Team FL)
05. 00:02:08 Salvatore Meeus (Flandrien)
06. 00:02:24 Azimbek Iskanderov (Big Donkey)
07. 00:02:32 Arjen Burger (CreditPommes)
08. 00:02:38 Richard Anders (Team Bubendorf)
09. 00:02:42 Dong Thong (RC Cost)
10. 00:02:58 Mario Baudoin (Quickstep)

Points classement:
01. 096 Artem Palamarchuk (Tukhtahuaev)
02. 080 Victor Delpierre (Gipfelstuermer)
03. 079 Erling Ousland (Big Donkey)

Mountain classement:
01. 022 Richard Anders (Team Bubendorf)
02. 018 Jenson Badenhorst (Team Bubendorf)
03. 018 Robin Jonckheere (Flandrien)

Youth classement:
01. 00:01:59 Corentin Poitrenaud (Tukhtahuaev)
02. 00:02:42 Dong Thong (RC Cost)
03. 00:22:04 Francesco Arré (Quickstep)

Team classement:
01. 00:00:00 Team Bubendorf
02. 00:07:05 Quickstep
03. 00:08:31 SouthWest Packers

Stage wins by riders:
1 - SouthWest Packers (TTT)
1 - Guido Buchwald (Quickstep)
1 - Darren Hayes (Team Bubendorf)
1 - Erling Ousland (Big Donkey)
1 - Artem Palamarchuk (Tukhtahuaev)
1 - Ivo Peraza (RC Cost)

Stage wins by teams:
1 - Big Donkey
1 - RC Cost
1 - SouthWest Packers
1 - Team Bubendorf
1 - Tukhtahuaev
1 - Quickstep

Days in Yellow:
3 - Steingrimur Steinsson (Team FL)
3 - Jamshid Abdurashitov (SouthWest Packers)

Most combative rider:
1 - Federico Vigni (Big Donkey)
1 - Abylaykhan Zhangylyshbay (Tukhtahuaev)
1 - Mikkel Sørensen (Flandrien)
1 - Kenneth Verbeke (Flandrien)
1 - Jenson Badenhorst (Team Bubendorf

Days with the Red Lantern:
5 - Laszlo Szabolcs (Quickstep)
1 - Julien Louis (Gipfelstuermer)

[Robyklebt]

I'll rejoin the post giro criterium now!

[team fl]

I hardly dare to say it: good to have you back. For those who still think: "häääää???!!!" here is your stage report, that landed in the Afternoon Giro thread:

Interesting stage. Escape, Aurélien joined, somehow forgot to put Ousland on following, as was planned, but actually was quite nice like this finally, parasiting ahead while having one of the strongest guys. Bubendorf reacted right, hard tempo from the start, despite the annoying influencing attempt(s?) he kept going. Classic in tempo on the Tourmalet, last km catch, but there he goes with Badenhorst and Anders. Big mistake. Donkey claimed. And still thinks so. But not by Bubendorf, by people like Big Donkey, Tukh, Credit Pommes. Just hang! The attack actually wasn't bad finally, the Donkey was thrown off by the minimal advantage, of course that came from somebody blocking, Tukh. Not sure if last second or early, if Bubendorf was out early or not. Without that block he has the stage and gains some time in GC. So good attack, ignore Donkey comments sometimes. Of course he might have tried an earlier sieb with Anders, go with Badenhorst, but then more likely that some of us dumbasses realize the danger and follow. Or go one km earlier. That puts the classics a bit further back if then SWP rides with Bondarew. But good attempt, just didn't work. Thanks to Tukh the classics were close enough, Hölzel went, he tried, while singing "Rock me Guido", that's what Buchwald did. Bäm. The sound of Niederlage was was big. Buchwald either excellent form or saved enough energy.

GC nothing much happening of course, with a bit more success Bubendorf might have started a tiny attack on Abdurashitov, but wasn't to be. And it will probably stay like this for the whole Tour.

In the meantime the mood, atmosphere in the chat is degrading fast. Mostly Flandrien seems very unhappy about lots of stuff and seemingly cant' help himself making it personal. My theory is simple: SWP and Big Donkey winning, everybody was still happy. From the moment others started winning, stage 3, it got tense. So for peace love and happiness, there's only one thing to do. Let the Donkey and the Packer split the remaining stages! No more other winners!

