La Vuelta a España 2023

[Ozzie NL]

17 hours ago, Jbr said:

What the actual F… 3 stages 3 disasters… they should organise Vuelta in France next year !

Funny enough, this whole new social media Remco thing worked, two videos on his youtube channel and 2 feats on other youtubers channels and I’m happy for the 1st time to see him in a leaders jersey! Maybe the fact that against him there’s Jonas and Primoz helps 🫣

Both TdF and Vuelta are organised by ASO ... the Polit bureau of cycling

[Paul Ruinaard]

On 8/28/2023 at 11:28 AM, Jewbacca said:

For sure, but the chances of that happening to such a degree are tiny.

They probably should have neutralized the stage tbh, but then those not there who wouldn't have got to watch the absolute carnage live would be saying 'How can they cancel it for RAIN! Rain is something riders and teams should prepare for!'

It really was such unprecedented weather at such a severe level. The organisers chose to 'go with it' and probably made the wrong call. 

But asking for shifts in broadcasting schedules and closures from the living room on another continent without knowing the repercussions isn't really a thing.

I quite enjoyed the carnage. I'm not sure why they didn't just ride road bikes 

IMO :

As per your line above UCI should have just mandated ordinary road bikes. 

Riding a TTT or even a TT bike in the rain and dark is dangerous and likely to result in accidents that cause injuries and potentially end careers. Its bad for everyone. I get these are pros and they are really good but they arent circus monkeys as Remco said.

Accidents that have consequences are caused when unforeseeable circumstances arise and result in dangerous situations. You cant foresee everything agreed but this tilted in to the situation where the sponsors and the show outweighed the rights of the cyclist as participants.

Always remember that without the Pros and teams and their dedicataion and skills you have nothing to show on TV anywyay other than a fun ride like the cycle tour which although you are interested, will not get global viewers in to see sponsors messages.

The death on a descent in Switzerland was the same - why send people down unprotected dangerous descents in a situation where you could have finished safely on a mountaintop. You never see a 20% plus gradient at a finish unless its an uphill. Its because it would create a ludicrous dangerous situation....

Pros are paid to race and win and get  nothing and disappear if they dont do it. Its a zero sum game. Best efforts dont get you a sponsor deal and a pay packet. Results are what matter. No contracts etc. for making sure everyone is safe and putting the riders first, unless you win at the same time.  So the actual cyclists have no option and are the wrong people to enforce safety as they will always compromise given there is a chance of an unusual result - maybe a rider who is back of pack gets the leaders jersey for a day, massive TV coverage and sponsor visibility.

Like Formula 1 had to, you need to have an independent body with this and a lot more medical support vehicles out on the course in potential crash areas. 

Remember the promotional caravan in the first TdF post covid spraying soap bubbles all over Stage 1 and then when it rained,  the descent in the rain turning in to a glass skating rink for the top guys. Totally predicatble and avoidable if someone had complete oversight of what the convoy was doing and spraying as a promo , but when it rains the idea of a cool prmotional vehicle turns in to a lethal cocktail of soap on the wet roads. Some rideers crashe dbadly in that....

[NickGM]

A nice interview with Sepp Kuss' two domestiques.

[peepeekaitjie]

Just another normal day in the La Vuelta:

Found the press release - https://www.policia.es/_es/comunicacion_prensa_detalle.php?ID=15873

Specifically, the agents surprised the detainees in a wooded area in the Solsonès region of Ilerdense at the moment when they were about to activate a device that would spill hundreds of litres of liquid as the squad of the Cycling Tour of Spain passed by. 2023 in its stage this Monday, August 28, between the towns of Suria (Barcelona) and Arinsal (Andorra).

The device consisted of two drums, with a capacity of 200 litres each, as well as an activation device with a solenoid valve and a timer. The mechanism was hidden among the vegetation, including the hose that was going to pour the liquid and that extended to the aforementioned road, making it difficult to detect. The localized liquid, similar to motor oil, is pending analysis by Forensic Science specialists to determine its final composition.

The investigation has been carried out by agents of the General Information Commissioner and the Provincial Information Brigade of Barcelona, under the direction of the Court of First Instance and Instruction of Solsona (Lleida). In addition, specialists from the General Police Station for Scientific Police and the Higher Police Headquarters of Catalonia have participated in the final operation.

The agents have verified that those arrested adopted numerous security measures to avoid their detection and surveillance. At the time of their arrest, none of them had a mobile phone and they had used secondary paths –of difficult passability- to get to the point where they had installed the mechanism.

(Translation by Google)

 

[TheoG]

1 hour ago, NickGM said:

A nice interview with Sepp Kuss' two domestiques.

I'm sure they did their homework on how to beat Remco, surely Sepp is going to play a big role in that again, can't wait to see what happen .... 

[Jewbacca]

No comments on the crashes in the final 5km?

The padding on the sweeping left that caught two of the riders was well placed!

I get a feeling we are in for an explosive three weeks. The whole atmosphere of the race, riders and racing is tense and it seems like something could give or explode at any minute.

