Teams & Riders Brothers in (crank) arms - Yates Discussion Thread

Page 82 - Get up to date with the latest news, scores & standings from the Cycling News Community.
He was on the limit on San Pellegrino in Alpe, so he needs to improve in the third week to have a chance.
That's always been the plan apparently, despite a massively interrupted buildup, though I expect him to look like the best in the race before dropping 25 minutes 2 days later as is tradition.

In that respect, the race couldn't've gone much better for him, he's 2nd having not expended much energy and all the stages that suit him to come.

Despite there not being much to work with, I think Carapaz is the best climber in the race currently with Del Toro a wildcard. They weren't catching him on that climb the other day on a month of Sundays.
 
Regardless, Simon is now in great position, placed second overall and with a strong team behind him. Adam on the other hand likely lost leadership position today.
Neither of them has looked particularly strong on the climbs so far though. Adam even a little worse than Simon, but not by much. It would be quite surprising if Simon is still second overall after today.

edit: I mean after the next stage, today should be okay.
 
Looks like he's trained to hold a hard-sustained pace and the engine seems good but doesn't have much snap, which is why he's been seen at the back sometimes when the attacks fly. Carapaz the best in the race by a little but does have a crack in him at times, maybe he can use an attack of Derek Gee or even Del Toro if he's still feeling good to force him to pace. If anything if he can bring a similar level to The Tour he can be valuable, should still be around in group of 5 or 10 or up the road.
 
I can still see Simon win this if Carapaz shows some cracks, although Richard is old and smart enough to know how to handle a GT
I mean he "only" needs to stick to Carapaz' wheel. Let's not overrate Carapaz here either. He finished 13 seconds in front of Gee and got dropped by Pelizzari after pulling him for a couple kilometers. I don't think him being able to drop everyone is a given and from now on Yates will probably ride as if he was leading the race, no longer exposing himself by taking long pulls, but instead trying to jump to the wheel as soon as Carapaz attacks.
 
I mean he "only" needs to stick to Carapaz' wheel. Let's not overrate Carapaz here either. He finished 13 seconds in front of Gee and got dropped by Pelizzari after pulling him for a couple kilometers. I don't think him being able to drop everyone is a given and from now on Yates will probably ride as if he was leading the race, no longer exposing himself by taking long pulls, but instead trying to jump to the wheel as soon as Carapaz attacks.
I'd like to see Carapaz ride Simon Yates off his wheel. I don't think he can. Once Yates got rid of Del Toro he kept more or less the same pace with Carapaz (a little faster even).
 
Wouldn’t you try to at least follow Carapaz if you were able to?
Agreed, I think Simon was missing something on Stage 17. Visma put 3 guys in the break that day. Why would you do that if not planned to serve as a launching pad for him to attack? Instead he showed no snap when others went up the road. Could have been difficulty recovering from Stage 16 effort. Or maybe that just his level?
 
S.Yates has never ridden in a more defensive and uninspired way. He is extremely lucky not to be minutes behind Del Toro and Carapaz. Bahrain and Gee, and sometimes UAE comes to the rescue every time. Crazy if he wins tomorrow.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ilmaestro99