Vuelta a España Vuelta 2025, stage 20: Robledo de Chavela - Bola del Mundo - Puerto de Navacerrada (164.8 km)

[RobertCrawley]

Love those old Reynolds jerseys! Where's La Vie Claire?

 

[noob]

I've been sick all day, so my performance on the forum hasn't been my best. It is what it is.

get well soon!

 

[GroupDK]

Acid? Did I miss something? Or are we just making up random things now.

I shouldn't really have to point this out.. Mind-bogling..but since you claim that you're theyoungest, so maybe I need to..
Lactic Acid (lactate) is formed in the muscles during high-intensity exercise when there is not enough oxygen to produce energy.

Cycling Health - Lactic Acid

Put the gear ratio smaller and pedal with a lighter frequency so that the lactic acid can be taken away by the blood as much as possible, and this is also a way to relax and reduce lactic acid.

cycorldpro.com

 

[AlfaLum]

Let's be honest, it was not the most exciting race. But the Vuelta almost never is, it's always a bit of an afterthought. And like I said, people on this forum are almost never satisfied, so the comment "most boring race ever" is essentially meaningless.

I am quite often satisfied with a GT. I really enjoyed the Giro and the (first part) of theTour this year.

Indeed The Vuelta is the most boring race in general quite often. The overkill of unipuerto stages and no real proper racing in many editions is a bit boring for me. Add that despite the small gap nobody ever seemed able to threaten a Vingegaard that was often just consolidating his lead and there was very little excitement for me. With the annoyance from all the protest it was just the worst GT even for me.

 

[Rou]

Dracula on Bola del Mundo.
Lovely sight!

 

[Sciatic]

I can say it now. With the spectators so close on the climb, a protester could have done serious damage there. I was holding my breath.

But then that’s always the case on the biggest summit finishes—but usually the danger is the drunken idiots running a foot away from the leaders. One of these days one of those goofballs is going to trip over their own feet and take out the entire lead group.

 

[burning]

I don't buy that this Vuelta was bad at all tbh. UAE winning 7 stages with 4 riders alone is entertaining enough for me

 

[Red Rick]

The 2023 Giro was the worst Giro of this century.

The Vuelta last year was much, much better.

Who's the common denominator between the two?

Joao Almeida in a podium battle.

 

[AlfaLum]

Ah... To be so young...

Haha I was really Young in the time of Riis and Armstrong. But I must admit that my cycling brain forgets most editions after a while. 😂

 

[Valv.Piti]

Sounds like Almeida has also been a bit ill?

Almeida is far from 100%, thats for sure. He'd have sealed this race if he was, but oh well

 

[ice&fire]

Riccitello looks scared on the podium

 

[Unchained]

Brailsford to re-sign Pidcock and make him a tour de france winner?

Read a little about Q36..they sound pretty serious have some real talent signed for next year.
Tom Terrific looking great with his new environment. His constant comments about level of improvement and better race results are encouraging. He rides and talks really positive about himself and his team... Don't hear or see anything similar from Braisford bloodline.. And Rodriguez and Bernal both solid racers, Michal Kwiatkowski is also a great, great pro..but going on 36 years old, his time has passed.. Pidcock looking forward. Ineos needs a serious rework and maybe oil cash infusion will help..Even Ganna is gaining on 30 years old!

 

[RedheadDane]

But then that’s always the case on the biggest summit finishes—but usually the danger is the drunken idiots running a foot away from the leaders. One of these days one of those goofballs is going to trip over their own feet and take out the entire lead group.

We did had what looked like a drunk protestor earlier in the race...

 

[RobertCrawley]

Read a little about Q36..they sound pretty serious have some real talent signed for next year.
Tom Terrific looking great with his new environment. His constant comments about level of improvement and better race results are encouraging. He rides and talks really positive about himself and his team... Don't hear or see anything similar from Braisford bloodline.. And Rodriguez and Bernal both solid racers, Michal Kwiatkowski is also a great, great pro..but going on 36 years old, his time has passed.. Pidcock looking forward. Ineos needs a serious rework and maybe oil cash infusion will help..Even Ganna is gaining on 30 years old!

