Talossan Cycling Association Tour Season 3 Leg 1: Venaria Reale -> Roma

[Sir Lüc]

Small token of my attendance at the finish: this picture of Julian Alaphilippe (SOS/CFA)

[Glüc]

Stage 19 Mortegliano -> Sappada

Yesterday's stage had a perfect profile for attacking with three cat 2/cat 3 summits. Indeed we did get a big break. However the only TCAT rider involved was Julian Alaphilippe (SOS/CFA). The result was a fairly low scoring stage with no implications for the GC. Fieschā scored the most points due to Alaphilippe's performance. They also gain a spot as a result which does mean the four teams that picked Pogacar are now the top 4.

Standings after stage 19:

Pos	±	Team	Pts Ove	Pts Today
1st	(=)	Banqeu da Cézembre Tavulairs (BDC)	8503	+157
2nd	(=)	Cyclohexane (CHX)	6307	+120
3rd	(=)	Gordon Hiatus Support Team (GHS)	6203	+132
4th	(+1)	Cézembre Fieschā (CFA)	5622	+204
5th	(-1)	Port Maxhestic AC (PTM)	5528	+80
6th	(=)	Maricopa Cabana Boys (MCB)	5215	+93
7th	(=)	Els Cantzelerïă Aþletici (SOS)	4017	+179
8th	(=)	Dead Last (DED)	3819	+50
9th	(=)	Velociposse Florencia (VFL)	3538	+80

Today we got another GC stage with two climbs of Monte Grappa (not too far from Lüc) but no uphill finish. Don't want to spoil the update yet, but let's just say it would be a major surprise if Pogacar didn't win again.

[Breneir Tzaracomprada]

Stage 19 Mortegliano -> Sappada

Yesterday's stage had a perfect profile for attacking with three cat 2/cat 3 summits. Indeed we did get a big break. However the only TCAT rider involved was Julian Alaphilippe (SOS/CFA). The result was a fairly low scoring stage with no implications for the GC. Fieschā scored the most points due to Alaphilippe's performance. They also gain a spot as a result which does mean the four teams that picked Pogacar are now the top 4.

Standings after stage 19:

Pos	±	Team	Pts Ove	Pts Today
1st	(=)	Banqeu da Cézembre Tavulairs (BDC)	8503	+157
2nd	(=)	Cyclohexane (CHX)	6307	+120
3rd	(=)	Gordon Hiatus Support Team (GHS)	6203	+132
4th	(+1)	Cézembre Fieschā (CFA)	5622	+204
5th	(-1)	Port Maxhestic AC (PTM)	5528	+80
6th	(=)	Maricopa Cabana Boys (MCB)	5215	+93
7th	(=)	Els Cantzelerïă Aþletici (SOS)	4017	+179
8th	(=)	Dead Last (DED)	3819	+50
9th	(=)	Velociposse Florencia (VFL)	3538	+80

Today we got another GC stage with two climbs of Monte Grappa (not too far from Lüc) but no uphill finish. Don't want to spoil the update yet, but let's just say it would be a major surprise if Pogacar didn't win again.

Stage 19 Mortegliano -> Sappada

Yesterday's stage had a perfect profile for attacking with three cat 2/cat 3 summits. Indeed we did get a big break. However the only TCAT rider involved was Julian Alaphilippe (SOS/CFA). The result was a fairly low scoring stage with no implications for the GC. Fieschā scored the most points due to Alaphilippe's performance. They also gain a spot as a result which does mean the four teams that picked Pogacar are now the top 4.

Standings after stage 19:

Pos	±	Team	Pts Ove	Pts Today
1st	(=)	Banqeu da Cézembre Tavulairs (BDC)	8503	+157
2nd	(=)	Cyclohexane (CHX)	6307	+120
3rd	(=)	Gordon Hiatus Support Team (GHS)	6203	+132
4th	(+1)	Cézembre Fieschā (CFA)	5622	+204
5th	(-1)	Port Maxhestic AC (PTM)	5528	+80
6th	(=)	Maricopa Cabana Boys (MCB)	5215	+93
7th	(=)	Els Cantzelerïă Aþletici (SOS)	4017	+179
8th	(=)	Dead Last (DED)	3819	+50
9th	(=)	Velociposse Florencia (VFL)	3538	+80

Today we got another GC stage with two climbs of Monte Grappa (not too far from Lüc) but no uphill finish. Don't want to spoil the update yet, but let's just say it would be a major surprise if Pogacar didn't win again.

Delighted to see Velociposse is still on track to win the Pyrite Goose.

[Glüc]

Stage 20 Alpago -> Bassano del Grappa

Pellizzari (GHS) coloured the final GC stage of this leg by bravely attacking on the first climb of Monte Grappa. He managed to stay ahead of the favourites for most of the second climb. Unfortunately for him when Pogacar decided it was time to attack the gap was closed relatively quickly. Pellizzari still managed to get an impressive 6th place. Pogacar won the stage and wins the General Classification overall with a massive lead. Behind him V. Paret-Peintre (BDC) also had a strong performance. Most of the rest of the top 10 was filled with GC contenders.

