Vuelta a España Vuelta a España 2022, stage 9: Villaviciosa - Les Praeres, 171.4k

[KZD]

I swear cycling is the only sport where there are loads restrictions and protocols regarding C19. Other sports have seemed to move on, and cycling needs to do the same as it's starting to ruin it.
Stop testing and the problem goes away...

Yup, sports like tennis or football barely have any positive tests and I suspect that it is because the number of tests decreased a lot.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

For the umpteenth time, can we please keep discussions on Covid protocols out of race threads?

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Grand Tours have always been environments where contagious diseases spread easily, particularly through teams. They are uniquely extended sporting events, where participants and staff are all on top of each other. If you stop testing, one contagious rider or staff member will infect a bunch of others and a GT is extended enough for multiple “generations” of infection and long enough for most of those infected to become symptomatic. Having many riders get Covid symptoms over three weeks will distort results much more than yanking a few.

Testing and pulling out those who are probably contagious worked at the Tour and it seems to be working here so far.

(edited to add: sorry @Devil's Elbow , I started typing that before your message)

 

[Netserk]

Grand Tours have always been environments where contagious diseases spread easily, particularly through teams. They are uniquely extended sporting events, where participants and staff are all on top of each other. If you stop testing, one contagious rider or staff member will infect a bunch of others and a GT is extended enough for multiple “generations” of infection and long enough for most of those infected to become symptomatic. Having many riders get Covid symptoms over three weeks will distort results much more than yanking a few.

Testing and pulling out those who are probably contagious worked at the Tour and it seems to be working here so far.

(edited to add: sorry @Devil's Elbow , I started typing that before your message)

I don't know how accommodations differ exactly between GTs, longer tournaments in the Olympics and say football WCs. But the duration is not that different.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

How come Ayuso speaks so well English? I've never heard a Spaniard speaking so well English - not even close.

 

[Rackham]

I don't see why Evenepoel seems to be marking Carapaz.

We've seen Carapaz in this sort of 'form' before (i.e. no form) so I can't see the GC threat there, at all. Definitely when he's attacking on the flat & attempting to get in an early break. That says one thing only: he has no legs.

How come Ayuso speaks so well English? I've never heard a Spaniard speaking so well English - not even close.

I think he said he lived in the United States for a few years.

 

[noob]

No Sepp makes me sad, both for Rogla and for myself.

 

[noob]

How come Ayuso speaks so well English? I've never heard a Spaniard speaking so well English - not even close.

He's beein living in US for 5 years or something He said it on the presentation

 

[ashhutch1997]

For the umpteenth time, can we please keep discussions on Covid protocols out of race threads?

It's quite difficult when it's having a massive effect on the RACE.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

He's beein living in US for 5 years or something He said it on the presentation

Ah okay, that makes sense then! I never see stuff like the presentations so I would obviously have missed that

 

[Valv.Piti]

How come Ayuso speaks so well English? I've never heard a Spaniard speaking so well English - not even close.

He has been living in the States apparently. I didn't know that either and was very pleasantly surprised, especially as that means we will hear a lot more about from him.

 

[noob]

This weekend really delivers on the views

 

[Riek s]

I don't see why Evenepoel seems to be marking Carapaz.

We've seen Carapaz in this sort of 'form' before (i.e. no form) so I can't see the GC threat there, at all. Definitely when he's attacking on the flat & attempting to get in an early break. That says one thing only: he has no legs.

Maybe it is to avoid that when Carapaz gets the legs later on they can't play the numbers game against Remco in the next weeks, He at least doesn't need to care about Carapaz who is Dozens op minutes down instead of a few.

 

[Netserk]

I think Alpecin's plan is to get helpers out in front, so that Vine can bridge on the upcoming climb.

 

[Skijumper Roglic fan]

I understand Evenepoel when he chases down Carapaz. Carapaz has won a GT and is OC, so is one of the strongest in the peloton. He is still a danger for GC. And he showed what he‘s capable of when going a long way out: best example is Catalunya, with Higuita.

Same reason why Pog chased an injured Rog on Granon stage this year: Rog is always dangerous, and has immediately to be chased down.

 

[Netserk]

2 Alpecin riders in the group, Van Baarle is there for Ineos.

 

[staubsauger]

Maybe it is to avoid that when Carapaz gets the legs later on they can't play the numbers game against Remco in the next weeks, He at least doesn't need to care about Carapaz who is Dozens op minutes down instead of a few.

Still, to waste energy by marking an unimportant rider actually increases the risk to run out of fuel later on.

Ulrich marked LeBlanc. Pogacar marked Roglic.

 

[noob]

Loving Carapaz for trying!

There was a lot of angry waving and gestures from UAE (Soler again?) and an Alpecin rider!

 

[Netserk]

Arensman (+3'18'') is in the break.

 

[Volderke]

Arensman? They allowed him in the break?

 

[Netserk]

He could only more demonstratively show that it was time to pee if he pulled his wiener out.

 

[Netserk]

Arensman? They allowed him in the break?

The rest apparently told him to drop back.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Lol Thymen

 

[Hugo Koblet]

What? Why did Arensman fall back? Don't let yourself get bullied! At least stay in the break until the peloton shows that they're not willing to let the break get too much time.

 

[Valv.Piti]

This is next level retardation.