Grassmarket

Some big reorganisation needed for Saturday as the Mayor of Briançon is not going to let the race pass through the town (scheduled to be about 40k to go, with an intermediate sprint). Final climb starting up to Madonna di Campiglio. GC fight starting. Ben O’Connor goes for glory in the break. O’Connor gets the win. GC seems to be fizzing out into another race for the odd 10 deconds or so.

Roglič will be haunted by a voice in his ear all race now. “Don’t mess up the Time Trial, Primož, don’t mess up the Time Trial.”

Froome struggling already. Not getting any help from the team - quite the opposite they are on front & driving.

Looked dodgy for 10 minutes there..... Almeida grabs a few seconds back on the climb.

Always the same: 80-90% of the world’s best do the Tour. 40% are in either the Giro or Vuelta.

That’s true. Hasn’t been to Dakar for about 20 years. At least they dropped the Paris bit. Come to think, the Paris-Roubaix doesn’t go near Paris either.

It’s the World’s most mis-named race this week, the Driedagse Brugge-De Panne Starts in Bruges Finishes in De Panne Does NOT last three days!

Two weeks till the election, so naturally Joe Biden is going to take a holiday. Nothing to do with having to dodge awkward questions about his corrupt whore-mongering cokehead son, of course - he just wants to catch up with Emily in Paris on Netflix.

Kicking off now with 10k to go, Dennis caught & riders drifting off the back - Fuglsang & Bilbao struggling. Nibali in trouble now, still 8.6k to go. Almeida now dropped, Kelderman & Geoghan Hart leading. Almeida still working hard to get back. Almeida still holding onto Pink though with 2k to go. Kelderman needs to do more if he wants it, just following his team-mate Hindley. Geoghagan-Hart gets his debut GT win, Almeida gives about 37 secs, but stays in pink. All the other big names lose time.

Dorothy Weirer puts in a guest star appearance at the Giro! Meanwhile, Rohan Dennis off on a solo run for the stage win. 45k to go & plenty climbing. Long odds.

What are the odds? Same crash takes out both Ecuadorians.

Very rare win for yesterday. OK, lots of big names missing, but it’s in the books now.

Every Belgian rider has a race that goes past their front door at some point in the year.

Good news for Bruce Springsteen and all the other celebs as they now can move to New Zealand after Trump wins.

I’m going out on a limb and predicting that this breakaway group are not going to make the 225km to the finish.

We are off, in the glamorous setting of Antwerp Docks.

Second race of the day starts in about 20 mins.

Decisive win for Ganna, was even able to slow down for the tricky turns in the last 1k.

Strange that all the big TT specialists are out at more or less the same time. Campenaerts the first home, takes the lead. Dennis next, then Ganna just starting.

Rough piste is catching everyone out.

Seemed very happy for his mate, good for him.

Aarg, Alex Tilley gets a big lead, blows it.....nice recovery for the finish. Ester Ledečka is here! First ever GS Qual. Takes the lead!

Onto the men’s race, East Africans not quite monopolizing it yet... Race too far for Joshua Cheptegui, falling off the pace. Still running for a team medal for

NRs all down the board - Ethiopia, Turkey, Switzerland....

Already had a fall, one of the Ethiopians, 3 of the favourites have gone down. Now, the German Kjeta has a medal! Jeez, another stumble costs Yehualaw the silver medal! And a World Record (Women’s only)