As a result we know the final GC now:
1. Pogacar (CHX/GHS/CFA/BDC)
2. Martinez (MCB/PTM/BDC)
3. Thomas (PTM/DED/SOS)
4. O'Connor (MCB/GHS/VFL)
5. Tiberi (CHX)
6. Arensman (GHS/BDC)
7. Rubio (CFA/BDC)
9. Bardet (MCB/DED/SOS/VFL/CFA)
11. Zana (CHX)

Of course this will have a big impact on the final tcat points awarded.

Today did not result in any changes in the TCAT standing. The race for second place is still close between GHST and Cyclohexane. GHST is likely to get a few more final points, although if Milan sprints today that will likely be enough for Cyclohexane to secure second place.

Standings after stage 20:

Pos	±	Team	Pts Ove	Pts Today
1st	(=)	Banqeu da Cézembre Tavulairs (BDC)	9419	+916
2nd	(=)	Cyclohexane (CHX)	6883	+576
3rd	(=)	Gordon Hiatus Support Team (GHS)	6853	+650
4th	(=)	Cézembre Fieschā (CFA)	6156	+534
5th	(=)	Port Maxhestic AC (PTM)	5934	+406
6th	(=)	Maricopa Cabana Boys (MCB)	5645	+430
7th	(=)	Els Cantzelerïă Aþletici (SOS)	4257	+240
8th	(=)	Dead Last (DED)	4037	+218
9th	(=)	Velociposse Florencia (VFL)	3845	+307

Before we get to final points however, we still need to get to Rome. Today's stage is the traditional arrival in Rome and will be the last chance for the sprinters to win a stage.

[Sir Lüc]

No doubt Glüc will want to make a fuller results post (or series of posts) at some point, but in the meantime, here's the final standings after Sunday's Rome -> Rome final sprint showdown!

(Final) standings after stage 21 (also showing End of Tour Points):

Pos	±	Team	Pts Ove	Pts S21	EoT Pts
1st	(=)	Banqeu da Cézembre Tavulairs (BDC)	11925	+321	+2185
2nd	(=)	Cyclohexane (CHX)	8746	+288	+1575
3rd	(=)	Gordon Hiatus Support Team (GHS)	8671	+123	+1695
4th	(=)	Cézembre Fieschā (CFA)	7648	+92	+1400
5th	(+1)	Maricopa Cabana Boys (MCB)	7478	+413	+1420
6th	(-1)	Port Maxhestic AC (PTM)	7463	+299	+1230
7th	(=)	Els Cantzelerïă Aþletici (SOS)	5281	+74	+950
8th	(=)	Dead Last (DED)	4992	+190	+765
9th	(=)	Velociposse Florencia (VFL)	4865	+80	+940

[Sir Lüc]

Congrats to @Glüc da Dhi S.H. for a third consecutive TCAT leg win!

I've never had time to mention the side classifications, but here they are in all their glory. Congrats in particular to @Sir Txec dal Nordselvă, UrB 's Cantzelerïă Aþletici for an impressive lead in the combativity classification! Out of their riders, only Geraint Thomas didn't bring home any breakaway points at all, with Julian Alaphilippe taking an impressive 120 on his own.

SPRINTERS'S CLASSIFICATION
Banqeu da Cézembre Tavulairs 507
Cyclohexane 492
Cézembre Fieschā 386
Els Cantzelerïă Aþletici 333
Maricopa Cabana Boys 272
Port Maxhestic AC 272
Gordon Hiatus Support Team 159
Velociposse Florencia 106
Dead Last 95


CLIMBERS'S CLASSIFICATION
Gordon Hiatus Support Team 688
Banqeu da Cézembre Tavulairs 653
Cézembre Fieschā 565
Cyclohexane 464
Maricopa Cabana Boys 330
Els Cantzelerïă Aþletici 296
Velociposse Florencia 192
Port Maxhestic AC 176
Dead Last 69


COMBATIVITY CLASSIFICATION
Els Cantzelerïă Aþletici 280
Cézembre Fieschā 180
Velociposse Florencia 160
Maricopa Cabana Boys 140
Gordon Hiatus Support Team 120
Banqeu da Cézembre Tavulairs 80
Dead Last 80
Cyclohexane 60
Port Maxhestic AC 60

[Baron Alexandreu Davinescu]

Congratulations, @Glüc da Dhi S.H.!

[Breneir Tzaracomprada]

I am delighted that Velociposse has achieved its goal. We will be changing our team name in future contests to Dead2Last in celebration of burrowing to the bottom of the standings.

[þerxh Sant-Enogat]

Congrats @Glüc da Dhi S.H. And thanks for the organisation. I'm back to my usual fourth place, the most frustrating position..