Vetplant

I'd say it is highly unlikely that he(WvA) will consider going for GC top 10. My reasons: -Sepp Kuss is there as GC hopeful for Visma. (WvA will have to do it donkey work for this) -Too much climbing this Vuelta. Total elevation gain is way more than we just saw in the TDF. His build doesn't suit it. -WvA chased the Intermediate Sprinters points yesterday. His priorities coming in was likely: Couple of days in leaders jersey.- CHECK Stage win - CHECK Sprinters Jersey - Main focus now Work for Sepp - Will do when Sprint points are sorted.

WvA winning a stage in Red! He has been hunting a flipping stage win so long it must feel good. May the floodgates open for the rest of the year.

Remco riding away with it. Double Gold winner.

Strong chase group 3rd on the road with MvdP, WvA and Alaphilipe in it. Might be explosive from here onwards. 39km to go

Correction, two athletes have broken away from the field and is battling it out for the win. Unfortunately neither one is South African.

Men Triathlon is on the Run Leg with a big bunch of guys together and in with a chance of winning it. Tune in if you can.

Agree 10 000%. Seems the French went "all-in" on magnifying and celebrating the Seine river for some reason, Opening ceremony and all. I understand they have 2 August as the backup date, and there is a backup swim location. Let's hope sanity prevails and it remains a Triathlon.

Saw reports that they will have to consider dropping the SWIM portion if the levels don't subside... Making it a duathlon.

Simbine in the 100m is in with a shout of a medal.

Oh definitely, that is most likely the "actual" reason for not riding.

After winning at #TdF2024, Tadej Pogačar "cancelled his performance because he was too tired" #paris2024 He will be replaced by Domen Novak in Slovenia's top four in the road race on Saturday, August 3 (I'm telling you guys... vuelta is going to happen)

Very close Battle for this final stage between the top dogs!

I know it isn't exactly unpredictable, but it is 1000% better than the Sky Train days with just boring pacing up a mountain without attacks.

Carapaz riding himself into the Polkadots! Would love to get some more points on the final climb. Current standings:

Now you are talking my language. We can dream...

Interestingly, the gap has extended to 4mins now. If Jonas wants to try something, and he has some legs left, this is his chance. But, it is probably unlikely. The riders ahead will probably just help him defend 2nd against Remco.

Visma LAB throwing one last hail-mary? Jorgenson, Kelderman and Laporte into the breakaway at the start.... 35s lead currently

Bini has 33 point lead on Jasper for the Green Jersey. Stage 19: 20 points on offer today at the Intermediate Sprint. Bini would probably need to stick to Jasper like Glue till the sprint, just to be sure. (Neither one is going to get points at the Stage Finish... right?) Stage 20: 20 points tomorrow at Intermediate. (But, I don't see either one getting the Intermediate or the Finish points) Stage 21: TT, neither is realistically going to compete for the Stage Classification and the points on offer. TLDR; So it seems a foregone conclusion that Bini will take it, as long as he can reach Nice.

Wout: "At the beginning of the Tour my legs hurt going up stairs. Now my legs also hurt going downstairs" 😅

Happy for Campenaerts. Solid effort boys.

Looking at the names of the rest of the breakaway riders, he should have a decent chance here... Unless everyone outmarks him, which is unfortunately very likely.

For sure. Need to know how deep he has gone this year. Only his coach and himself will truly know how deep he has gone in the Spring + Giro + Tour. My point is just, they need to ask the question and look at the data. Any decision should not be done blindly, (not that UAE would do something like that).

Not even just Pog, the whole lot of them have done remarkable things: -Cav taking Number 35 -Grmay being leader of the Green Jersey right now -Bardet wearing Yellow in the TDF -Kuss winning a GT after being Super-Domestique in the other two GT's(2023) -Jonas, Remco and Wout being highly competitive despite their crashes in the Spring Impossible is a very strong word. Unexpected, sure...