Vuelta 2021 ????????

['Dale]

Fabulous Fabio 

[geomark]

Only getting caught up today via GCN+ highlights and frankly struggling to get engaged so far. Good random chirp on the commentary yesterday re carapaz- something along the lines of “on a gold bike but only riding bronze” ????

[Mountain Bru]

10 minutes ago, geomark said:

Only getting caught up today via GCN+ highlights and frankly struggling to get engaged so far

It's weird I feel kind of the same in that the Vuelta doesn't seem as easy to get hooked into as the tour, but ironically I expect to see more competitive and probably more interesting racing from the GC boys. 

Roglic is the favourite, but his team looked completely useless yesterday. Ineos have Bernal and Yates looking strong, and Carapaz might be a game changer as a super domestique in week 3. Landa is gonna have to do something special on the mountain top finishes if he wants enough of a buffer over the other guys to make up for his TT, and his team looked super strong yesterday even though it came to nothing. Movistar have their trident in action with Mas, Lopez and Bala, and actually don't look completely disjointed as a team for once. And there's a few "unlikely competitors" that might genuinely mix things up if they aren't marked.  So it actually looks like there might be some really tight racing in the coming stages, unlike the tour where Pogacar had it wrapped up on stage 8. 

And also, there haven't been 78 crashes in the first 3 days, so there's actually a chance that the race will be decided by strength and tactics, rather than who was lucky enough not to crash. 

Edited August 17, 2021 by Mountain Bru

[geomark]

36 minutes ago, Mountain Bru said:

It's weird I feel kind of the same in that the Vuelta doesn't seem as easy to get hooked into as the tour, but ironically I expect to see more competitive and probably more interesting racing from the GC boys. 

Roglic is the favourite, but his team looked completely useless yesterday. Ineos have Bernal and Yates looking strong, and Carapaz might be a game changer as a super domestique in week 3. Landa is gonna have to do something special on the mountain top finishes if he wants enough of a buffer over the other guys to make up for his TT, and his team looked super strong yesterday even though it came to nothing. Movistar have their trident in action with Mas, Lopez and Bala, and actually don't look completely disjointed as a team for once. And there's a few "unlikely competitors" that might genuinely mix things up if they aren't marked.  So it actually looks like there might be some really tight racing in the coming stages, unlike the tour where Pogacar had it wrapped up on stage 8. 

And also, there haven't been 78 crashes in the first 3 days, so there's actually a chance that the race will be decided by strength and tactics, rather than who was lucky enough not to crash. 

Yeah when you put it that way, spot on, especially in the last third of the race and the last para, let’s have a fight based on ability rather than a random crash on a flat country road. Have doubts that inneos can be more than a collection of egos rather than a “team” for this, like the women’s Dutch road race team

[DieselnDust]

Don't write Dick of yet. He's just come off a rest period after Tokyo so expect him to have better relative form later in the Vuelta. Bernal looks ok but he didn't look like he was going to threaten the top step just yet. Maybe playing the long game?

[Vetplant]

2 minutes ago, DieselnDust said:

Don't write Dick of yet. He's just come off a rest period after Tokyo so expect him to have better relative form later in the Vuelta. Bernal looks ok but he didn't look like he was going to threaten the top step just yet. Maybe playing the long game?

Most likely yes. Bernal going to fight back in the 2nd half of the Vuelta.

Roglic has shown a couple of times that he doesn't make his biggest gains in the final week, he tends to go out like a rocket in the first two weeks and then he hangs on in the final week.

This sets it up for exciting racing in the final week. Bernal will be forced to try something.

[geomark]

20 hours ago, geomark said:

Yeah when you put it that way, spot on, especially in the last third of the race and the last para, let’s have a fight based on ability rather than a random crash on a flat country road. Have doubts that inneos can be more than a collection of egos rather than a “team” for this, like the women’s Dutch road race team

Fsssss - and there comes the random crash on a flat straight country road ????

[Mountain Bru]

5 hours ago, geomark said:

Fsssss - and there comes the random crash on a flat straight country road ????

I guess it's always gonna happen at some point or another. At least none of the favorites were caught up in it (apart from Bardet, but lets be honest, he's wasn't likely to podium). Or am I missing someone? 

['Dale]

And the man that could double as a horse jockey inherits the maillot rojo after the unfortunate crash of Tamaräe.

Bardet was showing good form building up to the Vuelta and finished more than 12 minutes down. Himand his team will be disappointed; that’s the brutal side of this beautiful sport.

Edited August 19, 2021 by 'Dale

[Dirt Tracker]

Echelons! Whoo hoo!

 

 

[DieselnDust]

one post on todays stage? 

[Mountain Bru]

Just watched the last 10km on Tiz.....

Rogla looked like he was toying with the other GC guys. Was pretty funny to see Narvaes drop Carapaz and Bernal, and then turn around and have a "oh crap" moment, and drop the pace. 

[DIPSLICK]

I was almost going to stop recording I just couldn’t get into the tour, today last 20min

MAN,,, I’m glad I watched

[Mountain Bru]

Gees the coverage was terrible though. Random wide shots with no clue where anyone is. And then suddenly a wild Rogla appeared at the front

['Dale]

Like a gazelle being chased by a cheetah in the very powerful looking Roglič, Kort gets over the line net-net for a spectacular stage victory after being in the break all day. Chapeau!

[DIPSLICK]

6 hours ago, Mountain Bru said:

Gees the coverage was terrible though. Random wide shots with no clue where anyone is. And then suddenly a wild Rogla appeared at the front

I told a mate, I’ve seen better production on 70s porno, and the commentary ????????I know it’s hard to stay on point and factual and entertaining for hours on end but vaaaark, get more presenters split them up 

and I guess we all just spoilt by TDF, this seems like we watching a series of American high speed car chase from a police helicopter