 

[Underachiever]

Saw the last bit of today's stage...

Sam Gaze managing the Alpecin D lead out train with a few km's to go quite expertly!!

And Ganna 2nd in the sprint!!

Gotta love these multi-talented/versatile athletes!!

Edited August 30, 2023 by Underachiever

[TheoG]

I have to agree with Chris Horner, why didn't the other GC contender teams even try to contest the intermediate time bonus to prevent Remco to steal an easy 6 sec?

This simply doesn't make sense, were they maybe "surprised" and not 100% sure where the line was?

[babse]

Yeah quite bizarre that no other GC team competed that.

 

I recon GC riders recon they have the beating of Remco by minutes on the big mountains!? Meanwhile Remco is just chipping away at his lead and growing in confidence.

 

[BuffsVintageBikes]

That surprised me during the stage as well, they must be extremely confident of putting him away in the high mountains.

[edgarblount]

13 minutes ago, TheoG said:

I have to agree with Chris Horner, why didn't the other GC contender teams even try to contest the intermediate time bonus to prevent Remco to steal an easy 6 sec?

This simply doesn't make sense, were they maybe "surprised" and not 100% sure where the line was?

That other guy from that UAE team also stole bonus seconds here and there....

Jonas is just like 'See you on stages 13\14 and 17\18".

Let's see if Remco can really climb with the goats. If he can then chapeau to him and he might just win La Vuelta.

[Paul Ruinaard]

On 8/29/2023 at 2:43 PM, peepeekaitjie said:

Just another normal day in the La Vuelta:

Found the press release - https://www.policia.es/_es/comunicacion_prensa_detalle.php?ID=15873

Specifically, the agents surprised the detainees in a wooded area in the Solsonès region of Ilerdense at the moment when they were about to activate a device that would spill hundreds of litres of liquid as the squad of the Cycling Tour of Spain passed by. 2023 in its stage this Monday, August 28, between the towns of Suria (Barcelona) and Arinsal (Andorra).

The device consisted of two drums, with a capacity of 200 litres each, as well as an activation device with a solenoid valve and a timer. The mechanism was hidden among the vegetation, including the hose that was going to pour the liquid and that extended to the aforementioned road, making it difficult to detect. The localized liquid, similar to motor oil, is pending analysis by Forensic Science specialists to determine its final composition.

The investigation has been carried out by agents of the General Information Commissioner and the Provincial Information Brigade of Barcelona, under the direction of the Court of First Instance and Instruction of Solsona (Lleida). In addition, specialists from the General Police Station for Scientific Police and the Higher Police Headquarters of Catalonia have participated in the final operation.

The agents have verified that those arrested adopted numerous security measures to avoid their detection and surveillance. At the time of their arrest, none of them had a mobile phone and they had used secondary paths –of difficult passability- to get to the point where they had installed the mechanism.

(Translation by Google)

 

Rant on:

It still amazes me that none of these climate activists ever spend any time trying to find solutions to the issue at hand. Like real solutions and science that will address the problems. Innovations, thinking and ideas, actual innovation. No. Rather they take their fat lazy self entitled soy latte arses out to places that screw up everyone's days and create havoc with their demonstrations. But they add no value.

IN the history of climate activism has anyone said "oh i see what these people are saying by their demonstrations and inconveniencing me and defacing art works, stopping public events. Let me go and join the climate activist movement" .

Nope.

 Get in to a place and do some real work and come up with ideas.

Piers Morgans interview with the vegan was a beauty:

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=598136248576620

 

And this one with the Burning Man traffic blockade. Dont screw with these cops - see how these activists on the one side of the road decided to bugger off out of the road in a hurry. I personally think its high time one of these guys gets some consequences for their actions, like criminal charges etc.:

 

[peepeekaitjie]

3 minutes ago, Paul Ruinaard said:

these climate activists

it was Catalonian separatists if I remember correctly

[Paul Ruinaard]

9 minutes ago, peepeekaitjie said:

it was Catalonian separatists if I remember correctly

okay sorry i lumped them in with the climate activists. Catalan separatists are much better folks 🙂

[El Duderino]

8 minutes ago, peepeekaitjie said:

it was Catalonian separatists if I remember correctly

Never let the facts get in the way of a good anti-soy latte climate change activist rant!

['Dale]

“I want to be useful to the team. I want to end up finishing the Vuelta and make a difference. My heart and lungs are back to the my previous best level.
My musculature are still getting there. If you look in detail, you can see that my left leg is slightly smaller than my right leg. I will have to do more work on the bike, and in the gym too.”

~ Egan Bernal

Respect to this Colombian for his resilience

*** 

Top Ganna expressed that his GC leader allowed him the freedom to compete in a small bunch sprint after passing the 3 km mark. Clever tactics in a race where there is not many sprint trains. 

Primoz is still mending after a crash. The Killer Bees are masterful at pacing and strategising over 3 weeks. Remco needs the time advantage. Dunbar crashed out. I imagine that the GC podium is between UAE, Jumbo (two spots likely), Bora and Wolfpack.