Teams & Riders Everybody needs a little bit of Roglstomp in their lives

[CyclistAbi]

Nobody is saying he is anything but a brilliant TT'er, but just not on all courses. On a long flat TT by the coast (wind) i think Evenepoel is the clear favorite under normal circumstances. But we don't know what that means after 10 days of racing.

Personally i am leaning towards the idea Remco won't back down in regards to GC hence he will likely pay a bit of a price for that in regards to ITT. But it should be close. Looking forward to it. It has prestige written all over it.

 

[Rackham]

It's more that they don't wanna control breaks or stage wins.

Rog isn't gonna sit on great legs for the sake of that. NoRiskNoGloryGate showed that.

Sure, Rog will always go for it.

But I think an argument could be made that Jumbo didn't care about accumulated fatigue, controlling breaks or saving energy in the TdF, at all. Different personnel here at the Vuelta of course but whenever anyone suggested they needed to hold back & save their legs in July, WvA & the rest of them just smashed every stage & went for it.

So... I mean if Roglič wants something (like keeping the jersey?), I think the his choice should supersede Grischa's. Aka a man who just sat in the team car in the TdF staring at the dashboard when WvA was firing shots all over the road from km 0 in most stages.

You're not gonna gap Evenepoel on Pico Jano. No altitude, he is still fresh and it's a climb which is good for him. Just because Rog did a stomp doesn't mean he is in peak form for me. If anything guys like Yates/Hindley/Carapaz have to attack tomorrow.

Put the Jumbo train to work over the next 3 MTF's until Monday, i.e. set a crazy hard tempo followed by Rog launching in the final & if he has his usual good legs, he would absolutely gap Evenepoel. Even today.

We'll see what happens though because I'm sure other teams (like Bora or Ineos) want Evenepoel dropped so they'll likely do that job themselves, so it can tactically still work out for Jumbo to just let others do the work.

I totally get that. But it's still a marked difference versus their approach in the TdF.

 

[dusty red roads]

Yeh but - no WVA here - so they can't smash it like they did there.

 

[VayaVayaVaya]

Not a great day for him, but not too surprising. I think he has the base still there and must be pretty healthy to be doing as well as he is, but I'm sure these tough race days are a shock after the long time off. Hopefully he can ride into shape. This isn't over.

 

[Oldermanish]

Not a great day for him, but not too surprising. I think he has the base still there and must be pretty healthy to be doing as well as he is, but I'm sure these tough race days are a shock after the long time off. Hopefully he can ride into shape. This isn't over.

He's had an iffy wet day in each GT. Hopefully for the overall Vuelta drama he'll rebound and get real close. If he does and wins via the TT all of Belgium will go into mourning.

 

[No Risk No Glory]

I don’t think it’s over, he’s found a tempo afterwards and I don’t believe Remco will be able to ride all three weeks in that manner. Enric Mas could be more dangerous.
However, I’m pretty much shocked by the form of his teammates. He found himself in a large group with literally everybody in it and none of his teammates was even close Had to do all the chase himself...

 

[IndianCyclist]

Tactically he is still in a good position with Kuss still around 2 min to put pressure on Remco. Also in Ineos, they have some partners in crime

 

[Big Doopie]

Tactically he is still in a good position with Kuss still around 2 min to put pressure on Remco. Also in Ineos, they have some partners in crime

fair enough, but kuss will lose 3+ mins in the ITT, he will not be able to factor in terms of putting pressure.

and ineos riders are all at almost exactly the same level. its a bit their issue these days in pursuing a GT win. they have great riders, but they are all a little under the very best.

i kind of thought rog was struggling as soon as he initially followed remco, he was off his saddle more than normal.

having said that, all comes back into play should remco not deal with high altitude or third week recovery etc...

 

[Eeslliw]

Till Sunday we should know if that was only one day off (possibly because of the weather) or just first glimps of what we will see for the rest of the Vuelta (ie. fighting for top 3). I assume on Saturday Remco will try to put the final blow and just defend from then on.

 

[Rackham]

Exciting eh.

Never a dull moment. What a spectacular day, even though the result (& weather) was sh*t.

I blame Simon Yates, i.e. he started something he couldn't finish & it went to hell for everyone. In any case, we're probably all here with a heavy dose of 'hopium' in the form of praying this bad day can be overcome like Formigal 2020.

