Volta Ciclista a Catalunya 2018

[Valv.Piti]

Fact: Movistar was dangerously close to throwing the race away by sending Quintana up the road and was saved by Sky. A race which otherwise is pretty much done and dusted, considering the route and Valverde being Valverde.

 

[Blanco]

Re:

Fact: Movistar was dangerously close to throwing the race away by sending Quintana up the road and was saved by Sky. A race which otherwise is pretty much done and dusted, considering the route and Valverde being Valverde.

This. I don't know what the hell happened yesterday with them. They should've just ride steady tempo up the climb, cut De Gendt's lead as much as possible with Valverde sprinting for bonus at the finish. Instead, they create chaos. Why the hell Soler attacked, and where was he after that?! Quintana rode like a madman towing Pinot and Yates until DS screamed on the radio. He has some serious issues with Unzue it seems, but this is not the way to handle that. It could backfire to him, without Valverde he will not win the Tour...

 

[Gigs_98]

Re:

Fact: Movistar was dangerously close to throwing the race away by sending Quintana up the road and was saved by Sky. A race which otherwise is pretty much done and dusted, considering the route and Valverde being Valverde.

I'm actually quite annoyed by the fact that the Quintana group was caught. It's perfectly fine if valverde wins but someone else in the lead would have made this race very interesting. Now valverde is still in a comfortable position

 

[rick james]

Re:

after the initial gap Quintana spent the rest of the break sitting on the back, a shame, because it would have been more interesting for the race had the 4 go away, a shame that Bernal of Henao hadn't got in the break, as Sky wouldn't have ridden for Valverde

Any relation to Brienne of Tarth?

 

[Bye Bye Bicycle]

Re: Re:

Fact: Movistar was dangerously close to throwing the race away by sending Quintana up the road and was saved by Sky. A race which otherwise is pretty much done and dusted, considering the route and Valverde being Valverde.

This. I don't know what the hell happened yesterday with them. They should've just ride steady tempo up the climb, cut De Gendt's lead as much as possible with Valverde sprinting for bonus at the finish. Instead, they create chaos. Why the hell Soler attacked, and where was he after that?! Quintana rode like a madman towing Pinot and Yates until DS screamed on the radio. He has some serious issues with Unzue it seems, but this is not the way to handle that. It could backfire to him, without Valverde he will not win the Tour...

At least this created some tension. There's nothing more boring then those reduced group sprints won by Valverde.

But if you prefer the leader's team going a steady tempo up the climb you surely enjoy Sky doing the same in other races...

 

[Bot. Sky_Bot]

Re: Re:

Fact: Movistar was dangerously close to throwing the race away by sending Quintana up the road and was saved by Sky. A race which otherwise is pretty much done and dusted, considering the route and Valverde being Valverde.

This. I don't know what the hell happened yesterday with them. They should've just ride steady tempo up the climb, cut De Gendt's lead as much as possible with Valverde sprinting for bonus at the finish. Instead, they create chaos. Why the hell Soler attacked, and where was he after that?! Quintana rode like a madman towing Pinot and Yates until DS screamed on the radio. He has some serious issues with Unzue it seems, but this is not the way to handle that. It could backfire to him, without Valverde he will not win the Tour...

At least this created some tension. There's nothing more boring then those reduced group sprints won by Valverde.

But if you prefer the leader's team going a steady tempo up the climb you surely enjoy Sky doing the same in other races...

How dare you compare Ridiculous Skyborgs Train with Excellent Organised Warriors?

 

[railxmig]

Re: Re:

Fact: Movistar was dangerously close to throwing the race away by sending Quintana up the road and was saved by Sky. A race which otherwise is pretty much done and dusted, considering the route and Valverde being Valverde.

This. I don't know what the hell happened yesterday with them. They should've just ride steady tempo up the climb, cut De Gendt's lead as much as possible with Valverde sprinting for bonus at the finish. Instead, they create chaos. Why the hell Soler attacked, and where was he after that?! Quintana rode like a madman towing Pinot and Yates until DS screamed on the radio. He has some serious issues with Unzue it seems, but this is not the way to handle that. It could backfire to him, without Valverde he will not win the Tour...

