Volta Ciclista a Catalunya 2022 (March 21-27)

[Velolover2]

Horrifying. I hope he get well very soon.

That sprint looked absolutely brutal. Sometimes we tend to forget that riders are not machines.

 

[tobydawq]

That sprint looked absolutely brutal. Sometimes we tend to forget that riders are not machines.

Ah, but it's not commonplace to have a seizure even in an above-max effort.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Maybe he was not racing 100% healthy yet? Still affected by his recent bronchitis. Knowing what it takes to sprint on this level a shortage of oxygen might render you unconscious. Hopefully it's something like that and things should sort itself out with a bit of time.

 

[Velolover2]

Ah, but it's not commonplace to have a seizure even in an above-max effort.

We do not know the degree of his previous illness but imagine doing over 1000 watts in an uphill acceleration with bronchitis.

 

[hayneplane]

Tobias Halland Johannessen should have a fair shot at a top 10 I believe.

It willcertainly be interesting to see where he is at

 

[Lequack]

Update on Colbrelli (translated):
“Colbrelli has suffered an episode of loss of consciousness with seizures and subsequent cardiorespiratory arrest. He has been treated immediately by doctors through cardiopulmonary resuscitation and a defibrillator, reversing the arrest ”

https://twitter.com/x/status/1506012511803699202

View: https://twitter.com/Copedaleando/status/1506012511803699202

 

[Escarabajo]

Wow. It wasn't as simple. I hope that he is doing better now.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

This sounds very serious, and I hope that a) it's caused by his bronchitis and not something chronic, and b) that today's episode won't have permanent health consequences.

 

[search]

What happened to the rule that it had to be a 3 second gap between the back of the first group and the front of the second? Looking back that was about as big a gap of that to the 3rd and 4th rider....should get amended.

Certainly that doesn't apply on an uphill finish?

according to the roadbook, the "stages expected to finish in bunch sprint" protocol is used in stages 1, 2, 5 and 6, so today it would have needed a 3s gap in between indeed.

 

[KZD]

Update on Colbrelli (translated):
“Colbrelli has suffered an episode of loss of consciousness with seizures and subsequent cardiorespiratory arrest. He has been treated immediately by doctors through cardiopulmonary resuscitation and a defibrillator, reversing the arrest ”

https://twitter.com/x/status/1506012511803699202

View: https://twitter.com/Copedaleando/status/1506012511803699202

This is quite serious, first and foremost I want Colbrelli to be able to have a decent life again, cycling will be an added bonus just like in Bernal's case.

 

[armchairclimber]

On other matters, which stage do you think Plapp is going for?

 

[KenFiamingo]

Curious about the young Skjelmose. Seems like he recovered well from illness and picking up the threads again since his excellent performance at the Provence.

 

[MartinGT]

Maybe he was not racing 100% healthy yet? Still affected by his recent bronchitis. Knowing what it takes to sprint on this level a shortage of oxygen might render you unconscious. Hopefully it's something like that and things should sort itself out with a bit of time.

Spoke to my brother in law who is a cardiologist. He said it sounds like he has been pushed back too early.

Hope he is ok and recovers well.

 

[OlavEH]

Have they ever done more PN-ish stages along the Costa Brava in Catalunya? There are much more and tougher climbs along that coastline than the ones used yesterday. When they first finish in Sant Feliu de Guixols, using for instance this climb would have been a much more interesting stage.

https://climbfinder.com/en/climbs/alt-del-masnou-platja-d-aro

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Have they ever done more PN-ish stages along the Costa Brava in Catalunya? There are much more and tougher climbs along that coastline than the ones used yesterday. When they first finish in Sant Feliu de Guixols, using for instance this climb would have been a much more interesting stage.

https://climbfinder.com/en/climbs/alt-del-masnou-platja-d-aro

They used this particular climb as a HTF in 1997. Catalunya has never been known for inventive stage design, though...

 

[roundabout]

Have they ever done more PN-ish stages along the Costa Brava in Catalunya? There are much more and tougher climbs along that coastline than the ones used yesterday. When they first finish in Sant Feliu de Guixols, using for instance this climb would have been a much more interesting stage.

https://climbfinder.com/en/climbs/alt-del-masnou-platja-d-aro

this was a staple in the later Setmana Catalana editions

https://www.cyclingcols.com/col/SantPereDeRodes

and I think was used in one of the early March Voltas, maybe 2012 ish

or not, don't remember

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Hvideberg will take the GC lead if he gets a first and a second at a minimum at the intermediate sprints, finishes in the peloton, Matthews doesn't make the top-3 and Pacher doesn't win, which seems realistic enough. A good reminder of why handing out bonus seconds at multiple intermediates isn't the best of ideas.

 

[yaco]

On other matters, which stage do you think Plapp is going for?

Plapp is a support rider for Porte - Circumstances would need to change for Plapp to win a stage.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

this was a staple in the later Setmana Catalana editions

https://www.cyclingcols.com/col/SantPereDeRodes

and I think was used in one of the early March Voltas, maybe 2012 ish

or not, don't remember

Had a look, they used it in 2009 when the race was still in May but haven't been back since.

 

[SafeBet]

Jack Haig did not start today, along with Colbrelli.

 

[search]

Hvideberg will take the GC lead if he gets a first and a second at a minimum at the intermediate sprints, finishes in the peloton, Matthews doesn't make the top-3 and Pacher doesn't win, which seems realistic enough. A good reminder of why handing out bonus seconds at multiple intermediates isn't the best of ideas.

can't see what's the problem about it. If Bikexchange cared about the jersey, Matthews could give it a go. Instead, Groves will sprint today.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Hvideberg virtually leads in all four classifications right now.

 

[DJ Sprtsch]

can't see what's the problem about it. If Bikexchange cared about the jersey, Matthews could give it a go. Instead, Groves will sprint today.

...or BikeExchange could send one or two riders in the break, if it really mattered.

 

[search]

Hvideberg virtually leads in all four classifications right now.

at least there's still "Best Catalan" available to play for

 

[SafeBet]

Porte dropped???