If unsure, observe Filippo Ganna. That was the takeaway from stage one of many Volta ao Algarve earlier this week, which threw up one of many strangest stage finishes I’ve seen in my life.
Should you’ve been residing underneath a rock, let me convey you on top of things.
The incident got here inside the ultimate kilometre, because the dash trains got here charging into the city of Lagos. There, they adopted the race automobiles via a roundabout, and onto what they thought, or possibly hoped, was the ending straight – my phrasing there in all probability offers away the punchline.
In actuality, they had been guided down the the unsuitable exit, and barrelled down the automotive deviation. It is a street, parallel to the course, that skirts across the end line, diverting the automobiles in direction of the workforce buses. The peloton hit it nearing 60km/h. There have been no obstacles right here, and perplexed followers shortly escaped to the protection of the pavement. It’s a miracle that no person received harm.
As this was unfolding, a handful of riders picked the proper exit on the roundabout, amongst them Mr Ganna. The Italian darted to the end line, seizing his alternative, and crossed beneath the gantry first. A victory, albeit a peculiar one, for Ganna then? Not fairly.
After some deliberation, the race officers determined to cancel the stage. There can be no winner, and the race would begin from scratch on day two. Nothing to see right here. What do you imply end line mishap?
I really feel sorry for Pippo, actually, I do. And for his workforce, Ineos Grenadiers, too. Not solely was a victory chalked off from beneath their noses, the ruling additionally got here 24 hours after the workforce’s flared Kask visors had been banned by the UCI.
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Naturally, the scene from the closing moments of the Algarve went viral, and though we’ve no stage winner to point out for it, a minimum of we’ve some memes. That’s what actually issues, proper?
Elsewhere on social media this week, Tadej Pogačar reveals his pre-race warm-up, Lachlan Morton eats some watermelon, and an Olympic silver medallist watches Stockport County v Wigan.
1. Typically life simply has one other plan for you
2. You possibly can’t idiot Filippo Ganna
3. Because the saying now goes: if unsure, observe Ganna
At this time, we adopted Ganna and we completed safely 👍 pic.twitter.com/bIxwqPxEjzFebruary 20, 2025
4. Pizza or fries? Such a merciless query
5. That is the one a part of Lachlan Morton’s ultra-cycling challenges I might be good at
6. By no means has somebody had extra enjoyable with train bands than Tadej Pogačar did on the UAE Tour
7. The important thing to Josh Tarling’s time trialling prowess is having two-metre-long legs
Enjoying the ready sport… 🔥🪑⏱️#UAETour pic.twitter.com/GtE0ghrkjgFebruary 18, 2025
8. Do not do that at house
9. It would not appear truthful that this monitor sprinter has two Olympic gold medals, and this a lot type
10. Matthew Richardson has swapped Australian mornings on the seashore for icy afternoons at Stockport County. Are you able to blame him?
