2021 Donostiako Klasikoa - Clásica San Sebastián, Saturday 31st July (223.5 km)

[Red Rick]

Aynone close to Mollema has a good chance for the win.

Mollemas wife for the win then.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Mollemas wife for the win then.

Course too hard for his mom?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

or his kid

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Wouldn't he always be eligible, because he has spent time on a Basque development team?

As I understand it that was a requirement for a non-Basque rider to be signed by the old Euskaltel team with Samu obviously being the prime example.

Depends on their viewpoint on Lizarte, who are based in Pamplona and are Movistar's feeder, and whether him coming over to join them at 19 is sufficient time to be 'formed' in the Basque development teams as before then, he was racing in Belarus. I think he would still be a contentious one (he wouldn't pass the Athletic Bilbao test because of his age when he came over, but cyclists tend to develop later than footballers through this kind of program).

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Depends on their viewpoint on Lizarte, who are based in Pamplona and are Movistar's feeder, and whether him coming over to join them at 19 is sufficient time to be 'formed' in the Basque development teams as before then, he was racing in Belarus. I think he would still be a contentious one (he wouldn't pass the Athletic Bilbao test because of his age when he came over, but cyclists tend to develop later than footballers through this kind of program).

I don't really know how strict the philospy of the current Euskaltel team is either. They did sign Sergio Higuita for instance, though they also skipped him off again quite quickly.

 

[SafeBet]

Ineos team is pretty sick considering the field: A. Yates, Bernal, Moscon, Martinez.

 

[johnymax]

Ineos team is pretty sick considering the field: A. Yates, Bernal, Moscon, Martinez.

I don't think the field is that weak at all. Sure, there are some strong riders who did the Olympics missing. But all in all, I think the start list is very respectable.

 

[ice&fire]

I don't think the field is that weak at all. Sure, there are some strong riders who did the Olympics missing. But all in all, I think the start list is very respectable.

The start list is respectable, but the racing fitness of some riders is unknown.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Depends on their viewpoint on Lizarte, who are based in Pamplona and are Movistar's feeder, and whether him coming over to join them at 19 is sufficient time to be 'formed' in the Basque development teams as before then, he was racing in Belarus. I think he would still be a contentious one (he wouldn't pass the Athletic Bilbao test because of his age when he came over, but cyclists tend to develop later than footballers through this kind of program).

Or maybe they are simply hiring riders who they think can benefit their team, within their budget, without national discrimination.

 

[Pantani_lives]

QSt, Ineos and Trek each have a strong team with a former winner of this race: Alaphilippe, A. Yates and Mollema. Another former winner is LuLu Sanchez for Astana, but he's unlikely to win it a third time at the age of thirty-seven.

 

[wheresmybrakes]

So it's all chase AVV as per usual, another win in the bank!?

 

[Monte Serra]

Annemiek still in stellar from!

https://twitter.com/x/status/1421427428090683394

View: https://mobile.twitter.com/faustocoppi60/status/1421427428090683394

 

[ice&fire]

QSt, Ineos and Trek each have a strong team with a former winner of this race: Alaphilippe, A. Yates and Mollema. Another former winner is LuLu Sanchez for Astana, but he's unlikely to win it a third time at the age of thirty-seven.

Lulu's wins date from before the addition of Murgil-Tontorra and Erlaitz climbs. He'd be equally unlikely to win even if he was younger.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

break:

• James Knox (Deceuninck-Quick Step)
• Mikaël Chérel (AG2R-Citroën)
• Valerio Conti (UAE)
• Aleksandr Riabusjenko (UAE)
• Johan Jacobs (Movistar)
• José Rojas (Movistar)
• Jérémy Cabot (Team Total Energies)
• Stephen Williams (Bahrain-Victorious)
• Jon Barrenetxea (Caja Rural)
• Mikel Bizkarra (Euskaltel-Euskadi)
• Romain Hardy (Arkéa-Samsic)
• Lilian Calmejane (AG2R-Citroën)
• Oscar Cabedo (Burgos-BH)
• Xandres Vervloesem (Lotto Soudal)

 

[Libertine Seguros]

If Pauliena Rooijakkers was happier riding in pélotons she'd have a really good palmarès. She's a great climber but she often loses a lot of unnecessary time or has to pick her way through stragglers continually because she is a bit of a Moncoutié, always last place in the bunch.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

If Pauliena Rooijakkers was happier riding in pélotons she'd have a really good palmarès. She's a great climber but she often loses a lot of unnecessary time or has to pick her way through stragglers continually because she is a bit of a Moncoutié, always last place in the bunch.

Today she was in a break today with Muzic and Santesteban for a some time, so she was definitely not caught out in a bad position in the final.

Van Vleuten came very close to throwing away the win on the wet descent, but at least she managed to stay on the bike this time around.

 

[Savant12]

Who's that commentating on the Eurosport Player? Sounds a lot like Matt Rendell but he's an ITV man?

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Yates v. Yates today?

 

[sir fly]

Who's that commentating on the Eurosport Player? Sounds a lot like Matt Rendell but he's an ITV man?

Mick Calm

 

[tobydawq]

Mick Calm

Did he just say that we could trust his pronunciation of Vingegaard no matter what we hear elsewhere. I'm sorry to burst his bubble in that case but he isn't saying it correctly.

 

[Netserk]

The break and peloton have started Jaizkibel, now the racing can start proper.

 

[Carrick-On-Seine]

Who's that commentating on the Eurosport Player? Sounds a lot like Matt Rendell but he's an ITV man?

I thought that too. I've heard people taking about paint drying in a more enthusiastic way but to be fair he doesn't seem to have a co-commentator. Maybe Adam Blythe will be along soon now that l'Ain is over.

ETA he seems quite knowledgeable but I could do with a bit of Kirbyness right now

 

[sir fly]

Did he just say that we could trust his pronunciation of Vingegaard no matter what we hear elsewhere. I'm sorry to burst his bubble in that case but he isn't saying it correctly.

Write him a letter with an audio attachment.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Is it just me who can't find commentary on Eurosport?