Vuelta '20: Stage 1: Irún - Arrate. Eibar (10/20/2020)

[Red Rick]

Last time the defending champ won the opening stage of a GT he lost the race on the 19th day.

Checkmate atheists.

 

[bigcog]

Not sure why Ineos took Froome, you would think they would know whether he was capable of being a mountain dom, weird.

 

[richwallone]

i hope Mas is contending for overall GC, i ve been sitting on no mas jokes for quite some time

I'm pretty sure he is

 

[ppanther92]

Would be nice to see him going on like that. But he's completely missing support.

I actually always thought that both, Mühlberger and Großschartner, are capable of doing the same GC wise as Konrad (i.e. top 10 in the Giro or Vuelta) but this today still was a surprise. Wasn't going that well at the Tour (but maybe thats not even bad in hindsight).

 

[johnymax]

On a side note. Is this the first time two riders from the same country won a stage on different GTs on the same day?

 

[titan31]

Also whatever happenned to team timetrials? Have we had any TTT this year at all in the grand tours, or at all?

I suppose it's too much of a benefit to Jumbo and Ineos. Doesn't lend to competitive racing when you give the teams with the best contenders even more of an advantage

 

[richwallone]

Not sure why Ineos took Froome, you would think they would know whether he was capable of being a mountain dom, weird.

Out of respect... He was their star and the best GC rider of the 21st century

 

[Escarabajo]

Dani Martinez blew up completely. Yesterday I saw a podcast where he said he was not feeling good. I wonder what is going on. He said he is feeling tired.

 

[perico]

I can't see Carthy, Martin or Chaves holding it from start to finish

Think it's between Roglic, Carapaz and Mas

Martin not likely. Chavez I don’t know- he can be spectacular one day still and then awful the next, even when he was at his best. Hugh Carthy? I’m not sure. He was excellent at the Giro last year in the 3rd week (or was it 2018 Icant remember), but EF is gonna need someone to lead them after this years exodus, might as well be him.

 

[ppanther92]

Meanwhile this guy is just happy to be here and racing

I mean, fair enough and good for him. But I actually have a hard time believing that. Would be happe to be wrong though.

 

[Danskebjerge]

Vlasov's early escape from the Giro didn't really pay off today, did it?

 

[gunara]

I think they were supposed to have started with a TTT, but then... ya know... COVID.

I know, but are you sure you quote the right post?

 

[Anderis]

So the strongest at this point appear to be Roglic, Carapaz, Martin, Mas, Carthy and Kuss. Kuss isn't riding GC. Is Carthy riding GC?

Why wouldn't Carthy ride GC? At least until he has a bad day or something. But looking at his Giro last year he is capable of finishing with the best for 3 weeks.

 

[richwallone]

Vlasov's early escape from the Giro didn't really pay off today, did it?

I had high hopes for him but not every youngling can be a star... Oh well, hope he can win a stage at least...

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Meanwhile this guy is just happy to be here and racing

When will he actually start racing again?

 

[perico]

Out of respect... He is the star and the best GC rider of the 21st century

This decade? No argument. The 21st century? Depends on your perspective. If you include those who lost their titles, then it’s Armstrong and Contador ahead of him. Not including those lost titles, then I’d put him at 1a with Contador 1b.

 

[RedheadDane]

Also whatever happenned to team timetrials? Have we had any TTT this year at all in the grand tours, or at all?

I think they were supposed to have started with a TTT, but then... ya know... COVID.

 

[Lequack]

 

[gunara]

So Spain is more likely to win their home GT again before France and Italy?
Don't think I would think so 2 or 3 years ago, especially since I never trust Landa, but it has less to do with Mas' progress than the recent development of French and Italian GC guys.

 

[perico]

I suppose it's too much of a benefit to Jumbo and Ineos. Doesn't lend to competitive racing when you give the teams with the best contenders even more of an advantage

There was A TTT. It was cancelled since they didn’t really replace stages after cancellation of the 1st three stages. Nothing to do with Jumbo/Ineos strength.

 

[richwallone]

This decade? No argument. The 21st century? Depends on your perspective. If you include those who lost their titles, then it’s Armstrong and Contador ahead of him. Not including those lost titles, then I’d put him at 1a with Contador 1b.

Ooops, you are absolutely right... That was a moment of lapsed judgement on my part... My bad!!! How could I forget Contador

And Armstrong, well, I liked him, too, a lot, but he only raced the Tour...

 

[bob.a.feet]

Out of respect... He was their star and the best GC rider of the 21st century

Mate mate mate:

Now let's watch Roglic hold the jersey for the entire race; even Anquetil didn't quite manage it.

 

[richwallone]

Mate mate mate:

Now let's watch Roglic hold the jersey for the entire race; even Anquetil didn't quite manage it.

OK, the guy on the right He raced everything... I was always disappointed by Armstrong focusing on the Tour only...

 

[Lequack]

Now let's watch Roglic hold the jersey for the entire race; even Anquetil didn't quite manage it.

I doubt Jumbo will want to, I suspect someone from the breakaway to take it sooner or later.

 

[perico]

So Spain is more likely to win their home GT again before France and Italy?
Don't think I would think so 2 or 3 years ago, especially since I never trust Landa, but it has less to do with Mas' progress than the recent development of French and Italian GC guys.

It does tend to favor their type of riders. At the same time, Movistar had a poor buildup to the TdF and came into it out of sorts. They looked pretty strong by the third week with Mas in the front group and Valverde up there around the front and Soler and Verona in just about every break.