Volta Ciclista a Catalunya 2023, March 20-26

[Blobs]

It sure was a mistake, but I don't think it would have mattered in the end.

Maybe not. It definitely wasn't the biggest mistake he made on that climb

 

[tobydawq]

By the way I wonder if Roglic deliberately decided to sit behind Ciccone because he gives better draft.

All you're getting is laughing emojis. You didn't mean this as a joke, right?

 

[JosefK]

Very impressed by Almeida's ride. Stranded by his team after the mechanical and fighting back for 5th.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Uijtdebroeks the most impressive ride today? (Age adjusted?)

Let me check his nationality... Yes, ok.

 

[Didinho]

First time I see 4 Belgians in the last 15-20 riders on a mountain finish, I'm really pleased!
Good to see Ciccone doing well again. A shame for Almeida's chances today, he would've been up there for the stage win.
Remco needs to learn not to ride in front for several km's to the end. I think he just wanted to test and see who could follow, but not so smart once again.

 

[Carols]

Looks like Remco made a mistake in the final bend. That might have cost him the win.

Let the excuses begin LMAO! He wasn't strong enough to drop them.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Uijtdebroeks the most impressive ride today? (Age adjusted?)

Woods did pretty well, too.

 

[tobydawq]

@noob what's going on? Why are you laughing at everything? Not all posts are jokes, wth...

 

[topcat]

Anyone know how the Irish got on today?

 

[JosefK]

@noob what's going on? Why are you laughing at everything? Not all posts are jokes, wth...

Just filling in for noob, here.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

@noob what's going on? Why are you laughing at everything? Not all posts are jokes, wth...

@noob Don't listen to Sourpuss Crankypants!

 

[rallybanana]

Anyone know how the Irish got on today?

Juul-Jensen 142nd

 

[Rackham]

A bit dissapointed by both Rogla and Remco, I thought they would gap the others. I am not sure if it was the gradient or Rogla had to break his cadence because of the tightness of the last curve, but that cost him the win today. In any case it was not a good showing from him, I just hope he was saving himself for the efforts to come. Well done to Ciccone.

On another note, WTF was that from Sepp, what a dumb move.

Just this morning we were reading about how Evenepoel was going to ride everyone off his wheel (& even get a 30 second gap) because his strava uploads were eye meltingly amazingballs or something, or that Rogla was not ready for climbs like this yet so soon after his comeback.

I think it was a good showing by all three across the line but Rog isn't some sort of superman either. I mean Dan Martin has beaten him in a MTF sprint before (Vuelta 2020), it happens, & more importantly Rog looks like he's getting right back to his usual level. I'm super encouraged by what I saw today.

 

[Blobs]

Let the excuses begin LMAO! He wasn't strong enough to drop them.

Excuses? It's just an observation mate. I have no affiliation with Remco, and can't make excuses on his behalf.

He clearly made a mistake. It may have cost him and it may not, but he definitely lost his favorable position because of it.

 

[theyoungest]

Let me check his nationality... Yes, ok.

Even you would have to deduct points for his ridiculous name.

 

[Red Rick]

All you're getting is laughing emojis. You didn't mean this as a joke, right?

No I'm mildly curious.

More likely he was just suffering though

 

[noob]

About UAE, I don't know if it is deliberate, but there really is no team. It's basically every rider for himself. At least there is no hierarchy between the big names. They have to fight it out on the road by themselves. It has been like that in many other races now. Funnily it really kind of suits Almeida's general style very well. He rides for nobody, nobody rides for him, he's just doing his thing and pace, whether a comet falls down or a fairy appears.

I think it's deliberate. Their main goal is scoring UCI points. Literally. So they will give everyone the chance. Until it turns obvious that one is much much better than the others. Like Pog.

I agree it suits Almeida riding style but I'm not sure it suits his mental health. (Or for that matter the mental health of anyone in that team).

(The quote about fairies and comets though. I'll borrow! )

 

[Bolder]

Soler and yates....ridiculous, they didn't help joao almeida.

But Almeida climbs by himself. He has a rhythm that's unconventional so having traditional domestiques might not help him much.

I thought Roglic was on his limit today and that Remco looked stronger. Just my impression. When Roglic goes white you know he's not got much left.

 

[RedheadDane]

Anyone know how the Irish got on today?

Unfortunately, there are no Irish in this race.

 

[theyoungest]

Just this morning we were reading about how Evenepoel was going to ride everyone off his wheel (& even get a 30 second gap) because his strava uploads were eye meltingly amazingballs or something, or that Rogla was not ready for climbs like this yet so soon after his comeback.

Yeah, it was me who said this. I don't care about Evenepoel's Strava numbers, what I do care about is Roglic' trainer who said before Tirreno that he wasn't quite ready yet for the longer climbs. I'm just assuming in the short time span between Tirreno and now he hasn't suddenly become a whole lot better. And Evenepoel just returning from altitude should have a considerable advantage. It turns out he doesn't (so far), but to me that's quite surprising.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Even you would have to deduct points for his ridiculous name.

Which name? Cian or Uijtdebroeks?

 

[noob]

@noob what's going on? Why are you laughing at everything? Not all posts are jokes, wth...

Why not, eh?

Fun must always be (@Sandisfan once gave that quote from an athlete he liked and I've kept it).

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Yeah, it was me who said this. I don't care about Evenepoel's Strava numbers, what I do care about is Roglic' trainer who said before Tirreno that he wasn't quite ready yet for the longer climbs. I'm just assuming in the short time span between Tirreno and now he hasn't suddenly become a whole lot better. And Evenepoel just returning from altitude should have a considerable advantage. It turns out he doesn't (so far), but to me that's quite surprising.

Stop with the excuses, you nationalistic Evenepoel fanboy!

 

[JosefK]

No I'm mildly curious.

More likely he was just suffering though

I tend to agree. But I thought Rog looked stronger today than in, say, stage 5 of Tirreno a couple weeks ago, where he was lagging in the main group till the very end, when he pulled a rabbit-out-of-the-hat win.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Stop with the excuses, you nationalistic Evenepoel fanboy.

Mate Van Welder is looking a lot better than Masnada so far this season. It's annoying me why fausto level dropped off since Mononuclosis