Vuelta a España Vuelta a España 2023, stage 2: Mataró - Barcelona, 181.8k

[Gigs_98]

What a hysterically abysmal way for a gt to start.

 

[Ricco']

So everybody here wanted GC guys to race the climb and go into suicide mode in the decent to keep a 5s gap and potentially crash out on day 2.
Taking notes.

While pointing them guns if they didn't want to cooperate, don't forget about that.

 

[Netserk]

CPA Delenda Est!

What an embarrassing, pathetic shitshow.

The run-in was ridiculous, for sure. But the conditions were perfectly fine. Riders are only able to politically retaliate, one-upping organisers in making things worse. A wrong made yesterday, and now another wrong today to "equalise" the score.

 

[postmanhat]

I'm feeling sorry for those forced to hear on Kirby. Gave up on him after a single season I must say...

Usually try to avoid him, and all commentators with a few exceptions. But the coverage was so bad, thought they might be useful today.

 

[Red Rick]

So the part that wasn't neutralized but where everyone was trying to be as safe as possible had heaps of riders crashing

And the part that was neutralized where only 30 odd riders tried to go for a result had nobody crashing despite trying to race?

 

[tobydawq]

So everybody here wanted GC guys to race the climb and go into suicide mode in the decent to keep a 5s gap and potentially crash out on day 2.
Taking notes.

Lol. Of course we want the GC riders to go for it.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

How long do you need to put up the top-10 on screen? Broadcast is so bad this year.

 

[balac]

Awful two stages, but luckily it's just the first two and no GC leader has crashed out. So, not everything is awful.

Let's hope the Vuelta starts tomorrow.

 

[Jumbo Visma Fan :)]

So everybody here wanted GC guys to race the climb and go into suicide mode in the decent to keep a 5s gap and potentially crash out on day 2.
Taking notes.

Of course we want GC guys to race for GC, and there was ZERO wrong with the finish.

 

[tobydawq]

I'm feeling sorry for those forced to hear on Kirby. Gave up on him after a single season I must say...

"to hear on" is almost a worse Danglicism than brutto troup

 

[Samamba]

More of these anticlimactic stages pls!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YEEEES.

In honour of Tijl!

 

[Ricco']

Remco's doms can't even follow the neutered group, he is doomed.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

What was dangerous about again?

Hilariously, the lead-in to the part they accepted for timing was the dangerous part, and the part that was neutralised was perfectly safe.

The 2010 Giro l'Aquila stage was significantly worse than this and was not only not neutralised but created the whole situation for the second half of that race helping it become an all time classic.

On the flip side you have that Vuelta a Colombia stage a couple of years ago where they had a sprint with so much standing water that riders were going all over the place. Not neutralising that finish was an absolutely reckless organisatorial decision that deserves every bit as much criticism as some of the BS cancellations and neutralisations we've had ever since Adam Hansen woke up one morning in Italy and decided he didn't fancy a long ride in the rain.

 

[postmanhat]

Great result for Groves after so long off the bike. He could get a few stages here.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

So everybody here wanted GC guys to race the climb and go into suicide mode in the decent to keep a 5s gap and potentially crash out on day 2.
Taking notes.

I think what you have just described is called racing.

 

[RedheadDane]

Leaf-covered road and the lone rider coming in is Kron, chapeau!

As we learned during LBL; he likes a bit of foliage.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Groves audibly not happy with Jumbo and Soudal.

 

[Red Rick]

I find myself longing back to simpler days, when Andy Schleck lost a minute on a wet descent, complained about it for 2 weeks and then was simply calledn Abandony until the end of his career.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Hilariously, the lead-in to the part they accepted for timing was the dangerous part, and the part that was neutralised was perfectly safe.

The 2010 Giro l'Aquila stage was significantly worse than this and was not only not neutralised but created the whole situation for the second half of that race helping it become an all time classic.

On the flip side you have that Vuelta a Colombia stage a couple of years ago where they had a sprint with so much standing water that riders were going all over the place. Not neutralising that finish was an absolutely reckless organisatorial decision that deserves every bit as much criticism as some of the BS cancellations and neutralisations we've had ever since Adam Hansen woke up one morning in Italy and decided he didn't fancy a long ride in the rain.

Can you ever talk about anything without comparing it to something that happened between 2006 and 2011? lol

 

[Miss Violet Smith]

Kudos to Kron and Lotto.

Also to Vacchi for correctly identifying Kron after only a moment of confusion.

ETA: It was actually Robin Fomin today, thanks to Prim for letting me know!

 

[Samamba]

That top 15 looks like a random breakaway win.

 

[Rob5091]

Chapeau Kron and Lotto - nice way to end a bad week for them.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

That top 15 looks like a random breakaway win.

Well it kind of was.

 

[movingtarget]

So the part that wasn't neutralized but where everyone was trying to be as safe as possible had heaps of riders crashing

And the part that was neutralized where only 30 odd riders tried to go for a result had nobody crashing despite trying to race?

Obviously the organizers have their finger on the pulse................

 

[Tim Cahill]

he's great, it was the best stage ever cause he won, why be a jerk?

Can't wait to suggest that whoever wins looked so good that they probably would've won even if the GC guys were there.