Murcia - Almeria - Jaén, February 11th, 12th & 13th

[Netserk]

So the uphill final km is steepest at 500 m to go. That should allow for a somewhat tactical finish.

 

[KZD]

Ineos wins, Turner

 

[Samu Cuenca]

I can't believe INEOS thought they could win this...

 

[Salvarani]

Ben Turner wins!

Some good turns him in the end.

 

[carolina]

What a mess!

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Not really sure why Ineos are controlling this, they aren't winning a sprint in this field surely?

I need to stop saying [team] can't win in a Spanish race, that's twice this year now.

 

[RedheadDane]

He didn't take a wrong turn(er).

 

[Netserk]

Wellens unfortunately didn't last long enough, and that exposed Trentin at the front too early.

 

[Carols]

Ben Turner. Nice first win for Turner!

 

[Samamba]

Well I was wrng. Well played Ineos I guess..

As expected tho.. What a fking mess of a finish. I saw this yesterday and I was already praying this wouldn't be an bunch sprint up there, well it sort of was...

 

[postmanhat]

Turner!! They always said he had a decent 'sprint'

 

[Ricco']

I'm going to need a few more days to stop thinking it's a Bahrain rider instead of an Ineos.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Off-road experience helped Turner there I think

 

[Netserk]

Well I was wrng. Well played Ineos I guess..

As expected tho.. What a fking mess of a finish. I saw this yesterday and I was already praying this wouldn't be an bunch sprint up there, well it sort of was...

What was wrong with it? It was a perfectly fine finish. Quite intriguing actually.

 

[Salvarani]

What was wrong with it? It was a perfectly fine finish.

Very entertaining. Good racing in the end.

 

[Samamba]

What was wrong with it? It was a perfectly fine finish. Quite intriguing actually.

Naaa, you literally couldn't pass anyone there. I would be a fan if there was like 20 riders left in the final (which the organization expected probably), not now.

 

[postmanhat]

What was wrong with it? It was a perfectly fine finish. Quite intriguing actually.

Yes, I'd never seen this race before and love finishes like this. As Tim Cahill said, Turner's CX background probably helped with all the sharp corners and re-accelerations.

 

[Netserk]

 

[RedheadDane]

Naaa, you literally couldn't pass anyone there. I would be a fan if there was like 20 riders left in the final (which the organization expected probably), not now.

I think I saw several riders pass others.

 

[Netserk]

Naaa, you literally couldn't pass anyone there. I would be a fan if there was like 20 riders left in the final (which the organization expected probably), not now.

Sure you could, but it's correct that as the speed was kept high, position was more important than usually. Hardly a new or unfair parameter.

 

[Samamba]

Sure you could, but it's correct that as the speed was kept high, position was more important than usually.

You can see Eenkhoorn slipping in the back because he tries to pass someone on the outside... Obviously it's possible to pass, but it was really hard. Again I think this finish is fine, it was just today with the skipping of the big climb that the race wasn't decisive enough. And honestly I don't think it was the best viewing experience either because you had no idea what was happening or where the finish was. Apparently it wasn't possible to recon the finish either for the riders yesterday.

That being said. Impressive top 10 for a .1 race.

 

[Netserk]

Turner probably wouldn't be in a position to win if not for Ineos riding at the front in the lead-in to the climb.

 

[RedheadDane]

I definitely thought it was a case of "Fine for one, or a few, rider(s), but too dangerous for a large group." However, it doesn't appear like there were any major crashes in the finale, apart from the one with Rojas some distance out.

 

[Netserk]

I definitely thought it was a case of "Fine for one, or a few, rider(s), but too dangerous for a large group." However, it doesn't appear like there were any major crashes in the finale, apart from the one with Rojas some distance out.

Partly because no one is desperate here, taking unnecessary risks, but also because soft bends you can peddle through are quite safe.

 

[RedheadDane]

Partly because no one is desperate here, taking unnecessary risks, but also because soft bends you can peddle through are quite safe.

The fact that it was a bit uphill might also have helped.
Perhaps organisers saw the discussion in the "How to prevent crashes?" thread that all races should finish uphil...