Onwards & upwards. I think the fact everyone else other than Evenepoel, Mas & Ayuso looked bad to varying degrees makes it a little easier to digest.

 

[Carols]

I don’t think it’s over, he’s found a tempo afterwards and I don’t believe Remco will be able to ride all three weeks in that manner. Enric Mas could be more dangerous.
However, I’m pretty much shocked by the form of his teammates. He found himself in a large group with literally everybody in it and none of his teammates was even close Had to do all the chase himself...

This. I hope the team isn't getting sick or something. Extremely POOR showing from All of them .

 

[JosefK]

I don’t think it’s over, he’s found a tempo afterwards and I don’t believe Remco will be able to ride all three weeks in that manner. Enric Mas could be more dangerous.
However, I’m pretty much shocked by the form of his teammates. He found himself in a large group with literally everybody in it and none of his teammates was even close Had to do all the chase himself...

Yes, Kuss was a bit off (it happens) and Rohan Dennis doesn't seem to have the climbing legs he had at Ineos (e.g., Giro). Still, Kuss usually has a couple very strong days later on. Guys might come around in weeks 2 and 3 . . . or not, lol.

 

[Jumbot]

However, I’m pretty much shocked by the form of his teammates. He found himself in a large group with literally everybody in it and none of his teammates was even close Had to do all the chase himself...

Nothing shocking about that, Kuss simply can't ride in colder conditions... and who of the others is good enough to be in the last 20 group? None
Unfortunately today was as I was afraid. Rogla can't compete with someone as strong as Remco with such a bad preparation... Of course, things can change but I'm not optimistic... Hopefully I'm wrong.
Remco has this GT in the bag and should be able to keep it, the third week doubts are overblown imo.
For Rogla I hope to be able to win some more stages and at least get onto the podium, but yeah, not a good season for him unfortunately, with all the injuries...

 

[JosefK]

Nothing shocking about that, Kuss simply can't ride in colder conditions... and who of the others is good enough to be in the last 20 group? None
Unfortunately today was as I was afraid. Rogla can't compete with someone as strong as Remco with such a bad preparation... Of course, things can change but I'm not optimistic... Hopefully I'm wrong.
Remco has this GT in the bag and should be able to keep it, the third week doubts are overblown imo.
For Rogla I hope to be able to win some more stages and at least get onto the podium, but yeah, not a good season for him unfortunately, with all the injuries...

I'm not so sure Remco has it in the bag, though he looked great today. It's good for cycling if he comes through and wins the Vuelta. Primoz put up a courageous fight, he just didn't have the legs. None of the guys sitting on his wheel helped much in the chase group. If Rog reaches the podium in Madrid, I think this will have been a very successful Vuelta for him. He already has two stage wins (TTT/team and stage 4).

 

[Skijumper Roglic fan]

I was wrong about Hindley, Carapaz and Yates as top favourites for this Vuelta.

I however feel confirmed about what I wrote in this forum about Primoz before this Vuelta:

„But, for 2022: I cannot imagine Primoz has the same shape, or an even better shape, than he had in 2021‘s Vuelta. If his injuries from the Tour and his prep for the Vuelta were what they told us to be, he cannot be in great shape. And: you do not win a GT with 95-97% of your best shape. That is not possible, not even for Primoz.“.

Obviously, I was right about his shape: he indeed seems to be at 95-97% of his best. That‘s good or very good, but probably not enough for Vuelta GC victory. Even the final GC podium will be hard to achieve (but still possible).

 

[No Risk No Glory]

Nothing shocking about that, Kuss simply can't ride in colder conditions... and who of the others is good enough to be in the last 20 group? None
Unfortunately today was as I was afraid. Rogla can't compete with someone as strong as Remco with such a bad preparation... Of course, things can change but I'm not optimistic... Hopefully I'm wrong.
Remco has this GT in the bag and should be able to keep it, the third week doubts are overblown imo.
For Rogla I hope to be able to win some more stages and at least get onto the podium, but yeah, not a good season for him unfortunately, with all the injuries...

I see. Didn’t know much about Sepp‘s form in colder conditions, I just thought that he, at least, should have been able to stay with that group. The way we have it now, Rogla did his best to limit his losses but I think it could have been much better if he had a teammate to help him.
As for this Vuelta, I don’t believe Remco will win it. However, Mas can be more of a problem, given that he already proved his consistency over three weeks. And for Rogla... I might be overoptimistic here but it ain’t over till it’s over

 

[Carols]

I'm certainly not handing the race to Remco on stage 6! Long way to go and he has been known to have bad days. Why people hand someone the win so early has always been beyond me. There is a Long way to go and many things can happen!

