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

[Snake]

because Ayuso isn't there, makes sense

and Mas as well

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Really showing that Bahrain, Movistar and UAE have very little in the way of rouleurs this race. With Ganna not in the picture, the best are all in the front echelon. Ayuso et al are going to have to close it themselves on the climb. And that task is getting harder with every minute that passes.

 

[Rackham]

45 seconds, apparently. This is a wild ride.

 

[theyoungest]

Isn't it a far bigger tactical nightmare when UAE have him outnumbered just as badly as Jumbo?

If UAE lose big today (a bit early to say...) then it's really Evenepoel on his own against Jumbo. So in that sense it might be disadvantageous.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Why are soudal helping!?! If they do stay away this will turn into a tactical nightmare for the rest of the vuelta for them

While there‘s still crosswind you basically have to help or risk being shut out of the group.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

What is going on?

Gigs isn't watching (well he can't), and the race has thus blown apart.

 

[Red Rick]

Really showing that Bahrain, Movistar and UAE have very little in the way of rouleurs this race. With Ganna not in the picture, the best are all in the front echelon. Ayuso et al are going to have to close it themselves on the climb. And that task is getting harder with every minute that passes.

They can close it because if they don't the lead group will literally drop all their domestiques on the climb.

 

[theyoungest]

Really showing that Bahrain, Movistar and UAE have very little in the way of rouleurs this race. With Ganna not in the picture, the best are all in the front echelon. Ayuso et al are going to have to close it themselves on the climb. And that task is getting harder with every minute that passes.

The fact that even Kuss is in the front group shows that this was more about positioning and intent than about having rouleurs there.

 

[Red Rick]

The fact that even Kuss is in the front group shows that this was more about positioning and intent than about having rouleurs there.

Getting in the echelon, yes. But closing down an echelon or driving it really requires good rouleurs.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

The fact that even Kuss is in the front group shows that this was more about positioning and intent than about having rouleurs there.

The split happening was positioning, the gap going out is rouleur ability.

 

[Berniece]

If I was Evenepoel I wouldn't take a turn, let JV ride

 

[joseph89]

Isn't it a far bigger tactical nightmare when UAE have him outnumbered just as badly as Jumbo?

They will now have no reason to help if jumbo goes on a raid etc

 

[Libertine Seguros]

It's always about being in front of whoever causes the split. Jumbo had basically the whole team up front because they a) hold the red jersey and b) were aware of the risk here. I mean it's only three or so years ago you had Movistar breaking things up in the echelons and Quintana gaining time ffs, nobody's ever gonna call him a master rouleur.

 

[theyoungest]

If I was Evenepoel I wouldn't take a turn, let JV ride

I don't think any of the GC guys is taking a turn.

 

[Rackham]

The climb looks like a very generous cat 1 as well, looking at the profile. It's more of a cat 2-ish which they've labelled cat 1.

Rouleurs should be able to make it over the top.

 

[Samamba]

While there‘s still crosswind you basically have to help or risk being shut out of the group.

Looks like no crosswinds here, there just riding in a perfect chain. And QS is taking pulls. Only one not taking pulls is Govekar.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1698293658687012937

View: https://twitter.com/lavuelta/status/1698293658687012937

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Rouleurs should be able to make it over the top.

If they ride so slow that they get caught, yes

 

[balac]

Remco is absolutely insane if he helps in that group when the wind dries down a bit. Insane.

He needs the UAE riders in contention to not get absolutely killed by Jumbo and their tactics.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

They will now have no reason to help if jumbo goes on a raid etc

Depends. UAE also have numbers and can just as easily join in with a raid. And in any case, it's madness not to do anything when half your main competitors are dropped, there are far more scenarios in which Evenepoel loses to Ayuso or even Mas than scenarios where Evenepoel loses to Jumbo *because of what is happening here*.

 

[Cassirer]

It's always about being in front of whoever causes the split. Jumbo had basically the whole team up front because they a) hold the red jersey and b) were aware of the risk here. I mean it's only three or so years ago you had Movistar breaking things up in the echelons and Quintana gaining time ffs, nobody's ever gonna call him a master rouleur.

Well he was once upon a time called van quintanen on this very forum!

 

[Netserk]

They can close it because if they don't the lead group will literally drop all their domestiques on the climb.

I don't think so.

 

[Red Rick]

Remco is absolutely insane if he helps in that group when the wind dries down a bit. Insane.

He needs the UAE riders in contention to not get absolutely killed by Jumbo and their tactics.

If everyone pulls, Kuss is gonna be *** on the final climb anyway. Vingegaad and Roglic will also suffer more than Evenepoel. Besides there's a huge tailwind on the final climb making team tactics much less relevant.

 

[ice&fire]

If I was Evenepoel I wouldn't take a turn, let JV ride

And if I was JV, I'd split Remco out of the echelon

 

[Netserk]

Quintana gaining time ffs, nobody's ever gonna call him a master rouleur.

Excuse me? Nairo is an airbender.

 

[Tim Cahill]

This is an echelon for echelons sake, little sense behind what they are doing tbh, wish we had coverage though as it sounds good.