Tour de Romandie Féminin - première: 7 au 9 octobre 2022

[sir fly]

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Got to love how the WWT has what is probably the toughest climb of its season in a three-day race in October.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

A lot of attacking at the moment, but I think the Cuban Missile will take it in the end.

 

[sir fly]

Quality action. Girls weren't saving themselves.
The terrain just wasn't rewarding enough for all the moves.

 

[Red Rick]

Got to love how the WWT has what is probably the toughest climb of its season in a three-day race in October.

Annemiek to win by how many minutes?

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Quality action. Girls weren't saving themselves.
The terrain just wasn't rewarding enough for all the moves.

Would have been nice to have had the finish where the départ réel was, to bring a bit more off of that run-in, as things were I don't think too many of the perceivably GC-significant moves (e.g. Longo Borghini's or Uttrup's, as opposed to ones by secondary climbers with team leaders in the group or stagehunters) were ever going to be able to garner full commitment unless they were allowed more rope.

Movistar will surely be happy with the stage's outcome though, they got a nice look at the capabilities of their new signings in a leadout as Mackaij and Lippert worked well for one another whilst simultaneously leading out Movistar's current sprinter for this type of terrain and guaranteeing Annemiek wouldn't lose any time at the line.

 

[RedheadDane]

Reusser, Sierra, and Paladin in the front.
Cavalli dropped by peloton.

 

[sir fly]

Motocammera doing good work.
Suppose the girls make it a bit easier than the guys.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Demi bluffing, or just not got it at this point in the season?

 

[sir fly]

The broadcast director not so sharp.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Post-stage press conference prospects worsening considerably

 

[Dk one]

CUL was ill for a week after the wc, was wondering whether it would affect her.

 

[sir fly]

Post-stage press conference prospects worsening considerably

She wasn't bluffing at the Worlds.
Really at the end of resources as the season closes.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

World Championship of looking at each other taking place here, and as I write that Van Vleuten attacks.

 

[RedheadDane]

Annemiek wants to give herself a nice B-day present.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Annemiek clearly underher best, because she didn't drop everybody. Ash held on to her there, but Liane was almost alarmingly at ease pulling onto her wheel. She isn't the most elegant of climbers but she looked so relaxed pulling back onto van Vleuten's wheel that it's remarkable. Stiasny being there is remarkable in any case, she's only 21, a late starter in the sport, and while yes she has probablytargeted this race in a way none of the others have, and is obviously far fresher than these women who just flew halfway round the world twice and have been performing at the elite WWT calendar all season, but just being there when all the ELBs and Vollerings and Ewerses and Spratts are gone is statement enough even if she were to blow up and drop bucketloads of time now.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Ash just breaks Stiasny and Lippert, and it looks like Elisa can diesel her way back, she's almost caught the stragglers of the front four now. If you didn't know who these riders were you'd assume Ash was the best climber in the women's bunch, because she looks both far more efficient and far more relaxed. Liane seems to have Cadel Evansed her climb, looking at ease with the pace of the best and then popping like a balloon.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Breaking News: World Champion of Movistar is dropped at altitude.

 

[sir fly]

Breaking News: World Champion of Movistar is dropped at altitude.

Is it the altitude or cumulative season?
The climb showing the season's toll on the field.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Is it the altitude or cumulative season?
The climb showing the season's toll on the field.

I think it‘s more the season and the recent elbow injury. My Valverde comparison isn‘t really good.

 

[RedheadDane]

No B-day presents for Annemiek.

 

[sir fly]

Glad for Moolman-Pasio. Struggled with the form this year. Hopefully she'll carry this shape to the next season.
Annemiek is human, after all. Today and the Worlds tt assure me.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Is it the altitude or cumulative season?
The climb showing the season's toll on the field.

Definitely. I mean, Ash has been one of the best climbers in the field for years, so it's definitely not unrepresentative to see her win other than that Annemiek has been what she has been this season, but certainly the likes of Labous, Vollering and Uttrup are quite demonstrably not at their best here given what we know they are capable of, plus of course there's the likes of Cavalli coming off injury.

Still, we don't see van Vleuten get dropped like that very often. Usually when she's had a significant defeat or obstacle lately it's been because of either team concerns or a tactical brain-fade, we don't usually see somebody go punch for punch and floor her like Moolman-Pasio did here.

 

[sir fly]

Definitely. I mean, Ash has been one of the best climbers in the field for years, so it's definitely not unrepresentative to see her win other than that Annemiek has been what she has been this season, but certainly the likes of Labous, Vollering and Uttrup are quite demonstrably not at their best here given what we know they are capable of, plus of course there's the likes of Cavalli coming off injury.

Still, we don't see van Vleuten get dropped like that very often. Usually when she's had a significant defeat or obstacle lately it's been because of either team concerns or a tactical brain-fade, we don't usually see somebody go punch for punch and floor her like Moolman-Pasio did here.

Vleuty was in trouble finding the rhythm from the moment AMP upped the pace the first time. Was digging deep until she finally had to let go.
Moolman-Pasio gained confidence seeing the pace she can sustain others find difficult and knew her moment will come.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Fantastic win by Ash!

I was too focused on finishing some work in my garden and missed it, but it's great that she finally got her first WWT win. It would have been a shame if she had retired now.