Volta Ciclista a Catalunya 2025, March 24-30

[ChewbaccaDefense]

Visma are usually not very opportunistic, and I guess we'll see on Friday if Van Aert has what it takes at the moment. If not, they might get a little more adventurous in their lineup choices.

That's what I'm thinking. If Wout isn't going to actually offer a realistic chance, maybe putting in a wildcard isn't the worst idea?

 

[Netserk]

It could even be 5 in a row tomorrow, although Visma's decision to give him literally 0 riders suited to a sprint train so they could send a bunch of failing climbers instead will hurt his chances. They should try to trim down the peloton on the cat. 1 midway through the stage.

Brennan wouldn't even be here if Vingegaard would.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Brennen could be the new Cristian scaroni

 

[theyoungest]

It could even be 5 in a row tomorrow, although Visma's decision to give him literally 0 riders suited to a sprint train so they could send a bunch of failing climbers instead will hurt his chances. They should try to trim down the peloton on the cat. 1 midway through the stage.

The original plan was to ride this race with Vingegaard as the leader, of course.

 

[kingjr]

Brennen could be the new Cristian scaroni

He's the new Olav Kooij

 

[Unchained]

Does Alpecin shampoo really make you faster? What is in that stuff!!?

 

[search]

So...

Carapaz +17
S Yates, A Yates, Poels, Soler, Riccitello and Oconnor +22
Fortunato +52

Kuss +2'35
Gall +2'52 (of course)

Carapaz should get the same time as Quintana (+15) in the end. Buchmann between those two is missing in the result, so there actually was no gap.

 

[Rechtschreibfehler]

Kind of telling that they didnt use to check riders for concussion back in the day when they fell. It is good that they have started with that.

On the other hand he told an anecdote of winning a stage in Catalunya based on an extremely optimistic interpretation of reality. This is how I make sense of a lot that he says, he doesn't think, he hopes and fills this hope with the power of belief. Intellectually a very questionable way to approach the world though.

 

[theyoungest]

That's what I'm thinking. If Wout isn't going to actually offer a realistic chance, maybe putting in a wildcard isn't the worst idea?

He's not going to follow Pogi and MVDP on the climbs, let's be realistic here. But it would certainly be fun to watch how far he could come, rather than betting everything on Van Aert or Jorgenson possibly, maybe making the podium.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

He's not going to follow Pogi and MVDP on the climbs, let's be realistic here. But it would certainly be fun to watch how far he could come, rather than betting everything on Van Aert or Jorgenson possibly, maybe making the podium.

Yeah, put him up the road early and see where it goes.

 

[kingjr]

On the other hand he told an anecdote of winning a stage in Catalunya based on an extremely optimistic interpretation of reality. This is how I make sense of a lot that he says, he doesn't think, he hopes and fills this hope with the power of belief. Intellectually a very questionable way to approach the world though.

Which is in line with his approach to racing. That did work out quite well for him, to be fair.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Brennan wouldn't even be here if Vingegaard would.

I don't think it would have been that big a deal to bump one more rider, especially not with them racing Coppi e Bartali at the same time. It stops making sense to send a full climbing team when your GC leader isn't there. Kind of reminiscent of Jayco leaving Ewan out of their Tour squad in 2018 and then having a full sprint train but no sprinter.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

So...

Carapaz +17
S Yates, A Yates, Poels, Soler, Riccitello and Oconnor +22
Fortunato +52

Kuss +2'35
Gall +2'52 (of course)

Typical Landa masterclass. Putting time to his rivals without spending energy

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

they changed the rule, but not the kind of stages it is applied at, or did they?!

I think the change was that it needs to be specified, rather than applying by default in the absence of a climbing classification point.

 

[Rechtschreibfehler]

Which is in line with his approach to racing. That did work out quite well for him, to be fair.

And made for a lot of excitement, I always like having him in commentary for this reason. He can get soo exited and he often brings the enthusiasm of a child into a reality that is meant to be analytic. He's just overusing it, but in much smaller doses, we could often need more of this to achieve something good.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

He's the new Olav Kooij

Somewhere Kooij is saying "Well...sh!t"

 

[theyoungest]

I don't think it would have been that big a deal to bump one more rider, especially not with them racing Coppi e Bartali at the same time. It stops making sense to send a full climbing team when your GC leader isn't there. Kind of reminiscent of Jayco leaving Ewan out of their Tour squad in 2018 and then having a full sprint train but no sprinter.

Come on, this is too much armchair quarterbacking. He's just a last minute call up. Let's not make everything "oh, it's the awful Visma management again" to score some cheap Cyclingnews forum points.

 

[search]

I think the change was that it needs to be specified, rather than applying by default in the absence of a climbing classification point.

in the UCI rules, it's the same as before: "This article shall not apply where the finish is at the top of a hill-climb." No other exception listed.

 

[Netserk]

I don't think it would have been that big a deal to bump one more rider, especially not with them racing Coppi e Bartali at the same time. It stops making sense to send a full climbing team when your GC leader isn't there. Kind of reminiscent of Jayco leaving Ewan out of their Tour squad in 2018 and then having a full sprint train but no sprinter.

While Huising could go to Italy, they don't really have anyone to spare that could go here. Only Zingle, but Catalunya doesn't fit with his program.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

I don't think it would have been that big a deal to bump one more rider, especially not with them racing Coppi e Bartali at the same time. It stops making sense to send a full climbing team when your GC leader isn't there. Kind of reminiscent of Jayco leaving Ewan out of their Tour squad in 2018 and then having a full sprint train but no sprinter.

'Good win by Brennen today , but it would be even better if tosh van Der Sandé was here to pat him on the back after the finish'

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Typical Landa masterclass. Putting time to his rivals without spending energy

'There's a different kind of mentality without them' - Mikel Landa aiming high at the Volta a Catalunya with no Vingegaard or Pogačar

2024 Volta runner-up predicts 'good fight between Primoz Roglič and Juan Ayuso' in overall battle

www.cyclingnews.com

 

[Devil's Elbow]

While Huising could go to Italy, they don't really have anyone to spare that could go here. Only Zingle, but Catalunya doesn't fit with his program.

Affini is not scheduled to race this week (next race is DDV), obviously he wouldn't have been much use today but that's definitely the kind of rider who can lend Brennan a hand in the actual sprints.

 

[Unchained]

He said in the interview, he just didn't have the legs and Brennan was just stronger.

Absolutely great ride from Groves and the fact that he couldn't sprint for 1200+ meters makes him only slightly less of a super human!! And he lost by a tiny fraction after hero's try..
Brennan awesome combination of skill, speed and determination.. Excellent, exciting finish!! Each week, every race showing another young solid talent!!

 

[SafeBet]

Pellizzari impressed me today. Finishing in the front group after all the work he did was no easy task. Bodes well for his future as a GC rider.

 

[Netserk]

Affini is not scheduled to race this week (next race is DDV), obviously he wouldn't have been much use today but that's definitely the kind of rider who can lend Brennan a hand in the actual sprints.

I think Affini will ride E3.