Anyway, stage 7: While Belgium couldn't advance in the Men's Football World Cup against Spain, Vince the Prince saved the day and won the second bunch sprint in the AGF 2026. Unfortunately, there was no beef in the race chat today, despite neither the Donkey nor SWP winning. So, what does that say about the state of the afternoon? Does a Team FL has the same implication? Is it only Verwimp or the whole team? To find out, more experimental research is needed. First step: Win another stage with Verwimp. Second step: Win a stage with another Team FL rider than Verwimp. After that, we need winner not from Team FL, SWP or Big Donkey for comparison. Who? Doesn't matter. Maybe a new winner again? Well, I am happy with three stage wins. In fact, I am already happy with one, but for the sake of science, it has to be three now! Heureka!

Regarding classements, Delpierre (Gipfelstuermer) stole green from Artem! Quelle usurpation! Zut alors! And Robin Jonckheere (Flandrien) gathered the only sprint point on the road to climb the ladder up to place two in the mountain classement. Everything else stayed - how surprising after an ultraflat (!) stage - the same.

Meanwhile, the standings after stage 7:

General classement:
01. 00:00:00 Jamshid Abdurashitov (SouthWest Packers)
02. 00:01:04 Guido Buchwald (Quickstep)
03. 00:01:59 Corentin Poitrenaud (Tukhtahuaev)
04. 00:02:02 Manfred Matt (Team FL)
05. 00:02:08 Salvatore Meeus (Flandrien)
06. 00:02:24 Azimbek Iskanderov (Big Donkey)
07. 00:02:32 Arjen Burger (CreditPommes)
08. 00:02:38 Richard Anders (Team Bubendorf)
09. 00:02:42 Dong Thong (RC Cost)
10. 00:02:58 Mario Baudoin (Quickstep)

Points classement:
01. 136 Victor Delpierre (Gipfelstuermer)
02. 136 Artem Palamarchuk (Tukhtahuaev)
03. 081 Fritz Wotruba (Wiener Zentralfriedhof RV)

Mountain classement:
01. 022 Richard Anders (Team Bubendorf)
02. 019 Robin Jonckheere (Flandrien)
03. 018 Jenson Badenhorst (Team Bubendorf)

Youth classement:
01. 00:01:59 Corentin Poitrenaud (Tukhtahuaev)
02. 00:02:42 Dong Thong (RC Cost)
03. 00:22:04 Francesco Arré (Quickstep)

Team classement:
01. 00:00:00 Team Bubendorf
02. 00:07:05 Quickstep
03. 00:08:31 SouthWest Packers

Stage wins by riders:
1 - SouthWest Packers (TTT)
1 - Guido Buchwald (Quickstep)
1 - Darren Hayes (Team Bubendorf)
1 - Erling Ousland (Big Donkey)
1 - Artem Palamarchuk (Tukhtahuaev)
1 - Ivo Peraza (RC Cost)
1 - Vincent Verwimp (Team FL)

Stage wins by teams:
1 - Big Donkey
1 - RC Cost
1 - SouthWest Packers
1 - Team Bubendorf
1 - Team FL
1 - Tukhtahuaev
1 - Quickstep

Days in Yellow:
3 - Steingrimur Steinsson (Team FL)
4 - Jamshid Abdurashitov (SouthWest Packers)

Most combative rider:
1 - Federico Vigni (Big Donkey)
1 - Abylaykhan Zhangylyshbay (Tukhtahuaev)
1 - Mikkel Sørensen (Flandrien)
1 - Kenneth Verbeke (Flandrien)
1 - Jenson Badenhorst (Team Bubendorf
1 - Ivo Peraza (RC Cost)

Days with the Red Lantern:
6 - Laszlo Szabolcs (Quickstep)
1 - Julien Louis (Gipfelstuermer)

[Robyklebt]

