Volta Ciclista a Catalunya 2024 (March 18-24)

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Hard to see anyone other than Pogacar as the favorite tomorrow. Last year it only came back together because Roglic wouldn't pull with Evenepoel. If Pogacar wants it, he takes it, either in a reduced sprint or solo.

still 30k to go from the top, and he needs to do a 60k solo on Saturday as well. But yeah, maybe you're right.

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

Tomorrow I'm betting on the break.

 

[Netserk]

Tomorrow I'm betting on the break.

So Soler?

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

So Soler?

Always.

 

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Also, get ready to miss a whole bunch of action because the broadcasts are quite possibly the shortest of any WT stage race. The hardest climb of the race, Coll de Pradell, will be completed mostly, if not entirely, off-camera.

Saturday's coverage will start half an hour earlier now.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1770854480780710052

View: https://twitter.com/VoltaCatalunya/status/1770854480780710052

 

[KZD]

This is the kind of sprints Hayter should be winning, if I was Ineos, I wouldn't renew his contract. Van den Berg the best of this weak sprinter field.

Tomorrow should be a good day for the break but will obviously depend on what Pogačar is planning to do.

 

[Oldermanish]

Peak in what sense? To (try to) beat Pogi with another rider then Jonas and down the season?

Someone asked if this was the relative form of JV or something trolley like that. No one's peaking so it's barely relevant.

 

[Oldermanish]

I was surprised to hear the norwegian commentator mentioning that Couqard had a chance to win his 2nd WT race. How is it possible for him to only have 1 WT win? He's been one of the top sprinters for almost 10 years now hasn't he? I remember him being a constant presence in the top 10 of TDF sprinter stages when I was still following the sport closer than what I have done in the past few years.

I would never have guessed that he only has 1 WT win but looking at his results it seems he only manages to win in *.1 and *.HC races and not in the WT.

He's received alot of attention in French races, particularly the Tour on US broadcasts. He is usually the only French sprinter close on some stages. I can't recall if there is a similarity to stage profiles that he's involved in but there are usually heavy talents contesting them. I don't know much about him from this side of the ocean.

 

[tobydawq]

This is the kind of sprints Hayter should be winning, if I was Ineos, I wouldn't renew his contract. Van den Berg the best of this weak sprinter field.

Tomorrow should be a good day for the break but will obviously depend on what Pogačar is planning to do.

I don't think Hayter necessarily should be able to beat Van den Berg but coming 7th in this sprint where he was positioned excellently is obviously horrible.

 

[Potomac]

Live coverage an hour later today?

 

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Live coverage an hour later today?

yeah, but it's also going to finish ~one hour later than in the past days (not to clash with E3, I guess)

 

[Tricycle Rider]

Live coverage an hour later today?

I was surprised as well, I was getting my coffee and getting ready for some cycling viewing...

Well, here we finally go with live coverage on Peacock..

 

[Tricycle Rider]

They're riding through a wine region (yes, please!), with about 36km to go the breakaway of five is slowly losing time.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

Breakaway caught, everybody from peloton trying something now

 

[Tricycle Rider]

Peloton all stretched out and riders descending like madmen

I take it all the action is in the E3 thread?

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Trek with 4 in the top 12 is impressive. Both Kirsch and Skuijns are riding on a very high level.

Did they teleport from Harelbeke?

 

[Samamba]

Did they teleport from Harelbeke?

Woops my bad

Anyways. Small group left. Laurence still there, pretty good from him. I think he's the fastest left. Well honestly Pogacar could also win this. Israel going for Williams probably.

 

[pelotonIQ]

Why are the commentators talking about an uphill finish? The stage profile is flat towards the end.

 

[Samamba]

Laurence doesn't have teammates left, but he seems to have mad a French friend (from AG2R).

 

[Tricycle Rider]

It's been just one attack and counter-attack after another, it's been pretty wild so far and 12km to go.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Israel think Williams is winning this sprint? Seems a long shot.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

Peloton settling down a bit now and getting ready for the final sprint, I think.

 

[Samamba]

Sprinters coming back

 

[Scarponi]

Strung out

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Alpecin probably threw away a win here by not selecting anyone good enough to climb with Laurance.