Sorry for the late upload everyone! Spent 3 hours battling with KZfaq to get the video through processing. Still don’t know what the issue was for certain, however, I’ve got some ideas to keep this from happening in the future. 🦋🦋🦋

Pogi is such a showman. he said "it was just an attack for fun, as we do with friends". i love this guy, he 's like a kid enjoying cycling. so refreshing !

Pog doesn't seem to have read the rulebook and is not a great believer in conventional wisdom, obviously. But then, "Are you not entertained?"

The "W" of Tim Merlier was in memory of Wouter Weylandt who died on stage 3 in the Giro d'Italia in 2011. #108 is no more attributed.

Who’s refreshing the page every minute

Girmay sighting! If he's on the podium with pure sprinters he must be in good form. I hope he can keep it up, win a stage and compete for the points jersey.

Great race recap again! Nice to see Thomas forgetting he's 37... and Pogi clearly remembering Thomas is ... 37. I was kind of hoping Pogi would just keep pushing for the line and see if Thomas can follow. He might have pulled off a win on a sprinter's stage. That would have been funny.

Please make some knucklehead t-shirts for each of the grand tours. Pink yellow and red, then my wardrobe will be complete 😊

So, you're saying; you're G; your teammate gets you to safety at the 3km mark, but when you get there, the guy you need to beat blows by you, and you stay put?? Once your hand gets forced and you go after him, just not to lose more time, you find yourself in a situation where now you could get time on your competitors, and you do not try? Hindsight is 20/20, but for a period there, I thought they were going to pull it off, and I was like 😱amazing! And YES, G's chances are most likely dependent on a Tadej's mishap! So he needs to be there! Or anyone else for that matter! If it would have ended today, he would have beaten Martinez by a second, when yesterday that wasn't the case. If he had come in 2nd on the stage, he would have had taken more time on Martinez. That wasn't his plan; that's what Tadej dealt! All of the above, butterfly effect!

I'm conflicted... Pogi was also super entertaining in the 2022 TdF. The man was winning stages left and right, picking up time bonuses, showing off his athletic genius all over the place, chasing down attacks... Right until he got smoked on the Granon and lost the race in week 3 while he was arguably the strongest man in the race. The man was back to his brilliant best in 2023 TdF. Multiple stage wins, seemingly at will. Extravagant displays where he won time bonuses, while riding at the front with loads of panache and style. Aaaaaand then in week 3 on the road to Courchevel, he got his ass whooped on the Col de la Loze and (in that ridiculous TT). Again, 3 stage wins, Podium finish, Final jersey, strongest man, lost the race. I get that the weather is more to his liking and that his biggest rival is a 30 something year old veteran racer, with no Primoz, Jonas or Remco to race against...BUT, Pogi is riding close to the sun himself...He might get burned- If not in Livigno, then in France this summer... His team is weak. Stages 1 and 2 ended with him in splendid isolation and he is depending on a 30 something year old veteran racer as his last man, the team sprinter (and HIS leadout man) is not even in the picture on today's obvious sprint stage and when he had that minor crash yesterday he had to sweat to get back on because his pacers were not top shelf quality He is in the jersey. This means that every race day, he gets 1+ hour LESS recovery than any of his rivals (podium, doping, interviews). Pogi's powers of recovery are extraordinary, but that's 7+ less hours of recovery a week and maybe up to 21+ less hours of recovery for the entire Giro- That adds up and his body WILL pay this price at some point. I love his enthusiasm and respect the hell out of his ability, but if he truly wants to do the Double, I'm not sure that this will work. I get the sprint for the intermediate time bonuses and the cheeky dig at the end as well was brilliant! But this man wants to race 6000+km and climb what? 100,000metres on his bicycle, at the front, for the win, in 12 weeks? I mean, even The Incomparable Tadej Pogacar has got to preserve some energy somewhere, and he is not doing that... His legs are great and the man is clearly flying, but that attack on stage 2 only netted him 27 seconds when its clear that he wanted much more... I still say that this man can podium on any stage that he wants, and can win most of those. He loves the cold weather, his rivals here are not peak Nibali, Contador or Basso and the TT km's plays in his favor, as do the long climbs in the absence of a pure, pure super climber and GC threat like Jonas .... But we all want to be entertained in July as well and I fear that unless he learns to ride at the slowest reasonable speed that is guaranteed to win the jersey in Rome, he risks losing it all- If not now, then in July.... But I can't lie, the man is a brilliant racer and we are very lucky to see this level of performance and pure enjoyment on the bike...

Damn, Chris! I watched stage 3 this morning, and your recap is wayyy more entertaining and exciting than seeing it live. Keep up the good work.

Seeing G.Thomas and pogacar pulling together reminded me the one crazy tour de france stage ( was it 2022?) when Wout van Aert staged a 100 km solo in the yellow jersey :) Crazy good Entertainment.

My favorite band is Tudors Down.

Hey Chris, the production value on these videos are great. Really appreciate your hard work.

