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

124

Comments

  • orraloon
    orraloon Posts: 13,227
    Ah, nice to see Chaves taking a stage.
  • mrb123
    mrb123 Posts: 4,815
    jam1e said:

    Porte bringing it back like the good old days...

    Ineos may be as strong now as they have ever been in terms of squad depth - the question is who is their standout leader, who is the main man? Who have they got to beat Pogacar and Roglic when it comes down to it?
  • DeadCalm
    DeadCalm Posts: 4,249
    Thrilled for Chaves.
  • jam1e
    jam1e Posts: 1,068
    edited March 2021
    IGD top 3 on GC.

    Edit - I've just removed the question mark from the above.
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,253
    I always find it funny when the British media claim they are in crisis and they respond like this


    Twitter: @RichN95
  • jam1e
    jam1e Posts: 1,068
    ^^^^

    Where's that taken from, I quite like the position gained icon which I've not seen on any of my usual results sites before?
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,463
    RichN95. said:

    I always find it funny when the British media claim they are in crisis and they respond like this


    They must have received a new stock of Testogel and re-employed Freeman off the books.
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,253
    jam1e said:

    ^^^^

    Where's that taken from, I quite like the position gained icon which I've not seen on any of my usual results sites before?


    Firstcycling.com

    I like them because they put all the stage profiles on one page
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • jam1e
    jam1e Posts: 1,068
    That's quite a good site, seems better than Steephill TV which is generally where I head first if I'm not watching live. Cheers.
  • phreak
    phreak Posts: 2,953
    blazing_saddles said:

    Probably the worst mountain stage I have ever witnessed.

    Had it been Jumbo on the front Roglic would have sprinted to take the win from Chavez.
  • bm5
    bm5 Posts: 584
    edited March 2021
    Best stage for 2 years (ok maybe just for the Esteban fans like me!)
    I was so sure it would go wrong for him.
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,463
    bm5 said:

    Best stage for 2 years (ok maybe just for the Esteban fans like me!)
    I was so sure it would go wrong for him.

    I got the feeling Ineos just managed him. He was no threat overall, they've had two stage win and have the top 3 on GC so no point taking a victory from a popular rider.
  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 14,652
    Pross said:

    bm5 said:

    Best stage for 2 years (ok maybe just for the Esteban fans like me!)
    I was so sure it would go wrong for him.

    I got the feeling Ineos just managed him. He was no threat overall, they've had two stage win and have the top 3 on GC so no point taking a victory from a popular rider.
    It seems clear their main ambition was to shake Almeida out and take the top 3. Not challenging Chaves for the stage win may have been the smart move that Roglic didn't make in TA. Might also have been a goodwill gesture from A. Yates to his old team.

    Or they might have been trying to catch but just didn't have it.
    Warning No formatter is installed for the format
  • inseine
    inseine Posts: 5,788
    mrb123 said:

    jam1e said:

    Porte bringing it back like the good old days...

    Ineos may be as strong now as they have ever been in terms of squad depth - the question is who is their standout leader, who is the main man? Who have they got to beat Pogacar and Roglic when it comes down to it?
    Having huge strength in depth paid off for Tao last year. Roglic seems to find ways if loosing and Pogacae doesn't have the team. It will be intriguing.
    http://cyclinganddesign.blogspot.fr/
  • mididoctors
    mididoctors Posts: 18,908
    I think Ineos didn't want to open the group up . It's was operationally smart to just do what they did . The idea it was signalling benevolence to the peleton for future good will is interesting . Maybe .
    "If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,463
    mididoctors said:

    I think Ineos didn't want to open the group up . It's was operationally smart to just do what they did . The idea it was signalling benevolence to the peleton for future good will is interesting . Maybe .

    Not so much that as there was no real benefit in chasing him down so why do more than necessary to drop your main rival. The gap to Chavez was closing until Almeida was dropped, I think it went down to about 14" and then opened back up to 20" once he'd gone.
  • kingstongraham
    kingstongraham Posts: 28,143
    This is impressive



    But what about this guy?


  • yorkshireraw
    yorkshireraw Posts: 1,632
    Pross said:

    mididoctors said:

    I think Ineos didn't want to open the group up . It's was operationally smart to just do what they did . The idea it was signalling benevolence to the peleton for future good will is interesting . Maybe .

    Not so much that as there was no real benefit in chasing him down so why do more than necessary to drop your main rival. The gap to Chavez was closing until Almeida was dropped, I think it went down to about 14" and then opened back up to 20" once he'd gone.
    Adam has said Sunday's stage is one of the hardest they do all year - probably saving something back in case of an ambush or need to chase.
  • yorkshireraw
    yorkshireraw Posts: 1,632
    kingstongraham said:

    This is impressive



    But what about this guy?


    no lunch for you, Diego.
  • mididoctors
    mididoctors Posts: 18,908
    Pross said:

    mididoctors said:

    I think Ineos didn't want to open the group up . It's was operationally smart to just do what they did . The idea it was signalling benevolence to the peleton for future good will is interesting . Maybe .

    Not so much that as there was no real benefit in chasing him down so why do more than necessary to drop your main rival. The gap to Chavez was closing until Almeida was dropped, I think it went down to about 14" and then opened back up to 20" once he'd gone.
    Yes if they brought it back or exploded the group the bonus secs may have been there for a rival closer on GC than chaves
    "If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,725
    Ineos have their work cut out.
    40 riders up the road
    Mohoric, Cavagna, Schelling, Arensman are slightly ahead.
    Then Bizkarra, de la Cruz, Kruijswijk, Edet, Rodriguez, Guerreiro, D. Martin, Reichenbach, Gesbert, Cras, Verona, Kangert, Lopez, Zwiehoff, Knox, Tejada, Valter, Brambilla, Bouwman, Harper, Hirschi, Storer, Impey, Uran, Strakhov, Smith, Devenyns, Soler, Samitier, Bidard, Cataldo, Hänninen, Goldstein, Pichon, Soto, Pronskiy, Barcelo, Ladagnous, v. Rensburg and Cerny
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,463
    How did it go in the end?
  • kingstongraham
    kingstongraham Posts: 28,143
    Lenny's laughing at them all. Solo victory for the Lion of Wedel.

  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,463
    Froome has found his new role as bunch engine.
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,463
    Sagan is back and takes the sprint. Kirby convinced a Cavagna attack that gained a maximum 4 seconds 12k from the finish could hold on.
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,253
    A thing I spotted today. The moto cameraman sticks a list of the key numbers to his pilot's head


    Twitter: @RichN95
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,463
    RichN95. said:

    A thing I spotted today. The moto cameraman sticks a list of the key numbers to his pilot's head


    Wondered what that was but couldn't read it.
  • webboo
    webboo Posts: 6,087
    I thought it was a list of Spanish riders who they could give a tow. ;)
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,725
    30 odd riders have 4 minutes over the bunch with 45kms to go.
    So, we may well have 2 races on the circuit.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,725
    Lots of people on the Barcelona circuit.
    Packed at the top of the climb.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.

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