Vuelta a España La Vuelta Femenina 2023 (1st-7th May)

[Unterlenkerfahrend]

Fito (the traditional precursor to Covadonga in La Vuelta Masculina) would probably have created carnage in women's cycling, as would Los Bedules (used in the 2021 stage) but I'm not so sure about Mohandí. Not among the 'bigs' though. It may dislodge some of the people who are struggling for form now, probably the most important thing may be if Lippert gets over it because she's struggled the last couple of days as her form runs out post-Ardennes and if she doesn't then Annemiek may be isolated and then SD Worx can try to play havoc to set Demi up. I'd be tempted to send her up the road on Mohandí to ward against that if I'm in the Movistar car . Canyon have three cards to play but none of which I'm especially trusting of here; Bauernfeind is unproven, Chabbey I think would need to win from a break and unless that time she dropped late in the stage yesterday was to save energy for that, then I'm not convinced she has the legs, while Niewiadoma, when will I ever learn in the prediction game - she's a very good climber but seems to be better in that mid-range kind of climb, the 4-8km kind of distance, and tends to suffer more on the longer ones. The real question is, how much can Realini gain? She looked so good in Abu Dhabi, but she's far less proven than Annemiek or Demi, how much did yesterday take from her?

Don't think Canyon will play a role. Niewiadoma had a stomach bug these last couple of days so unless she is suddenly completely recovered from that she won't play a role. Bauernfeinds problem is that she lost so much in the crosswind stage that neither Movistar nor SDW would even have to react to her immidiately. Chabbey, like you said, most likely doesn't have the legs for a finish like that.
It'll be AVV vs Vollering with Realini being the wildcard, really curious to see how she does on this (and I'm still mad that she has to ride a bike which is almost 20% of her body weight).

 

[Red Rick]

Good strategy by SD Worx?

That is illegal

 

[Unterlenkerfahrend]

Well, solid jinx by me, Kasia on the attack.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Could be a desperation move to get a headstart into the final climb, could be that she's recovered from her illness now and is looking to make up for that lost time previously, or it could just be that she's Kasia Niewiadoma and so aggressive racing is just second nature to her.

 

[Unterlenkerfahrend]

Could be a desperation move to get a headstart into the final climb, could be that she's recovered from her illness now and is looking to make up for that lost time previously, or it could just be that she's Kasia Niewiadoma and so aggressive racing is just second nature to her.

Pretty sure it's the last haha

 

[BR2]

okay, just finished my chocolate croissant, sitting on the couch, it doesn't get more armchair than that, so... go girls!

 

[Unterlenkerfahrend]

AVV flat? On the radio and bumped her bike

 

[Salvarani]

Gaia looks easy

 

[Unterlenkerfahrend]

AVV deep in the group, again on the radio, weird.

 

[JosefK]

Vollering entering robo mode.

 

[Didinho]

AVV deep in the group, again on the radio, weird.

Looks like a flat indeed.

Edit: or not. Why she needs the car? Radio not working?

 

[RedheadDane]

Hello... I'm an idiot!
I kept looking for the rainbow jersey...

 

[Netserk]

Looks like a flat indeed.

Edit: or not. Why she needs the car? Radio not working?

Weird indeed. Maybe she is bluffing, playing some mind games with Vollering?

 

[Netserk]

Shifting error?

 

[Didinho]

Weird indeed. Maybe she is bluffing, playing some mind games with Vollering?

Radio not working maybe? Nothing tactical or technical. You don't even need advice now, just ride to the top.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Realini closed that gap quite easily.

 

[Red Rick]

Sometimes the roadside spectators are a net positive

 

[RedheadDane]

Realini closed that gap quite easily.

TBF, she had some great helpers.

 

[Netserk]

Sometimes the roadside spectators are a net positive

Generally, I have the best impression of Spanish tifosi.

 

[Didinho]

A minute is possible if I see Van Vleuten struggling now. Realini looks really good.

 

[Red Rick]

Is it ever not foggy on Lagos de Covadonga?

 

[Netserk]

Please, don’t crack!

 

[Red Rick]

The hard part is over, never gonna lose a minute here

Only Contador ever lost a minute here, and that was in his days of meme attack and explode every other climb.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Amazing to just have the sound of them breathing for a couple of seconds

 

[Samu Cuenca]

I don't think she'll lose a minute. Question is if Realini can make the podium.