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.