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

[Andy262]

Decent stage. But I don't understand Wanty's tactics at all. Surely Meintjes should have been looking after Eiking. Could possibly have saved his top 10 with a bit better support and he might not have fallen if he hadn't been pressing on downhill alone.

He's done nothing to support Eiking's jersey all week. Not impressed.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Was it just weakness by Bernal or a hunger knock light as he didn't feed himself enough on top of Llomema?

I don't think it was a hunger knock. He just killed himself when doing hard powerful turns on flat and simply couldn't maintain high level for longer. Being substantially weaker TT-ist (and less powerful) than Roglic he was operating at a much higher percentage of his capabilities on that fast section.

 

[roundabout]

Decent stage. But I don't understand Wanty's tactics at all. Surely Meintjes should have been looking after Eiking. Could possibly have saved his top 10 with a bit better support and he might not have fallen if he hadn't been pressing on downhill alone.

He's done nothing to support Eiking's jersey all week. Not impressed.

I think leaving Meintjes as a another option of a high GC place was fine.

They probably should have dropped Hirt back though even if he is not much of a roleur.

 

[woodburn]

Possible crash by Landa? Hopefully not.

 

[roundabout]

Possible crash by Landa? Hopefully not.

From the limited info it seems he climbed off at the foot of the last climb where the team buses were parked and there was no crash.

 

[Red Rick]

Llomena should be a great addition to the Vuelta except for using it like this.

@Gigs_98 not the only one with idiotic takes yesterday

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Jeez, Jakobsen's quads

I think that is his right knee you are seeing.

 

[Skijumper Roglic fan]

Just came home, watched the stage on ESP on demand.

I was like, „WTF!“... 186 kms, 4500 altitude mtrs, and winner‘s time is a 40,6 km/h average speed. What a ride!!...

 

[DaLong]

I think that is his right knee you are seeing.

I thought that at first too, but look at the band of his bibs, they actually wrap around that far!

 

[Red Rick]

I thought that at first too, but look at the band of his bibs, they actually wrap around that far!

It's just a position of the leg on the pedal that naturally accentuates the muscle there. Still huge though.

 

[VeloMaster]

More classic Movistar tactics. I have no idea what they're doing, and they don't appear to have much of a clue either.

Yes, but I would say the same for Bahrain. They should have forced Movi to defend their podium places, rather than lead the chase group.

 

[MartinGT]

Just watched the highlights. Any news on vlasov?

 

[SafeBet]

Just watched the highlights. Any news on vlasov?

Finished the stage. I guess he'll be reevaluated tomorrow.

 

[Gigs_98]

@Gigs_98 not the only one with idiotic takes yesterday

Hey, I wrote that I expected Bernal to attack. Now the attack I described might have had some tiny little differences to the one that actually happened, but that's about as good of a prediction you can expect from me.

I also predicted somewhere that Roglic wouldn't follow every Movistar attack which was technically correct.

Oh well, at this point my post history is basically one half making bad predictions and the other half making fun of the first half once it turned out just how bad the predictions were.

 

[CyclistAbi]

El Maestro.

 

[Lequack]

 

[Tricycle Rider]

Nice shot - very jigsaw puzzle worthy, verily indeed.

 

[CyclistAbi]

My soul is peaking.

 

[Danskebjerge]

So... fun stage... but then I just looked at the results and was a bit disappointed to realize that apart from Martin and Eiking expectedly dropping and Vlasov dropping due to his crash nothing at all happened in the standings...
So, I guess we will see the effects tomorrow instead.

The stage reminded me of the one where Pogacar's solo attack settled the GC early in the Tour de France. Good if you are a Slovenian cycling fan - not good for the suspense of the races.

 

[Red Rick]

I can't not steal this from /r/peloton

 

[hrotha]

The stage reminded me of the one where Pogacar's solo attack settled the GC early in the Tour de France. Good if you are a Slovenian cycling fan - not good for the suspense of the races.

Suspense is overrated. It's just trading actual action for the illusion of potential action later on.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Congratulations to Primož Roglič for taking the stage win.

It was an epic stage, likely a candidate for the best GT stage in 2021 season (so far). Roglič and Bernal really did put on a show that added to their immortality. Kuss sprinting for second place and Roglič already riding down the track. Priceless. Cycling sweet tooth material.

 

[noob]

I hope everyone heard Kuss loud breathing in his interview today. It was certainly not the sound of his nose...

 

[RedheadDane]

Interesting freeze-frame to use as a preview:

 

[gregrowlerson]

Interesting freeze-frame to use as a preview:

Wouldn't want to put that as your profile pic on your dating app.