Clasica San Sebastián 2018, 4/8 - 228.7km

[Lequack]

Update on Bernal:

 

[DFA123]

http://www.esciclismo.com/ampliada.asp?Id=47862

Landa said he was fine apparently after crashing - could be adrenaline hiding any injury though. Seemed to be his hip that was troubling him if anything.

 

[RedheadDane]

That's a relief.
Bernal, that is.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Re: Re:

Without a doubt the worst Clasica I have seen. Everything about the race was just meh.

To be honest I don't think this was any worse than any of the editions since the route change. It's just that all editions since then have been rubbish.

This is true, only the last 10km are interesting now

 

[Carols]

Re:

Update on Bernal:

Thanks. Hopefully he is okay. I have been calling him 'my little hero' since ToC. He has captured me and I will root for him despite the fact that he rides for Sky. Healing wishes Egan!

 

[Lequack]

Update on Roglic:

 

[Alexandre B.]

Re:

Update on Roglic:

He's disappointed because his injury is superficial?

 

[Carols]

Re:

Update on Roglic:

Good News!!!! Heal quickly Primoz!

 

[Rollthedice]

Any news on Landa?

 

[Koronin]

Re:

Any news on Landa?

Doesn't seem to be yet. Hopefully there will be an update on Landa's injuries soon.

 

[Lequack]

Re:

Any news on Landa?

I think he said he is fine, but is still being checked at the hospital.

Video of the crash again:
https://twitter.com/Eurosport_IT/status/1025775029445959680

 

[Escarabajo]

Mollema had no choice but to work with Alla. Gosh Alla was the overwhelming favorite, what do you want Mollema to do?

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

I wonder did Mollema botch his form peak for the Tour and end up at his strongest afterwards.

And no, he should not have worked with a stronger sprinter in a two man group. That’s among the most basic tactical principles. He has a slightly bigger chance of winning a two up sprint if he sits on. He has a slightly bigger chance of successfully attacking a six man group if Alaphilippe doesn’t keep them clear and they get caught. He has little chance of winning once Alaphilippe gets back to him anyway, but you still play your cards to give yourself a 2% chance rather than a 1%. Bauke has never understood that, and has always been happy to pocket a good placing, which is one reason why his palmares are weaker than his talent.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Mollema did not botch his form (Mur de Bretagne result, look it up). He fell on the cobbled stage and was pretty hurt afterwards. That cost him his GC and made him look for stage wins (while still not 100% recovered).

Now he obviously is recovered.

 

[Leinster]

Re:

Mollema had no choice but to work with Alla. Gosh Alla was the overwhelming favorite, what do you want Mollema to do?

They had 30s lead on the descent, and still a full 16s at the finish. He had time to start sitting on a lot sooner, instead of going onto the front in the final km. Nothing wrong with him taking pulls on the descent, but once it flattened out Alaf was the sprinter, and getting to the finish in the lead was his priority.

Mollema's form reminds me of 2 years ago, when he was flying in the early/middle part of the Tour, sitting top 3 (shoulda been in yellow after the Ventoux), then blew up spectacularly and dropped out of the top 10. Maybe he just doesn't have the recovery to stay at the very pointy end of GC for 3 weeks, and crashes probably didn't help.

 

[hazaran]

Hello, it's Mollema, the guy can't win a sprint if he stops pedaling 10k from the line.

 

[Leinster]

Re:

Hello, it's Mollema, the guy can't win a sprint if he stops pedaling 10k from the line.

Absolutely, but if he sits on from 5km to go there's a chance he can get a jump on Alaf somewhere in the final k. There were enough turns in there to make a gap count.

 

[Koronin]

Movistar just released update on Landa's injuries. He has a fracture of his L1 lumbar vertebra. They said they are going to run more tests tomorrow, but that seems to be the injury. They expect him to be released from the hospital tomorrow and then 2-3 weeks of complete rest.

 

[Lequack]

Re:

Movistar just released update on Landa's injuries. He has a fracture of his L1 lumbar vertebra. They said they are going to run more tests tomorrow, but that seems to be the injury. They expect him to be released from the hospital tomorrow and then 2-3 weeks of complete rest.

Yes apparently it wasnt so innocent.

 

[DFA123]

Re:

Movistar just released update on Landa's injuries. He has a fracture of his L1 lumbar vertebra. They said they are going to run more tests tomorrow, but that seems to be the injury. They expect him to be released from the hospital tomorrow and then 2-3 weeks of complete rest.

The Vuelta looks a long shot in that case. Maybe he could try to ride back into form there and stage hunt in the last week, but surely no chance at GC if he can't sit on a bike until a couple of days before it starts.

 

[Koronin]

Re: Re:

Movistar just released update on Landa's injuries. He has a fracture of his L1 lumbar vertebra. They said they are going to run more tests tomorrow, but that seems to be the injury. They expect him to be released from the hospital tomorrow and then 2-3 weeks of complete rest.

The Vuelta looks a long shot in that case. Maybe he could try to ride back into form there and stage hunt in the last week, but surely no chance at GC if he can't sit on a bike until a couple of days before it starts.

I agree. I think the Vuelta is unlikely and with that the Worlds is also unlikely. With the Vuelta does Movistar really want to bring two riders who are using la Vuelta to ride into shape and not really be competitive?

 

[Serpentin]

Re:

Mollema did not botch his form (Mur de Bretagne result, look it up). He fell on the cobbled stage and was pretty hurt afterwards. That cost him his GC and made him look for stage wins (while still not 100% recovered).

Now he obviously is recovered.

Mollema is amateur and have zero tactical skills. Both in the tour and today he rides hard on the front even though they have big gap with clearly better sprinters on his wheels. It`s like he is riding for podium instead of the win.

 

[Lequack]

Re: Re:

Mollema did not botch his form (Mur de Bretagne result, look it up). He fell on the cobbled stage and was pretty hurt afterwards. That cost him his GC and made him look for stage wins (while still not 100% recovered).

Now he obviously is recovered.

Mollema is amateur and have zero tactical skills. Both in the tour and today he rides hard on the front even though they have big gap with clearly better sprinters on his wheels. It`s like he is riding for podium instead of the win.

I thought all the tactics nowadays is done in the team car and the riders just listen to the radio.

 

[tobydawq]

Re: Re:

Mollema did not botch his form (Mur de Bretagne result, look it up). He fell on the cobbled stage and was pretty hurt afterwards. That cost him his GC and made him look for stage wins (while still not 100% recovered).

Now he obviously is recovered.

Mollema is amateur and have zero tactical skills. Both in the tour and today he rides hard on the front even though they have big gap with clearly better sprinters on his wheels. It`s like he is riding for podium instead of the win.

In the Tour it was more of a hopeless situation. There was nothing that could have prevented either Valgren of Cort from winning that day.

 

[Finn84]

Re: Re:

Mollema did not botch his form (Mur de Bretagne result, look it up). He fell on the cobbled stage and was pretty hurt afterwards. That cost him his GC and made him look for stage wins (while still not 100% recovered).

Now he obviously is recovered.

Mollema is amateur and have zero tactical skills. Both in the tour and today he rides hard on the front even though they have big gap with clearly better sprinters on his wheels. It`s like he is riding for podium instead of the win.

I thought all the tactics nowadays is done in the team car and the riders just listen to the radio.

Reminds me of unnamed team boss being not happy with the rider as the rider didn't attack. Then rider answered: But you didn't tell me that I should attack!