2022 Vuelta a Asturias (2.1) (29 Apr - 1 May)

[Libertine Seguros]

The problem with Movistar and Kern Pharma both being linked to Lizarte is that it might dissuade top juniors from signing with Lizarte when they notice that people like Abner González and Vinicius Rangel have bypassed the intermediate step at the ProTeam level and got opportunities straight at the World Tour. Now, González seems thus far to have been absolutely worth it, but you can't help but think looking at how Arrieta was doing last year, and especially how well he's adapted to pro races so far this season, whether Abarcá wouldn't have been better served getting Kern Pharma to pick up Rangel (since he was in the Valverde team which is also affiliated to Abarcá so this was still a promotion and shouldn't have been problematic, whereas Abner had been riding for Azysa-Telco'm and would therefore have been available on the open market) and signing El Hijo de Arri to themselves directly - especially as the signing was done before Arrieta Senior was removed.

 

[Tim Cahill]

VINTAGE Simon Yates

 

[yaco]

DS White stated that Yates suffered in the 30C conditions after a three week block of altitude training in Andorra - Problem is the temperature was actually 20 to 22c and even if it was hot, Yates thrives in these conditions - I suggest if Yates does not win stage three then he has an issue and there may not even be a Giro.

 

[Red Rick]

DS White stated that Yates suffered in the 30C conditions after a three week block of altitude training in Andorra - Problem is the temperature was actually 20 to 22c and even if it was hot, Yates thrives in these conditions - I suggest if Yates does not win stage three then he has an issue and there may not even be a Giro.

There may not even be a Giro?

 

[AlfaLum]

DS White stated that Yates suffered in the 30C conditions after a three week block of altitude training in Andorra - Problem is the temperature was actually 20 to 22c and even if it was hot, Yates thrives in these conditions - I suggest if Yates does not win stage three then he has an issue and there may not even be a Giro.

He won stage one. If he isn’t sick of course there will be a giro for him. It’s not like they can replace him with a brother whose shape is better.

also after three weeks of altitude training you can get a setback. Bit weird after being so good yesterday. But with him it happens.

 

[yaco]

He won stage one. If he isn’t sick of course there will be a giro for him. It’s not like they can replace him with a brother whose shape is better.

also after three weeks of altitude training you can get a setback. Bit weird after being so good yesterday. But with him it happens.

You have to worry when the DS claims the temperature was close to 30C and it was nowhere near that temperature - Is there any point taking Yates to the Giro if he has another bad day tomorrow ?

 

[tobydawq]

You have to worry when the DS claims the temperature was close to 30C and it was nowhere near that temperature - Is there any point taking Yates to the Giro if he has another bad day tomorrow ?

Yes.

 

[Mayomaniac]

You have to worry when the DS claims the temperature was close to 30C and it was nowhere near that temperature - Is there any point taking Yates to the Giro if he has another bad day tomorrow ?

White likes to have a few drinks, so I'd take what he says with a grain of salt.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Santi Perez

Wait, the ultramythical Santi Perez appeared?!

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Wait, the ultramythical Santi Perez appeared?!

It's his home race, this was the one time a year he would emerge from his slumber in his post-suspension career too.

 

[Skijumper Roglic fan]

Simon Yates was behind JJ Rojas, Fran Gavazzi and other fastmen today. I don‘t know why he lost more than 11 minutes. But Asturias is preparation, and it‘s the Giro that counts.

Before Asturias, White said they go there to win the GC with Simon Yates. Today‘s result might surprise even them.

Probably, we will never know what was going on today. But I‘m even more curious how Simon will do in the Giro…

 

[Mayomaniac]

It's his home race, this was the one time a year he would emerge from his slumber in his post-suspension career too.

Zero complains here, as long as Rai can use Garzelli and Ale-Jet as commentators it's free game.
Petacchi can be hillarious sometimes, he notices when riders have changed their bikes because they now have different wheels but seems to be such a brooming, pessimistic guy it's almost comical ("does the breakaway have a chance of making it?" "No, zero").
Anyway, glad to see Santi doing well.

