Vuelta a España Vuelta a España 2021: Stage 3 (Santo Domingo de Silos - Picón Blanco, 202.8 km)

[Pinot's goat]

So Movistar the team to beat?
It is actually good for the race.
Could not read that much from the race other than everyone not named Movistar suffered a lot.

Bahrain had 6 riders within 90s of Mas. Haig and Landa still not 100% after injury comebacks, I think Bahrain will be stronger than Movistar.

 

[search]

great press release there from the Vuelta

all other riders I have ever been kind of a "fan" of must have retired meanwhile. Really happy for Rein. Didn't expect this.

 

[Lequack]

Headwind or not, you have Roglic isolated and multiple teams with multiple riders and apart from Yates no one really attempts anything? Movistar and Bahrain basically arrive with 3 riders each, surely you let atleast MLA or Mas attack once to try the water, especially with Mas apparently looking the strongest today.
Padun with great Ullrich as Riis domestique impressions, looking around every 5 seconds unsure what to do. De la Cruz more at the front of the Peleton on a final climb than any of Pogacars UAE teammates at the whole tour.
Only thing worse than how the climb was ridden was the coverage at the end but that was kinda expected.

That's usually what you get with the multiple leaders strategy. No one really willing to pull, probably team cars also don't want to designate who works for who. So then you have three guys from a team finishing together.

 

[Lequack]

I looked at the official results and Carapaz had a 20 second penalty. Did anyone see what it was for?

Unauthorized feeding it says.

Overweight Padun was dragging the peleton in the head wind and killed a few attacks. If Primoz doesn't get at least a 5 minute gap by the third week he will be crying at the end.

Padun wasn't even mouth breathing.

 

[Rackham]

Unauthorized feeding it says.

Carapaz spotted a fan holding a McVitie's Gold biscuit bar & thought it was for him.

It's an honest mistake.

 

[JosefK]

Kuss usually has at least one worse-than-expected bad day during his grand tour support. He looked pretty meh today, but that doesn't mean he won't pull a rabbit out of the hat in later mountain stages.

 

[tobydawq]

Hmm, Kuss was nowhere to be seen, yet the racing was really bland. Doesn't that clash with something?

 

[Netserk]

Hmm, Kuss was nowhere to be seen, yet the racing was really bland. Doesn't that clash with something?

Get Rid Of Mark Padun!

 

[Red Rick]

Get Rid Of Mark Padun!

POTGEO

Padun Off To Gulag Executive Office?

 

[Rackham]

Kuss usually has at least one worse-than-expected bad day during his grand tour support. He looked pretty meh today, but that doesn't mean he won't pull a rabbit out of the hat in later mountain stages.

In last year's Vuelta, Jumbo were pretty quiet in the first week (in fact Formigal was a disaster).

But in the second weekend they really stepped up & set a super fast tempo to protect Roglic in two key mountain stages (notably on the Angliru).

I expect something similar this year, i.e. Koen Bouwman is someone I know can do better (12 overall in the Giro 2021 GC), as can Sam Oomen, so it's not just about Kuss either.

 

[cen]

I think Kuss just intentionally lost time so he can take a day off, take a stage win for himself and then work full gass for P.R. all the way.

 

[Pantani_lives]

Conclusions after the first MTF:

Roglic is individually strong and remains top favourite. However he can be isolated. The question is whether the other teams will exploit that.

Ineos has a strong duo. Yates can function as secondary leader and play a role in the GC. Carapaz won't ride for the GC, which isn't very surprising.

Bahrain is collectively strong, with Landa as its leader. Hopefully they will use an aggressive strategy.

Movistar has its three leaders in the top 7. It will be interesting to see how they mess up their tactics this time.

Vlasov, Aru, Bardet, Carthy and Ciccone are candidates for the top 10, but not for the podium.

 

[jmdirt]

I love it when a break succeeds!
Congrats RT!

 

[CyclistAbi]

Unfortunately, it doesn't seem likely at the moment that his third Vuelta win in a row will be like Rominger's third Vuelta win in a row in 1994.


Velefique is not easier.

Lets get that hat-trick for Romy.

 

[Escarabajo]

I think Kuss just intentionally lost time so he can take a day off, take a stage win for himself and then work full gass for P.R. all the way.

It didn't look like it. I doubt the team would make him do that when they can play a card with him. Not likely. Kuss is simply not consistent enough. He has proven that time after time.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Congratulations to Rein Taaramäe for winning stage 3.

Roglič was really gifting heavily today. Taaramäe got a stage win, took red jersey from Rogličes bag, Kuss gave him polkas from his bag. Green was a problem as Roglič didn't have it. The peloton draw the line when Taaramäe started going in the bag for the white. That would just be too much.

 

[CyclistAbi]

All in all an intriguing stage that set some things straight. Roglič got a confirmation he is strong as climber on this race, Ineos down to two, the rest of the favourites hanging on and likely waiting for week three. Lending the jersey to Taaramäe was a smart move made by JV. Not spending the team too much, especially on last climb, that was in my opinion an OK strategy too.

 

[southwards]

I messed up the times, tuned in when they were at the other climb and return when Mas was doing that (irony) termonuclear attack, Roglic was totally unimpressed.

Nice to see a win by Taramae, I thoughthe had won a white jersey at the Tour, but he came close. He must be one of those riders who can't win a GT and decides to go stage hunting.

 

[Koronin]

So Movistar the team to beat?
It is actually good for the race.
Could not read that much from the race other than everyone not named Movistar suffered a lot.

If nothing else Movistar's riders in general should be happier with the hot temperature than many of the other riders.

 

[Pirazziattacks]

Padun wasn't even mouth breathing.

His cadence was also abnormally high, clearly sandbagging.

 

[solo80k]

Did Rogla fall asleep? Not that I blame him.

Roglic was probably empty, same as Bernal. He should thank Padun that late attacks were shut down.

 

[tobydawq]

I love it when a break succeeds!
Congrats RT!

You must have had a golden 2021...

 

[tobydawq]

If nothing else Movistar's riders in general should be happier with the hot temperature than many of the other riders.

Haven't you written this exact sentence before a couple of days ago?

And what is the point really (by "if nothing else")? They were awesome yesterday, yet somehow you manage to keep the pessimism.

 

[Koronin]

Haven't you written this exact sentence before a couple of days ago?

And what is the point really (by "if nothing else")? They were awesome yesterday, yet somehow you manage to keep the pessimism.

There are others who struggle when it's hot. Some of their riders are more prone to issues when it's cold. Yes they were good. I'm actually really hoping what we saw from Mas is a good sign of what he can do over the 3 weeks.

 

[tobydawq]

There are others who struggle when it's hot. Some of their riders are more prone to issues when it's cold. Yes they were good. I'm actually really hoping what we saw from Mas is a good sign of what he can do over the 3 weeks.

I think there was about 15 degrees celsius on the final climb yesterday.