Vuelta 2019, Stage 20: Arenas de San Pedro - Plataforma de Gredos > 190.4 km

[Salvarani]

Based on today, shouldn't the UCI require everyone to finish together tomorrow?

Yes, because of the crash yesterday. It would be immoral to attack today. Taking advantage of that. When everyone was going to be racing.

 

[Lequack]

Tony Martin patched up

 

[Rollthedice]

The profile looks good for a massive break and a shattered peloton, potential excitement ahead. Now, only if Lopez could descend and Quintana climb.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Jumbo's first aim should be to ensure that Marc Soler is not in the breakaway. Their second aim should be to prevent Jakob Fuglsang or Luís León Sánchez being in it either. Anybody else, not really a problem. I'm sure Movistar and Astana will want to get some helpers up the road, and rightly so, but those three riders have shown the kind of form that they're more dangerous to have as helpers already up there if their leaders gamble and go for the win from deep, because let's face it, to win the race they would have to go from deep, given Rogla's advantage.

 

[Pantani_lives]

Yes, the only way to dethrone Roglic would be a huge attack with several helpers from Astana and Movistar involved. However after Roglic took a big lead in the time trial and gained even more time in the next mountain stages it looks like Movistar and Astana are mostly riding against each other for the two remaining podium spots. Jumbo-Visma is weakened, but the other teams haven't managed to exploit that thus far and Roglic has countered the attacks individually when necessary.

 

[Lequack]

Rain forecast in the afternoon today, tomorrow thunderstorms in Madrid.

 

[Lequack]

Here's Mitch to tell us about the stage

https://twitter.com/x/status/1172805802039447552

View: https://twitter.com/EFprocycling/status/1172805802039447552

 

[wheresmybrakes]

I'm gonna make a bold prediction and say that Roglic is gonna crack today but not lose quite as much time as to lose the jersey. Massacre by the Movistar or Astana' apocalypse, fireworks galore!

 

[Lequack]

Lopez and Valverde are best buddies again

Some more pics

 

[RedheadDane]

Owwww! Richeze!

 

[Lequack]

Tony Martin would have bossed this climb, really missing for Jumbo Visma.

 

[Pantani_lives]

TG Hart wants to join the break. For a small team like Ineos this is the last chance to win a stage.

 

[Red Rick]

Jumbo riders stalking Astana riders on the attacks.

Movistar trying to bring it back

 

[Broccolidwarf]

I tip my hat to Astana, they keep trying and trying and trying!

Cool start to the stage.

 

[Red Rick]

Rain.

 

[sir fly]

Jumbo marking moves, but I'm not sure Astana should be their concern.
I don't mind, though... it can provide exciting racing later on.

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Stage 20 on a GT, cold, rain, and non-stop attacks the first 35 k.

This stage has the ingredients to become epic

 

[Breezy1985]

Owwww! Richeze!

Surprised he is starting today looking at that. Really impressed by his endurance

and his tan lines

 

[Red Rick]

Jumbo marking moves, but I'm not sure Astana should be their concern.
I don't mind, though... it can provide exciting racing later on.

I think it's smart. At these gradients you wanna be in the wheels rather than setting the pace.

Movistar is riding really defensively it seems.

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Bouchard can no longer get caught for the climbers jersey, so Madrazo is after a stage win, as is the AG2R rider.

 

[RedheadDane]

Angel Madrazo ftw!

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Rolf Soerensen saying on the danish broadcast, that Movistar today seem to be fighting to protect their 2nd and 3rd place against Astana, rather than fighting to take 1st away from Roglic.

 

[Broccolidwarf]

I hate it when Fuglsand and Sanchez are riding together, you can never tell them apart from a distance

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Another Astana off the front, now 3.

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Both Izagirres and Fuglsang in the break, if this can stay away, it becomes interesting!