Stage 5: Catania to Messina

The Start and Finish towns today have associations with noted Italian physicists. Catania was the birthplace of Ettore Majorana, whose theoretical work on fundamental particles gave us Majorana Fermions which are particles that are their own anti-particle. Messina however is the home town of Vincenzo Nibali whose well-publicised experimental work on dynamics in Spain in 2015 proved that holding on to the side of a team car can significantly increase your velocity with no additional energy expenditure (see link below). Majorana disappeared under mysterious circumstances in 1938; Nibali went missing on the lower slopes of Mt. Etna yesterday afternoon.

“Chess on Wheels”

Chapeau! His first win since last October

The cycling press had talked up Cavendish after he had ground his way up Etna, but it was the Alpecin-Fenix team who put paid to his chances on Stage 5 by tearing up the Category 1 today, but to no avail in the end as Van Der Poel somehow finished in 78th place! Maybe they were just in a hurry because they didn’t want to miss the ferry to Italy. The Wanty-powered descent and attempt to outrun the chase-on by the sprinters’ teams was very exciting, swallowing up the breakaway with 70+ km to go. Ewan’s Lotto Soudal boys were lost out the back and Cav’s Quicksteppers threw in the towel about 30 km out. FDJ however fought back on and Arnauld Demare rewarded them with a French win in the end.

So there was no home-coming Shark Attack, but perhaps a footnote for cycling history: have there ever been two Eritrean riders in the top 10 of grand tour stage before? The first of them Biniam Girmay (boxed in again!) in 5th place was the highest placed of any of our fantasy selections for Paul’s Don’t Ruin It For Me. So a low-scoring velopoints day, but there was still some movement in the GreenWightRed leaderboard:

I think we may be able to conclude that Dr James’ experiment with food-based lubrication is not working out.

Flag(s) of the Day

The simple but striking flags of the municipalities of Catania and Messina, start and destination of Stage 5 respectively. Catania’s coat of arms features a red elephant on a blue background, but the flag is easier to make. And this is Sicily, not TUSK-any (boom boom!). Messina’s historic ensign featured what looks like a two-headed wyvern – what a shame they swapped it for the MCC-like bacon and eggs.

Stage 5: Catania to Messina

“Chess on Wheels”

Flag(s) of the Day

Links