Vuelta a España 2022 Vuelta a Espana Stage 1(Utrecht-Utrecht), 23.3km TTT

[Jumbo Visma Fan :)]

It is time for the final GT of the year, the Vuelta a Espana. As with all GT’s this year, it starts in a foreign country, this time the Netherlands. As been discussed in the hype thread, it is a wide open race, with lots of possibilities for this race. A fairly technical TTT for the route this year, hopefully no water incidents occur like in 2019. Who will take the first red jersey, we will find out in a little over 24 more hours.

To amend the startlist, no Quintana for Arkea, they will line up with 7, and Madrazo for Burgos is out due to Covid, and in his place is Victor Langellotti, who won a stage at the Volta a Portugal.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Probably won't watch this, it's a TTT and I'm a cycling fan


Is utrecht a good city ? Anybody from utrrecht here?

 

[red_flanders]

Not sure what time the race starts, but Accuweather calls for thundershowers at 3:00 PM local time. Sounds like right in the middle of the race?

 

[RedheadDane]

Probably won't watch this, it's a TTT and I'm a cycling fan

TTTs aren't cycling?

 

[Jumbo Visma Fan :)]

Not sure what time the race starts, but Accuweather calls for thundershowers at 3:00 PM local time. Sounds like right in the middle of the race?

No, Burgos is the first to set off at 18:30 local time.

 

[Red Rick]

Probably won't watch this, it's a TTT and I'm a cycling fan


Is utrecht a good city ? Anybody from utrrecht here?

It's the 4th city of the country, it's pretty good.

 

[spalco]

Is utrecht a good city ? Anybody from utrrecht here?

I'm not from there, but i've been there: sure! Beautiful old city. Student town too, so lots of life. You wouldn't typically spend more than a day or two there as a tourist, but it's nice to visit.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

TTTs aren't cycling?

Well you know, is not tactics or intelligence involved. No attacks and no dancing on the pedals, nothing memorable to see. You only watch to see the place they are racing in. Is just who has the most money and aero bike designs and wind tunnels

 

[RedheadDane]

Well you know, is not tactics or intelligence involved.

Pretty sure there's tactics involved.

 

[ice&fire]

Profile is wrong. They cross a canal over a bridge just before riding along under the same bridge in that loop at the westernmost point of the route. That must be at least 2m elevation difference.

 

[red_flanders]

Is utrecht a good city ? Anybody from utrrecht here?

Long and deep history of cycling. I believe the first bike path in the Netherlands was created there over 100 years ago. Huge cycling infrastructure, but of course this means tons of road furniture. Commuter cycling is maybe more prevalent here than anywhere else in the western world.

Utrecht – a city that has been designed for cycling and mass mobility

I remember David Arditti once describing the experience of viewing pictures of Dutch cycling infrastructure, while sitting in a British conference a few years ago, as like seeing scenes beamed back…

aseasyasridingabike.wordpress.com

 

[red_flanders]

Pretty sure there's tactics involved.

Possibly some skill, power, teamwork, communication, technology, and endurance are involved as well.

 

[Tim Cahill]

They should do a three man time trial to start like they did in 1991.

Not because I enjoy them, just for the outrage.

 

[Anderis]

How did they manage to make such a flat stage in the Netherlands?

 

[RedheadDane]

How did they manage to make such a flat stage in the Netherlands?

How could they have avoided it?

 

[sir fly]

Wonder what's the situation with the road furniture along the route.
The Dutch traffic culture has a great train-derailing potential.

 

[tobydawq]

Utrecht will be the second city to host a stage of all three Grand Tours.

It is beaten to the punch by Liège who got there in 2009 (there was a Giro stage finishing in Ans in 2002, so some say that Utrecht is the first city, but I don't think that is a reasonable claim given that Ans is a part of Liège).

 

[BR2]

Probably won't watch this, it's a TTT and I'm a cycling fan

I love team time trials!! This will be my favourite GT stage all year.
(I hope.)

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

How did they manage to make such a flat stage in the Netherlands?

In the Netherlands, making a flat stage and avoiding all those mountains is like manoeuvring your bike between raindrops not to get wet.

 

[noob]

I love team time trials!! This will be my favourite GT stage all year.
(I hope.)

Same!

 

[Ilmaestro99]

I love team time trials!! This will be my favourite GT stage all year.
(I hope.)

Why do you love them

 

[Valv.Piti]

Team Time Trials is a quite historic and important discipline in cycling. For that reason alone (almost), Im fine with them, and when they are +10 kilometres long, theres something at stake as well.

Aint nobody can sit with a straight face and say they'd prefer to watch the two stages proceeding over the TTT. Theres something happening, there's small gaps, we get the teams introduced. Its not bad at all.

 

[ice&fire]

Why do you love them

Why not? Eh?

 

[Lequack]

TTT is really a true whole team performance more or less. It's good to see.

 

[Volderke]

Probably won't watch this, it's a TTT and I'm a cycling fan


Is utrecht a good city ? Anybody from utrrecht here?

but Masnada is riding!