In this episode Patrick and Benji recap the fourth stage of the 2026 Giro d’Italia.
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27 Comments
Patrick Vs Benji GT Picks
0 points all round today
Total scores after stage 4:
Benji: 12
Patrick: 8 🦖
Breakdown:
Benji Stage 4 picks
Route release: Kaden Groves 0 pts
Week before: Lund Andresen 0 pts
Day before: Lund Andresen 0 pts
Stage 4 score: 0
Patrick Stage 4 picks
Route release: no pick 0 pts
Week before: Lund Andresen 0 pts
Day before: Lund Andresen: 0 pts
Stage 4 score: 0
Patrick said last pod that Magnier couldn't climb and picked Lund Andresen. He was proved right when Magnier was dropped with 10km of the climb still to go, but sadly Lund was dropped along with him. Meanwhile Benji correctly theorised that with points being awarded for placing in the top 3, statistically he had a better chance of scoring if he spread his picks out. But he then inexplicably doubled down on Andresen anyway, dooming Excel to 0 points for another day.
Looking to stage 5, in the week before preview, Benji went for Garofoli. However his pick on route release was an interesting one. Benji panic picked after stating "do I really need to find a ***** name in December? And then you're going to judge me for it?!" Sorry Benji but I'm afraid we are. His selection of Torstein Traeen was then based on Traeen being the first name he saw on the PCS transfer page he had open at the time. A decision he may sadly regret if he loses the lead.
Patrick on the other hand, said stage 5 "screams breakaway like Filipo Zana" but then named Christen instead. Good decision or should he have stuck with Zana? We'll see…. Patrick also named Jan back on route release, meaning he's essentially doubled down. If Christen has a flier tomorrow Patrick could take a considerable lead…..
I hope Visma nuke the climb tomorrow
Pinarello most certainly was looking after Strong. I saw him repeatedly look over his shoulder for him. He then left a good few other riders beside him to keep with the main peleton.
Milesi's performance was incredible today
No Vuelta Femenina recap? Come on guys
It looked like the peleton gifted the win to UAE.
These dudes French? The have weird accents.
Lance Armstrong would have used his Trek to drop the whole peloton.
Why can't Visma and/or Bora try and kill Bernal tomorrow? The question is whether they'll be willing to catch the breakaway in doing so. Bora should probably try for Pellizzari, and maybe also try to anticipate or play games with Hindley depending on the race situation.
I was surprised Visma did not attack in the last 2km. They were in the front with 5 people, one of them (for example Campenaerts) could do a flyer. Who should bring him back? I think this was a missed opportunity for a stage win.
Aular came second to nervaez who you’re said almost dropped on the climb so I think movistar rode perfectly
Anyone wanna bet, I bet Vingegaard is not winning the giro
Not sure whats issue with Bernal his form was at his peak post crash only a few weeks ago. Lets not forget that 5. Place in LBL and being second in Tour of the Alps in front of Arensman, O'Connor and Storrer. So if he finds this form again he is one of the biggest GC guys in this race but not sure if can get the back to that level during the giro.
It worked out really well for UAE, but after the stage Narvaez said, “Jan is a great guy, he just needs to learn how to race,” so it doesn’t exactly sound like they had planned it that way lmao.
Patrick maybe get a heating sponsorship?
I´m surprised bernal dropping instead of arensman
Kulset got a puncture at the beginning of the climb so Leknessund waited for him and they both lost time
22:46, uuuh, Peppsi must be happy
Patrick is cooking up something for tomorrow’s stage with Vismas tactics, I can feel it!
Ciccone Ben O’Connor-style podium incoming
I think you are not being harsh enough on Movistar for pacing this hard especially in the last 30k. It was clear the Group 2 was not coming back. They kept hammering it for no reason and as a result had no one left to properly lead out Aular. Would Narvaez have won anyway ? Maybe but that was still horrendous.
And also too kind on Ineos. Baffling to throw away a strong chance at a stage win for a Bernal who's very unlikely to podium is he drops here already.
Navarez also one 2 reduced bunch sprints at Tour of Austria 2023 (he also won overall GC) fun rider to watch!
#FreeBenTurner
I’m a big fan of having two guys in GC from one team. Even if Arensman is the main man for the Giro, there’s value in keeping Bernal up there. That, and I think stage four is way too early to give up.
I’m also choosing to be delusional about Bernal. We will cling to that LBL performance for dear life.
I hadn’t even realized Enric Mas is riding the Giro, such was the lack of media coverage. I’d have picked him for the podium.
It’s actually bizarre how under the radar he’s been. He finished second in the Vuelta three times FFS.
Narvaez beat Tadej in a sprint in Stage One of the 2024 Giro.
IT’S GC GC TIME BABY GIULIO CICCONE GENERAL CLASSIFICATION WHO NEEDS A SPRINTER WHEN YOU GOT CICCO