Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana 2026, February 4-8

[red_flanders]

Remco:

"We have a sport where we are allowed to take last-minute decisions, and we have to respect them. So we also need to be real sportsmen in our minds and be ready for flexibility as well. For me, it was not a big difference. I also know I can ride pretty fast on a normal bike in a TT. So yeah, I just made a quick switch, and we decided to race for the victory. So I think it was a good decision."

 

[Brullnux]

Remco:

Hopefully a step towards banning TT bikes altogether.

 

[AlpRaid]

My big dream is for every TT from now on to be windy so they ban TT bikes forever.

I tend to agree. Particularly as the speeds they get to now makes many courses dangerous or unsuitable.

But there is a whole economy built around people having to buy a TT specific bike.

 

[tobydawq]

The decision was agreed upon by the teams.

You could say that all other teams than Red Bull would increase their chances for a GC win if the times didn't count for the stage.

That's why it should never be up to the riders or the teams to 'agree' on such matters.

Today's decision was really laughable.

 

[Berniece]

Do we expect some action tomorrow on Alto de Tibi? Saturday is more fitting for this, but if the race is made hard, and a small group is able to ride away, why not go for it...

 

[Pantani_lives]

It would be a farce if Almeida ended up winning the GC after "losing" 3:44 today.

 

[AlpRaid]

It would be a farce if Almeida ended up winning the GC after "losing" 3:44 today.

But it would give the Remco-haters so much joy. Why would you deprive them!?

 

[Cycling111]

It would be a farce if Almeida ended up winning the GC after "losing" 3:44 today.

No. Conditions that have been the same for everyone cannot be a farce.

He lost that time because today's rule gave him the option, not because of poor performance or a mistake.

 

[Ulle97]

No. Conditions that have been the same for everyone cannot be a farce.

He lost that time because today's rule gave him the option, not because of poor performance or a mistake.

He conserved quite a lot of energy today as a result of favourable conditions. If they decided to neutralise the times on stage 4 and Remco ceded 3'44, I would call it a farce too if Remco kept the lead as a result.

 

[houtdffan]

Bonus seconds at top of the main climb and again just over

 

[Squire]

He conserved quite a lot of energy today as a result of favourable conditions. If they decided to neutralise the times on stage 4 and Remco ceded 3'44, I would call it a farce too if Remco kept the lead as a result.

Everybody else had the opportunity to do that too. I think the organizers' decision was a bit of a farce, but you can't really blame the riders for then doing whatever that decision allows for. Almeida winning would definitely not be a farce in my view. But in a way, I'd prefer if either Remco or Vlasov won. If this neutralization was the teams' decision, it's hard to see past a possible hint of self-interest from all teams not named Red Bull.

 

[RedheadDane]

Meanwhile, Juan Manuel Diaz has run into a problem after a crash on stage 1 that's potentially even worse than the one Mads Pedersen is facing:
He has lost his wedding ring.

Spansk rytter beder offentligheden om hjælp - har mistet vielsesring

Det er nok ikke et drømmescenarie at skulle forklare det til sin ægtefælle

www.feltet.dk

 

[Kazistuta]

There's absolutely no way of knowing who (if any) went all in, who went 90% in, who "sold it" and who changed perspective along the route after a small mishap. Therefore noone would be labelled a farce if winning the overall, but the race itself already is...

 

[Dazed and Confused]

well, maybe the raceaction on the remaining stages will be good.....just seen individually.

 

[Berflamand]

Can we expect some action today even before the climbs?

This is wat Berniece's AI wrote in the opening post about this stage:

"The first 100 kilometers passing through Algorfa, Guardamar del Segura, and Santa Pola are susceptible to crosswinds and high speeds, potentially thinning the pack before the climbs begin."

I don't know how accurate the AI is about this but if there's even a fraction of the wind from yesterday this might look promising?

 

[Berniece]

Can we expect some action today even before the climbs?

This is wat Berniece's AI wrote in the opening post about this stage:

"The first 100 kilometers passing through Algorfa, Guardamar del Segura, and Santa Pola are susceptible to crosswinds and high speeds, potentially thinning the pack before the climbs begin."

I don't know how accurate the AI is about this but if there's even a fraction of the wind from yesterday this might look promising?

First 50km's the wind comes from the side, but isn't strong enough. After that the wind is blowing in their backs, and eventually it's the climb. So I don't expect any echelons. Here's the map. Wind comes from the south.

 

[Potomac]

They need to slow down or they will be on the climb before TV coverage starts.

 

[Berniece]

Pre-race interview with some riders:

Evenepoel - RBH
"There could be some separation, but I don't think it's today. It's a pretty long climb, about 12 kilometers at four percent gradient, but it won't be the most decisive climb of the week."

Evenepoel is therefore mainly looking ahead to tomorrow. So is he riding in economy mode today? "Yes, a little bit. It's important not to be surprised today, but tomorrow is definitely tougher and more important."

F. Vermeersch - UAE
"We'll watch the other teams and see what they're planning. If there's a race, we'll definitely be in the mix. We're here for the general classification. If there's a chance to gain time, we won't let it go."

"We'd love to see the race, but we're not stupid either. Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe is the big favorite."

UAE Team Emirates has traveled to Valencia with two leaders. "Both Brandon (McNulty, ed.) and Joao (Almeida, ed.) are on the same level. That's crucial to be able to beat someone like Remco. Being able to play multiple cards is definitely to our advantage."

DS Lodewyck - RBH
"We have two guys who really pushed hard yesterday, and there are a lot of opponents who didn't go all out," said team manager Klaas Lodewyck. "Today we're going to try to be a bit more frugal. We're not going to miss any opportunities, of course, but for now, it's not up to us."

Uijtdebroeks - Movistar
Could go both ways. I'll make sure to pay attention when someone makes a move, but I won't attack myself. I'm saving myself for tomorrow.

 

[Berniece]

They need to slow down or they will be on the climb before TV coverage starts.

TV coverage starts earlier today. 14:45 in Belgium

 

[Potomac]

TV coverage starts earlier today. 14:45 in Belgium

That's an hour before I get Max coverage. Will it be live action or just studio BS for an hour?

 

[Berniece]

That's an hour before I get Max coverage. Will it be live action or just studio BS for an hour?

I expect live action

 

[Tim Cahill]

You can't be giving a man of Raul's calibre free time, they will chase this one down

 

[Andre]

any links to the race besides Tiz-cycling?

 

[RedheadDane]

any links to the race besides Tiz-cycling?

You don't have Max?

 

[Andre]

You don't have Max?

no