Nothing much happening yesterday, and if there was I missed it. Sprint getting tactical, green on the line, so Gipfel doesn't want to do the train with Palamarchuk on the wheel, while Palamarchuk wants to be on Delpierre. Result, one train, since ECS somehow tried, but failed at trainbuilding. So "easy" win for Verwimp. 136-136 for Palamarchuk and Delpierre, Wotruba and Verwimp 55+56 points back. So for the moment they could continue with that, but of course Gipfel might go for a train again too. After all Palamarchuk is not guaranteed to get the wheel each time, Wotruba looks like he should manage to get it at some point. Bongiorno might want it too, but probably has to speculate on getting a free one. So today again a long prelude to an interesting tactical sprint!
Unless Tukh tries to go for the Palamarchuk solo with hopefully now Kebede there too...Today while not ideal for an attempt, still looks like the best chance for the Kebede upset over Palamarchuk... or the Palamarchuk win, ok ok. Hm, actually the Nevers stage the 6 is closer to the finish I just figured out, so that might be the better chance.. but neither looks too promising if in the back there's ECS/Gipfel/FL/WZF riding. No Donkey, he has Kebede after all.

[team fl]

Stage 8 and 9 combined, very short:

- Stage 8: Artem wins in an expected bunch sprint. Contrary to stage 7, we had not only one but three trains, Artem with the smartest decisions and the strongest finish. Vince the Prince second, taking points from Delpierre (Gipfelstuermer), who had a slight advantage in points before the final sprint.

- Stage 9: Early group, three teams (Flandrien, Team FL, WZRV) with two riders each, very similiar skills, cooperation works well. Meanwhile Tukhtahuaev tries to go for Artem again, gets some help from SWP (GC control). Later on Team Bubendorf tries to get rid of the sprinters, lots of groups, lots of riding. Eventually, Richardo Rocha (Team FL), Kenneth Verbeke (Flandrien) and Josef Petzval (WZRV) arrive six seconds in front of the first chasers. Out of these three, Rocha has the strongest legs after the long escape and wins the stage.

Regarding GC and other classements, not much changed. Yellow is in safe hands for Jamshid, although Guido Buchwald (Quickstep) gained some seconds today. Artem is back in Green, Richard Anders (Team Bubendorf) claims the Polka Dot and Corentin Poitrenaud (Tukhtahuaev) claims White. And we have the first cereals in the afternooen with Tukhtahuaev and Team FL, each team now at two stage wins.

Now it's time for the first rest day tomorrow. It's likely that there will be some rest day stories from the first nine stages, but now, let's have a look a the standings after stage 9:

General classement:
01. 00:00:00 Jamshid Abdurashitov (SouthWest Packers)
02. 00:00:56 Guido Buchwald (Quickstep)
03. 00:01:59 Corentin Poitrenaud (Tukhtahuaev)
04. 00:02:01 Manfred Matt (Team FL)
05. 00:02:08 Salvatore Meeus (Flandrien)
06. 00:02:24 Azimbek Iskanderov (Big Donkey)
07. 00:02:32 Arjen Burger (CreditPommes)
08. 00:02:38 Richard Anders (Team Bubendorf)
09. 00:02:42 Dong Thong (RC Cost)
10. 00:02:58 Mario Baudoin (Quickstep)

Points classement:
02. 216 Artem Palamarchuk (Tukhtahuaev)
01. 190 Victor Delpierre (Gipfelstuermer)
03. 130 Vincent Verwimp (Team FL)

Mountain classement:
01. 022 Richard Anders (Team Bubendorf)
02. 020 Robin Jonckheere (Flandrien)
03. 018 Jenson Badenhorst (Team Bubendorf)

Youth classement:
01. 00:01:59 Corentin Poitrenaud (Tukhtahuaev)
02. 00:02:42 Dong Thong (RC Cost)
03. 00:22:04 Francesco Arré (Quickstep)

Team classement:
01. 00:00:00 Team Bubendorf
02. 00:07:05 Quickstep
03. 00:08:31 SouthWest Packers

Stage wins by riders:
2 - Artem Palamarchuk (Tukhtahuaev)
1 - SouthWest Packers (TTT)
1 - Guido Buchwald (Quickstep)
1 - Darren Hayes (Team Bubendorf)
1 - Erling Ousland (Big Donkey)
1 - Ivo Peraza (RC Cost)
1 - Richardo Rocha (Team FL)
1 - Vincent Verwimp (Team FL)