At least this created some tension. There's nothing more boring then those reduced group sprints won by Valverde.

But if you prefer the leader's team going a steady tempo up the climb you surely enjoy Sky doing the same in other races...

Interestingly, even if just riding a tempo is boring to watch it's still probably the best strategy, when defending the lead. I need to admit the strategy Movistar implemented yesterday was a bit shaky. Quintana was riding quite hard, but after a while he sat up and just stayed at the back. That's also when Sky started to tow the peloton i guess to set up Bernal for GC and sprint, later getting help from Bahrain i think. As for Valverde winning the reduced sprints, it is the most expected outing, but Bernal also seems to be very quick.

Thanks to yesterday's ride De Gent has a relatively sizeable margin in GC and he knows how to climbs. I wonder how he'll resist the uphill sprint of La Molina (wth bonus secs) as i doubt Vielha or Montjuic will do too much damage.

 

[Son of Amsterhammer]

Can TDG really hang on today? I think that would be a heck of an effort.

 

[Laplaz]

After 60 km still no break, average speed near to 50 km/h.

 

[wirral]

Valverde has grabbed 3 bonus seconds.

 

[Forever The Best]

Re: Re:

Fact: Movistar was dangerously close to throwing the race away by sending Quintana up the road and was saved by Sky. A race which otherwise is pretty much done and dusted, considering the route and Valverde being Valverde.

This. I don't know what the hell happened yesterday with them. They should've just ride steady tempo up the climb, cut De Gendt's lead as much as possible with Valverde sprinting for bonus at the finish. Instead, they create chaos. Why the hell Soler attacked, and where was he after that?! Quintana rode like a madman towing Pinot and Yates until DS screamed on the radio. He has some serious issues with Unzue it seems, but this is not the way to handle that. It could backfire to him, without Valverde he will not win the Tour...

At least this created some tension. There's nothing more boring then those reduced group sprints won by Valverde.

But if you prefer the leader's team going a steady tempo up the climb you surely enjoy Sky doing the same in other races...

Interestingly, even if just riding a tempo is boring to watch it's still probably the best strategy, when defending the lead. I need to admit the strategy Movistar implemented yesterday was a bit shaky. Quintana was riding quite hard, but after a while he sat up and just stayed at the back. That's also when Sky started to tow the peloton i guess to set up Bernal for GC and sprint, later getting help from Bahrain i think. As for Valverde winning the reduced sprints, it is the most expected outing, but Bernal also seems to be very quick.

Thanks to yesterday's ride De Gent has a relatively sizeable margin in GC and he knows how to climbs. I wonder how he'll resist the uphill sprint of La Molina (wth bonus secs) as i doubt Vielha or Montjuic will do too much damage.

Movistar can easily drop De Gendt in Creuta if they go hard. If they ride Creuta in a cyclotourist-pace however, then De Gendt can win as La Molina may not be enough.

Edit: Remembered the bonus secs now. Valverde will probably get the enough gap on La Molina with the bonuses.

 

[Lexman]

De Gendt himself stated he probably lose the jersey today...

 

[Velolover2]

1. Bala
2. Simon
3. Bernal

 

[Velolover2]

If I where Thomas D., I wouldn't even try. There is a great stage for him after La Molina.

 

[Laplaz]

Chaves - 1' chase group - 1'40 peloton

 

[Samamba]

So I guess we're not gonna see Creueta?

 

[Laplaz]

Re:

So I guess we're not gonna see Creueta?

I guess you're right.

 

[DNP-Old]

Chavito has never been better in March. I am expecting some big things from him in May, hoping he stays healthy.

 

[Samamba]

De Gendt is already dropped.

 

[yaco]

DNP is correct - MS is playing around with Chaves who is in good form - Chaves even stopped to enquire about A.Yates health after the crash yesterday.

 

[Samamba]

Bunch is still pretty big.

 

[Laplaz]

Mohoric attacking downhill, you gotta lova this guy

 

[Samamba]

Valverde attacking.

Tried to follow Mohoric, but that dude is sick.

 

[Velolover2]

No wonder they call Valverde world's best cyclist.

 

[Velolover2]

Valverde just stretching his legs.. Faster than the entire peloton downhill.