Vuelta a España Vuelta a España 2023, stage 8: Dénia - Xorret de Catí, 165.0k

[Mayomaniac]

Yea but nepotism and tradition should also mean Lastras gets a spot, he's been in the setup for 28 years (Banesto amateur from 1995 to 1997, Banesto/Illes Balears/Caisse d'Epargne/Movistar from 1998 to 2015 and in the team car since 2016) and is actually a good DS.

Much as though Txente's work as a domestique was revered, the guy is basically a driver with a microphone.

That's a good point, but Unzue works in mysterious ways...

 

[Netserk]

Thomas now 23rd at +8'43" as the best Ineos rider in the GC.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Nobody could come round Evenepoel and attack despite him riding on the front the entire climb, he was the strongest today but JV still have a numerical advantage.

Think Roglic is the better of the two but Vingegaard might do a better tt as the former has been a bit below par on the flats this season.

 

[Red Rick]

I think neither Evenepoel nor Roglic were maxed out on the climb. Roglic was riding next to Evenepoel half the time which he doesn't do if he's on the limit. Vingegaard to me looked like the weaker link in Jumbo today.

That said, I wonder if Jumbo didn't race to keep Kuss on board.

 

[Volderke]

OK, plot twist.

Remco thought there were riders up the road. He thought he wasn't sprinting for the win...!
You also see him saying something (cursing?) the moment he comes over the finish when Roglic starts celebrating.

 

[samhocking]

Amazed Remco wasn't aware they were the fist group across the line.

 

[SHAD0W93]

OK, plot twist.

Remco thought there were riders up the road. He thought he wasn't sprinting for the win...!
You also see him saying something (cursing?) the moment he comes over the finish when Roglic starts celebrating.

Maybe it’ll make him angry and he’ll boss tomorrow.

 

[Hugh Januss]

Thomas now 23rd at +8'43" as the best Ineos rider in the GC.

36 sec. ahead of Attila Valter.

 

[ashhutch1997]

Jumbo IMO wasted a real opportunity with the numerical advantage they had. I really hope Remco punishes them ITT for their wheelsucking today

 

[movingtarget]

No reason for Jumbo to do anything near the finish. They knew they were going into the Red jersey and they had Roglic for the sprint. Another tidy day's work.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Thomas now 23rd at +8'43" as the best Ineos rider in the GC.

With Kuss getting into red, this was needed to maintain my psychological balance.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

So did Evenepoel not have a working earpiece or are the Soudal DSs that useless?

If the former, he should arguably have been able to figure it out anyway from the fact that they didn't pass any breakaway riders after the first kilometer of the climb. If the latter, that should be a sackable offence.

 

[samhocking]

Thomas has said Roglic and Jumbo have told him there's riders ahead, when there isn't so they get the bonus seconds. Hope that wasn't the case again today as I think that's a sh!tty way to win a stage personally.

 

[Oldermanish]

Nobody could come round Evenepoel and attack despite him riding on the front the entire climb, he was the strongest today but JV still have a numerical advantage.

Think Roglic is the better of the two but Vingegaard might do a better tt as the former has been a bit below par on the flats this season.

Nobody had to come around Remco. JV had the lock on all of the key goals for the day: Kuss in Red, stage win, make your rivals work. Week 1 and 2 more to go:
Spaniards still in it and a 3-headed leading team that is still enigmatic.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

OK, plot twist.

Remco thought there were riders up the road. He thought he wasn't sprinting for the win...!
You also see him saying something (cursing?) the moment he comes over the finish when Roglic starts celebrating.

Crazy

 

[Volderke]

Jumbo IMO wasted a real opportunity with the numerical advantage they had. I really hope Remco punishes them ITT for their wheelsucking today

I don't think Remco gave them an opportunity on the climb.
Jumbo was thinking to work over Remco with e.g. a Kuss attack, but that didn't happen.

If Jumbo wanted to gain more time, they should have had a totally different plan. But now they got the stage, a red jersey,... I don't think they can complain!

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Jumbo IMO wasted a real opportunity with the numerical advantage they had. I really hope Remco punishes them ITT for their wheelsucking today

Addy Engels is in the team car, it is expected.

 

[Red Rick]

Thomas has said Roglic and Jumbo have told him there's riders ahead, when there isn't so they get the bonus seconds. Hope that wasn't the case again today as I think that's a sh!tty way to win a stage personally.

Roglic didn't lie.

There were a lot of riders ahead of Geraint Thomas

 

[balac]

If this was hid bad day, everyone watch out.

Yeah, it was looking bad at the start of the climb after he dropped to the last of the group , but saved the day pretty well. He was on the limit. Hopefully tomorrow he gets better!

 

[Volderke]

Nobody had to come around Remco. JV had the lock on all of the key goals for the day: Kuss in Red, stage win, make your rivals work. Week 1 and 2 more to go:
Spaniards still in it and a 3-headed leading team that is still enigmatic.

Whatever their goals, they couldn't come around Remco. He dictated the pace and had a gap of one bike on Roglic just before the top. Every time the gradients soared, he pushed them to the limit. Every time the gradient leveled off, he backed down a bit and even allowed attacks if they would come, but they didn't (those leveled off gradients were where Soler and Almeida came back). Don't tell me Roglic or Vingegaard could have done anything than hang on to the top and make the best of the finish.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

Rogla apparently not enjoying the taste of the bubbly. lol

 

[Oldermanish]

OK, plot twist.

Remco thought there were riders up the road. He thought he wasn't sprinting for the win...!
You also see him saying something (cursing?) the moment he comes over the finish when Roglic starts celebrating.

How could he not know? There was enough long, straight climbing to see a minute ahead. He had teammates and other riders that he could ask rather than rely on a conspiracy theory of credibility.
He knew. He got beat.

 

[samhocking]

Roglic didn't lie.

There were a lot of riders ahead of Geraint Thomas

Not today, during the "I don't trust that guy" interview re. Roglic.

 

[Jungle Cycle]

Tourmalet coming....

https://twitter.com/x/status/1697996847258763605

View: https://twitter.com/Cycling_Memes1/status/1697996847258763605

 

[Blanco]

Roglic vs. Valverde on these sprints would have been interesting 🤔

You had that in 2019 Vuelta, Bala was faster, but Rogla was still developing his stomp back then...