Vuelta a España Vuelta a España 2023, stage 9: Cartagena - Collado de la Cruz de Caravaca, 184.5k

[noob]

The apocalyse is near

 

[Ripper]

Waiting for the organizers to announce a change in the finish line.

Or, no change!

Either way, I can already feel the complaints coming (and the finish is legitimately stupid looking, I am very interested to see how it actually pans out)

Hahaha ... in before the actual announcement! The organizers are going to get roasted for this last minute change, because it wasn't friggen obvious from the get-go today

 

[QueenStagiaire]

So, the stage hunters get no additional safety, but the GC riders?

 

[tobydawq]

What an awful decision. Would they maybe stop trying to ruin their race day in day out???

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Unipublic should be banned from ever organising a race again after shambolic performance after shambolic performance this week.

 

[Netserk]

It's a bit of a weird point on the climb to take the times.

 

[Jungle Cycle]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1698343239189672251

View: https://twitter.com/CiclismoInter/status/1698343239189672251

 

[Tricycle Rider]

The apocalyse is near

Couldn't they use a snow shovel or something equally practical to clear the mud?

 

[Ripper]

What an awful decision. Would they maybe stop trying to ruin their race day in day out???

The awful part is that they could have made modifications before the stage even started. I mean, the videos are hilarious ... they actually have been trying to make this work! And it's also nuts that the actual finish line is still the same

 

[Zoetemelk-fan]

Just heard neutralizing times 2.6k before finish line?
Why? this is uphill. OK gravel mud, but then change to gravel bikes, thanks.
If it's that severe that passage is not possible, I could understand. But this is not what is inbetween lines. Is it due to a small drop before finish line?

*Edit*, ok neutralization just 50m before 2K mark. And no bonus secs.
Just found final route at Google Earth. Seems quite complex and up/down hill. And the passage seems not suitable for "a new finish line". So OK.
But is Evenepoel aware of this last minute news in his earplugs?

 

[DNP-Old]

Let another country give it a go at organizing a Grand Tour. A legitimate Tour of Scandinavia, Vuelta a Colombia, hell, Tour de Trump. None would give us the amateurism that has been on display here.

 

[Potomac]

madness

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Guys if you are bored of this transition stage in small veulta, there is 29km left on Bretagne plouay classic, good aggressive racing, already 1 masnada attack. It's fun

Thanks for the reminder, but no spoilers please: some of us will watch it later.

 

[gunara]

Meanwhile, the finish has turned into a CX venue.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1698323066311303652

"Imagine all of this war then they move the finish to Calasparra..." that's what I thought when seeing this

Not as bad , or maybe worse...

 

[Red Rick]

Absolutely pathetic attitude by the peloton right now. 2 doms on the front guarantees you a shot at the stage, but no, let's give the break 1 minute in the span of 15 minutes.

Blame bonus seconds

 

[DNP-Old]

Boom, let's go. Here's your new Grand Tour.

 

[RedheadDane]

I hope they actually started (trying to) clean the roads much earlier than the pictures got out. Otherwise, it gets really silly...

 

[Didinho]

No boni seconds today. Not 2.6km but 2,05km. At the top of the first steep part.

 

[Unterlenkerfahrend]

2.6km before the finish is in the middle of the steepest part on the climb? Timing gaps will be a shitshow, are they going to analyse some spectators phone footage again?

Edit: ah, okay, actually just 2km so just before the little downhill.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

How bad are the bikes of the Spanish PCTs?

 

[DNP-Old]

They've re-placed the finish again, roflmao.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Garbage race. This is not a grand tour.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

Caja running low on spare bikes

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Moving the goalposts like cyclingnews posters.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

How many riders will think the times were at 2.6k to go, stop riding there and lose time as a result?