Vuelta a España 2019 stage 21: Fuenlabrada - Madrid > 105.6km

[Red Rick]

 

[RedheadDane]

So... who'll go into the mandatory attack?

 

[Lequack]

Can't see anyone beating Sam Bennet.

Better profile:

 

[hrotha]

Will I be bothered to walk like 100 meters from home to see this in person I wonder.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Will I be bothered to walk like 100 meters from home to see this in person I wonder.

You live 100 metres from the route and you are questioning whether to go and watch or not? There aren’t too many things better than an afternoon watching cycling live in person.

 

[SafeBet]

You live 100 metres from the route and you are questioning whether to go and watch or not? There aren’t too many things better than an afternoon watching cycling live in person.

I'm not sure hrotha considers this stage cycling.

 

[hrotha]

I'm not sure hrotha considers this stage cycling.

Well, it's a fine criterium.

 

[Koronin]

The parade to Madrid. I agree Bennet wins the stage, or better put, I'd be surprised if he doesn't win the stage.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Bennett is clearly the favourite but DQS are much stronger as a team and could come up with a way to beat a faster man again. It’s one of their specialties after all and Jakobsen is no slouch.

 

[movingtarget]

Even the flattest Vuelta profile still has lumps............

 

[RedheadDane]

Even the flattest Vuelta profile still has lumps............

Guess it wouldn't be the Vuelta otherwise… and if Madrid is sorta hilly.

 

[sir fly]

Girls on bikes⚠️

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Absolutely horrible race format for the women, sadly, though - an ITT, and then a crit, so they have put a huge number of bonuses in the sprints to add intrigue, but it makes things far more confusing, plus the copious bonus seconds available every two laps is killing any hopes of any break. It is definitely a lot like track racing as a result. I really wish they'd extend the western arm of the circuit out for the women's race at least to include the short rise on the Cuesta San Vicente - it'd only be around a kilometre at 4-5% but with a hairpin at the bottom so you can't sprint into it and have to hit the gradient from scratch, it would at least offer potential for attacks to work.

I mean, I would prefer they go and use the 2005 Worlds circuit for both men and women, but appreciate they want the Paseo del Prado finish.

 

[sir fly]

Stupid rain!

 

[Lequack]

Absolutely horrible race format for the women, sadly, though - an ITT, and then a crit, so they have put a huge number of bonuses in the sprints to add intrigue, but it makes things far more confusing, plus the copious bonus seconds available every two laps is killing any hopes of any break. It is definitely a lot like track racing as a result. I really wish they'd extend the western arm of the circuit out for the women's race at least to include the short rise on the Cuesta San Vicente - it'd only be around a kilometre at 4-5% but with a hairpin at the bottom so you can't sprint into it and have to hit the gradient from scratch, it would at least offer potential for attacks to work.

I mean, I would prefer they go and use the 2005 Worlds circuit for both men and women, but appreciate they want the Paseo del Prado finish.

The should look at Tour of Utah this year for how to make a proper crit. Usually Americans are very good at planning them. This crit when you just go up and down the same flat road is the most lame thing ever, but yet the TDF and Vuelta don't feel like the riders and spectators deserve any better. These last day stages could be so much better.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Going to turn into a bit of a cross between La Course 2014 and the Scheldeprijs now, with a lot of the riders who will have designs on Harrogate now just hoping to not get hurt.

 

[RedheadDane]

Hosking takes it.

 

[sir fly]

Super Chloe win.
As Libertine wrote, similar racing to the track events.

Congrats to the girls for the show.

 

[Lequack]

And now that the race is over it's sunny.

 

[Lequack]

Also, no red Bianchis, but everyone gets a red bartape and red bottle holders.

Primoz gets a red saddle as well

PS: They did make the team car a red color.

 

[Lequack]

I kind of miss vintage Quickstep Gaviria. He was so fast.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

For the first time ever, all three Grand Tour winners were born in a Non-Alignment Pact country.

 

[tobydawq]

Lol, now Quintana is wearing the points jersey as number five in the classification because Roglic, Pogacar, Valverde and Bennett all have better things to wear.

 

[Carols]

Primoz not even wearing red shorts or gloves!

 

[Lequack]

Primoz not even wearing red shorts or gloves!

Team INEOS would even invest in red underwear and socks.