Volta Ciclista a Catalunya 2024 (March 18-24)

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Actually I think he should take it easy tomorrow, he's shown what he can do. Let Bernal win this stage.

only way anyone will beat him is if the breakaway stays clear, I think.

Which is possible, though, with UAE one man down and apparently Großschartner suffering from the same problem.

 

[scribers]

What did you expect - a champion of his stature to be bad at taking a dump?

I would absolutely use some watts if I had to duece

 

[skippo12]

Soler with the Soler special. Everyone is working for Pog except for him. Dropped by Almeida but didn't explode and limited the damage. Riding for his own top 10. I am not sure how he keeps getting away with it.

 

[SHAD0W93]

Soler with the Soler special. Everyone is working for Pog except for him. Dropped by Almeida but didn't explode and limited the damage. Riding for his own top 10. I am not sure how he keeps getting away with it.

Shame Team Soler, Gadret, and Movistar never really lined up together.

 

[hayneplane]

Soler with the Soler special. Everyone is working for Pog except for him. Dropped by Almeida but didn't explode and limited the damage. Riding for his own top 10. I am not sure how he keeps getting away with it.

It is his home race to be fair and it’s not as if you could argue Pogacar actually needed him to do a turn.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Soler with the Soler special. Everyone is working for Pog except for him. Dropped by Almeida but didn't explode and limited the damage. Riding for his own top 10. I am not sure how he keeps getting away with it.

Didn't even notice but you're right, a solid top 15 today, absolutely hilarious, he took the KOM points yesterday too.

Vamos Marc!!!

 

[shadowrider]

Predictably, Pogacar attacked from far enough away and crushed the opponents. He did indeed have a slight advantage due to the rain. Furthermore, this achievement (and a few more to come this week) has limited value. In the heat and against a Visma team at full strength it will be a lot more difficult in the Tour.

 

[bNator]

Predictably, Pogacar attacked from far enough away and crushed the opponents. He did indeed have a slight advantage due to the rain. Furthermore, this achievement (and a few more to come this week) has limited value. In the heat and against a Visma team at full strength it will be a lot more difficult in the Tour.

Using this logic, it doesn’t make sense to really watch anything apart from the Tour - because Tour is the only event that “has value”?

 

[Jungle Cycle]

Soler in the break tomorrow

 

[Potomac]

I choose to firmly ?believe most of us are posting from a retirement home in Florida.

umm......should i change my name from Potomac to Manatee?

 

[Oldermanish]

You know that Pog is on for a record breaking year when all the deep-state funded trolls genetically engineered in a (Visma) LAB come out of the woodwork trying to tear down Mou of Galilee and his faithful disciples.

The incessant chatter of skeptics and naysayers becomes the backdrop against which Mou of Galilee's triumphs are painted in more vivid colors. Each challenge, each obstacle thrown in his path by the shadowy figures operating behind the scenes, only serves to forge his resolve stronger, his strategies more ingenious. With the unwavering support of his disciples, who stand by him through thick and thin, their collective spirit unbroken, they navigate the tumultuous waters of the season.

As the year progresses, it becomes increasingly clear that Mou of Galilee is not just playing the game; he is redefining it. The trolls, despite their relentless efforts, find themselves outmaneuvered at every turn. The very tactics they employ to sow discord and doubt among the ranks only fuel the fire of determination burning within Mou and his team. They transform every attempt to derail their journey into opportunities to demonstrate their unity, their skill, and their undying passion for the game.

When the dust settles and the records are shattered, it will be the spirit, skill, and solidarity of Pogacar and his disciples that remain etched in the annals of history. In this record-breaking year, under the guidance of Tadej Pogacar, the Lord of the race, they will have not only surpassed expectations but also crafted a legacy that will resonate through the ages.

Amen.

I hope there's alot of comic epic characterization left in the discourse! Otherwise there's way too many heart clutching folks living their lives through the exploits of 140lb (-) or 63.5 warriors.

 

[Oldermanish]

umm......

Idaho. Nice place and it's now my home!

 

[scribers]

You know that Pog is on for a record breaking year when all the deep-state funded trolls genetically engineered in a (Visma) LAB come out of the woodwork trying to tear down Mou of Galilee and his faithful disciples.

The incessant chatter of skeptics and naysayers becomes the backdrop against which Mou of Galilee's triumphs are painted in more vivid colors. Each challenge, each obstacle thrown in his path by the shadowy figures operating behind the scenes, only serves to forge his resolve stronger, his strategies more ingenious. With the unwavering support of his disciples, who stand by him through thick and thin, their collective spirit unbroken, they navigate the tumultuous waters of the season.

As the year progresses, it becomes increasingly clear that Mou of Galilee is not just playing the game; he is redefining it. The trolls, despite their relentless efforts, find themselves outmaneuvered at every turn. The very tactics they employ to sow discord and doubt among the ranks only fuel the fire of determination burning within Mou and his team. They transform every attempt to derail their journey into opportunities to demonstrate their unity, their skill, and their undying passion for the game.

When the dust settles and the records are shattered, it will be the spirit, skill, and solidarity of Pogacar and his disciples that remain etched in the annals of history. In this record-breaking year, under the guidance of Tadej Pogacar, the Lord of the race, they will have not only surpassed expectations but also crafted a legacy that will resonate through the ages.

Amen.

::evangelical jazzy hands::

Amen!

 

[Scarponi]

Even Landa and co are beating the times from ten years ago comfortably. Hmm

 

[Oldermanish]

Finally got to watch that stage at one of the best bar/bike shop venues in the World: Powerhouse in Hailey, Idaho. Billy founded the place after racing in Belgium and helping launch mountain biking in a rural ski town. He's a very good ambassador for sport and beer. Many on tap brews include stuff from Belgium you can't get anywhere other than here and there.

