Clasica San Sebastián 1/8 -- 219km

[johnymax]

Wow brilliant win for A. Yates.

 

[Scarponi]

That was a cluster fck. Cannot believe I stayed up until 1 am

 

[Eagle]

Who crashed in the group behind?

 

[DFA123]

I see the hate starting for Valverde again here. It was a collective failure by all of them, not just him. He took a few pulls on the front; what were the others doing?

In fact, riders like Uran and Mollema should have been chasing even harder - maybe then one day they would actually win a race. Any race.

 

[StannisBaratheon]

Someone should have told Valverde there are no bonifications for 2nd place today

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Hope someone can put together the highlights later on
so we can see the climb and how Yates did it.

 

[BigMac]

Congrats to Simon Yates. Awful race, can't think of anything this bad recently. No back up plan for failed coverage only adds to the fiasco. Change the route pronto!

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Re:

Someone should have told Valverde there are no bonifications for 2nd place today

Don't you have any children to burn?

 

[Eyeballs Out]

Re: Re:

Valverde doesn't even get 2nd

Good. He really was riding for second there in a very irritating way.

Second was all that was available. Yates much better than him today

 

[ILovecycling]

Re: Re:

Piti and Purito can't stand one each other! Go Yates!!

PS: I'm actually training indoor on rollers with my Orica Greenedge kit at the moment!

why? its beautiful weather out there

Not here: it's raining! Moreover I wanted to watch S. Sebastian anyway and it's my second session of the day after hard intervals in the morning

aaayy what a morale , ..I did big ride yesterday now recovering with beer
(and high 30's here )

 

[Netserk]

Re:

I see the hate starting for Valverde again here. It was a collective failure by all of them, not just him. He took a few pulls on the front; what were the others doing?

In fact, riders like Uran and Mollema should have been chasing even harder - maybe then one day they would actually win a race. Any race.

Valverde has the primary responsibility in such a situation because of his status. Yet he does nothing but suck wheels and chase down attacks from the group. Must save himself for the sprint for 2nd...

It's no wonder others don't want to drag him to the line.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Much better to win and not realise than celebrate a win and there already have been a rider up the road or get pipped on the line!

 

[Arredondo]

Curious to see how Valverde was on that final climb. Was he dropped a bit?

 

[Scarponi]

Why do they call it Donostia to Donostia Classic?

 

[TourOfSardinia]

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

That was a truly shameful chase by the group of favourites. Six egos staring at each other. Martin gets a partial pass for getting fed up and trying to chase on his own. Valverde gets double opprobrium for chasing hard to preserve second but refusing to work for first.

 

[Alexandre B.]

 

[SafeBet]

Why is Valverde taking all the blame here?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Re:

That was a truly shameful chase by the group of favourites. Six egos staring at each other. Martin gets a partial pass for getting fed up and trying to chase on his own. Valverde gets double opprobrium for chasing hard to preserve second but refusing to work for first.

In the (few) images I saw I did see Mollema and Kreuziger also putting in serious attempts to close to gap or to work.
Only Valverde and Rodriguez where themselves as usual

 

[Taxus4a]

Re:

I see the hate starting for Valverde again here. It was a collective failure by all of them, not just him. He took a few pulls on the front; what were the others doing?

In fact, riders like Uran and Mollema should have been chasing even harder - maybe then one day they would actually win a race. Any race.

Are Valverde and Purito who must work...Uran attacked with another rider but the rest go for them, but not for Yates.

 

[jaylew]

Re:

Why is Valverde taking all the blame here?

Exactly. Katusha should have been chasing. They had two guys in the group. Did anyone else?

 

[RedheadDane]

Okay... that was weird!
"Huh, I won?"

Congrats to Simon Yates. Awful race, can't think of anything this bad recently. No back up plan for failed coverage only adds to the fiasco. Change the route pronto!

Wrong Yates.

Much better to win and not realise than celebrate a win and there already have been a rider up the road or get pipped on the line!

It's the reverse of that scenario.

 

[Netserk]

Re:

Why is Valverde taking all the blame here?

Because if he doesn't work, then the group for sure won't work together. When you are as good as Valverde is with such a good sprint, you have responsibility for the group to work together.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Re:

I see the hate starting for Valverde again here. It was a collective failure by all of them, not just him. He took a few pulls on the front; what were the others doing?

In fact, riders like Uran and Mollema should have been chasing even harder - maybe then one day they would actually win a race. Any race.

1) He's the biggest favourite, he has the most responsibility. But there's plenty of blame to go around the chase group. Any cooperation at all and they'd have brought Yates back.

2) Valverde actually did hit the front and chase very hard... to bring Martin back. Then he instantly sat up again. It's that sort of thing that has fans throwing stuff at the tv.

 

[ILovecycling]

Congrats ADAM!


Looks like Ala is ready for 2nd tier classics this summer/fall