Vuelta a España Vuelta a España 2022, stage 18: Trujillo - Alto de Piornal, 192.0k

[Lexman]

they joined

 

[groogster]

Ivo waiting for Almeida at the top of the cat2

 

[groogster]

If Soler waits before the 1st cat climb for Almeida will be magnificent for the race. Probably Almeida will blow and loose his GC standing but gutsy move by UAE

 

[carolina]

Yeah, Soler needs to go team UAE today for this to work.

 

[Bolder]

If Soler waits before the 1st cat climb for Almeida will be magnificent for the race. Probably Almeida will blow and loose his GC standing but gutsy move by UAE

That would be a most un-Soler move.

 

[Jagartrott]

If Almeida joins Soler at some point, it will get confusing regarding who is dropping who and who is coming back. They need to time their lows and highs well.

 

[DJ Sprtsch]

Thing is, it's now Oliveira against Movistar and Astana. Can't see it's going to work. And Oliveira chased alone for a long while to begin with to join the break.

 

[Potomac]

effing Astana

 

[roundabout]

1 vs 4 UAE vs Astana for the next 20km

I don't think Almeida is going anywhere,, sadly

 

[Samamba]

Shouldve done it on the next climb imo, this is impossible to pull off.

 

[roundabout]

Thing is, it's now Oliveira against Movistar and Astana. Can't see it's going to work. And Oliveira chased alone for a long while to begin with to join the break.

Don't think Movistar will care for now with the gap at 1 minute and the Astana TTT going

 

[noob]

Peleton is taking time on Almeida :/

 

[Devil's Elbow]

If nothing else, Almeida is giving the peloton a shot at the stage win.

 

[Carols]

I just got coverage 15 minutes ago . Jay Vine looked Bad Any news? He really spiced up this race for me and deserved that KOM jersey. Tough break Jay, heal well.

 

[Bolder]

Poor Carlos!

 

[houtdffan]

nbc lost pictures and is in an endless commercial loop, just came back

 

[Escarabajo]

If nothing else, Almeida is giving the peloton a shot at the stage win.

My thoughts exactly. He is dragging the main peloton to the breakaway.

 

[noob]

Carlos not DNF is a wonder in itself :O

 

[Samamba]

Suicide move by Almeida but alteast it might give us a fight for the stagewin between favorites and a stage that's actually being raced hard for once.

 

[Lexman]

Remco only with Van Wilder, apparently Vervaeke was in that crash with Vine, Pederson, Rodriguez... he still has Masnada in the front group though... lots of Movistars still present

 

[ontheroad]

Maybe it will all make sense after the end of the stage but it is hard to see what Almeida hopes to achieve by shooting off the front of the peloton and being stuck in limbo. The chase led by Astana or some of the other teams was inevitable. Sometimes UAE tactics defy all logic, its almost like all of the riders are simply left to their own devices. Those in the break will be cursing him if a pursuing peloton gets sucked back into play for the stage win.

 

[Potomac]

I applaud UAE for trying to make it entertaining

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Carlos not DNF is a wonder in itself :O

Still there in a 40-rider (if even that much) peloton, he should still ship some time today but clearly he's less badly hurt than you'd expect from the pictures.

 

[Nick2413]

Great to see the move by Almeida. At least it’s spicing things up. Worst case scenario he gets 7th or 8th instead of 6th, best case it puts Ayuso in better position.

 

[Kaptain Kool]

Maybe it will all make sense after the end of the stage but it is hard to see what Almeida hopes to achieve by shooting off the front of the peloton and being stuck in limbo. The chase led by Astana or some of the other teams was inevitable. Sometimes UAE tactics defy all logic, its almost like all of the riders are simply left to their own devices. Those in the break will be cursing him if a pursuing peloton gets sucked back into play for the stage win.

IMHO it's a part of a conspiracy so that Valverde finishes in the top 10 in GC by the end of the race. Almeida tired by pointless effort and loses a ton of time, Carols Rodriguez crash and drops down. Let's see what they come up with tomorrow.