Stage wins by teams:
2 - Team FL
2 - Tukhtahuaev
1 - Big Donkey
1 - RC Cost
1 - SouthWest Packers
1 - Team Bubendorf
1 - Quickstep

Days in Yellow:
3 - Steingrimur Steinsson (Team FL)
6 - Jamshid Abdurashitov (SouthWest Packers)

Most combative rider:
1 - Federico Vigni (Big Donkey)
1 - Abylaykhan Zhangylyshbay (Tukhtahuaev)
1 - Mikkel Sørensen (Flandrien)
1 - Kenneth Verbeke (Flandrien)
1 - Jenson Badenhorst (Team Bubendorf
1 - Ivo Peraza (RC Cost)
1 - Steven Bayer (Quickstep)
1 - Jozef Petzval (Wiener Zentralfriedhof RV)

Days with the Red Lantern:
7 - Laszlo Szabolcs (Quickstep)
2 - Julien Louis (Gipfelstuermer)

[team fl]

It’s the first rest day, which means: It’s Afternoon story time!

Story 1: El tres de Catalunya
TV3 is a tv channel of Catalan public broadcaster Televisió de Catalunya, a subsidiary of the CCMA (Corporació Catalana de Mitjans Audiovisuals). Luckiy, TV3 (and the 3Cat platform) did broadcast the opening stages of the Tour de France. Because the 2026 race began in Catalunya (Grand Départ), the Catalan public broadcaster aired the team presentation at the Sagrada Família, as well as the first three stages live in the Catalan language.

And of course, the “Grand Départ” was utilized by the Catlan independence movement as a platform to draw global attention to their cause. Major civil society organizations, including the Catalan National Assembly (Assemblea) and Òmnium Cultural, coordinated large-scale mobilizations during the three opening stages. Key details of the movement’s strategy included: Planned visibility (Estelada flags, banners, etc. along the race routes), Peaceful protests (groups intentionally clarified that they did not plan to disrupt or interfere with the cyclists) and prior precedents (similar pro-independence actions such as during the Volta a Catalunya or La Vuelta).

Well, the afternoon story of Catalunya is a simple plot. SouthWest Packers won the TTT (stage 1) by a distance, Jamshid Abdurashitov was wearing the Maillot Jaune from day 1, GC is over. The following two stage were won by early escapers, stage 2 by Erling Ousland (Big Donkey) and stage 3 by Ivo Peralta.... ehm Peraza (RC Cost). So RC Cost did, what he couldn’t at the Afternoon Giro: He already won a stage. But that’s not the full story of stage 3. That will follow right now. What a segue…

Story 2: Yellowstone
… So, stage 3. Ivo Peraza from RC Cost won, as already written. But the other story of the days was Steingrimur Steinsson (Team FL) stealing the Maillot Jaune from Jamshid Abdurashitov. Already wearing White before, he managed to stay 2’23’’ in front of the huge GC favorite during that stage and 50 seconds in front of him in the GC. Giving up his stage chances, Steingrimur – already being in the escape group during stage 2 – animated the front group after lots of work by his teammate Raimo Rautsepp and did what was the unthinkable: Having Jamshid Abduratshitov not wearing Yellow during 21 stages.

Knowing that it will be only a temporary feat, Steingrimur wore the Maillot Jaune with pride and could defend it until the first mountain stage (stage 6), where Jamshid took over again. Interesting fact about stage 6: Its route skirted and entered the edge of the Pyrénéés National Park, renowned for the UNECSO-listed Cirque de Gavarnie. There will be other National Parks visited along the way to Paris, f.e. in the French Alps or the Vosges Mountains. So, did you already get the title of the story? No? Are you Big Donkey? Ok, then here the explanation (everybody else may just skip it): the guy with “Stone” in his name wearing “Yellow” during stage 6, where they rode through a national park.

Will there be other Maillot Jaune switches in the Afternoon? Well, it’s not impossible that some other riders may wear it occasionally, GC is still close, but it is highly unlikely that Jamshid will give it away again until Paris. But week 2 seems the last chance, as the deal will be sealed after the ITT on stage 16, most likely.

Story 3: Beef for Barbecue
Due to the acute risk of forest fires and the general risk of fire (drought), barbecuing is currently prohibited in most parts of Europe. I guess that is also true for France, although I didn’t check, especially the southern part of France is very strict. Nevertheless, we got Beef in the Afternoon! And it was lit. At least for some stages, until the very scientific afternoon method was used (read more about that here: viewtopic.php?f=22&p=129635#p129621).

