Vuelta a España 2019 stage 18: Communidad de Madrid. Colmenar Viejo -Becerril de la Sierra > 177.5 km

[glassmoon]

Nice one Rogla! lol

 

[Escarabajo]

The year of the youngsters!!

 

[wheresmybrakes]

LOL Roggers beat wheelsucker in sprint

 

[JosephK]

Roglic nabs 2nd place time bonus, lol.

 

[Carols]

EF Finally wins a stage! Chapeau to the young Higuita!

LOL Roglic out sprints Bala!

 

[woodburn]

Free ride for Roglic all day and then outsprints Valverde.

 

[Escarabajo]

Meintjes driving!!!!
I have seen everything.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I just saw Meintjes take a pull 0_O

 

[Red Rick]

Valverde probably knew Roglic would beat him in tje sprint if he helped close the gap himself

 

[wheresmybrakes]

Roglic is playing with Movistar this race.

 

[Singularitarian]

wannabe Zubelninjas sprinting for 237th place... NOT GOOD for the invisible jersey

 

[jaylew]

LOL Roggers beat wheelsucker in sprint

Roglic was the biggest wheelsucker

 

[Carols]

Free ride for Roglic all day and then outsprints Valverde.

And what did Bala do, one little attack and then suck wheel! Roglic is in the jersey he doesn't need to attack.

 

[Velolover2]

Valverde was riding for Quintana's 3th place today.

At least we know that there isn't any bad air between them.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Are there no technical descents in Spain? Never seems to be a big worry on here like France or Italy

Loads, it's just the race doesn't go in the places they often are, such as the Terras de Eo. There's also a lot of lopsided climbs which would be technical descents, but are usually climbed from that side. The Urkiola is a technical and tricky descent which has been pretty decisive in the Emakumeen Bira, but 99 times out of 100 the péloton will climb that side because you've got 3,3km at about 4% on one side, and 6km at 9% on the other, which one are you going to climb?

 

[Pricey_sky]

And what did Bala do, one little attack and then suck wheel! Roglic is in the jersey he doesn't need to attack.

Exactly, Roglic played it fine with the lead he has. Valverde looks happy to finish on the podium.

 

[wheresmybrakes]

Roglic was the biggest wheelsucker

Correct, but that's all he had to, he has no reason to do any work.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Stage

 

[Noddy97]

Valverde is such a boring rider

If you see his palmares in the big races, his wins come always after a sprint. I don't think he is boring but he always strikes me as the guy that could do something more but he doesn't have the guts to go all out. Seriously why does he need another podium in the vuelta? It is so annoying and frustating

 

[Escarabajo]

Race settled:
Roglic wins
Movistar 2nd and 3rd
Lopez white
Pogacar: Might attack but he already exceeded expectations for this race plus has no team.

LOL.

 

[Bolder]

Higuita had a great ride, but he was very fortunate to be out front just as Roglic et al caught Lopez and hostilities were called off.

I'm still impressed with Quintana that after yesterday he only lost a minute today.

Edit to add: Pogacar is still only 20 years old. Incredible just to finish a GT let alone top 5.

 

[jaylew]

Correct, but that's all he had to, he has no reason to do any work.

Agreed, so your post should have said wheelsucker beats Valverde in the sprint.

 

[Escarabajo]

I don't think Valverde wants to risk his second place so Movistar will help JV to control the race on Saturday.

 

[jaylew]

Race settled:
Roglic wins
Movistar 2nd and 3rd
Lopez white
Pogacar: Might attack but he already exceeded expectations for this race plus has no team.

LOL.

Yeah, everything looks settled.

Edit: I guess Lopez could still take the podium from Nairo.

 

[Velolover2]

It was settled before the stage. Valverde and Quintana have a stage each and will be happy with a double podium as a bonus.

The only one with guts was Lopéz.