Vuelta a España Vuelta a España 2024: First rest day thread

[Devil's Elbow]

Time to have less consensus than we've ever had in one of these polls!

 

[AmRacer]

Florian for the white.

 

[Squire]

I'm keeping my Mas vote from before the race, and I suspect us believers will have more company now. But O'Connor really looks like a tough nut to crack now, and as suspected, it seems like yesterday was partly down to the tactical error of following Roglic from the bottom of the climb.

 

[Netserk]

Rogla and O'Connor in the best position, but I think Yates is back at his best and will win this bike race.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Mistakenly voted for Landa, but come on, this is Enric territory. Best climber in the race, now his team just needs to set him up. First opportunity on Ancares on Friday!

 

[Red Rick]

Mistakenly voted for Landa, but come on, this is Enric territory. Best climber in the race, now his team just needs to set him up. First opportunity on Ancares on Friday!

Cruxeires on Wednesday. Although that should be more about hold on for dear life to Roglic.

But Mas is more punchy than he often gets credit for and he shouldn't be afraid to use that.

 

[zlev11]

Mas is going to win

 

[RedheadDane]

Vino would need to make up almost two hours, so that would be a surprise...

The others? I've given up trying to predict anything in this race!

 

[Valv.Piti]

Cruxeires on Wednesday. Although that should be more about hold on for dear life to Roglic.

But Mas is more punchy than he often gets credit for and he shouldn't be afraid to use that.

Sure, but thats not where he wins it, neither is Manzanadas or whatever

 

[solo80k]

It's by far the most interesting GC battle in 2024 thanks to O'Connor, Roglic and Pogacar's absence. 😁

 

[Red Rick]

It's by far the most interesting GC battle in 2024 thanks to O'Connor, Roglic and Pogacar's absence. 😁

Not just 2024.

This is preobably the wildest first week I have ever seen. There's been so man big swings already.

The only one coming close is the 2015 Vuelta, when we had Dumoulin and Chaves emerging out of nowhere, but that one eventually boiled down to some of the most locked down racing I've seen.

 

[Jumbo Visma Fan :)]

Still sticking with my pre race pick of Roglic but this is wide open. I would not be putting money on this race if I was a gambling man.

 

[Coffeeplanter]

Not just 2024.

This is preobably the wildest first week I have ever seen. There's been so man big swings already.

The only one coming close is the 2015 Vuelta, when we had Dumoulin and Chaves emerging out of nowhere, but that one eventually boiled down to some of the most locked down racing I've seen.

First week, agreed, but overall we need about 18 more twists and turns before the race can tie the mythical Giro of 2010.

 

[Bolder]

Carapaz. He knows how to win a GT.

 

[FroomeWagon]

OConnor is, for the first time, the betting favorite.

OConnor 7/4
Roglic 11/4
Mas 7/2
Carapaz 6/1
Yates 9/1
Landa 25/1
Gall 50/1

 

[cen]

I just hope for no crashes and for a competitive race to continue.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Mistakenly voted for Landa, but come on, this is Enric territory. Best climber in the race, now his team just needs to set him up. First opportunity on Ancares on Friday!

You can now change your vote, forgot to turn that option on.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

One moment you think a guy looks good, but then he loses 45 seconds on a not too difficult climb or can't handle the heat or gets covid or has arrogant or useless teammates or clueless DSes, or his back is hurting, or he crashes in a descent or gets attacked by a deer. I'll be sticking with Vino for now.

 

[will-10]

Isn't it great when we don't know who is going to win?

Sticking with O'Connor for now, I think Roglic and Mas should, in a perfect world, still have enough road to overhaul him, but feels like both are bound to scupper their own chances in some way before Madrid.

 

[Netserk]

OConnor is, for the first time, the betting favorite.

OConnor 7/4
Roglic 11/4
Mas 7/2
Carapaz 6/1
Yates 9/1
Landa 25/1
Gall 50/1

Implied chance between them:

31.53 % | O'Connor
23.12 % | Rogla
19.27 % | Mas
12.39 % | Carapaz
08.67 % | Yates
03.33 % | Landa
01.70 % | Gall

 

[RedheadDane]

Carapaz. He knows how to win a GT.

Roglic got some experience in that departement too.
And maybe if UAE kidnaps Simon, and forces him to ride as Adam for the remainder of the race....

 

[Tricycle Rider]

At this point I'm kinda hoping Quintana will break the top 40 barrier (lol), and otherwise Carapaz for the win!

 

[Gratemans]

The others? I've given up trying to predict anything in this race!

This. And that's exactly what makes this an awesome Vuelta.

 

[Gigs_98]

I just don't buy that Yates and Carapaz are back at their best. I can totally see why people are picking Mas now but I think this was more of a one off performance by Roglic and not too indicative of how the comparison between the two will look like for the rest of the race. I think O'Connor hanging on became more likely today though.

 

[Taxus4a]

I just don't buy that Yates and Carapaz are back at their best. I can totally see why people are picking Mas now but I think this was more of a one off performance by Roglic and not too indicative of how the comparison between the two will look like for the rest of the race. I think O'Connor hanging on became more likely today though.

I think Roglic could put some seconds or bonus at stages when more than 30 people get the foot of the last climb, and lose time at the hardest ones.

O Connor we will see, I thinbk he go well with hot, but in general will be hot hort weather as well in the nord. No so extreme, it depends the days. He is a fourth place Tour rider. That is a lot. But I am with landa and I hope no.