Volta Ciclista a Catalunya 2022 (March 21-27)

[Tim Cahill]

At least it's someone who will attack from a bit out losing time =/

 

[postmanhat]

I think the motos are being fair. The chase groups seem to getting the most help.

 

[Valv.Piti]

In the midst of all the other bad things about this season, the motorpacing is also as bad as ever...

Whats so bad? I have been entertained so far.

 

[Lequack]

Even Mohoric would be shocked at this motorpacing

 

[Valv.Piti]

I think the motos are being fair. The chase groups seem to getting the most help.

Thats not fair though, if you crash you crash and thats on you..

 

[Tim Cahill]

The slingshot Serry got from that moto was outrageous

 

[RedheadDane]

Groves?

 

[sir fly]

Sometimes you win, some time you lose.

 

[Samamba]

Impossible to compete for the overall victory after losing a minute on this route, this is also a disaster for BE's WT battle.

100 points in 2 days isn't bad I would say. They'll be fine if they don't have bad luck with either Yates or Matthews this year.

 

[samhocking]

UCI generally permit motor pacing back after a crash and the team cars also help the riders regardless of team. Drafting vehicles is only an issue if you start doing it to gain an advantage.

 

[tobydawq]

Hvideberg, the king of Catalonia.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

That Quickstep train fell apart badly in the final kilometre. Good sprint by Groves and Bauhaus but obviously nowhere near WT standard.

 

[Bolder]

Impossible to avoid pinch points like that all the way throughout the race.

Right, but in the last 12.5k of a sprint stage?

 

[Mayomaniac]

UCI generally permit motor pacing back after a crash and the team cars also help the riders regardless of team. Drafting vehicles is only an issue if you start doing it to gain an advantage.

I remember the race commisairs being really strict when Aru tried to come back after a mechanical early on the Froome Ventoux run stage.

 

[SafeBet]

So who lost time apart from Yates?

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Simon Yates +32s

 

[postmanhat]

That Quickstep train fell apart badly in the final kilometre. Good sprint by Groves and Bauhaus but obviously nowhere near WT standard.

Yes. Vernon seemed to drift off their tail, as maybe he thought they were a bit too near the front for his liking. First time, I've seen him look reasonably quick so far this season, when came in with a late burst.

 

[Samamba]

So who lost time apart from Yates?

Woods the most relevant one, Vanhoucke was there too. And Rodriguez probably also after his mechanical.

32" is probably over & out for winning the GC, but a podium or top 5 is still possible.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Whats so bad? I have been entertained so far.

Everyone falling ill/being injured/both
A couple of riders/teams being way too strong compared to the rest (much more so than usual) - and then those are also just about the only ones to escape bad luck
Motorpacing galore
A grand total of one WT race so far that had any real tension as to who would win in the finale (Sanremo; not including stages)

It's not been all bad but this season has been disappointing so far for the reasons outlined above.

 

[tobydawq]

Right, but in the last 12.5k of a sprint stage?

Right. 12.5k is rather a long distance in a city...

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Guys I couldn't see the stage since 40km to go. Where is Fausto???

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Guys I couldn't see the stage since 40km to go. Where is Fausto???

He finished in the front group.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Hvideberg holds all four jerseys! Eat your heart out, Tadej.

 

[Samamba]

GC riders that lost time:

Yates, Woods, Carthy, Vanhoucke, Hindley, Yates, Dumoulin, Meintjes, Storer, Pacher.

 

[postmanhat]

Guys I couldn't see the stage since 40km to go. Where is Fausto???

He was in the lead group with about a K to go according to Carlton Kirby. But then again, he did confuse him with Devenyns a few minutes earlier??