Vuelta a España Vuelta a España 2023, stage 11: Lerma - La Laguna Negra, 163.2k

[Izzyeviel]

Is it me or has this Vuelta had a disproportionate amount of crashes in the neutralised zone?

No. The only surprise is that G hasn't crashed in one yet this tour.

 

[SHAD0W93]

I turn the race on to hear them talking about G Thomas getting back into the GC fight if the break takes 7 minutes. 🙄

A Pereiro can always occur.

 

[Blanco]

A very, very difficult situation for Evenepoel against the massive Jumboblock of three GC-riders. I'm convinced Evenepoel could beat Roglic without Vingegaard and Kuss. But not with Vingegaard and Kuss in support. They will test Evenepoel at the end of the climb today. Nothing decisive. A few seconds. But in two days, on the flanks of the Tourmalet, Jumbo will send Vingegaard in the attack. Evenepoel will have no choice and will be forced to ride pace. With Roglic and Kuss in his wheel. But also Ayuso, Mas, Soler and Almeida doing nothing. Because they know they can't win the Vuelta anyway. Just saving forces till the end of the climb, going for the third or fourth place in the overall. Two possibilitys for Evenepoel. He's is not coming back on Vingegaard, so Vingegaard will come back in the GC. Or Evenepoel is coming back on Vingegaard, but will immediately be attacked by Kuss. If Evenepoel can't react or don't want to react (having Roglic, Vingegaard, Ayuso, Mas.... in his wheel), then Kuss probably will win this Vuelta. If Evenepoel is still able to react and come back on Kuss, Roglic will attack and take enough time to take the red jersey or to become second in the GC after Kuss. No way Evenepoel could turn the situation around in the last mountain stages (Angliru).
Next year, in the Tour de France, it will be another situation. I guess with Pogacar in topform (with a strong team as well). With a hopefully strong INEOS-team. Evenepoel will not be the only one competing against the Jumbo-giants.

I don't agree on this, at all, and it won't be that way. Ayuso certainly thinks he can win a whole thing, Mas probably also. I'm sure we will see aggressive riding from both on the real mountain stages, they won't settle for 4th or 5th place.
Now, Remco needs to be very smart here, and to know from whom the real danger threatens. If he answers to Jumbo attacks immediately, he's doomed. If Ayuso, Mas and company force him to do all the work, he's doomed also. He needs to be very careful who and when he'll follow, and when to do the work if necessary. It's tricky, but not impossible. And if he has a good legs on the day, why not attack himself, I bet Jumbo wouldn't expect that.

 

[Rob5091]

The GC teams must be upset with Thomas being in the break as otherwise they could let the break get 8, 10 minutes and take it easy. Now they have to keep the gap down.

 

[Izzyeviel]

Is this Thomas' first day in a breakaway in his career?

No, he did a breakaway on a mountain stage in the Tour around 2014/15. He crashed out of the breakaway...

 

[Devil's Elbow]

The GC teams must be upset with Thomas being in the break as otherwise they could let the break get 8, 10 minutes and take it easy. Now they have to keep the gap down.

Thomas has been awful all race, they can easily afford to give the break 8-10 minutes here.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Yeah looking at how strung-out the bunch is I get the impression they are pinning this with a potential stage in mind, rather than keeping Thomas' GC time in check, don't think they would mind giving him 8 minutes or something otherwise.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

No, he did a breakaway on a mountain stage in the Tour around 2014/15. He crashed out of the breakaway...

He was also in the breakaway in 2011 on the Luz Ardiden stage, but he was passed on the last climb by Sanchez and Vanendert… and everybody else for the GC, obviously

 

[Rob5091]

Remco was obviously looking forward to a couple of easier days, according to the video interview.

 

[Volderke]

As said, there can be 3 reasons to keep riding in the peloton by Jumbo:
1. stage win / bonus seconds. Less and less likely as the gap keeps floating around 5 minutes
2. not allowing guys like G in the break to make a come-back in GC. Not very likely imho.
3. make the race hard, because Jumbo feels they can handle it and the competition will succumb, in the long run. A bit the TdF way of riding. Most likely.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

Fantastic asphalt patchwork on the road right now, it looks like a rider's veiny legs

 

[search]

Remco was obviously looking forward to a couple of easier days, according to the video interview.

not that it really makes much of a difference today. It's not the kind of climb where anything is going to happen anyway, and I'd be surprised if he doesn't sprint away with Roglic on his wheel in the end, no matter if it's for 1st or 25th.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Gap looks more reassuring for the break now, fuga de la fuga time can't be too far off.

 

[Rob5091]

As said, there can be 3 reasons to keep riding in the peloton by Jumbo:
1. stage win / bonus seconds. Less and less likely as the gap keeps floating around 5 minutes
2. not allowing guys like G in the break to make a come-back in GC. Not very likely imho.
3. make the race hard, because Jumbo feels they can handle it and the competition will succumb, in the long run. A bit the TdF way of riding. Most likely.

Maybe points 2 & 3?

 

[Rob5091]

Nearly 6 minutes and under 30 km to go for the break, so I think we can say the break will get the win. I suppose Jumbo will hope Alpercin will help out tomorrow as it looks like a sprint finish.

 

[jaylew]

Just tuned in and saw in the CN live feed that Ayuso crashed but nothing after that. Is he ok and back in the peloton?

 

[Samamba]

Patiently waiting for the rouleurs to attack

 

[Devil's Elbow]

The non-climbers outnumber the climbers by about 5 to 1 in this group, very strange that nobody has attacked yet.

Edit: and right as I post. Every time.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

Lots of lovely forest greenery, a blue sky with a few clouds, and a lake or two - 25km to go and a bit of climbing up ahead

 

[Rob5091]

Just tuned in and saw in the CN live feed that Ayuso crashed but nothing after that. Is he ok and back in the peloton?

He crashed in the neutral zone and there was a short video, he looked shaken but ok.

 

[RedheadDane]

Nobody wants to play with Julius.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Nobody going with Johansen, some should have to

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Don't think I've ever seen a breakaway this big this happy to stay together.

 

[DJ Sprtsch]

Would have been a good opportunity for Higuita.

 

[Tim Cahill]

It's startling that they are still all together