Vuelta a España Vuelta a España 2021: Stage 9 (Puerto Lumbreras - Alto de Velefique, 188.0 km)

[ice&fire]

They're hitting the hard section of Venta Luisa

 

[RedheadDane]

Aaaaaand... they're gone.

Are they? I've got images.

 

[Cassirer]

Aaaaaand... they're gone.

Thanks to es one of my most hated sportsman is ronny o sullivan

 

[Red Rick]

Yeah the wind was a huge issue in that flattish section before the final ramp, but Contador and Nibali attacked prior to that and distanced Chaves (who at the time was perceived as possibly Froome's most dangerous rival). To be fair it really wasn't that great of a stage but I'm just generally pretty nostalgic about everything Nibali and Contador related in that Vuelta so I have pretty fond memories.

Contador attacking, Nibali being all like "bruh I just followed your attack I can't take a turn now" and Contador going all like "who cares I'm gonna drop like a stone 20 minutes from now anyway".

Those were the days. Nothing like Contador and Nibali attacking into headwinds on 3 consecutive MTFs.

 

[Netserk]

Bouwman better than Oomen?

 

[Red Rick]

Hardest part of Venta Luisa is over.

 

[Salvarani]

Bouwman better than Oomen?

Seems so today.

 

[Netserk]

Yep, Red Rick.

 

[durtyfat7]

I didn't hear the part they were talking about Landa. Did they say he admitted he wasn't in form?

 

[roundabout]

So instead of Gesink/Oomen tempo to the bottom of Velefique we will get van Baarle/Sivakov tempo

Not sure if it actually benefits Ineos

 

[Earns1985]

Jumbo seems to be a lot stronger then expected after stage 3.

 

[RedheadDane]

The old man's going well out there.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Bardet now leading the KOM classification with 20 points to his name, so the stage winner will also take the jersey by the looks of it.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

The old man's going well out there.

His "oldness" hasn't really slowed him down this season. With Carthy out the race, I really need Caruso to get back into the GC battle.

 

[Netserk]

Change of guards.

 

[Sciatic]

Whoa, what a desolate landscape. Overgrazing?

 

[ice&fire]

Whoa, what a desolate landscape. Overgrazing?

Underraining

 

[Rackham]

Ineos clearly wanted to isolate Roglic.

I can also hear Chris Horner screaming at them from the other side of the Atlantic.

 

[Netserk]

Carapaz giving a helping hand to the pissing Yates.

 

[Poursuivant]

Carapaz giving a helping hand to the pissing Yates.

With his zip?

 

[Netserk]

With his zip?

A hand in the back.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

GC gone to sleep

 

[search]

Bardet now leading the KOM classification with 20 points to his name, so the stage winner will also take the jersey by the looks of it.

if Caruso wins, yeah, but there are only 15pt available on Vuelta HC climbs, and the GC guys basically have none so far. So doesn't look too bad for Bardet to get it after the stage - should be him or Caruso

 

[Sciatic]

Caruso has gained over a minute on the Bardet group since the top of Luisa? GPS? I can see that the peloton has slowed with Jumbo on the front but not sure why the chasing trio would lose that much time?

ed. And, Bouchard just caught them. So the trio are indeed pokey.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Love the spectacle of the best rider in the race raising their arms atop a big mountain.

This years set of GT's have been a tough watch, despite some good stages it's certainly a bit frustrating to watch it happen.