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Apparently Rémi Cavagna (QS) in the front group had 355 Watts average over 4 hours it took to finish the stage.
“Next thing you know, 40 guys are off the front. The red jersey’s not there, so of course, we rode flat out. It was a bit of disbelief, are we really going to do this for 220km? I pretty quickly realized, that yeah, we are that stupid.”
This isnt just about this year or Valverde and Nairo. The reason Valverde keeps getting accused of not being a team player is because he keeps giving people reason to doubt itIt just so happens that Valverde has proved to be better in the mountain than Quintana, so I dont really know what you are on about.. apart from hating on Valv, obviosuly..
Judging the comments written here even former pros working now as team directors or TV commentators don't get it. That is the level of understanding of the sport that scientific training and race radio driven riding has brought us.I think everything Movistar did today (getting Quintana in the break, pulling from the front group, raising the pace in Roglič's group to disrupt the chase and drop the domestiques) was perfect. It's a pity the payoff wasn't bigger due to Astana's dumb conservative tactics, because Movistar deserved an even better result: Quintana in red with a dangerous gap.
Movistar showed some real guts today. I think their tactic towards the end was gutsy but correct: shed Jumbo domestiques, leave Roglic isolated. It then would take only Astana not riding to put him under real pressure, having to work himself. Alas, Astana were happy to defend a 4th place. Disappointing.
Also, PhilGil is back on form. Great teamwork from DQS - a joy to watch.
Considering his record in the classics there is no reason to not make him undisputed leader. You can have a plan "B" as Purito played in his time there but Valverde deserves the role that he's played in the classics.I meant Bala/Nairo/Landa not Carapaz but it is not comparable to FDJ as yes they would love 2 leaders but cant afford it but even if they could I bet they would not chase each other down. Bala is one of the greatest classics riders of all time but should never be allowed in a co leadership position as he is proven poison to teammates. Single leader worked fine for Indurian and I bet Bala would be really angry to be co leader in the classics
And enough energy left in the tank to get a very surprising third on the stage. He has been one of the more impressive riders this year, also with his 7 minute win in California.
Imagine him and Remco going away together once. They will be uncatchable.
Judging the comments written here even former pros working now as team directors or TV commentators don't get it. That is the level of understanding of the sport that scientific training and race radio driven riding has brought us.
Here you are close entering the other side, “hating” on Valverde and Movistar.He could have actually gone in red today, if his own team had not attacked from the peloton, and dropped the gap significantly.
Valverde attacking to bring the gap down was selfish
From what I understand the purpose of Movistar driving the pace on that climb was to burn off Roglic's domestique's, which they did. Once that happened they relinquished their turns on the front.The people in here constantly hating on Quintana always amaze me.
Either he is a wheel sucker, or he is disloyal for attacking.
He just can't win.
He could have actually gone in red today, if his own team had not attacked from the peloton, and dropped the gap significantly.
Astana also get no prizes, for not letting Jumbo and UAE kill themselves much more, before they started to contribute to controlling the gap.
They could have set up Roglic an d Pogacar for a complete meltdowns tomorrow, but they lost their cool too early.
Totally agreed. No wonder when these same self-important folks make suggestions about the future of cycling, they tend to be so stupid.Judging the comments written here even former pros working now as team directors or TV commentators don't get it. That is the level of understanding of the sport that scientific training and race radio driven riding has brought us.
That and they needed to finish with DQ pulling in for the sprint, naturally. You still want to race the next day.From what I understand the purpose of Movistar driving the pace on that climb was to burn off Roglic's domestique's, which they did. Once that happened they relinquished their turns on the front.
The thing is, Movistar (Soler/Valverde) did attack, and that dropped Lopez. Which is why after that group was brought back Astana started working. They were more worried keeping Lopez safe then risk him dropping to Valverde/Roglic and dropping more time.But what do you think would happen if Soler/Valverde and Lopez with his men started attacking simultaneously, after he was left isolated?
I am quite sure he was on Valverdes wheel, so that would not have workedRoglic admits that he wasn't properly positioned in the beginning of the stage.
That makes me so incredibly frustrated that it was Quintana, not Valverde who went in the break.
The thing is, Movistar (Soler/Valverde) did attack, and that dropped Lopez. Which is why after that group was brought back Astana started working. They were more worried keeping Lopez safe then risk him dropping to Valverde/Roglic and dropping more time.
Didn't you see that part?
Lopez was the weakest of the top 5. He was exposed after that climb when Movistar pulled. Thus Astana's move makes sense. Did everybody in this topic miss that who question Astana? Lopez was momentarily dropped...
This really wasn't that long ago, you know...Quintana could have sat on and NOT worked against his teammate. Which is the only time he doesn't just wheel suck. Quickstep likely did plan this.
I imagine this was the fastest road stage ever in a Grand Tour. Can anybody confirm or prove me wrong?
I believe this stage held the record before today but am not entirely sure:
https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/tour-de-france/1999/stage-4