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100th Volta Ciclista a Catalunya (2021) ***Spoilers***

blazing_saddlesblazing_saddles Posts: 21,534
edited March 2021 in Pro race
Starts tomorrow and will be the first stage race on Spanish soil in 2021.
Boasts a startlist worthy of a 100th edition.

AG2R Citroën
Bob Jungels, Tony Gallopin, Clément Venturini, Clément Champoussin
Astana – Premier Tech
Luis León Sánchez, Harold Tejada
Bahrain Victorious
Wout Poels, Matej Mohoric
BORA – hansgrohe
Wilco Kelderman, Lennard Kämna, Peter Sagan
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
Jesús Herrada
Deceuninck – Quick-Step
João Almeida, Rémi Cavagna, James Knox
EF Education – Nippo
Hugh Carthy, Rigoberto Uran, Tejay van Garderen, Michael Valgren
Groupama – FDJ
...................................
Intermarché – Wanty-Gobert
Louis Meintjes, Jan Hirt, Rein Taaramäe
Israel Start-Up Nation
Chris Froome, Daniel Martin, Michael Woods, Daryl Impey
Jumbo – Visma
Steven Kruijswijk, George Bennett, Sepp Kuss
Lotto Soudal
Thomas De Gendt, Harm Vanhoucke
Movistar
Enric Mas, Alejandro Valverde, Marc Soler
Team BikeExchange
Simon Yates, Esteban Chaves, Lucas Hamilton
Team DSM
Jai Hindley, Nicolas Roche
Team INEOS – Grenadiers
Richard Carapaz, Geraint Thomas, Adam Yates, Jonathan Castroviejo, Rohan Dennis, Richie Porte, Luke Rowe
Team Qhubeka ASSOS
Robert Power
Trek – Segafredo
Giulio Ciccone, Gianluca Brambilla
UAE Emirates
Marc Hirschi, Brandon McNulty, Rui Costa, David de la Cruz
Arkéa-Samsic
Nairo Quintana
Gazprom-RusVelo
Ilnur Zakarin, Roman Kreuziger

https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/volta-a-catalunya/2021/gc/startlist

Starts with the traditional first stage but includes an ITT and a new mountain finish.



Here's a holiday postcard, as it's the closest we will be get to a Spanish holiday again this year.




"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
«1345

Posts

  • takethehighroadtakethehighroad Posts: 6,527
    Calella was my last holiday destination (5 years ago now!) so I always enjoy this stage each year
  • blazing_saddlesblazing_saddles Posts: 21,534
    Looks like it's finally going to happen:

    https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/marc-hirschi-to-make-his-long-awaited-debut-for-uae-in-catalunya/
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • phreakphreak Posts: 2,879
    That's a stronger startlist than some Grand Tours get.
  • yorkshirerawyorkshireraw Posts: 1,628
    Louis Meintjes must have a good agent to still be WT.

    Looks like Luke Rowe has given up contending for the Cobbled classics (he'll be missing E3 and GW to do this) which seems a shame.

  • Dorset_BoyDorset_Boy Posts: 6,526
    yorkshireraw said:

    Louis Meintjes must have a good agent to still be WT.

    Looks like Luke Rowe has given up contending for the Cobbled classics (he'll be missing E3 and GW to do this) which seems a shame.

    I guess Ineos felt they needed a Rowed captain......
  • takethehighroadtakethehighroad Posts: 6,527
    I doubt he'd do well in the hillier cobbled classics where you would have thought Pidcock may do well. Paris Roubaix is very much suited to his qualities, however.
  • andyrrandyrr Posts: 1,799
    Re Rowe - and maybe with P-R now in doubt, at least for it’s original date, heading to this race gets him a hard race.
  • blazing_saddlesblazing_saddles Posts: 21,534
    Live now with 71kms to go and Kirby to make it seem like 171kms. :p
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • blazing_saddlesblazing_saddles Posts: 21,534
    Froome about to exit the rear door.
    Meanwhile Richie Porte’s luck hasn’t improved with an ill timed puncture.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • ddraverddraver Posts: 26,094
    *Switches on*

    Carlton - ...Time trially styley...

    *Mutes*
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • yorkshirerawyorkshireraw Posts: 1,628
    takethehighroad said:

    I doubt he'd do well in the hillier cobbled classics where you would have thought Pidcock may do well. Paris Roubaix is very much suited to his qualities, however.

    Rowe's best finishes in Cobbled races (some hillier than others)
    Omploop 6th
    KBK 3rd
    Dwars 6th
    Flanders 5th
    Roubaix 8th

    Although for the last couple of years he definitely seemed more focussed on riding as Road captain in the Stage race teams.
  • yorkshirerawyorkshireraw Posts: 1,628
    ddraver said:

    *Switches on*

    Carlton - ...Time trially styley...

