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

[Peyroteo94]

unless vingegaard collapses there's no way in hell Almeida gains time on him. best chance for him was the ITT

Welcome back to the forum, mate. It's always nice to see portuguese people here.

 

[RobertCrawley]

Don't think so, Vingegaard will just follow Almeida's wheel until very late even if he is the stronger of the two.

Agree. They're both pretty baked. I hope there's an epic battle to the top, but I wouldn't bet on it.

 

[Cookster15]

Hopefully UEA make amends for their poor performance today but I can't see Almeida taking 44 seconds. Jonas will have to crack.

Hope Hindley can claw back the 39 seconds he is now behind Pidcock. But that seems tough with how well Pidders has been climbing. To Hindley's advantage the Bola del Mundo profile reminds me of Passo Fedaia - a sting in the tail.

But this stage has the potential to save this Vuelta.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Hope Hindley can claw back the 39 seconds he is now behind Pidcock. But that seems tough with how well Pidders has been climbing. To Hindley's advantage the Bola del Mundo profile reminds me of Passo Fedaia - a sting in the tail.

And the elevation: 2000 m+ like Fedaia. Hindley is surely more proven on such terrain and Pidcock maybe, just maybe, will falter at the end of a 3-week race (he's still not fully proven on this territory).

 

[Lefebre]

Tomorrow is the day we will crown the champion Ving and will witness the river of tears of we know who.
It will be a great day for cycling

 

[AlpRaid]

Don't think so, Vingegaard will just follow Almeida's wheel until very late even if he is the stronger of the two.

yup. almeida has yet to drop vingo on any climb. even tho vingo has been sick.

 

[AlpRaid]

And the elevation: 2000 m+ like Fedaia. Hindley is surely more proven on such terrain and Pidcock maybe, just maybe, will falter at the end of a 3-week race (he's still not fully proven on this territory).

tho Pidcock seems now to be gaining strength again after a challenging 2nd week.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

I'd rather watch a UAE clown show with Soler/Vine and Ayuso attacking at will than Almeida with Vinge on the wheel for 10km up Bola....
Hopefully Hindley and Pidcock attacks each other with depth, willpower and risk.

 

[Sciatic]

100% of the Bola del Mundo stage winners have been popped off for clinic offences. I'm not sure I'd want to win there.

So in other words shooting for 2nd place has added value

 

[Sciatic]

The entire top-10 on GC to stay in the same position. < 15 seconds between Almeida and Vingegaard on the stage.

But we have the epic battle between Riccitello and Gall for 6th place, with only 3 seconds between them!

 

[postmanhat]

Hoping for a mega-break of forum favourites, and the pantomime villain - Ciccone, Landa, Bernal, Ayuso.

 

[CyclistAbi]

This is it, what we came here for, so many questions and so little answers. Time to change that.

 

[dazaau]

unless vingegaard collapses there's no way in hell Almeida gains time on him. best chance for him was the ITT

The cancelled TT was his best chance😂

It's just sad to think Almeida turns himself inside out in a 12.2km to gain 10 seconds and then gives 4 away cause uae and Almeida are asleep the next day.

 

[SHAD0W93]

Tomorrow is the day we will crown the champion Ving and will witness the river of tears of we know who.
It will be a great day for cycling

Tears? Almost everyone picked Vingegaard to win.

 

[chiocciolis_calves]

Think Vingegaard will crack and Almeida will be better. Pidcock will take back a minute.

 

[movingtarget]

Can Hindley crack Pidcock ? Maybe Almeida will. But so far Pidcock has managed well and the strong TT was also a good sign. Same goes for Vingegaard who hasn't looked great in the third week. Finally might get some dramatic MTF action.

 

[Cookster15]

Tomorrow is the day we will crown the champion Ving and will witness the river of tears of we know who.
It will be a great day for cycling

Who is ‘we know who’? Vingegaard was always the overwhelming favourite to win this Vuelta. Whoever ‘we know who’ is has overachieved against expectations. ‘We know who’s fans won’t be crying a river of tears no matter what the outcome.

 

[Cookster15]

yup. almeida has yet to drop vingo on any climb. even tho vingo has been sick.

First I’ve read that ? And no one recovers well hammering themselves day after day with even a cold. The body’s immune system revolts no matter what kind of aerobic engine you might have.

 

[Berniece]

If anyone of the likes of Vine/Soler/Ayuso is in the break, UAE has failed. Last chance to win the Vuelta. Try to make the race hard and drop Vingegaard.

Visma will take it easy and just close down gaps.

RBH should play all or nothing with one of their riders and go very early on Bola Del Mundo.

Pidcock just focus on Hindley.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

First I’ve read that ? And no one recovers well hammering themselves day after day with even a cold. The body’s immune system revolts no matter what kind of aerobic engine you might have.

I think it really depends what kind of infection it is. A common cold (without fever) impacts your capabilities only slightly (it can cause some breathing discomfort of course). Infection with moderate fever is a different beast, one can crack completely.

 

[Cookster15]

I think it really depends what kind of infection it is. A common cold (without fever) impacts your capabilities only slightly (it can cause some breathing discomfort of course). Infection with moderate fever is a different beast, one can crack completely.

Sure, but I was thinking more of the impact on the immune system. Due to the physical effort required what begins as a cold can quickly develop into a chest infection and then you are in trouble.

 

[RedheadDane]

Sure, but I was thinking more of the impact on the immune system. Due to the physical effort required what begins as a cold can quickly develop into a chest infection and then you are in trouble.

Completely un-related, but since you're here... could you sticky the thread?

Or is @Armchair Cyclist the man with the glue stick?

 

[EddyMazzoleni]

If anyone of the likes of Vine/Soler/Ayuso is in the break, UAE has failed. Last chance to win the Vuelta. Try to make the race hard and drop Vingegaard.

Visma will take it easy and just close down gaps.

RBH should play all or nothing with one of their riders and go very early on Bola Del Mundo.

Pidcock just focus on Hindley.

Unless they go all out and try on Navacerrada. I think it's worth it honestly

 

[topcat]

Completely un-related, but since you're here... could you sticky the thread?

Or is @Armchair Cyclist the man with the glue stick?

Can you sticky the Alaphilippe thread also?

 

[greyclouds]

Vingegaard and Visma will win GC for a simply reason - they want it more than UAE and Almeida.

UAE will be satisfied with Tour + Pogis Monuments + 2nd place in Giro and Vuelta + record number of wins. Almeida will be satisfied with a close 2nd to Vingegaaard, especially after abandoning the Tour with a broken rib.

Jonas will only be satisfied with winning and he will defend his lead tooth and nail.

Edit: it’s entirely possible for Almeida to win it, I just doubt that UAE will execute the perfect strategy.