Lesser known races 2024 edition

[Samu Cuenca]

Eulálio took a couple of seconds on Stüssi.

 

[jfazendeiro]

The GC will either be for Eulálio or Stüssi. I think Eulálio needs to be 1 minute ahead for the time-trial. Interesting to see if António Carvalho wil easily fit into the domestique role now.

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

It says a lot about the current level of the Euskatel team when your best rider for the second year in a row is a 40yr old Luis Angel Maté

 

[Mayomaniac]

Tivani really is a Richeze type of rider, he can climb pretty well for a fast guy.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

It says a lot about the current level of the Euskatel team when your best rider for the second year in a row is a 40yr old Luis Angel Maté

Claiming he's their best rider is a bit of a stretch.

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

Claiming he's their best rider is a bit of a stretch.

Bou, Bizkarra and Juaristi are solid riders, the latter also won a UCI race last year but Maté is their most consistent rider and honestly, that's too awful for a team that's going to ride a GT.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Any news about Mauri Moreira? Is he ok?

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Any news about Mauri Moreira? Is he ok?

https://twitter.com/x/status/1817985401367445985

View: https://x.com/eddymansulino/status/1817985401367445985?t=a3u0u1-DIDOJGDvcazTjsw&s=19

 

[Tim Cahill]

Eulálio is class, seems like a funny character too

 

[perico]

One of the great things about Portugal is I get to scout out the next generation of Spanish talents like Delio Fernandez, Mikel Bizkarra, and Joan Bou. These guys have yet to reach the age where they hit their Volta prime.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

What happened to Agirre today?

 

[Squire]

What happened to Agirre today?

Maybe the wrath of God came upon him.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Idolo Nych!

 

[Mayomaniac]

When Sabgal/the former Efapel team actually gets the team tactics perfectly right.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

The points jersey almost beating the GC leader on the final mountain stage... Cândido Barbosa would be proud.

 

[Mayomaniac]

The points jersey almost beating the GC leader on the final mountain stage... Cândido Barbosa would be proud.

Barbosa jr. once again top 10 on a MTF, fear the 2nd coming!
Tivani has always been a good climber, he has a top 10 and a top 15 finish on the Alto Colorado in the Vuelta a San Juan and more of a Richeze kind of rider than a pure sprinter, but today he was shockingly strong.

 

[zlev11]

this Volta has been really good

 

[Devil's Elbow]

So Nych versus Stüssi tomorrow given that González is the weakest time-trialist of the three, in last year's final TT Stüssi put 1.56 seconds per kilometre into Nych which would leave him 12 seconds short of taking the overall.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Gutted I missed, this, fkin Olympics happening on the day Glassdrive make a shocking return

Stussi must be in shock, he's been absolutely Volta'd

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Today's Arctic Race of Norway pits
C.Froome [11] v. D.Pozzovivo [151]
retro!

 

[Valv.Piti]

One of my favorite races, Tour of Burgos, rolls around tomorrow. They have downgraded this year and only have one mountain stage unfortunately, but should still be a decent race. Ineos rolls up with Arensman and August, Movistar with Quintana and Romo, Visma with Kuss and Cian, Bahrain provisionally with Tiberi, UAE provionally with Vine, EF with all sorts of climbers, Lidl with Tao and Red Bull with Higuita. Lots of these riders are also scheduled to do the Vuelta with some sort of ambitions. Always a good race to keep an eye on in the leadup. The queen stage to Lagunas de Neila is on 7th and the TT is on the 8th. The two first stages are more so for durable sprinters and puncheurs, while the last one seems to be a somewhat pure sprinter stage, but will with opportunities for a late escape.. especially in a race where there are not many fast men.

The race ends on Friday, so not a lot of time to recover for San Sebastian which is Saturday, but I assume lots of these riders will also ride that race.

 

[Netserk]

One of my favorite races, Tour of Burgos, rolls around tomorrow. They have downgraded this year and only have one mountain stage unfortunately, but should still be a decent race. Ineos rolls up with Arensman and August, Movistar with Quintana and Romo, Visma with Kuss and Cian, Bahrain provisionally with Tiberi, UAE provionally with Vine, EF with all sorts of climbers, Lidl with Tao and Red Bull with Higuita. Lots of these riders are also scheduled to do the Vuelta with some sort of ambitions. Always a good race to keep an eye on in the leadup. The queen stage to Lagunas de Neila is on 7th and the TT is on the 8th. The two first stages are more so for durable sprinters and puncheurs, while the last one seems to be a somewhat pure sprinter stage, but will with opportunities for a late escape.. especially in a race where there are not many fast men.

The race ends on Friday, so not a lot of time to recover for San Sebastian which is Saturday, but I assume lots of these riders will also ride that race.

Also doesn't finish at the top of Neila, but at the last junction. So that's ~1.4 km from the top:

Good to see an ITT.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Also doesn't finish at the top of Neila, but at the last junction. So that's ~1.4 km from the top:

Good to see an ITT.

I didn't realize.. disappointing. But yeah, nice with an ITT of decent length as well.

 

[yaco]

Looking at the start list for Norway, I have Schmid as the favorite. He was very strong in Slovakia and he has been at altitude.

 

[Squire]

Looking at the start list for Norway, I have Schmid as the favorite. He was very strong in Slovakia and he has been at altitude.

Vermaerke and Blackmore (if he brings his spring form) could be up there too. But I agree that Schmid is the favourite. He's just the right level to farm these races. He's doing what Hirschi is doing, with the difference being that with Schmid it doesn't feel like he's stealing candy from children.