 

[hfer07]

It' all cool. No rush to push it yet with a mere minute gap to Remco.
Roglic will be back when it matters

 

[Skijumper Roglic fan]

Nothing shocking about that, Kuss simply can't ride in colder conditions... and who of the others is good enough to be in the last 20 group? None
Unfortunately today was as I was afraid. Rogla can't compete with someone as strong as Remco with such a bad preparation... Of course, things can change but I'm not optimistic... Hopefully I'm wrong.
Remco has this GT in the bag and should be able to keep it, the third week doubts are overblown imo.
For Rogla I hope to be able to win some more stages and at least get onto the podium, but yeah, not a good season for him unfortunately, with all the injuries...

I actually think Primoz‘ season 2022 is already a success. Two stage victories in Vuelta, and these nice victories in Paris-Nice and Dauphine. These victories made that he now only lacks GC victories in Catalunya and TdS to have won all these week long stage races.

His Vuelta was already good, he‘s in good shape, and a good final GC ranking is now a bonus.

As for his age, I do not worry. Cadel won the TdF „recently“ aged 34, and Primoz started racing bikes so much later than Cadel. I think a really important fact discovered in 2022, which will be huge motivation for Primoz, is that Pogi can be besten in the Tour. Primoz will return to the TdF, perhaps even the way he returned to P-N and Dauphine…

 

[groogster]

Common we are only on stage 6. Any of the guys in the top10 will have at least one day off, that would includes Remco, how much time a specific rider will lose on his bad day will be the true question. I believe that Remco will build more time at least until after the iTT. Wouldn’t surprised me if after the itt he had around 2 minutes over the 2nd. If he doesn’t crack surely will be in the bag but that Sierra Nevada stage may prove to much for him after so many days spending energy. Let’s wait and see because we will see the lights of Roglic, Mas, Hindley, Yates and Almeida in week 2 and 3

 

[CyclistAbi]

When watching the stage i did feel a bit worried. Analyzing the state of things after the stage. It's stage 6 and although Evenepoel gained much time today. Mas is still well in reach, Ayuso still behind Rogla. The rest of the favorites finished behind. Rogla doing the bulk of the work chasing. Hence if it's all over for Rogla then it's all over for everybody beyond Evenepoel, Mas or Ayuso.

Nah.

His team will need to do a bit better job, though. It's just to easy to isolate Rogla. Weather will improve too.

Will be interesting to see if they will want to take time back from Evenepoel ASAP or if they will let it slide for a couple of stages. I guess it comes down to assessing on how Evenepoel will perform through the rest of the race.

 

[lenric]

I actually think Primoz‘ season 2022 is already a success. Two stage victories in Vuelta, and these nice victories in Paris-Nice and Dauphine. These victories made that he now only lacks GC victories in Catalunya and TdS to have won all these week long stage races.

His Vuelta was already good, he‘s in good shape, and a good final GC ranking is now a bonus.

As for his age, I do not worry. Cadel won the TdF „recently“ aged 34, and Primoz started racing bikes so much later than Cadel. I think a really important fact discovered in 2022, which will be huge motivation for Primoz, is that Pogi can be besten in the Tour. Primoz will return to the TdF, perhaps even the way he returned to P-N and Dauphine…

yes, but the guy that beat Pogacar is Roglic's colleague. It's a different scenario.

 

[Rackham]

Here's some more hopium (why not eh), i.e. at least he didn't explode like Pogačar on Granon. Also, the Olympics road race last year looks eerily similar, i.e. first big test post-injury & he cracked. 4 days later he dropped one of the best performances of his career.

So let's not jump to conclusions or give up yet. There will be plenty of time for a post-Vuelta post-mortem if this goes wrong because right now it's still a race to be won.

 

[cen]

Mas is not a concern (yet) because of his abysmal TT performance so it really is all about whether Remco can do the full GT in this form. Others don't seem like a threat from what we saw yesterday.

 

[SHAD0W93]

If Evenepoel puts time into Roglic in the TT he should definitely be worried. He’ll have to drop him sooner in the stage instead of just sprinting for bonus seconds.