Lesser known races 2024 edition

[yaco]

Yeah, that was quite remarkable. The other teams were just too slow in the final kilometer, it should not be possible to gain that much ground in 200 metres that late.

Finish was into a headwind. It does happen as Jayco were a long way back going into the last kilometre of stage one in Slovenia.

 

[Squire]

I really don't want all sorts of races to adopt the 'golden km' gimmick, but for the Tour of Belgium it works really well. It's been a very good race so far, and today's stage is also delivering at the moment.

 

[Samamba]

Weird tactics from a few teams. They all want a sprint it seems. No one wanted to make this hard apart from Trek with Vacek but even they waited way too long to do something.

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

Weird tactics from a few teams. They all want a sprint it seems. No one wanted to make this hard apart from Trek with Vacek but even they waited way too long to do something.

I wouldn't say attacking with 28km to go is "waiting too long".
Let's see what Philipsen can do on this finish tho

 

[Samamba]

I wouldn't say attacking with 28km to go is "waiting too long".
Let's see what Philipsen can do on this finish tho

They didn't make it hard beforehand, that's the point obviously. They did absolutely nothing before it. Everyone let UNO X dictate the tempo and they had no reason go really hard.

 

[postmanhat]

Seem to remember Vacek trying something similar in last year's race? Looks like he's going to be rewarded this time.

EDIT - or not

 

[Didinho]

Aranburu takes it. Philipsen 3th not bad.

I’ve done this climb a second time couple weeks ago to an Ardennen weekend and it’s pretty tough.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

but for the Tour of Belgium it works really well.

 

[Squire]

Not the race's fault that Lampaert is a ***.

 

[Didinho]

2 riders down in Belgium. 2 Jumbo’s. You can’t make this up. Kooij one of them.

 

[Didinho]

Merlier wins against Philipsen. Rickaert another well timed leadout.

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

Merlier the better sprinter this race. Great performance

 

[RedheadDane]

Merlier takes the final stage.
Vacek only managed fourth, so Wærenskjold should get the GC. Unless there was gap...

 

[Didinho]

Vacek 4th. Almost GC win.

 

[jaylew]

Merlier so much faster than Philipsen

 

[Squire]

Merlier with the Khaby celebration.

 

[jaylew]

Merlier the better sprinter this race. Great performance

Best sprinter of 2024 without a doubt.

 

[Didinho]

Merlier so much faster than Philipsen

Philipsen did a podium finish yesterday in a tough stage.
Should be a closer sprint on the National Championship.

 

[search]

Vacek 4th. Almost GC win.

Vacek apparently lost 2s at the golden km, so needed 2nd place to win GC.

 

[Didinho]

Vacek apparently lost 2s at the golden km, so needed 2nd place to win GC.

He ended at 4” in the GC, so 3th place would put him in same time as Søren. Don’t know the rule for who wins then.

 

[search]

He ended at 4” in the GC, so 3th place would put him in same time as Søren. Don’t know the rule for who wins then.

when there was a time trial, they use the split seconds to determine the winner. Vacek would have lost out by 0.44s in that case

 

[Lequack]

Vacek 4th. Almost GC win.

He did get a duck

 

[Max Rockatansky]

Absolut monster stage in today's Vuelta a Colombia.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Absolut monster stage in today's Vuelta a Colombia.

Roglic and Thomas would still find a way to follow wheels all day and proceed to blame a nonexistent headwind.

 

[Escarabajo]

The Vuelta actually finished in El Sifon which is National Park located at 4,119 meters of altitude. They couldn't go down to Letras where the stage finish was originally located at 3668 meters. Here is the final profile and you can watch the final 25 kilometers here with the beautiful scenery of the Andes mountains.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LQm2IysS90