Vuelta a España 2019 stage 12: Navarra - Bilbao > 171.4 km

[ice&fire]

Well, someone suggested earlier that it's an attempt to lure more sprinters to the race.
"See! You can totally do this race. There aren't that many climbs, and those that are included aren't so bad.
SURPRISE!"

You can do them all on an old 42x24 gear

 

[SafeBet]

Doesn't look like a stage for the break thus far.

 

[Flamin]

Doesn't look like a stage for the break thus far.

Yep, everyone wants to be near the front because the peloton might split, hence the pace never drops.

 

[Blanco]

I have a feeling this will be one hell of a stage!

 

[Eyeballs Out]

Strong headwind for the first few hours which makes it more difficult to force a break

 

[sir fly]

I don't think anybody expected racing like this.

 

[Carols]

47km avg for first 100km!

 

[Red Rick]

If they keep going this fast I might miss the entirety of the stage

 

[Carols]

Finally a 19 man break- no names yet

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Stream : https://ok.ru/videoembed/1425171684968

 

[SafeBet]

If they keep going this fast I might miss the entirety of the stage

Let's hope Rick is the new Gigs then.

 

[shalgo]

Break: Philippe Gilbert and Tim Declercq (Deceuninck-QuickStep), Valerio Conti and Marco Marcato (UAE Team Emirates), Francisco Ventoso (CCC Team), José Joaquín Rojas (Movistar), Nikias Arndt (Team Sunweb), John Degenkolb and Jacopo Mosca (Trek-Segafredo), Heinrich Haussler (Bahrain-Merida), Manuele Boaro (Astana), Willie Smit (Katusha-Alpecin), Jonathan Lastra and Alexander Aranburu (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), Tsgabu Grmay (Mitchelton-Scott), Tosh van der Sande (Lotto Soudal), Felix Großschartner (Bora-Hansgrohe), Cyril Barthe and Fernando Barceló (Euskadi-Murias).

Maybe today will finally be Aranburu's day?

 

[Laplaz]

Break: Philippe Gilbert and Tim Declercq (Deceuninck-QuickStep), Valerio Conti and Marco Marcato (UAE Team Emirates), Francisco Ventoso (CCC Team), José Joaquín Rojas (Movistar), Nikias Arndt (Team Sunweb), John Degenkolb and Jacopo Mosca (Trek-Segafredo), Heinrich Haussler (Bahrain-Merida), Manuele Boaro (Astana), Willie Smit (Katusha-Alpecin), Jonathan Lastra and Alexander Aranburu (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), Tsgabu Grmay (Mitchelton-Scott), Tosh van der Sande (Lotto Soudal), Felix Großschartner (Bora-Hansgrohe), Cyril Barthe and Fernando Barceló (Euskadi-Murias).

Maybe today will finally be Aranburu's day?

Nope. Phil Gil's day.

 

[KZD]

Ineos again with no one in the breakaway. What a pointless Vuelta...
It would be a hame if they waste the last climb but even if there are attacks I don't think anyone will be able to distance Roglic

 

[Valv.Piti]

Ineos again with no one in the breakaway. What a pointless Vuelta...
It would be a hame if they waste the last climb but even if there are attacks I don't think anyone will be able to distance Roglic

Could almost see it when they announced their team, picking Elissonde over Cruz, then picking Cruz again along with 4 rouleurs who can't do anything else than help captains. Everything about the team this Vuelta has been completely clueless.
But Movistar, winning 2 stages and being 2nd and 4th, are the clueless ones, apparently.

 

[sir fly]

Just look how narrow the road is...

 

[Wvv]

Will be surprised if this isn't going Phil's way.

 

[Singularitarian]

Could almost see it when they announced their team, picking Elissonde over Cruz, then picking Cruz again along with 4 rouleurs who can't do anything else than help captains. Everything about the team this Vuelta has been completely clueless.
But Movistar, winning 2 stages and being 2nd and 4th, are the clueless ones, apparently.

looks like their objective is to stay invisible for some reason... perhaps some there is Zubeldia team competition too

 

[Wvv]

Will be surprised if this isn't going Phil's way.

Unless Großschartner keeps riding this way. Declercq will have a key role.
Strong jump by Grmay tho.

 

[Bolder]

Could almost see it when they announced their team, picking Elissonde over Cruz, then picking Cruz again along with 4 rouleurs who can't do anything else than help captains. Everything about the team this Vuelta has been completely clueless.
But Movistar, winning 2 stages and being 2nd and 4th, are the clueless ones, apparently.

I still can't understand Thomas not riding the Vuelta. Hart has (to my disappointment) not been as good as I thought he would, and Poels has not been at his usual level, either. But neither of those guys have ever shown they could be legitimate GT GC threats.

 

[King Boonen]

Just tuned in Barceló FTW.

 

[Gigs_98]

Think großschartner probably went too early. He might have had a shot on the final climb had he stayed in the group.
Still I'm at least pleased to see the austrian bora boys are riding more aggressively recently. Now only konrad is ninjaing his way through stage races

 

[Gigs_98]

This is so f*cking annoying. Such a wasted opportunity for großschartner

 

[Wvv]

Showtime for Phil & co.

 

[King Boonen]

Now that's a ramp.