There’s one area where cycling is still far behind other sports: TV graphics. And I’m not just talking about the Giro d’Italia—this applies to the whole sport, even the prestigious Tour de France. During the Siena stage, with the peloton constantly breaking apart and reshuffling, it was incredibly hard to follow what was going on. The on-screen information was minimal, unclear, and practically useless. It may seem like a minor detail, but all other sports invest heavily in this aspect to enhance the viewing experience. Cycling, in this regard, is still stuck in the past.
And in that same stage, Roglic showed signs of weakness. As I said at the beginning of the Giro, his biggest rival is often himself. His physical condition is outstanding, but his bike handling skills are still lacking. The crash wasn’t his fault—Hamilton triggered the chain reaction—but his fragility became evident. There’s debate over whether a stage like this belongs in a Grand Tour. For me, it absolutely does. Modern cycling can’t rely solely on watts and team radios; it demands awareness, flexibility, and instinct.
After the crash, Roglic looked hesitant—avoiding the draft, overly cautious through the corners. In one of the most beautiful stages of the race—so iconic that the Tour has started copying it with Roubaix-style sections—he lost ground. Bad luck played a role, yes. But so did his limitations on unpredictable terrain.
Van Aert, on the other hand, got everything right. After many missed opportunities due to poor decisions, this time he nailed it. He refused to take turns with Del Toro—and it was the smartest choice he could make. This wasn’t a one-day race; it was a stage in a Grand Tour, where long-term thinking matters. Del Toro was chasing the leader’s jersey. Van Aert should have helped only if the gap dropped below 40–45 seconds. To stay with Del Toro on the final climb of Santa Caterina, he needed to conserve energy—and he knew it. He had already struggled to hold the wheel on the previous climbs.
His style is unmistakable: a pure cyclocrosser who engages his whole body—back, arms, everything. But when he’s suffering, you can see it on his face. And yesterday, he was suffering. That’s what makes his victory even more deserved. He stayed calm, played it smart, and struck when it mattered most.