Correct me if I'm wrong, but Pidders seems to have matured in the past couple of years and fits better in the structure of team cycling.

 

[Netserk]

Almeida is far from 100%, thats for sure. He'd have sealed this race if he was, but oh well

Like on Angliru?

 

[pelotonIQ]

I do wonder at 28 years old if Jonas is as good as he will ever be, or if there is room for improvement to give Tadej a serious challenge at the 2026 Tour.

He will never know if he can improve becasuse it seems that he doesn't want to try changing trainers and for him to give it his absolute best shot at challenging Pogacar, Visma needs to put all eggs in one basket and give him domestiques in tip top shape for the Tour, which they haven't given him this Tour. I think a rider of Vingegaards calibre should be able to make demands and his needs priotized.

 

[postmanhat]

Read a little about Q36..they sound pretty serious have some real talent signed for next year.
Tom Terrific looking great with his new environment. His constant comments about level of improvement and better race results are encouraging. He rides and talks really positive about himself and his team... Don't hear or see anything similar from Braisford bloodline.. And Rodriguez and Bernal both solid racers, Michal Kwiatkowski is also a great, great pro..but going on 36 years old, his time has passed.. Pidcock looking forward. Ineos needs a serious rework and maybe oil cash infusion will help..Even Ganna is gaining on 30 years old!

Ineos have been far more successful without him. Pidcock talks positively about the team, because they're basically built around him. He could have done this well at Ineos, but he wanted his own little fiefdom.

 

[RobertCrawley]

Don't love those T-Rex jerseys.

 

[Danskebjerge]

Well, most of the time small gaps indicate a boring GT indeed.
Obviously there are the odd chances that we get a proper GT with plenty of attacks, bad days, coming back and a small gap after stage 19, but that wasn't the cass.

The Pogacar era has produced the biggest gap in races I remember, and it's been truly boring to watch.

 

[AnotherArmChair]

There have lots of good Vuelta's esp before Rog got involved and walked them

I really liked 2012 , 2013, 2014 and 2015 editions

 

[Sciatic]

Of course, but it wasn't obvious that Jonas would win. Where would we be if the TT wasn't shortened?

Vingegaard could have have attacked even sooner if he needed more time. The Shortened ITT was of little relevance for the red jersey. It might have helped Pidcock though.

 

[Unchained]

It's not the end of a race in the CyclingNews forum until someone makes this comment.

Some of these stages and individual performances have been incredible. The inclusion of TTT and ITT was excellent idea. Despite pesky protests shortening stages overall great race. I get a boost of national pride from the race with heavy American presence in top ten, and especially today, stage 20 absolutely brutal and good rides..Kuss and Riccitello impressive. Solid finish by Matteo, he really worked hard for his result. US needs some good news whenever we can get it.

 

[Sciatic]

Congrats to Jonas but if he only won overall with slightly over 1 minute vs Almeida. the rivalry with Pogacar is over.

Some of you folks are hilarious!

 

[theyoungest]

I shouldn't really have to point this out.. Mind-bogling..but you claim that your the youngest, so maybe I need too..
Lactic Acid (lactate) is formed in the muscles during high-intensity exercise when there is not enough oxygen to produce energy.

Cycling Health - Lactic Acid

Put the gear ratio smaller and pedal with a lighter frequency so that the lactic acid can be taken away by the blood as much as possible, and this is also a way to relax and reduce lactic acid.

cycorldpro.com

I misread your comment, which should be quite obvious. My sincere apologies.

 

[RobertCrawley]

He will never know if he can improve becasuse it seems that he doesn't want to try changing trainers and for him to give it his absolute best shot at challenging Pogacar, Visma needs to put all eggs in one basket and give him domestiques in tip top shape for the Tour, which they haven't given him this Tour.

Yeah, I don't know about his trainers. What's the story? I know Tadej moved on from Iñigo San Millán, even though he had some great results with him, and became even better with the next trainer.