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Volta Ciclista a Catalunya 2025, March 24-30

Page 28 - Get up to date with the latest news, scores & standings from the Cycling News Community.
I honestly still think it's an easy climb. Yes, not punchy-sprinter-type easy, - I got that wrong - but one where a bigger group can arrive together, if the pace isn't too high.

Obviously, the pace was high in the end though - whatever UAE, Ineos and Quickstep were thinking. They all paid for it in the end, and it was obvious from the start that it comes with bigger chances to lose than to win.

Well, that's true for any climb.
 
There were riders who thought it was gonna be 30 guys in the end too. The difference is that people thought it was not gonna be raced hard. A gradual climb of 8.8km at 6.8% is not that hard. But they did race it hard. No one said there couldn't be gaps if it was raced hard.
But even with 30 riders at the end you don't get really get climby sprinters unless they've had a mad one. Take Montevergine di Mercogliano, an easier climb than this which comes after a flat stage. Usually ends with 30 or so, and at a stretch someone like peak Rebellin is there. Not like, Kaden Groves.
 
But even with 30 riders at the end you don't get really get climby sprinters unless they've had a mad one. Take Montevergine di Mercogliano, an easier climb than this which comes after a flat stage. Usually ends with 30 or so, and at a stretch someone like peak Rebellin is there. Not like, Kaden Groves.

Sure, but I don't even know if Search said that Brennan was gonna win. He asked a question if it was possible. No it wasn't. I would say peak Matthews could and that's what people are comparing Brennan too.

Anyways I think that's even besides the point. No idea why we need to take the piss out of someones take after a race. It so easy to do and it happens way to often here. As if Toby doesn't have bad takes from time to time.
 
Sure, but I don't even know if Search said that Brennan was gonna win. He asked a question if it was possible. No it wasn't. I would say peak Matthews could and that's what people are comparing Brennan too.

Anyways I think that's even besides the point. No idea why we need to take the piss out of someones take after a race. It so easy to do and it happens way to often here. As if Toby doesn't have bad takes from time to time.

He definitely doesn't say or ask whether a sprinter can win on a 10 km 7% MTF.

And it wasn't meant personally against the poster who asked the question because someone else answered in the affirmative, which I just found completely hilarious. Saying that Matthews or Sagan would have had a chance here in this field is equally ludicrous.

Also, even if there had been 30 riders, Brennan would not be one of them in this field. The reason so many people finished close yesterday is that the climbing field is really deep in Catalunya. There are probably 80 better climbers than Brennan in this field.
 
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Sure, but I don't even know if Search said that Brennan was gonna win. He asked a question if it was possible. No it wasn't. I would say peak Matthews could and that's what people are comparing Brennan too.

Anyways I think that's even besides the point. No idea why we need to take the piss out of someones take after a race. It so easy to do and it happens way to often here. As if Toby doesn't have bad takes from time to time.
Sure, I still think people underestimated it even on paper/forgot that a rolling 180km day takes it out the legs. Not sure peak Matthews has ever even come close on a 9km/6.5% MTF or a stage like today's. I feel he won stages with 50-60 left, not 30. I was just confused was all.
 
Sure, I still think people underestimated it even on paper/forgot that a rolling 180km day takes it out the legs. Not sure peak Matthews has ever even come close on a 9km/6.5% MTF or a stage like today's. I feel he won stages with 50-60 left, not 30. I was just confused was all.
Matthews won an easy GT MTF from the GC group. It had a massive pileup just before the bottom so they didn't relaly try to drop him.

giro-d-italia-2014-stage-6-climb-n3-9468f34aa6.jpg
 
Montecassino is significantly easier than today, though. Completely flat stage going into it, too. Most of this climb was over 7% which is no gimme
Oh I fully agree. To me this is the reference of Matthews winning an uphill finish on a climb of some length. Also 260km stage cause why not.

The fact that I saw several comments discussing this stage being a 30-40 man group sprint is bonkers to me.
 
The stretch between 20 and 10km to go will be extremely dangerous for echelons tomorrow. Completely open roads and around the time they will be there the wind is supposed to pick up significantly and the direction would be almost ideal. Last 10km would be (cross)headwind tho.

Also more cross tailwind sections earlier in the race but it's not sure if the wind will already be strong enough by then.
 
The stretch between 20 and 10km to go will be extremely dangerous for echelons tomorrow. Completely open roads and around the time they will be there the wind is supposed to pick up significantly and the direction would be almost ideal. Last 10km would be (cross)headwind tho.

Also more cross tailwind sections earlier in the race but it's not sure if the wind will already be strong enough by then.
Already at 80 km from the finish. I hope for mayhem.
 
Already at 80 km from the finish. I hope for mayhem.

Yes but the question is if the wind will have picked up enough by then. It will definitely be mayhem at some point

Honestly basically already from 100km from the finish. I just can't see how this won't be absolute carnage. Ineos will try to set something up definitely, they need to and they have the team for it.
 
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