Vuelta a España Vuelta a España 2021: Stage 8 (Santa Pola - La Manga del Mar Menor, 173.7 km)

[Devil's Elbow]

Jakobsen and Philipsen look pretty evenly matched but we keep getting sprints where either of the two is out of position...

 

[Tricycle Rider]

Jakobsen - wooo!

 

[DoYouEvenRideBruh]

This Bol had even less chances of making it to the line than the other Bol in the TdF, but still nice to see. Congrats Fabio again!

 

[sir fly]

Congrats to Jakobsen.

Good to see everybody safe.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Nice, no crash

 

[TourOfSardinia]

 

[Tricycle Rider]

Wow, could they possibly have fitted any more buildings onto that narrow strip of land? (At least the riders didn't have to finish in the water, so that's good.)

Okay, that was fun, time to check out tomorrow's course.

 

[Lequack]

Why put such a boring stage on a Saturday?

 

[RedheadDane]

You know it's been an eventless stage when a rider jokes about wanting to have Le Mans on his Garmin.

 

[Andre]

I thought Alpecin was not strong enough today to get Jasper into a better position. I kept waiting for them to get in the front from the left side of the road but for some reason they never showed up. Finally it appeared Jasper shifted onto some other rider's wheel and got into 5th position, but it was a bit too late and the whole operation seemed to take most of his energy away.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Does Guarnieri always have to try to block some sprinters after his work is done?
Don't get me wrong, he's great at what he does, but similar to Richeze he knows a few dirty tricks...

 

[search]

and idea what Molano was relegated for? Normally you'd need to box your opponent out of the race at least to lose a 5th place

 

[Mayomaniac]

and idea what Molano was relegated for? Normally you'd need to box your opponent out of the race at least to lose a 5th place

He swerved towards Minali when Guarnieri swerved towards him, trying to close the door. I think it's a bit harsh because his line change was the result of someone else changing his line.

 

[ice&fire]

I thought Alpecin was not strong enough today to get Jasper into a better position. I kept waiting for them to get in the front from the left side of the road but for some reason they never showed up. Finally it appeared Jasper shifted onto some other rider's wheel and got into 5th position, but it was a bit too late and the whole operation seemed to take most of his energy away.

They were boxed on the left side for a long time by another team, FDJ IIRC.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Jakobsen and Philipsen look pretty evenly matched but we keep getting sprints where either of the two is out of position...

I'm sorry but that was not the case this time. Jakobsen started the sprint from out of the wheel of Philipsen, he just went earlier. Philipsen was straight on the wheel and just never gained any ground. I don't think Philipsen can say he got boxed or anything. He was just beaten today on speed. By Dainese as well who left it at the same time as Philipsen.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

I'm sorry but that was not the case this time. Jakobsen started the sprint from out of the wheel of Philipsen, he just went earlier. Philipsen was straight on the wheel and just never gained any ground. I don't think Philipsen can say he got boxed or anything. He was just beaten today on speed. By Dainese as well who left it at the same time as Philipsen.

Yes, because Philipsen had to expend a lot of energy to get near the front after his train got boxed in while Jakobsen was in a much better position throughout the final kilometres. That's sprinting, of course, but it wasn't a sprint under conditions that were anywhere near the same for both of them.

 

[Red Rick]

I'm sorry but that was not the case this time. Jakobsen started the sprint from out of the wheel of Philipsen, he just went earlier. Philipsen was straight on the wheel and just never gained any ground. I don't think Philipsen can say he got boxed or anything. He was just beaten today on speed. By Dainese as well who left it at the same time as Philipsen.

Philipsen literally got beaten for 2nd while in the draft of Jakobsen

 

[Andre]

Philipsen literally got beaten for 2nd while in the draft of Jakobsen

Yes...that was weird.

 

[hayneplane]

Must be the shortest stage thread in the forum’s history for a Grand Tour stage.

When the best you can say is that at least there were no major crashes you know it has been an all time stinker of a stage.

 

[tobydawq]

Must be the shortest stage thread in the forum’s history for a Grand Tour stage.

When the best you can say is that at least there were no major crashes you know it has been an all time stinker of a stage.

All time stinker?

Wasn't it just a sprint stage?

 

[hayneplane]

All time stinker?

Wasn't it just a sprint stage?

My tolerance for a sprint stage with zero obstacles to even encourage late attacks/make the sprinters work for a shot at a stage win is nonexistent on a middle Saturday. Put it after a big mountains block on a random Wednesday and it would be somewhat ok.

What makes it worse is that the Vuelta does not even have an elite sprint field, instead we have the 2nd string for Alpecin Fenix vs the 3rd string for DQS vs a way off form Demare and a bunch of guys for whom a top 5 finish is still a notable result.

 

[Red Rick]

Can't be the shortest stage thread I made at least 5 posts too many about possible wind.

 

[Escarabajo]

I have no idea what was the intention of the Vuelta to put this stage on Saturday?
Seriously, that is like shooting yourself in the foot.

 

[tobydawq]

Probably they hoped for wind. You have to say that they have been extremely unlucky this week with the wind. Massive headwind on Picón Blanco, no wind all the days where they have been riding on the pampas or along the coast. But yes, I may agree that it is not good to have on a weekend stage, although, for me it doesn't matter (and actually, I usually have more time to watch on regular days than on weekend days as there are no other sporting events).

 

[glassmoon]

Sao happy Fabio's back winning stages left and right