btw, nobody is praising that brilliant tactical Movi ride precisely calculated to get rid the Piti's sacred podium of certain Mr. Van Kvintanen
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Maybe Dumoulin at 100%, but dont underestimate Valverde in his usual Vuelta stage or Lopez' climbing. The depth was weak, but the top level was here.How do you think Dumoulin or Geraint would have fared?
And the most *** of the year goes too... you!btw, nobody is praising that brilliant tactical Movi ride precisely calculated to get rid the Piti's sacred podium of certain Mr. Van Kvintanen
It would've been a huge injustice if Quintana finished on the podium ahead of this great young Slovenian!Quintana on the doomed 4th place.
I feel a little bad for him. He doesn't get enough credit for animating the races.
I guess Geraint would have been as good as Andy Schleck was back in the dayHow do you think Dumoulin or Geraint would have fared?
Great ride to end the race. This was easily the best Grand Tour of the year.
So LibertineWhy be so down on Quintana? He's helped give us a serious show in the last week that we mightn't have had because he was suddenly an active player again. Sure, it's not been the strongest GC field (a bit like 2009 there's a sharp drop off from the very best to the next level, the star power is comparable to 2011 in terms of the look of the GC, albeit there were a few bigger guns who started but failed in that race), but everybody in that group has played their part in why the race has been enjoyable.
Roglič worked hard in week 1 to win back the time lost in the TTT, animated the early parts, then did absolutely what he had to after that - win the ITT to take the jersey and then be Menchov in the Giro 2009 level ironman, responding to everybody while his team disintegrated around him.
Valverde used his smarts to keep from losing time anywhere he didn't have to, courted a bit of controversy here and there, and attacked at the base of Los Machucos to set that stage into action.
Pogačar added the impetuousness of youth, attacking in places that weren't expected and lighting up the race with fearless moves on the climbs, profiting from Movistar's tactical blunder in Andorra, then working with his compatriot on Los Machucos and, despite a bad day in the Sierra de Guadarrama, responding with agutsy all-or-nothing ride to the podium.
Quintana for all the criticism he attracts animated the race from the word go, making up for his lack of mountain form by gaining time in hitherto-unexpected places, winning an early hilly stage by attacking on the flat, and returning to the GC mix in the crosswinds.
López added to the race by virtue of his multiple stints in and out of the maillot rojo in the first half of the race, and while he was less visible or prominent through the middle third of the week, his constant animation of the week 3 mountain stages to fight for the podium and the white jersey has really added to the battle.
Majka had been distanced quite a bit early in the race which rendered him a relatively minor point, but his continued presence in the leader's group as his form returned into week 3 meant he could be a strong ally or add an extra dynamic to the race.
Everybody's had a part to play here.
I think there were a few really high level performances after stages that were done very slowly.Maybe Dumoulin at 100%, but dont underestimate Valverde in his usual Vuelta stage or Lopez' climbing. The depth was weak, but the top level was here.
Ride of the Vuelta today for Pogi.
Third stage win, gets on the final podium and the white jersey as a bonus.
What a year for the youngsters. We'll remember it for a long time.
It was Quintana who attacked early on Los Muchachos. But other than that great post.Why be so down on Quintana? He's helped give us a serious show in the last week that we mightn't have had because he was suddenly an active player again. Sure, it's not been the strongest GC field (a bit like 2009 there's a sharp drop off from the very best to the next level, the star power is comparable to 2011 in terms of the look of the GC, albeit there were a few bigger guns who started but failed in that race), but everybody in that group has played their part in why the race has been enjoyable.
Roglič worked hard in week 1 to win back the time lost in the TTT, animated the early parts, then did absolutely what he had to after that - win the ITT to take the jersey and then be Menchov in the Giro 2009 level ironman, responding to everybody while his team disintegrated around him.
Valverde used his smarts to keep from losing time anywhere he didn't have to, courted a bit of controversy here and there, and attacked at the base of Los Machucos to set that stage into action.
Pogačar added the impetuousness of youth, attacking in places that weren't expected and lighting up the race with fearless moves on the climbs, profiting from Movistar's tactical blunder in Andorra, then working with his compatriot on Los Machucos and, despite a bad day in the Sierra de Guadarrama, responding with agutsy all-or-nothing ride to the podium.
Quintana for all the criticism he attracts animated the race from the word go, making up for his lack of mountain form by gaining time in hitherto-unexpected places, winning an early hilly stage by attacking on the flat, and returning to the GC mix in the crosswinds.
López added to the race by virtue of his multiple stints in and out of the maillot rojo in the first half of the race, and while he was less visible or prominent through the middle third of the week, his constant animation of the week 3 mountain stages to fight for the podium and the white jersey has really added to the battle.
Majka had been distanced quite a bit early in the race which rendered him a relatively minor point, but his continued presence in the leader's group as his form returned into week 3 meant he could be a strong ally or add an extra dynamic to the race.
Everybody's had a part to play here.
In their usual GC shape (for example GT 2019 Tour, TD 2018 Tour) they finish just behind Roglic or win. The biggest advantage for riders like Roglic and Valverde was the lack of altitude and really long climbs.How do you think Dumoulin or Geraint would have fared?
This surely deserves further research, but if I'm not mistaken Bartali managed his last podium after 14 years from his first.What an amazing ride by Pogacar! His 3rd mountain stage, podium finish at the Vuelta and a white jersey. He was so strong today and gained his advantage so quickly. I'm glad that he passed Quintana in the GC (who gained his position due to winds). Before the stage I counted on Lopez more (thinking that Pogacar is more gassed in the third week) but the young Slovenian surprised me again. He's the youngest GT podium finisher since...? I don't know. if not his early losses he actually would be the only threat to the leader (in his first ever GT). The guy is the future of cycling,
Cograts to Roglic as well, fantastic race! Slovenians are celebrating today. I can't forget about Valverde - he's 39 yo and for the first time was on the Vuelta podium 16 years ago! Legend. Is this a record? BTW difference between two guys on podium will be more than 18 years.