    *Mutes*

    'Lennie' Kamna
  • blazing_saddlesblazing_saddles Posts: 21,534
    Headache alert.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • blazing_saddlesblazing_saddles Posts: 21,534
    Lotto jersey bonanza.
    Kron as in chronic (commentary)
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • DeadCalmDeadCalm Posts: 4,099
    Thought that was a decent watch. I'm becoming a bit of a fan of Kron. Likes an attack.
    Team My Man 2022:

    Antwan Tolhoek, Sam Oomen, Tom Dumoulin, Thymen Arensman, Remco Evenepoel, Benoît Cosnefroy, Tom Pidcock, Mark Cavendish, Romain Bardet
  • ProssPross Posts: 38,812
    takethehighroad said:

    I doubt he'd do well in the hillier cobbled classics where you would have thought Pidcock may do well. Paris Roubaix is very much suited to his qualities, however.

    You'd think he'd be the ideal person for them to have guiding Pidcock though, just look at the work he did for him at MSR.
  • phreakphreak Posts: 2,879
    Pross said:


    You'd think he'd be the ideal person for them to have guiding Pidcock though, just look at the work he did for him at MSR.

    van Baarle was getting good placings in the cobbled classics before joining Sky. Since he's been reformatted into a mountain train carriage his chances have gone you suspect. Ineos just aren't a team to join if you want to do well in the classics.
  • blazing_saddlesblazing_saddles Posts: 21,534
    edited March 2021
    Rui Costa and Peter Serry didn't finish.
    Wout Poels lost 14 and a half minutes.
    Remi Cavanga shipped 13 minutes. (probably for heading up the road)
    TJVG, Bob Jungles, Herman Pernsteiner, Louis Meintjes and Chris Froome rolled in 8 and a half minutes back.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • rick_chaseyrick_chasey Posts: 69,720 Lives Here
    Too early to say Chris is not gonna be the rider he was again?

    Seems unlikely at this point. Poor guy.
    _
  • pblakeneypblakeney Posts: 24,016
    rick_chasey said:

    Too early to say Chris is not gonna be the rider he was again?

    Seems unlikely at this point. Poor guy.

    Got the sponsors onboard. Job done.
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • shirley_bassoshirley_basso Posts: 6,105
    I feel sorry for him. I am pretty sure 2020 was his last year as a proper GC contender.

    He's had an incredible career, but sad to have not had the chance to go out with a bang.
  • robnewcastlerobnewcastle Posts: 241
    rick_chasey said:

    Too early to say Chris is not gonna be the rider he was again?

    Seems unlikely at this point. Poor guy.

    8 minutes in the first stage, Jesus
  • phreakphreak Posts: 2,879
    shirley_basso said:

    I feel sorry for him. I am pretty sure 2020 was his last year as a proper GC contender.

    He's had an incredible career, but sad to have not had the chance to go out with a bang.

    2018,surely?
  • ProssPross Posts: 38,812
    How did he (and others) lose so much time? I know the stage was lumpy but it doesn't look that challenging for riders like Poels or Froome.
  • blazing_saddlesblazing_saddles Posts: 21,534
    Pross said:

    How did he (and others) lose so much time? I know the stage was lumpy but it doesn't look that challenging for riders like Poels or Froome.

    Movistar cranked the pace up on the 1st cat climb and put a lot of riders into difficulty.
    Having said that quite a few non specialist climbers were there at the finish.

    ITT today.



    Should be an attractive stage as Banyoles is on the tourist trail for coastal holiday makers.



    The lake has it's own Nessie legend.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • shirley_bassoshirley_basso Posts: 6,105
    phreak said:

    shirley_basso said:

    I feel sorry for him. I am pretty sure 2020 was his last year as a proper GC contender.

    He's had an incredible career, but sad to have not had the chance to go out with a bang.

    2018,surely?
    Would have been / was meant to be
  • yorkshirerawyorkshireraw Posts: 1,628
    blazing_saddles said:

    Rui Costa and Peter Serry didn't finish.
    Wout Poels lost 14 and a half minutes.
    Remi Cavanga shipped 13 minutes. (probably for heading up the road)
    TJVG, Bob Jungles, Herman Pernsteiner, Louis Meintjes and Chris Froome rolled in 8 and a half minutes back.

    As noted up thread Froome is doing a job for the team, even if it's not on the road.

    TJVG and Meintjes, somewhat less so...
  • yorkshirerawyorkshireraw Posts: 1,628
    Adam giving Simon a shoeing over the TT there.
  • kingstongrahamkingstongraham Posts: 25,446
    Today's climb from 2 years ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jM8aQiIfvmY

    Selective quite a long way from the line, leaving the best in the world to fight it out. Should be a good stage with this field.
  • dannbodgedannbodge Posts: 1,143
    rick_chasey said:

    Too early to say Chris is not gonna be the rider he was again?

    Seems unlikely at this point. Poor guy.

    Depends.
    Is he actually trying to be competitive or just get race miles in his legs?
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