Vuelta a España Vuelta a España 2021: Stage 5 (Tarancón - Albacete, 184.4 km)

[Devil's Elbow]

You need things to go right when you have a prologue and three flat sprints in the first five stages.

I think LS posted an essay on this in the Race Design Thread, but Albacete never really sees complete pelotons contest the finish due to the wind. Obviously this start was a risk but the weather has just been incredibly unfortunate all the way through.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

That is an impressively long, straight road.

I wish they didn't give us aerial shots for a change, the view is depressing.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

I wish they didn't give us aerial shots for a change, the view is depressing.

Especially with that crash...

 

[Salvarani]

Big crash

 

[Leinster]

Well that's not how we wanted the splits to happen, but it was always likely...

 

[Samamba]

I hate flat stages like this

 

[Netserk]

I think LS posted an essay on this in the Race Design Thread, but Albacete never really sees complete pelotons contest the finish due to the wind. Obviously this start was a risk but the weather has just been incredibly unfortunate all the way through.

Jinx!

 

[Devil's Elbow]

This looks like GC carnage too.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

Especially with that crash...

Yes, that looked dire.

 

[Arnout]

Those dangerous roads again…

 

[Tim Cahill]

Bardet down and not getting up according to the graphic

 

[Netserk]

GC over for Bardet then.

 

[Salvarani]

Bardet out.

 

[Leinster]

Those dangerous roads again…

What were they thinking having a finish like this in these conditions.

 

[Salvarani]

Nieve is hurt pretty bad.

One Bora rider too. Cant see who.

 

[Netserk]

With no break in front, the peloton naturally slows down.

 

[RedheadDane]

Würtz the first to crash. Looked like just rider error.

 

[Leinster]

Do we know who stayed up yet?

 

[Samamba]

Nice gesture from the teams who have their leaders in front to take it easy. It's just incredibly dumb that so many's GC's can be over because one rider makes a mistake.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Happy to see G1 slow down here, the damage to the race is big enough with the injuries alone.

 

[Sciatic]

5-6 EF riders did a nice team CX course along the right side of the road to stay clear of the crash.

 

[sir fly]

Some would've liked to have been caught in the echelons...

 

[Leinster]

Happy to see G1 slow down here, the damage to the race is big enough with the injuries alone.

How much do you wait, though? Over a minute to the red jersey, and Bardet 4' back.

Really rough for Taramae.

 

[wheresmybrakes]

How much do you wait, though? Over a minute to the red jersey, and Bardet 4' back.

Suppose it depends who's in red

 

[Devil's Elbow]

How much do you wait, though? Over a minute to the red jersey, and Bardet 4' back.

Situation is much better now than if they hadn't slowed at all, as unfortunate as this is for Taaramae et al. There's limits to what's realistic this close to the sprint.