Volta a Catalunya, 23-29 March 2026

[Potomac]

It's a WT stage race, I think getting 2nd is more important that a deeply unrealistic attempt to let Evenepoel gain 56 seconds on Martinez - while ALSO getting Lipo to gain 9 seconds on Martinez, on a puncheur stage.

You're right. For all the hype Lipo needs some GC results.

 

[Didinho]

It's a WT stage race, I think getting 2nd is more important that a deeply unrealistic attempt to let Evenepoel gain 56 seconds on Martinez - while ALSO getting Lipo to gain 9 seconds on Martinez, on a puncheur stage.

Remco is not getting on the podium. For the stage win. And maybe Lenny starts to work behind if Remco got 20-30” at some point. I rather have a stage win and 3rd than just 3rd, because Lipo is not dropping Lenny indeed. But if all works out and you can let Lenny work before MAYBE even 2nd place is in sight.

If the same 5 riders are in front again, Redbull better walk away with the stage.

 

[Boehmand]

In the year they signed him he finished runner-up in the Giro. I'm sorry, but if he took a pay cut to go to EF, that would have been stupid. I think they just offered a competitive salary.

I just googled my way to a claim Carapaz earns €2-2.5 million a year

I agree that is a pretty competitive salary.

I would assume he earned less, because of the general budget of the team.

 

[Potomac]

You're right. For all the hype Lipo needs some GC results.

On second thought, he's done better than I gave him credit for

1	2025-07-27	3	Tour de France | General classification	2.UWT		340	880
2	2025-06-15	3	Critérium du Dauphiné | General classification	2.UWT		160	325
3	2025-04-12	4	Itzulia Basque Country | General classification	2.UWT		140	220
4	2025-03-16	2	Paris-Nice | General classification	2.UWT		190	400
5	2024-09-08	7	La Vuelta Ciclista a España | General classification	2.UWT		180	340
6	2024-04-28	3	Tour de Romandie | General classification	2.UWT		160	325

 

[Boehmand]

Remco is not getting on the podium. For the stage win. And maybe Lenny starts to work behind if Remco got 20-30” at some point. I rather have a stage win and 3rd than just 3rd, because Lipo is not dropping Lenny indeed. But if all works out and you can let Lenny work before MAYBE even 2nd place is in sight.

If the same 5 riders are in front again, Redbull better walk away with the stage.

Oh - for the stage win, sure - I thought you said Lipo+Evenepoel on the podium.

But Lipo is not compromiseing his shot at gaining 2nd - to help Evenepoel get a stage win - there is no way the team let's him do that.

RB is not Soudal - Evenepoel is no longer THE star.

I think their main focus will be to try to find the 9 seconds on Martinez - and who knows, in the proces they may get the stage win too.

Also, look at the profile tomorrow, there are far more contenders than just the GC guys - it will be very different dynamics than today.

 

[theyoungest]

I just googled my way to a claim Carapaz earns €2-2.5 million a year

I agree that is a pretty competitive salary.

I would assume he earned less, because of the general budget of the team.

Probably because Vaughters, like Lefevere, likes to stress that he is David fighting against the big budget Goliaths, which may be partly true but it's not like Jumbo had to pay half a million euros for Roglic or Vingegaard when they signed them... you also need a bit of luck, good scouting, and good development.

 

[Potomac]

I just googled my way to a claim Carapaz earns €2-2.5 million a year

I agree that is a pretty competitive salary.

I would assume he earned less, because of the general budget of the team.

I recall it was a shocker that EF signed him. I had no idea of the cost, but Vaughters made it clear it was a lot of money for EF to come up with.

 

[theyoungest]

On second thought, he's done better than I gave him credit for

1	2025-07-27	3	Tour de France | General classification	2.UWT		340	880
2	2025-06-15	3	Critérium du Dauphiné | General classification	2.UWT		160	325
3	2025-04-12	4	Itzulia Basque Country | General classification	2.UWT		140	220
4	2025-03-16	2	Paris-Nice | General classification	2.UWT		190	400
5	2024-09-08	7	La Vuelta Ciclista a España | General classification	2.UWT		180	340
6	2024-04-28	3	Tour de Romandie | General classification	2.UWT		160	325

And he's only been in the World Tour for three years.

 

[Boehmand]

I recall it was a shocker that EF signed him. I had no idea of the cost, but Vaughters made it clear it was a lot of money for EF to come up with.

Yeah, 37th (ended last season 33rd) in the world does not justify that salary.

But he's out of contract this year, so something is bound to change - unless he pulls something out his arse at the Giro.

 

[Red Rick]

Martinez gives me major 2023 Gaudu vibes. Randomly hang with Pogacar and Vingegaard in Paris Nice, then maybe never to be seen again.

 

[meat puppet]

Almeida is terrible right now. I don't see how he will improve to the point he can finish on the podium in the Giro

Of course he will. He rides for UAE.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Tomorrow it will be 2023 all over again:
1) Remco to attack
2) Vingo to wheelsuck
3) Remco to wave his hands
4) Remco to win an uncontested sprint

 

[Alexandre B.]

Martinez gives me major 2023 Gaudu vibes. Randomly hang with Pogacar and Vingegaard in Paris Nice, then maybe never to be seen again.

He has won in regularity.

And he only got dropped uphill by Seixas, Vingegaard, Gall and Vauquelin (on an extra rainy day) thus far.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Tomorrow it will be 2023 all over again:
1) Remco to attack
2) Vingo to wheelsuck
3) Remco to wave his hands
4) Remco to win an uncontested sprint

Rogla is IMHO better in such stages then Jonas.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Rogla is IMHO better in such stages then Jonas.

Jonas is very underrated on climbs like Montjuic. Remco will have problems with dropping him.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Jonas is very underrated on climbs like Montjuic. Remco will have problems with dropping him.

Meh.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

They should allow Roglič to ride tomorrow so we can get everything settled once and for all.

 

[canina82]

So yesterday we were mocking a bunch of riders for letting MVP win and now we are praising Bora for riding to get a second/third place? Meh...

 

[VayaVayaVaya]

Yeah Jonas should be able to hang with Remco. He us underrated by many due to losing to Pogacar, his first acing preferences, his “conservative” racing style (I.e., more conservative than Pogacar, more aggressive than any GC rider 20010-2021), and his personality, as well as in comparison to the total freak Pogacar.

 

[Sciatic]

So yesterdat we were mocking a buch of riders for letting MVP win and now we are praising Bora for riding to get a second/third place? Meh...

Quite a different scenario Don’t ya think?

 

[Cookster15]

Nice win by Jonas. The way he was casually looking over his shoulder says he wasn't full gas. Still 6 weeks until the Giro.