Although the scientific research isn’t fully conducted yet, it seems clear that more, Big Donkey, SWP and Team FL wins are needed. We can already rule out wins by Tukhtahuaev (esp. Artem), RC Cost, Team Bubendorf and Quickstep though, so no more of these please. Wins from Flandrien, CreditPommes, Wiener Zentralfriedhof RV, ECS Cycling, Gipfelstuermer and enzano veloclub are not tested yet, so every conclusion about that would be speculation.

“But what happened?” you ask. Well, sometimes, escaping early is a very emotional thing. Of course late escapes or any escape for that matter has the potential to become emotional, but the early escape has more time to sear and develop heavy sents. You don’t like what other riders in your group do or riders in other groups, let alone the peloton. Chase is too fast, too slow, done by the wrong team(s), etc. If you’ve been playing this game for long enough, you’ve been in many of these situations, I guess. The chat is heating up, misunderstandings happen, you get personal. And just like that: You have beef.

The Afternoon beef was fulling cooking during stage 6. Main Cooks: Flandrien, RC Cost and Wiener Zentralfriedhof RV (not going to point fingers, just mention the involved teams). But I believe it was SWP’s music choice at the beginning of the stage that was the start of the main escalation: https://youtu.be/VvJDjMvMS9I?is=XiNgw2XPtyJ12xdb. Not good barbecue music anyway, but that’s another story. Anyway, the fire seems to have been ignited right after the first two stages, where SWP and Big Donkey won and stopped right when Vincent Verwimp (Team FL) won stage 7. Hence the theory. The conclusion: for future barbecues, better invite Jamshid Abdurashitov, Erling Ousland and Vincent Verwimp for a peaceful atmosphere.

Story 4: The Long Walk
The Long Walk is a dystopian horror novel by Steven King, published in 1979 under the pseudonym Richard Bachman. In 2025, the movie with the same name was released. I very much recommend the book though, it just feels different. Anyway, what is it about: According to Wikipedia the story is set in a dystopian 1970 and it follows fifty boys, one from each state, who continuously walk along Route 1, where they are expected to maintain a pace of 4 miles per hour (6.4 km/h). Falling below this speed for 30 seconds incurs a warning, while maintaining it for an hour erases one. If a walker receives three warnings and falls below the speed again, he is shot and killed by soldiers monitoring the event. The contest continues until only one walker remains, who may receive whatever he desires for the rest of his life. I won’t tell more, go read the book (or watch the movie you lazy bastard).

Anyway, I think this is what all the guys with a mountain skill of less than 45 must feel all the time until Paris – if they make it. So, I want to honor them by mentioning all of them by name, sorted by mountain skill (decreasing):

- 44: Pierino Grazian, Italy, 32 yo, enzano veloclub
- 43: Luis Fonso, Colombia, 28 yo, enzano veloclub
- 43: Julien Louis, France, 27 yo, Gipfelstuermer (currently holding the red lantern)
- 43: Ney Holguin, Ecuador, 31 yo, enzano veloclub
- 41: Julian Cid, Spain, 29 yo, enzano veloclub
- 35: Laszlo Szabolcs, Hungary, 38 yo, Quickstep

Out of these 6 riders, Louis Fonso was the closest being shot... ehm taken out of the race (so far) I mean, when finishing dead last (another pun, hihi) at stage 6 with a time gap to the winner of 41'01''.

[flockmastoR]

Wieden is a district in Vienna, Wienden is not known to the Undertaker. The cemetery is in Simmering. Endless provocations in this thread by the Liechtensteiner Fürst. First bullying the first white rapper now this.
Mei Wien is ned deppert. Merkts euch des endlich amoi!

[team fl]

Wieden is a district in Vienna, Wienden is not known to the Undertaker. The cemetery is in Simmering. Endless provocations in this thread by the Liechtensteiner Fürst. First bullying the first white rapper now this.
Mei Wien is ned deppert. Merkts euch des endlich amoi!

If the Fürst calls, his subjects obey. Don't know about the Liechtensteiner Fürst though.