Vuelta a España 2019 stage 17: Aranda de Duero - Guadalajara > 219.6 km

[hrotha]

Sorry, don't believe that for a second. They effectively gave Jumbo a break, let Rog sit in and encouraged Astana to think they could shut the gap even more. They want to secure Valverde on the podium and don't care about Nairo. That's fine, it's their choice, but that's what this is.

They gave them a break for a couple of minutes, tops? It was pretty obviously a calculated risk to help Quintana even further and it would have paid off big time if Astana was actually trying to win.

 

[King Boonen]

Stannard chasing?

 

[huangho]

Stybar!!

 

[ppanther92]

Just turned this on. I thought today was a sprint stage? Wth is going on? Why isn't Astana making Roglic and Pogacar chase?

Cause they are stupid.

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Bennett comes - straight past Stybar

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Gilbert coming back - 2 person sprint

 

[huangho]

Gilbert I meant... hahaha

 

[sir fly]

Second for Phil!
Chapeau!

Bennett miscalculated.

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Gilbert WINS again!

 

[Carols]

PhilGil!!!

 

[ppanther92]

Gilbert still has some punch on the hills. Chapeau!

 

[huangho]

Congrats to Gilbert... Well calculated attack

 

[Broccolidwarf]

220 k - 50,5 kmph average - crazy fast!

 

[Blanco]

Sorry, don't believe that for a second. They effectively gave Jumbo a break, let Rog sit in and encouraged Astana to think they could shut the gap even more. They want to secure Valverde on the podium and don't care about Nairo. That's fine, it's their choice, but that's what this is.

And I don't believe that for a second!
There were 3-4 Jumbo's, 3-4 UAE and 5 Astana's in the main group, that's some serious firepower. Movistar ripped that chase apart, except for Astana. Now if Astana wanted to race against Roglic, he would be doomed, between Movi and them. Someone would broke free, either Lopez or Valverde, or maybe even both.
And Quintana will gain this way maybe even more...

 

[Zoophonic]

I appreciate we all want an exciting Vuelta but wishing upon a rider a puncture a step too far?

 

[King Boonen]

They gave them a break for a couple of minutes, tops? It was pretty obviously a calculated risk to help Quintana even further and it would have paid off big time if Astana was actually trying to win.

Again, I don't buy this. Jumbo were on the edge and Movi took a minute out of the break that Jumbo wasn't going to bring back themselves.

 

[Singularitarian]

WOLFPACK tactic again... poor Sam tootally DEAD

 

[ppanther92]

Average race speed: 50.680 km/h.
(Started at 11:57, 219.6 km covered in 04:19:59)

Insane.

 

[Breezy1985]

Second for Phil!
Chapeau!

Bennett miscalculated.

Well worked from DQ. Bennett done the best he could under the circumstances

 

[Scarponi]

Their heart rates would have been so high for so long

 

[King Boonen]

I appreciate we all want an exciting Vuelta but wishing upon a rider a puncture a step too far?

I don't think anyone has done that. Please report it if they have.

 

[Finn84]

50,4 km/h average!

 

[Zoophonic]

If ever a team deserved a stage victory it was DQS Chapeau to them

 

[jaylew]

I don't think anyone has done that. Please report it if they have.

Oh, c'mon. Why would that be a reportable offense? It's not wishing physical harm on a rider like hoping for a crash. That's going too far.

 

[huangho]

If ever a team deserved a stage victory it was DQS Chapeau to them

Brilliant tactics... Simply brilliant!!