Volta Ciclista a Catalunya 2024 (March 18-24)

[Nick2413]

Everyone has it all wrong. Pogacar said he wants to be the greatest of all time now so he needs to fill up the record books and set the record for 2nd places as well as wins, and he’s got a lot of catching up to do on WVA.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1769770982846136707

View: https://twitter.com/ammattipyoraily/status/1769770982846136707


If Pogacar does Vallter 2000 in more than 29 minutes, it will be like a defeat.

It's not easy to beat such a record by over a minute considering the names that participated in the past. 29 minutes would mean 1775 m/h of VAM on a 7.6% climb (circa 6.4 w/kg). Normally it's plausible but this elevation can hamper performance by like 0.2 w/kg compared to a climb 1000 m lower. My guess is around 29'30''.

 

[bNator]

It's not easy to beat such a record by over a minute considering the names that participated in the past. 29 minutes would mean 1775 m/h of VAM on a 7.6% climb (circa 6.4 w/kg). Normally it's plausible but this elevation can hamper performance by like 0.2 w/kg compared to a climb 1000 m lower. My guess is around 29'30''.

If the guy on the couch says it’s a defeat, then defeat it is.

 

[CyclistAbi]

The spirit has long left Nick Schultz, his body only moving forward due to inertia. Pogi took mercy today and decided he won't go after win at every stage at Catalunya and Giro.

Pogi but on why?

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Why does Pogi not lead himself out from 1 k to go smh?

 

[Escarabajo]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1769770982846136707

View: https://twitter.com/ammattipyoraily/status/1769770982846136707


If Pogacar does Vallter 2000 in more than 29 minutes, it will be like a defeat.

So Ciccone with the record!
Interesting, LOL.

 

[Escarabajo]

They did what they had to do, deliver Pogacar to the final hill in the first 10 riders. Pogacar playing games trying to get Jumbo to close it for him is insane considering he could have just blasted off and never lost.

And could have been worse without the Higuita leadout!

 

[Lequack]

It was Visma LAB's fault for not following the Israel rider. They lost the stage for Pog.

 

[Froome]

It's not easy to beat such a record by over a minute considering the names that participated in the past. 29 minutes would mean 1775 m/h of VAM on a 7.6% climb (circa 6.4 w/kg). Normally it's plausible but this elevation can hamper performance by like 0.2 w/kg compared to a climb 1000 m lower. My guess is around 29'30''.

If the elevation continues to hamper the performance of Pogacar, it's bad news for the Tour. If he can't do 6.4 w/kg in this conditions....

 

[Krzysztof_O]

If the elevation continue to hamper the performance of Pogacar, it's bad news for the Tour.

It hampers everyone, there's no way around less oxygen in an engine. Unless your beloved Skeletor has an alternate drive installed.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Oh well, a lost opportunity. I guess thats 3 stages then and around 2 minutes in GC?

 

[Krzysztof_O]

The names on the list didn't race it very aggressively. Vallter had small gaps last year because the pace didn't go up until near the top. Chaves made a long range attack and was only caught around 1km to go or something.

I get it but can you name anyone who in recent years did 6.4 w/kg for half an hour on a climb above 2000 meters? I don't recall anything like that. I mean, it's possible if Pog has improved indeed and attacks early but it's not a given.

 

[Froome]

It hampers everyone, there's no way around less oxygen in an engine. Unless your beloved Skeletor has an alternate drive installed.

That's why he has an advantage to everyone in altitude, looking at his perfomances, because he almost doesn't lose power. The head perfomance of Visma Heijboer talked in a interview about that advantage by him, he responds well to altitude.

Pogacar already said he suffers a bit more in altitude.

 

[Netserk]

Oh well, a lost opportunity. I guess thats 3 stages then and around 2 minutes in GC?

He can still win 5 stages, no problem.

 

[Lequack]

The fact that they gave everyone the same time on such a stage is a travesty. It was clearly anything but a flat sprint stage.

 

[Netserk]

I get it but can you name anyone who in recent years did 6.4 w/kg for half an hour on a climb above 2000 meters? I don't recall anything like that. I mean, it's possible if Pog has improved indeed and attacks early but it's not a given.

Tourmalet from Gripp (top with 47 km to go in the Tour last year) has similar altitude, but is a bit longer. Tourmalet (2115 m), last 12.37 km at 8.83 %, Vingegaard and Pogi: 36'54", VAM: 1775 m/h, 6.16 W/kg [Dr.F].

If it rains tomorrow, they won't go sub-30'. ~29'30" should be doable in good conditions.

 

[Froome]

Tourmalet from Gripp (top with 47 km to go in the Tour last year) has similar altitude, but is a bit longer. Tourmalet (2115 m), last 12.37 km at 8.83 %, Vingegaard and Pogi: 36'54", VAM: 1775 m/h, 6.16 W/kg [Dr.F].

If it rains tomorrow, they won't go sub-30'. ~29'30" should be doable in good conditions.

Vingegaard did 6.2 w/kg in the last 33 minutes of La loze, and the conditions of that perfomance were worse than the conditions of tomorrow, it's a unipuerto stage.
La loze was more long, after 16 days and a hard TT, high altitude than Vallter 2000 (2350 m, Vallter 2150), and the stage was more harder.

I don't think 6.4 w/kg is difficult to achieve.

 

[SHAD0W93]

Oh well, a lost opportunity. I guess thats 3 stages then and around 2 minutes in GC?

I had him winning stages 2, 3, 6, and 7 before the start.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Not directly, but plenty of indicators to me that it's easily possible on easy stage.

Ok, I admit that freshness of riders (start of the race, not too difficult stage) is a factor that can help Pog clock 29 minutes. Last year they did some ridiculous VAM here in Catalunya on an easy stage ending with a low elevation climb.

 

[RobertCrawley]

Original result shows him at 3:47 back.

That's tough break.

 

[Netserk]

Vallter 2000 often has a tailwind. They will have cross/tail tomorrow too, but most likely also rain, which is why I don't think they will go super fast.

 

[Brullnux]

Was there 3km rule cause otherwise this race really is over.

Small question – in cases like these, where some people obviously gap others, doesn't it not make more sense to use 3km rule re peloton rather than the winning group? Especially when the split was in no way caused by the crash.

 

[Netserk]

Small question – in cases like these, where some people obviously gap others, doesn't it not make more sense to use 3km rule re peloton rather than the winning group? Especially when the split was in no way caused by the crash.

Afaik, the 3 seconds-rule was also in effect, so there was no real gap in the front.

 

[roundabout]

Small question – in cases like these, where some people obviously gap others, doesn't it not make more sense to use 3km rule re peloton rather than the winning group? Especially when the split was in no way caused by the crash.

If you mean people getting the time of Schultz despite there being a gap, it was because of a sprinter stage protocol being applied.

Which is I think is a bit iffy for a stage ending uphill, but maybe it was also because of the run-in.

Edit:

7.2 STAGES EXPECTED TO FINISH IN BUNCH SPRINT The following stages have been identified as « expected to finish in bunch sprint »:- Stage 1, 4 and 5 During these stages, the protocol of calculation of time gaps for stages “expected to finish in bunch sprints” published on the UCI website in the Regulations section will be applied.

https://storage-aso.lequipe.fr/ASO/cycling_vcc/reglament-volta-a-catalunya-2024.pdf

 

[Brullnux]

Yeah also meant in the case of a sprint stage, and someone attacks 1.5km out and wins by 5s, it feels wrong that they are then put s/t by an unconnected crash in the peloton that had no bearing on their win or gap.

So would I be right in saying in the hypothetical situation, the winner wouldn't be s/t because of the 3s gap rule?