Vuelta a España Vuelta a España 2021: Stage 7 (Gandia - Balcón de Alicante, 152.0 km)

[RedheadDane]

 

[Netserk]

It's over for Valverde. Super shitty way to crash out.

 

[Faserr]

Senechal receives a good push.

He probably punches everyone who doesn't push.

 

[Rollthedice]

F****n sad. Hope Highlander will be back.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

Heartbreaking to see Valverde having to give up.

 

[roundabout]

Jeez, different circumstances and all, but this feels like a flashback to Indurain abandoning in 96 in the sense that the host broadcaster just couldn't leave them in peace

 

[titan31]

Camera man has no class anyway

 

[Red Rick]

Very sad. Also sad to see Movistar riding a tactically perfect race only for this to happen.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

I mostly feel bad for Valverde himself, but his many fans on here have my sympathy as well.

Meanwhile Captain Craddock tries to go it alone.

 

[DenisMenchov]

I hope this is not the end. Bala can't go from cycling like this. It's just not right.

 

[sir fly]

Camera man has no class anyway

sex sells...

 

[Netserk]

Jeez, different circumstances and all, but this feels like a flashback to Indurain abandoning in 96 in the sense that the host broadcaster just couldn't leave them in peace

Relevant and important images, no?

 

[Fantastico]

I hope this is not the end. Bala can't go from cycling like this. It's just not right.

I'm pretty sure that he already confirmed to ride next year as well.

 

[titan31]

Relevant and important images, no?

I don't know. I mean not that it's anyone near the same, but I think back to Eriksen on the pitch and you could say that's relevant and important images but it's also completely tasteless and bad form. I felt that was bad form there too, all we were missing was a zoom in to see the tears.

 

[Samamba]

Who's gonna close the gap to those 3? Lotto has 3 guys in the 2nd group, but doubt they're strong enough.

 

[titan31]

Who's gonna close the gap to those 3? Lotto has 3 guys in the 2nd group, but doubt they're strong enough.

Should put whoever is weakest go the front and ask him to go as hard as he can to bring it back.

 

[roundabout]

Relevant and important images, no?

I don't really like the lingering, that's all. But it's a matter of opinion anyway.

 

[Samamba]

Should put whoever is weakest go the front and ask him to go as hard as he can to bring it back.

Vanhoucke probably is cause of his crashes and he already spent a lot of energy, but there's no way he can close that gap or even maintain it. This is the typical breakaway playbook. Attack first with a few riders and the big group behind won't cooperate.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Is that Mr. Sivakov attacking the descent

I'd be keeping the regulation 2 chevrons apart

 

[sir fly]

Watching TJV driving doesn't look promising... the assault that saw Valverde fall was the best chance of action.

 

[Finn84]

Valverde officially abandons.

 

[SafeBet]

Sad to see Valverde abandon.
This was his 15th Vuelta, only one DNF before today (in 2002, his first GT).

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Sad to see Valverde abandon.
This was his 15th Vuelta, only one DNF before today (in 2002, his first GT).

Also the first time he's abandoned a stage race since that horrible Tour de France crash.

 

[Netserk]

I don't really like the lingering, that's all. But it's a matter of opinion anyway.

Yes, no matter where you draw the line, it has to be somewhere. But I think the images of Valverde embraced by Txente helped telling the story of the bike race.

 

[titan31]

Bouwman, Hofstede and Van Hooydonck should be giving Gesink all their wages since he's doing the work for all of them