Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana 2020, Spain, February 5 - February 9

[F_Cance]

Lol that EQS rider already cheering for Jakobsen got found out.

Ballerini

 

[Lequack]

Seems Groenewegen is taking fashion advice from Roglic

 

[Lequack]

Stage 2 » Torrent › Cullera (181k)
Last climb is 2km @ 8%. Probably a strong man with a strong uphill finish can win this, as opposed to pure climbers. Someone like Luka Mezgec perhaps.

 

[F_Cance]

too hard i think. Should be for valv.piti

 

[Red Rick]

Last time a real sprinter won on such a finish was probably never.

 

[Squire]

The climb is only slightly shorter than Malhao and comparably steep. And even prime Gilbert was dropped by the climbers on Malhao. Valverde wins tomorrow.

 

[Koronin]

Tomorrow is a stage for Valverde. It's one of those Spanish climbs that are tailor made for his abilities.

 

[Lequack]

Climb profile

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Groenewegen miles and miles ahead of the rest in speed here. He came from what, 15th position to win? Jakobsen was brought perfectly... jeesh
Then again it's only Jakobsen who is serious competition anyway. The rest is not exactly top sprinter

Really think Jakobsen should have won that given Groenewegen was so far back. But I guess the difference in speed is clear...

Yes.

I mean, it’s a very early season race so form can vary enormously. If Jakobsen just happens to be way out of race shape then there’s no real benchmark because there’s nobody else properly fast at this race. We all know that there’s a limit to how much you can take from any race in early February. Etc etc etc. but all caveats aside, that was very impressive. He was very fast for a very extended time to come from all the way back there.

 

[tobydawq]

I think there is a perfectly fine benchmark.

That was hands down the most insane sprint victory I have seen in my life.

Maybe Kittel's two Irish Giro stage wins in 2014 can compete.

 

[yaco]

Groenewegen was in very good form early in 2019 and then his form dropped a bit in the second half of the season - It will be interesting to see how he performs in 2020 - Holds his form and I predict 5 or 6 stage victories at the Giro and the Vuelta.

 

[Red Rick]

Sprinters are a bit different from GC and classic riders and if the finish and leadout is good enough they don't need all that much aerobic form if the speed is there. But yeah that was a mighty impressive sprint.

 

[Lequack]

Dan Martin in his new colors

 

[MartinGT]

LLS FTW today

 

[Lequack]

Today's breakaway

 

[Lequack]

Stage 2 is live on Eurosport 2. Kirby awaits.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Break 3m27

 

[Lequack]

The break seems like they can make it today, only 30km to go with 3 and a half minute advantage. I can't see them losing more than a minute n the climb.

 

[Lequack]

Seems like the headwind has really decimated the break advantage, now looks like they're going to get caught even before the climb.

Pic from the finish line:

 

[Lequack]

Tobias Foss from Jumbo Visma crashed. This was his first race with Jumbo Visma (last year's winner ofTour de l'Avenir).

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Valverde smoked

 

[Pricey_sky]

Pogacer goes past Valverde in the sprint for the line. Tough final climb.

 

[Lequack]

Wow what a sprint at the end. I could already see Valverde winning this as per usual, but Pogacar just had that 1% more to give. What a great start to the season for this young man.

 

[The Chicken]

PogChamp hehe

 

[Salvarani]

Valverde smoked

Wouldnt say smoked... Pog was just better and went past him and won with a bike length.