Vuelta a España Vuelta a España 2021: Stage 17 (Unquera - Lagos de Covadonga, 185.8 km)

[johnymax]

If Roglič hadn't gone with Bernal (ok a risky move maybe, but nothing stupid about it), we would have had the same outcome but gaps would have been a lot smaller. Maybe a couple of small attacks by Mas and MAL, but nothing major would have happened. Now, luckily, we've seen one of the best stages of the year. Kudos to Bernal for igniting the whole thing, he just ran into a better champion. He has a chance tomorrow to attack the Movistar duo for a place on the podium.

 

[RedheadDane]

Roglic did his trademark 1km sprint and got a gap of 1min30 on the other GC riders. Basically all you need to know.

Based by the commentators, that's not entirely true. And I saw Roglic leaving Bernal behind with a bit more than 1 K to go.

 

[movingtarget]

God knows what the gap would have been without Haig's team. Great ride by Roglic. Bernal went down swinging. Movistar do the Movistar thing and Kuss grabs some bonus seconds to rub it in even more.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Zakarin did it in Romandie once iirc. Kuss should be fine though, didn't change his line.

That one was kinda BS, Nairo complained but he wouldn't have beaten Zakarin in that sprint anyway...

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Ineos also did a mistake today. The idea is that when your attacker is caught (Bernal) the other go who was sitting on punches away. Yates didn't do that.

 

[JosefK]

Bernal gained absolutely nothing from all that. It was fun to watch, but all it did was launch Roglic and blowing himself up.

Well I take that back, they managed to drop Eiking and Martin. Everyone played into TBV’s hands today and paid for it.

Yes, but if Roglic hadn't gone with Bernal, not sure what might have happened--maybe guys watching each other too long?

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

I struggle to see what Movistar did wrong.
Lopez tried to go after Bernal and Roglic but wasnt strong enough. The last climb also clearly showed Mas didn't have the legs.
What should they have done differently?

 

[Valv.Piti]

Can we talk about Movistar now? or do we need to wait for tomorrow?

They need to learn to take risks. But let's wait until tomorrow because a lot of things can happen tomorrow.

Yes, shoulda went all out 90's style with clinicky stuff. Then it would seem like a tactical masterclass dropping Roglic with 4 minutes.

Unfortunately, when you arent that strong, its hard to look good tactically.

Its really not that hard to understand. Get beat by a far superior rider, it is what it is. As I said before, ITS NOT MORE COMPLICATED THAN THAT.

 

[Danskebjerge]

A spectator holding a sign in the side of the road - everybody: "how reckless - what an idiot!"
Roglic riding against the race direction on a narrow road - everybody: "he's a big champion!"

 

[Bonimenier]

Based by the commentators, that's not entirely true. And I saw Roglic leaving Bernal behind with a bit more than 1 K to go.

Ah, missed the 8K part of your post

 

[DoYouEvenRideBruh]

Tomorrow's finishing climb

Is this one of those rare moments we can unironically say some riders will pay for their effort?

 

[Fantastico]

He has a chance tomorrow to attack the Movistar duo for a place on the podium.

I feel that Bernal may pay heavily for his efforts tomorrow.

 

[Red Rick]

Can someone give me a recap? I only got on with about 8 Ks to go...
I figured that Elissonde abandonded, and this time it was actually him. Eiking crashed. And there was some attacking...

Chaos all day, but Bernal attacked balls deep on the penultimate climb, only Roglic followed, they had 45s on the top, bombed down the descent, and Roglic cooperated and they gained more time in the valley until it started dropping just before the bottom of Covadonga. Then Roglic started riding on Covadonga and dropped Bernal straight off the wheel, and gained about ~10s on the guys behind him on the climb.

 

[IndianCyclist]

No legs unfortunately

Cycling is just not rocket science, its a lot less complicated than a lot of these wannabe DS with a phd in tactics and communications on this forum make it out to be

Except for when Pogacar rides. Then its just rocket science

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Tomorrow Mas wins the Vuelta?

 

[Danskebjerge]

I don't think cool is the right word here...

Kind of cool, then? Oh, that's what I wrote.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

It worked for George Costanza.........

But we had a pact, Enric/Miguel!

 

[Fantastico]

I struggle to see what Movistar did wrong.
Lopez tried to go after Bernal and Roglic but wasnt strong enough. The last climb also clearly showed Mas didn't have the legs.
What should they have done differently?

They maybe should've just paced the last climb together without attacking.

 

[sir fly]

Forgot the rhymes there mate

It's a short story, not the poem

 

[Descender]

Tomorrow's finishing climb

I think we're sleeping on the significance of tomorrow's stage. I don't think I can name five climbs harder than this one in the history of GTs.

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

They maybe should've just paced the last climb together without attacking.

And how many seconds difference could that have made? Roglic is too strong.

 

[Lequack]

Roglic could say hello to all the finishers

 

[Red Rick]

Movistar didn't really lose tactically today. They just didn't have the legs. Everything on Covadonga is pretty whatever.

 

[gregrowlerson]

Career defining ride for Roglic.

Now I have to take back what I insinuated a week or so ago elsewhere

 

[Red Rick]

Roglic could say hello to all the finishers

Proper peloton memes material.