Volta Ciclista a Catalunya 2022 (March 21-27)

[Armchair Cyclist]

Once the conversation went down this route, this was inevitable:

But if we are allowing other sports, and can extend to pre-match rituals, I shall forever miss the annual Michael Higgins/Devin Toner meet-up

 

[Roku]

Conor Dunne vs Sam Dumoulin, right?

 

[Netserk]

Arkea should want the break to stay away and take all bonus seconds today, UAE should want to reel them in before the intermediate sprints with 30 km to go.

Looking up the GC, I see that it was Godon who took the 1'' on offer before the climb yesterday, Danish commentators thought it was O'Connor.

GC and stage countback:

NAIRO QUINTANA	-	47
JOAO PEDRO GONÇALVES ALMEIDA	-	114
SERGIO ANDRES HIGUITA GARCIA	+ 00h 00' 06''	38
JUAN AYUSO PESQUERA	+ 00h 00' 17''	54
WOUTER POELS	+ 00h 00' 17''	61
BEN O'CONNOR	+ 00h 00' 17''	80
TOBIAS HALLAND JOHANNESSEN	+ 00h 00' 23''	44
GUILLAUME MARTIN	+ 00h 00' 23''	71
RICHARD CARAPAZ	+ 00h 00' 26''	71
TORSTEIN TRÆEN	+ 00h 00' 34''	81

 

[Pirazziattacks]

Once the conversation went down this route, this was inevitable:

But if we are allowing other sports, and can extend to pre-match rituals, I shall forever miss the annual Michael Higgins/Devin Toner meet-up

This recent example belongs here too.

 

[Netserk]

Flattering outfit.

 

[Escarabajo]

If they don't hurry it is going to be dark soon!

 

[RedheadDane]

This recent example belongs here too.

What have I started?

Sorry... guys...

 

[noob]

Once again: what is UAE doing? :O Why not catch the breakaway for the bonus seconds? :O

 

[Escarabajo]

They will put another 200+ km stage in Catalunya!

 

[groogster]

Once again: what is UAE doing? :O Why not catch the breakaway for the bonus seconds? :O

Today is not the day. Save strenghs for tomorrow and Sunday. There will be enough action tomorrow in the first intermediate sprint and Sunday with 6 cat 2 climbs in the Barcelona circuit. It will be caothic enough for contest the final GC.

 

[Valv.Piti]

This race is rather meaningless.

They seriously need to do something with this route. Useless to watch.

 

[groogster]

Maybe there will be some action in the last intermediate sprint

 

[Samu Cuenca]

What have I started?

Sorry... guys...

I assume the next pic will be of you and toby

 

[RedheadDane]

I assume the next pic will be of you and toby

I've never actually met the guy.

And break caught.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

I've never actually met the guy.

And break caught.

You could have met without knowing it.

 

[JosefK]

Intermediate sprint contested by UAE?

 

[RedheadDane]

Things starts happening, and... my neighbour decides now would be a good time for drilling!

 

[Zoophonic]

Intermediate sprint contested by UAE?

Plonkers at Eurosport left the sprint to go back to the E3 ceremony.

 

[SafeBet]

Almeida got a second maybe?

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Things starts happening, and... my neighbour decides now would be a good time for drilling!

You live next to a Jumbo rider?

 

[JosefK]

No photo to dissect the result (intermediate sprint). Maybe no bonus seconds to either Almeida or Quintana? Or maybe ...

 

[tobydawq]

Almeida got a second maybe?

Ayuso tried to prevent him, though.

Nah, it's tough because if Almeida didn't get past Quintana, it was important that he was ahead, whereas if Almeida did squeeze past him, it's robbing your own teammate of a second. I'll allow it this time, it was too chaotic to assess it properly.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

No photo to dissect the result.

Results to be decided by hearsay. First rider to claim the bonis, gets them.

 

[tobydawq]

Results to be decided by hearsay. First rider to claim the bonis, gets them.

I'm pretty sure it was Almeida.

 

[noob]

Now it's actually exciting again :O