Enough with the comfort pleasantries. The broadcast showed anything but pleasant conditions for a peloton just off of sunny island training sessions. It looked like most were heading to the cars....until they realized they had to finish the stage and ride downhill while Race Course workers dressed in full-on down parkas applauded their suffering. Honestly; I'd think only riders needing to make the next team race roster or the pure masochists put out any effort other than trying to survive. Half the peloton had removed excess clothing too early like the warriors they'd hope to be only to find near freezing torrential rains were making their manparts seek warmer body cavity areas to survive. Those that rode well were doing individual efforts so data from this sh*tshow would be largely useless IMO. Tadej wanted it and won but not much more seemed distinctive from what little broadcast was available.
Anyone that set a climbing record in these conditions had absolutely no competitive advantage because it was wet or cold. Anyone that would suggest otherwise has no credible opinion unless they rode that last section at their best effort and would still offer up that performance theory. Hardman territory, for sure.

 

[Sciatic]

Finally got to watch that stage at one of the best bar/bike shop venues in the World: Powerhouse in Hailey, Idaho. Billy founded the place after racing in Belgium and helping launch mountain biking in a rural ski town. He's a very good ambassador for sport and beer. Many on tap brews include stuff from Belgium you can't get anywhere other than here and there.

Enough with the comfort pleasantries. The broadcast showed anything but pleasant conditions for a peloton just off of sunny island training sessions. It looked like most were heading to the cars....until they realized they had to finish the stage and ride downhill while Race Course workers dressed in full-on down parkas applauded their suffering. Honestly; I'd think only riders needing to make the next team race roster or the pure masochists put out any effort other than trying to survive. Half the peloton had removed excess clothing too early like the warriors they'd hope to be only to find near freezing torrential rains were making their manparts seek warmer body cavity areas to survive. Those that rode well were doing individual efforts so data from this sh*tshow would be largely useless IMO. Tadej wanted it and won but not much more seemed distinctive from what little broadcast was available.
Anyone that set a climbing record in these conditions had absolutely no competitive advantage because it was wet or cold. Anyone that would suggest otherwise has no credible opinion unless they rode that last section at their best effort and would still offer up that performance theory. Hardman territory, for sure.

Great to know about that bar!

 

[CyclistAbi]

Congrats to Pogi for strangling this race on stage 2 and for sure there is more to come. It's interesting, on how Pogi and Jonas decided to turn such races into an exhibition. Jonas i guess had to step up, due to being a sole GC leader now at Visma, Pogi on the other hand is in my opinion already peaking. So for March racing i would say Pogi is ahead. There is a difference in UAE team management, the team is forced to max out on every stage/race they enter, with Pogi. It's cycling brutalism.

So this should really be interesting as the season progresses, on how i will affect Pogi and Jonas in races to come. In my opinion it's not possible to peak for the whole season.

Landa was superb and Vlasov again showing some good form. Cian/Sepp not in a particularly good form so far, considering they are Visma GC options.

 

[Rob5091]

So this should really be interesting as the season progresses, on how i will affect Pogi and Jonas in races to come. In my opinion it's not possible to peak for the whole season.

Yeah, be interesting to see how it goes with Pogacar's form. There's only L-B-L at the moment before the Giro, then a break before the Tour. So, thinking how Visma have got Teddy to basically blow-up himself at the Tour these past two editions, I'd expect the same tactic again.

 

[shadowrider]

Using this logic, it doesn’t make sense to really watch anything apart from the Tour - because Tour is the only event that “has value”?

Yes and no. The smaller stage races certainly give an indication of the strength of the leader. But not enough about the strength of the teams. The heat (which is not always there in July, but often is) does play a role during the Tour. Furthermore, not all leaders and lieutenants are in top form in February and March and/or have completed an altitude training period.

 

[AmRacer]

Yeah, be interesting to see how it goes with Pogacar's form. There's only L-B-L at the moment before the Giro, then a break before the Tour. So, thinking how Visma have got Teddy to basically blow-up himself at the Tour these past two editions, I'd expect the same tactic again.

Two other wannabe contenders will show up at the Tour. The race dynamic will change.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Yeah, be interesting to see how it goes with Pogacar's form. There's only L-B-L at the moment before the Giro, then a break before the Tour. So, thinking how Visma have got Teddy to basically blow-up himself at the Tour these past two editions, I'd expect the same tactic again.

Somehow i feel things changed at Visma too. Jonas is now obviously not just thinking about the Tour. But yeah, Pogi made a leap, his physique is obviously geared towards improving at climbing. Still, it's March.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Two other wannabe contenders will show up at the Tour. The race dynamic will change.

Numbers for Vallter, comparing 2023 and 2024 edition, show optimistic outcome for the Tour 2024, when it comes to cycling fans.

 

[Lequack]

Interview with Pog

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiN0aVRVax8

 

[bNator]

Yes and no. The smaller stage races certainly give an indication of the strength of the leader. But not enough about the strength of the teams. The heat (which is not always there in July, but often is) does play a role during the Tour. Furthermore, not all leaders and lieutenants are in top form in February and March and/or have completed an altitude training period.

I don’t think there’s a sane person on this board who forgot all about Tirreno 2022 and P-N 2023 and how Pog’s dominance in those races translated to his TDF outcome. So I agree with the part you can’t just extrapolate the current pecking order to TDF. This, however, doesn’t make Pog’s achievements at this stage any less valuable. They would be if he sacrificed his TDF form to get an edge in Catanulya but I doubt that is the case. TDF may tell a different story but for the time being, Pog’s form this season is remarkable.

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

Possibilities for a strong break today that could stay away and win the stage?