Pogadcar is an entertainer, this giro will be much fun than last year for sure

"The 37 year old knucklehead Geraint Thomas" 🤣😂 You aint lyin.......racing for second place

Robbie McEwen has been an important part of the Australian commentary team on SBS for a few years now, mostly at the TdF. Obviously he's never been a GC guy, but I would never doubt his point of view when it comes to sprinting.

poggie is the most exciting rider to watch period. and always with a smile. he is the best!

Thomas said it was firstly about staying out of trouble on greasy road with tight bend. But the final suggestion that it makes sense for Thomas to make the race a 1st for Pog, a 2nd for him, and the rest looking for 3rd as early as possible and wait to see if Pog has a problem, eg crash or illness. At this stage in his career, Thomas getting 1st is a bonus but keeping his high finish record is nice as it is 'best of the rest' in an era of four superstar GT riders in Pog, Vin, Ev, Rog. A certain CH did something similar in Vuelta a few years ago and ended up winning

Never leave your wingmen!!

The title of today's stage is SPRINTERS GONE WILD.

U KNOW it's gonna be a great show when there's a 'CATASTROPHIC Knucklehead Move' going down!!!🤣

I like the show of Pog and G mixing it up, it makes it more interesting. I was shouting at G nooo, don’t pull, let Pog burn his matches. It’s a 3 week race. I know loosing a few seconds here and there isn’t good but Pog is capable of getting minutes if unchecked. G’s team needs to mark Pog all the time. It’s great fun but time will tell.

I guess Pog always makes for an exciting stage because you just never know exactly what to expect. GT definitely suffered more than Tadej as a result. At this point, Pog needs to let his team do most of the work and conserve for the steeps.

One thing about Gerraint Thomas, he's not stupid. And at 37, he's been around to know his strengths and limitations. So whatever he was doing with Tadej I'm sure had a plan.

#1 Rule is…..don’t be a knucklehead??

Great show Chris, love it

Wonderful analysis Chris! Keep it coming!

Sitting on the chesterfield waiting for all the knucklehead moves

Great stage. Love your show.

Good job Chris. Great explanation for us new comers

I've been waiting for this all day so we could all say what a knucklehead Pog is.

Fantastic stage. Interesting dynamic. Great coverrage.

Awesome, Chris! Thank you!

Such an exciting race! 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

Chris and others, Pog went not because he wanted to pull Thomas, but because he thought the third rider can work with him and Pog either can beat him or hand him the stage. When the third guy wilted, there was a hésitation and Pog said..Geraint you want to gain bonus and another 10 sec on your rivales, then work with me. And Thomas sort of did..for 20% of the 2km that they rode. It was Ok and gave them both a shot, except had they worked equally they could have gotten it

G had to cover that move, his very short pull had little effect on anything but maybe had given them a chance to win or put time on others. Pogcar attack is what I didn't understand, but at least it's entertaining.

My god I had to do my morning stretch to the sound of the silence.

I loved every minute of G and Tadej antics. I was hoping for a TdF 2016 stage 11 scenario.

Great summary

Wow, for a GC guy, you can really breakdown a bunch sprint. Thanks Chris.

Thank you

Soo what's the likelihood the top 3 finishers of Stage 3 will also podium Stage 4? It certainly seems like we'll see another stacked drag race like today's Stage 3. Will Olav Koolj be ready for the gunshow shootout on Stage 4??

Perfect stage- allowed me to have a nap when it was boring. Thankfully was up when things kicked off, best of both worlds.😂

Maybe Jonathan Milan forgot that his teammate Juan Pedro Lopez had won this year's Tour of the Alps.

So Good 👍

The best breakdowns PERIOD! 🦋

Arensman's dad was attacking his coach who Arensman insisted on bringing with him from DSM!

Phew. Thought for a moment you went up the road without us.

The 37yo Knucklehead 😂 couple more years and he'll figure it out right?

I wasn't going to watch this stage. But damm, I'm glad i did! That was one of the best boring stages I've ever watched. It was Sprinters gone wild. And Pog attacking just for fun was just that just for fun. And for G-MAN, going with him was just as nuts. Well, im up at 0100, getting ready to watch stage 4. Great analysis, as always, Chris.

Thanks a lot for youe words ...thats the problem with peloton ...no rules at all 😅😅

Pog said he wasn`t full gas in the final! Crazy...absolutely crazy !

This Giro keeps throwing sutprises and drama. Fantastico

Tadej won't take a day off. Every race this season, including sprint favorable routes like this, he's been up front and twitchy. I kind of wish he'd of done the classics this year. He's the best he's ever been and that's amazing. Sprint stage? Tadej: "hold my beer......"😂

Podacar World Biggest Knuckelhead! Only age make him the best rider. Burning his Light in both ends. Nice to see Honore, nice try! Can't remember 🇩🇰 Denmark had Another good Finish Sprinter than Mads P. Tobias Lund promising👍 Should be Milan Lidl-Trek Today. Merlier bullseye yesterday👍😜🔝

Bounasera!

My man Chris Horner we have been waiting all day. Thanks Brother

Biniam. Well done . . . almost?

I see Pogacar do this, and my immediate thought is why doesn’t UAE have a better team to stay around their race leader until he tries the break away. Even more to the point, if one UAE domestique could stay with him at the beginning of the break away it may have worked. Instead he’s dangling out there on his own in the wind. He needs a better team that is focused on his success.

