38th Vuelta a San Juan Internacional (2.1) // 26th of January - 2nd of February 2020

[Mayomaniac]

I have to say that the route in San Juan isn't that great, San Luis was a lot better. Of course I don't expect to see a Vuelta ciclistica de Jujuy y Salta with a Cuesta de Lipan MTF, but it could be a bit more interesting than itt, power drag mtf at high altitude and all sprint stages.

 

[Ranagazoo]

Sagan has a busy year ahead so it's probably wise he doesn't do a Porte/Impey and peak in January. If anything I hope he focuses less on bunch sprints and more on the big one day races, I feel his climbing legs have regressed in recent years.

As for the San Juan route, why couldn't they have the finish line much closer to the climb today? We already have 4 sprint stages, what's the point in forcing another one.

 

[fuiers]

When did he ever beat Gaviria in a sprint?

Tour de Suisse 2018.

 

[tobydawq]

Tour de Suisse 2018.

Alright, then remind me:

How many times did Gaviria win a bunch sprint with the participation of Sagan.

I agree, though, that his sprint was crap but you can't expect him to be beating Gaviria in flat sprints.

 

[search]

How many times did Gaviria win a bunch sprint with the participation of Sagan.

13 times, as far as I can see. 6 of those in Argentina.

 

[Breh]

I see Richeze got himself another top10 while his leader takes the win. Such a valuable rider. No wonder Lefevere is gutted Richeze decided to part ways with DQS

 

[Joelsim]

When did he ever beat Gaviria in a sprint?

Quite.

There are a number of faster sprinters than Sagan including Gaviria, Ackermann, Bennett, Viviani, Groenewegen and Ewan,

 

[Mayomaniac]

I see Richeze got himself another top10 while his leader takes the win. Such a valuable rider. No wonder Lefevere is gutted Richeze decided to part ways with DQS

Richeze left because of Gaviria, they are close friends.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Quite.

There are a number of faster sprinters than Sagan including Gaviria, Ackermann, Bennett, Viviani, Groenewegen and Ewan,

But none of them can handle his bike like Sagan. The only one i've seen who seems to come close to how Sagan can manouvre in the final 3k, is Philipsen, but he clearly lacks the speed (still). Maybe Jakobsen is also faster than Sagan atm. But he has other issues, as does Hodeg.

 

[Keram]

Sagan's looking really poor, he's barely able to get out of his saddle in those sprints. Gaviria otoh is flying, he has even managed to get over today's climb with the front group.

Sagan is fine. It is January. I will start worrying if he will be poor in March.

 

[Bonimenier]

The 2 cyclocross guys are probably still a bit slower than Sagan, but their manouvre skills should be up there, I suppose. Especially VdP bike handling skills are excellent.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

But none of them can handle his bike like Sagan. The only one i've seen who seems to come close to how Sagan can manouvre in the final 3k, is Philipsen, but he clearly lacks the speed (still). Maybe Jakobsen is also faster than Sagan atm. But he has other issues, as does Hodeg.

You are right. Bennett has been (until this year) the most successful solo wheelsurfer of the really fast sprinters, but there’s no comparison between even him and Sagan when it comes to sliding around the pack in the last few km. Sagan is on another level entirely, bordering on the supernatural.

I’m not so sure about how well his top sprint speed is holding up these days though. He was well off the pace here, but that doesn’t necessarily mean much this early in the season. Last year taking the season as a whole he really wasn’t that great as a sprinter. I’m not sure if he has slowed a little or it’s just a consequence of there being so many very fast guys at the moment.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

The 2 cyclocross guys are probably still a bit slower than Sagan, but their manouvre skills should be up there, I suppose. Especially VdP bike handling skills are excellent.

Mathieu 's skills are probably at least on par with Sagan's. I don't know if he has the same nerves (deathwish, if you will) as Sagan. Van Aert is certainly not as good a bikehandler, but he is extremely good and attentive at positioning.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Is the stage starting earlier like 2 years ago when we got the Najar show?

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Is the stage starting earlier like 2 years ago when we got the Najar show?

Don't know about the stage, but the Eurosport guy said the broadcast would start earlier.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Hang on was there a stage last night?

 

[repre]

Is the stage starting earlier like 2 years ago when we got the Najar show?

It was 2 years ago? Time flies...Najar show was spectacular though))

 

[tobydawq]

Hang on was there a stage last night?

No.

 

[DNP-Old]

Today is a beautiful day. Rujano will smoke everyone.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Today is a beautiful day. Rujano will smoke everyone.

Who, the father or the son?
Maybe a random SEP rider will surprise us and another great performance by Dani Diaz would be sweet.

 

[RedheadDane]

Who, the father or the son?
Maybe a random SEP rider will surprise us and another great performance by Dani Diaz would be sweet.

Junior's not in the race. If he was, I think that would probably be the first time of a father-son pair being in a race together.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Junior's not in the race. If he was, I think that would probably be the first time of a father-son pair being in a race together.

Yes, my bad. They were supposed to race Tachira together, but Jose dns at the end.

 

[DNP-Old]

Didn't really look like Remco was talking on the phone there. Inherited Julian's stomach bug?

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Didn't really look like Remco was talking on the phone there. Inherited Julian's stomach bug?

What happened? He was talking about eating his birthdaycake on the restday... don't know if he did, but that might not have been the best idea.

 

[DNP-Old]

What happened? He was talking about eating his birthdaycake on the restday... don't know if he did, but that might not have been the best idea.

It's all speculation, but it looked like he was aiding his belly. Could be nothing, could be a phone call to the DS, but it looked interesting nonetheless.