Vuelta a España Vuelta a España 2021: Stage 20 (Sanxenxo - Castro de Herville, 202.2 km)

[tobydawq]

Something to remember is this is the last stage for everyone, except for those interested in GC or the stage tomorrow.

The time limit in the TT doesn't matter (because you can't be eliminated... from a race which is over!), so tomorrow we could see riders finish way down in time & not care. So today is the day the Vuelta ends for 90% of the peloton.

And that goes for TJV as well, i.e. anyone working for Roglic can throw all their last bit of energy into the stage today.

What, do you seriously believe that? That most riders will gladly have a DNF to their name because "they finished the race anyway"? Let me tell you something; that is not correct.

 

[hayneplane]

Bardet and Storer both in the latest break according to PCS live tracker but only a small gap that could still come back.

 

[Rackham]

This breakaway is good for Jumbo.

With Bahrain & DSM represented at the front, those two teams are unlikely to want to blow the race apart later in the peloton.

What, do you seriously believe that? That most riders will gladly have a DNF to their name because "they finished the race anyway"? Let me tell you something; that is not correct.

You misunderstand me. The fact is most riders will totally cruise across the finish line in tomorrow's TT.

It doesn't mean they'll miss the time cut (if there even is one...), but it's totally unlikely to see riders out there bust their guts when there's nothing to win or gain.

 

[RedheadDane]

It doesn't mean they'll miss the time cut (if there even is one...), but it's totally unlikely to see riders out there bust their guts when there's nothing to win or gain.

Why wouldn't there be a time cut? There are time cuts on one-day races.

 

[Red Rick]

What a lame breakaway again

 

[Samamba]

I might just delete this Vuelta out of my memory

 

[Rackham]

Why wouldn't there be a time cut? There are time cuts on one-day races.

Time limits are so generous in the Vuelta, they might as well not even bother.

What a lame breakaway again

As a Primoz Roglic fan, I disagree.

This looks like a really nice stage so far.

 

[tobydawq]

This looks like a really nice stage so far.

How so?

 

[tobydawq]

What on Earth are Ineos doing, not having a rider in that break?

 

[Rackham]

How so?

Compare this to the final stage of Paris-Nice 2021 & you'll understand.

With a huge gap to the breakaway the peloton cannot win the stage, ergo chaos (which facilitates the worst case scenario for Roglic) is unlikely.

This Vuelta should already have been settled on Wednesday so I really don't care whether this particular stage disappoints spectators who want some GC madness.

What on Earth are Ineos doing, not having a rider in that break?

No Movistar either.

 

[cellardoor]

What on Earth are Ineos doing, not having a rider in that break?

You've literally just answered your own "How so?" question Rackham is happy because there are no satellite Ineos riders in the break.

 

[tobydawq]

Compare this to the final stage of Paris-Nice 2021 & you'll understand.

With a huge gap to the breakaway the peloton cannot win the stage, ergo chaos (which facilitates the worst case scenario for Roglic) is unlikely.

This Vuelta should already have been settled on Wednesday so I really don't care whether this particular stage disappoints spectators who want some GC madness.

Okay, then it's not easy to have a discussion...

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Will Bardet and Storer sprint against each other, or will the team prioritize Bardet because he's the leader?

 

[Red Rick]

What on Earth are Ineos doing, not having a rider in that break?

Team smol. Maybe they wanna use the 3 domestiques they have to hammer one of the climbs before attacking and hoping for the best.

 

[Rackham]

Will Bardet and Storer sprint against each other, or will the team prioritize Bardet because he's the leader?

I'm thinking they'll have an agreement: Storer gets the jersey & Bardet goes for the stage.

 

[BlueRoads]

I wonder... to define the first 6 places, would stage 1, 6 and 9 have been enough? Apart from the contenders who crashed out, were there any other decisive stages?

 

[BlueRoads]

Ineos - not a fan of their general tactics, but here they can't do much, I think. The guys who are left just don't have it in their legs.

 

[tobydawq]

Team smol. Maybe they wanna use the 3 domestiques they have to hammer one of the climbs before attacking and hoping for the best.

Smol?

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I'd assume given Ineos' three remaining domestiques that they simply didn't have much choice in the matter. Sivakov would probably get prevented from getting up there, Puccio is not suited to this and Pidcock is in his first GT. Likewise Movistar only have Erviti, Oliveira and Rojas, so they're probably best served just keeping them riding for Mas and López until they can't anymore and trust the two to their own devices. Verona and van Baarle leaving the race a couple of days ago really put the kibosh on too much inventiveness for either team at this stage.

 

[IndianCyclist]

Storer vs Bardet infighting

 

[Ricco']

Storer should go the KOM. After all, next year he will be on FDJ, gotta win while he can.

 

[staubsauger]

I'm thinking they'll have an agreement: Storer gets the jersey & Bardet goes for the stage.

DSM started off with Bardet going for polka dots & Storer going for the stage though.

 

[IndianCyclist]

Storer should go the KOM. After all, next year he will be on FDJ, gotta win while he can.

Also KOM is more important w.r.t publicity and records. The KOM winner will stand on the final podium

 

[Rackham]

Ineos now pulling. It means Bernal will attack.

 

[BlueRoads]

Ineos now pulling. It means Bernal will attack.

Or that they simply can't help it.

(Maybe Yates will attack?)