Vuelta a España Vuelta a España 2020: Stage 14 (Lugo › Ourense, 204.7km)

[Koronin]

Pretty sure the route was designed before anyone knew the word 'covid-19'.

They usually announce the route in January and I think this year the same as normal. However the two stages that were supposed to be in Portugal were moved to Spain and aren't as hard as at least one of the ones that was supposed to be in Portugal was.

 

[Jungle Cycle]

that looks easier than Hatta Dam...

https://twitter.com/x/status/1323753467203088386

View: https://twitter.com/ammattipyoraily/status/1323753467203088386

 

[roundabout]

They usually announce the route in January and I think this year the same as normal. However the two stages that were supposed to be in Portugal were moved to Spain and aren't as hard as at least one of the ones that was supposed to be in Portugal was.

Quick search suggests that initial Portugal stages were terribad

https://www.zikloland.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/perfil-etapa-18-lavuelta-2020.jpg

https://www.zikloland.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/perfil-etapa-19-lavuelta-2020.jpg

 

[TomLPC]

Roglic at 30/1 is criminal

 

[movingtarget]

Not sure Jumbo will try and control this one, probably not. Lots of work for a possible 10 second bonus for Roglic and with harder stages to come.

 

[Leinster]

Not sure Jumbo will try and control this one, probably not. Lots of work for a possible 10 second bonus for Roglic and with harder stages to come.

With no TT left, there is NO NEED WHATSOEVER for TJV to chase down any breaks or do anything remotely interesting except keep an eye on Movistar, Ineos, and EF, in that order. And maybe ISN.

 

[yaco]

I suspect they might have done this to protect against the possibility that the race wouldn't get to Madrid - i.e. so the GC would still have an air of legitimacy if the race were stopped two-thirds of the way through. But yeah, whatever the reason, it's not a great final week.

Except you must complete 15 stages in a GT to declare a winner.

 

[Koronin]

Quick search suggests that initial Portugal stages were terribad

https://www.zikloland.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/perfil-etapa-18-lavuelta-2020.jpg

https://www.zikloland.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/perfil-etapa-19-lavuelta-2020.jpg

For some reason I thought the stage 19 was a bit tougher.

 

[DJ Sprtsch]

I'm looking forward to these four stages. A bit out of the ordinary, instead of the usual wait for the last mountain of the day.
There could be some interesting racing ahead.

 

[search]

definitely, especially tomorrow's stage has a lot of climbing.

 

[Eclipse]

I think we get some good racing on the run up to Saturday, but I don't expect anything more than a standard breakaway today unless something funky happens with the wind. It's in literally nobody other than Jumbo's interest to not let a break win, but JV probably won't want to spend guys on keeping meaningless stuff in check just for a chance at a bonus if it burns matches should someone try an ambush thurs / fri

 

[Fernandez]

I think the stages that remain offer a lot of posibilities to play in GC, as well as beautiful posibilities for breaks.

 

[Lequack]

What I thought was funny was Ineos lugging around their Grenadier jeep yesterday behind the team car. Marketing really is everything.

 

[Luthor]

What I thought was funny was Ineos lugging around their Grenadier jeep yesterday behind the team car. Marketing really is everything.

Right near that Merc the Grenadier has an awful design. I know jeeps aren't necessary beauties on 4 wheels but still lacks any kind of imagination.

 

[search]

according to Valgren, who spoke to Morkov, Quickstep wants to keep it together for Bennett today

Mørkøv får Valgren til at droppe plan

Michael Valgren satser ikke på at jagte et udbrud på 14. etape efter en snak med landsmanden Michael Mørkøv.

sport.tv2.dk

Most teams will have different plans, I guess, but for Valgren it seems to have worked at least. He postponed his plans to go for the breakway till tomorrow

 

[DJ Sprtsch]

Interesting. I sort of assumed the uphill finish would be too much for Bennett.

 

[search]

yeah, on Friday he was dropped by Mareczko. That's not his normal level of course, but he hasn't really showed the 2019 climbing legs all year. Will be interesting to see

 

[ice&fire]

The constant up and down and the tail wind in the first 60kms favours the break. I can't see how Bennett survives this after being dropped last Friday.

 

[Gargamel35]

If they keep it together for the final climb, they'll get Roglstomped again.

 

[johnymax]

Is there any way to watch the stage from the beginning? So much happening right now.

 

[Eyeballs Out]

Bennett is hard to predict - he seems to have the odd very bad day for no apparent reason. For example in Tour of Wallonie this year he completed exploded on a drag on one stage and then the next day he won a stage that looked at least as hard on paper (it was more selective anyway)

 

[SafeBet]

Poels and Grossschartner in the break with half the Jumbo team.

Edit: caught.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

From https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/vuelta-a-espana/2020/stage-14/today/livestats
Position in general classification for riders in group 1#RiderTimelag
6 Poels Wout6:15
7 Großschartner Felix7:14
14 Kuss Sepp13:44
16 Martin Guillaume15:34
17 Cattaneo Mattia16:11
18 Soler Marc18:03
20 Chaves Esteban29:38
28 Woods Michael
54:1529 Verona Carlos55:16
31 Gesink Robert57:33
39 López Juan Pedro1:20:51
42 Oliveira Nelson1:24:53
44 van Baarle Dylan1:25:26
45 Power Robert1:26:18
48 Vingegaard Jonas1:34:02
53 Godon Dorian1:40:17
54 Storer Michael1:40:18
57 Simon Julien1:47:31
65 Hofstede Lennard1:57:19
70 Schelling Ide2:04:58
71 Wellens Tim2:05:16
72 Sütterlin Jasha2:05:18
77 Aranburu Alex2:13:16
82 Lafay Victor2:25:24
115 Garrison Ian2:53:57
123 Kanter Max2:58:13

Edit Caught!

 

[Faserr]

Bennett is hard to predict - he seems to have the odd very bad day for no apparent reason. For example in Tour of Wallonie this year he completed exploded on a drag on one stage and then the next day he won a stage that looked at least as hard on paper (it was more selective anyway)

Yes. Even in the Tour he had one day where he was really suffering although he was climbing quite well at nearly all the other stages.

 

[Oliver]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1323954481525149697

View: https://twitter.com/ikguallas/status/1323954481525149697?s=20


Finish after a bend