Johnny Milan! My favorite giant 👍

Lots of rules broken but it was fun. I think Geraint is riding a bit more freely as he's on his last knockings. I think Pog should be sitting in until the third week (except TTs) as he's got 6 weeks of being a top dog. Maybe Geraint and Pog were riding safely, out of a raging bunch but that's about the only plus. It could've been a real dull stage to watch though so I'm happy about that. :)

As always good perspective Chris. I don't understand why Pogi don't play it safe. He still have the Tour

Thanks, Chris, and tho' I am cheering for him to win this double, I thought this was a little greedy and messy for him to toy with the sprinters on one of their big days. Others say it was exciting and maybe so, but why not save some matches and play it cool and regal instead. Same with G. Thomas, why not toy with Tadej by getting on his wheel, if he must, and saying tow me like we tow you for a little levity. And whatever, all fascinating and sometimes amusing, you know, knuckleheads. 😀

Why this broadcast is so late today ? Missed you. 😇😂

Knuckleheads make entertainment racing though! 🦋👊💥

Chris unfortunately giro is not the same without Campeaaaarts Your videos much better when you say ,, Ma maaaan .... Vikkkktoooor Caaampeeeeenharrrtssss hahaha Thanks for the entertainment and great insights 😊

Thanks Chris , always looking forward to your videos . You and the Lance Armstrong crew are the only ones that really know what you're talking about

I would be careful going after G. Thomas for riding the Giro at age 37. I seem to remember a 41-year old who won a grand tour.

At 37, GT isn't building his resume anymore and he's not looking to negotiate a new contract. Maybe he's just looking for the euphoria that comes from pushing yourself to the limit one more time. I realized long ago that the hardest I will ever push myself is when I've been able to catch a draft from someone who is clearly stronger than me and then I take pulls, however brief, to return the favor. Friendship and respect in its basic form.

Watching the stage, I thought Fiorelli was a knucklehead for trying to go off the front of the sprinter group after the intermediate sprint, and making them all follow away from the peloton. I also thought Tadej was a knucklehead for chasing Honore just before the finish line, but I wasn’t surprised he did it because he loves to win no matter how. But I thought Geraint was a bigger knucklehead for trying to stay on his wheel and not just let the sprinters, or Ineos, pull Tadej back.

😂😂😂 nbc frienemies!

Adam Blythe loves a break, bless him. Don't be too hard on him

Merlier in his post-race interview seems to support the No. 1 rule, saying basically that when in that break, there were only two from Soudal so they rode to slow the break and that in the end 'it was the right decision'. Baffled by Caleb Ewan riding as he did, the Australian coverage is similar to most, non too critical or aware of what you discuss here.

I just noticed: Chris has a natural clown face. Call me Jane 😀

You could say if everyone broke the no.1 rule , the no.1 rule no longer exists lol

Pogi is so refreshing for cycling fans.....thank god the stagnant boring racing of the 2000's to 2020 has gone......full gas pooowwweeerrr

🎉the first like, love your content

We want a chesterfield video

Take a shot every time Chris says pogi's name

Every one broke the rules, but Pog's Pink Panther tactics may cost him the pink jersey. He would be calm for some days he said. That was wise. Not even Pog. should run like the pink panther with a peloton for sprint behind him! He shouldn't have done so... That's no tactic!

I thought Cipolini retired over a decade ago? Piano, piano, bang! 80kph in the last km

I was checking the whole time where is Chris😃

I think G is enjoying mixing it with the youngster. Remember everyone wrote G off a couple of years ago and now his Ineos team mates are nowhere to be seen.

Knucklehead riders or knucklehead DSs? What was the plan?

GT mostly sat on Tade’s wheel and barely took a turn? You’re talking like it’s a massive mistake for the entire day. He couldn’t have let Tade go solo. I don’t see it. 🤷‍♂️

No doubt in my mind Geraint Thomas is racing for second, as Chris suggests. And I hate to be negative, but given all the high-speed crashes these days, it isn't a bad strategy to be ready to take over the lead.

Chesterfield occupied?

What was Pogi doing? Is he getting too greedy? If he blows in the third week of the Tour, will we look back at today and ask this again?

Only just watched it so this comment probably won't be read by anyone, but i think Ineos are just here for stage wins and a podium position so G isn't thinking about beating Pog but putting time into his other rivals for the remaining 2 podium positions, sad as that sounds. Also, i don't think anyone is going home with COVID, but Pog could crash out at some stage, it has been known to happen, especially on wet roads.

Finally someone who can see cycling the way i see it. And lance has something, when he says the peloton is one big friendzone. Is that really why they use 8 months away from family to ride like idiots. Thanks again Chris Horner.

Biniam behaves as if they're paying him to lose!

Knucklehead count: 10

👍👍👍👍

Brad Friedel, is that you?

it was knuckleheadism, but entertaining after a total snoozefest.

The biggest knuckle head is poguie he blew up in the last grand tours at some point and now wants to win a sprint stage ... at least he will make the Race interesting

Yo

😊

I thought #1 rule was to try not be a knucklehead