 

[Mayomaniac]

When Sosa is on he's a world class climber. The problem is that he's only great when the road goes uphill, so he can get some results in smaller stage races, but nothing big. He suffers horribly in crosswinds and makes Purito look like Indurain in an ITT. In a gt the best way to use him would probably be a climbing superdomestique who takes it easy on all the other stages. A bit like Poels at Sky in the Tour.

 

[Escarabajo]

You have to worry when the DS claims the temperature was close to 30C and it was nowhere near that temperature - Is there any point taking Yates to the Giro if he has another bad day tomorrow ?

No reason to Panic. So many variables going on in cycling today that sometime we miss read these issues.

 

[AlfaLum]

You have to worry when the DS claims the temperature was close to 30C and it was nowhere near that temperature - Is there any point taking Yates to the Giro if he has another bad day tomorrow ?

Of course there is. He is still by far the best rider they can bring to this Giro. It might just be a bad response to an altitude camp for 1-2 days. Because yesterday he will won a stage with ease.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Wait, Samu was doing commentary and nobody tagged me?
I feel robbed!

 

[Koronin]

When Sosa is on he's a world class climber. The problem is that he's only great when the road goes uphill, so he can get some results in smaller stage races, but nothing big. He suffers horribly in crosswinds and makes Purito look like Indurain in an ITT. In a gt the best way to use him would probably be a climbing superdomestique who takes it easy on all the other stages. A bit like Poels at Sky in the Tour.

I would guess he can go stage hunting at the Giro, since their GC rider is likely Valverde.

The problem with Movistar and Kern Pharma both being linked to Lizarte is that it might dissuade top juniors from signing with Lizarte when they notice that people like Abner González and Vinicius Rangel have bypassed the intermediate step at the ProTeam level and got opportunities straight at the World Tour. Now, González seems thus far to have been absolutely worth it, but you can't help but think looking at how Arrieta was doing last year, and especially how well he's adapted to pro races so far this season, whether Abarcá wouldn't have been better served getting Kern Pharma to pick up Rangel (since he was in the Valverde team which is also affiliated to Abarcá so this was still a promotion and shouldn't have been problematic, whereas Abner had been riding for Azysa-Telco'm and would therefore have been available on the open market) and signing El Hijo de Arri to themselves directly - especially as the signing was done before Arrieta Senior was removed.

Gonzalez wasn't in the Movistar feeder system at to start with, so a direct signing makes by far the most sense there.

The interesting thing with Valverde Team is that it's affiliated to Abarca but there isn't a link between it and Kern Pharma and Lizarte. However, I agree that putting Rangel either at Kern Pharma or Lizarte would have been a step up. Unless they are looking at Valverde Team as a different line to get to Movistar, which doesn't make sense as it's an amateur team. I had expected them to move him to either Kern Pharma or Lizarte instead of directly to Movistar.

 

[Lequack]

Didn't Yates just drop Roglic in Paris Nice, he was looking so good. Is he sick or it just typical Yates for this time of year?

 

[Red Rick]

Didn't Yates just drop Roglic in Paris Nice, he was looking so good. Is he sick or it just typical Yates for this time of year?

I think it's just an off day and and he's simply not gonna push himself for a 5th place in a race like Asturias. Could be heat, even if it wasn't 30 degrees, I never see him with the jersey fully unzipped like yesterday.

 

[yaco]

I can understand BEX wanting Yates to test himself on the final climb BUT there is no need to ride on the front - You just need Yates to drop them on the final climb - The stage win is irrelevant,

 

[SafeBet]

Yates wins the third stage, so yesterday was indeed a bad day.
Sosa gets the CG.

 

[yaco]

BEX will be hoping that Yates has no bad day in the Giro ! Yates was more impressive today than in stage one.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Simon Yates remains the most compelling rider in the peloton.

His Giro rivals truly should be 'Shitting themselves.'

 

[AlfaLum]

BEX will be hoping that Yates has no bad day in the Giro ! Yates was more impressive today than in stage one.

At least there will be a giro now. That’s the best news.

 

[Unterlenkerfahrend]

Yates is just hilarious.