Vuelta a España Vuelta a España 2024, stage 13: Lugo - Puerto de Ancares, 175.6k

[zlev11]

Yes, but this was not as good form as he has ever had, this was a massive underperformance.

this was dead-on normal for him

 

[tobydawq]

this was dead-on normal for him

Lol, no.

 

[zlev11]

Lol, no.

ok then how about you back up what you're claiming? look up his climbs in grand tours where he's rode for GC. this is his level. he's done 3 GT's high on GC previous to this. he has very rarely ever climbed with Roglic, Mas, Carapaz and Landa on a climb like this. he lost 40 friggin seconds to Thomas, Martinez and Einar Rubio on Brocon in the Giro, a much easier climb. in 2022 Vuelta when he finished 7th, he lost 1:20 to a subpar Roglic on Pandera.

 

[tobydawq]

ok then how about you back up what you're claiming? look up his climbs in grand tours where he's rode for GC. this is his level. he's done 3 GT's high on GC previous to this. he has very rarely ever climbed with Roglic, Mas, Carapaz and Landa on a climb like this. he lost 40 friggin seconds to Thomas, Martinez and Einar Rubio on Brocon in the Giro, a much easier climb. in 2022 Vuelta when he finished 7th, he lost 1:20 to a subpar Roglic on Pandera.

Okay, maybe he has had a lot of massive underperformances throughout his career (which make my argument invalid), but based on how he has ridden on most stages in this race, I think he was really disappointing today.

 

[Potomac]

I still can't figure it out.
I never thought much about Ben O'Connor before this race. Somehow, I have quickly developed a dislike for him.

 

[zlev11]

If he was 8th from GC group a minute down, then I'd agree. But not 15th from GC group at 2 minutes.

this is a super deep GC group though. just look at his placings in the Giro and who was around him, it makes sense he's where he is imo. and if you remove Roglic from the equation he basically is 1 minute off of everyone else.

 

[Brullnux]

this is a super deep GC group though. just look at his placings in the Giro and who was around him, it makes sense he's where he is imo. and if you remove Roglic from the equation he basically is 1 minute off of everyone else.

Tiberi pre-heat stroke was climbing at like 5th/6th best level, in fairness, and he and O'Connor were fairly well matched in the Giro.

Today was a bad day that we've noticed more so because he's in the red jersey, the flip side is stage nine where he looked actually really good. He's very inconsistent, even within a race. He might do Covadonga really well, alongside Carapaz or someone but ship another two minutes elsewhere.

 

[zlev11]

2 minutes is what he lost to Pogacar on Monte Grappa, a 50 minute climb.

Now I love some Roglstomp, but I don't see him at Pog's level on that climb.

a 50 minute climb is way more in his wheelhouse than 5.5k at 11%. look at how he did on Brocon and Santa Cristina.

 

[Lequack]

 

[Bolder]

I still can't figure it out.
I never thought much about Ben O'Connor before this race. Somehow, I have quickly developed a dislike for him.

I think it’s his personality. He gets a bit whiny sometimes and it’s really off putting. He’s a quality rider, though, and he’s made the race much more interesting, so chapeau for that.

 

[KZD]

Great win for Woods, a rider that is usually very strong in these "rampas inhumanas".

Massive performance from Roglič not only he took almost 2 minutes on O'Connor, he also caused his other big rival Mas to blow up in the last climb.

Landa doing really well just like Skjelmose who keeps climbing on the GC. Lipowitz very strong once again, top5 could still be a goal for him if Roglič keeps this shape.

 

[Invicituz]

At least he can be confident that he doesn't need to go on suicide mode and take risks against any Fred Wright

It's certainly more attainable and doesn't necessitate as many risks as before.

 

[ManicJack]

Do the polka dots trump green or vice versa or does he get the choice of which one he wears. Bob Roll made a good point about the need for a jersey that denotes someone who actually holds the lead in more than one category. For example a green jersey with polka dot sleeves while the second place in kom still wears the polka dot jersey.

 

[Hugh Januss]

I still can't figure it out.
I never thought much about Ben O'Connor before this race. Somehow, I have quickly developed a dislike for him.

I agree. I like my 'take a bunch of time in a lucky break that doesn't get chased and move into the GC lead' guys to be a little humble or at least quiet. Not "defiantly stating 'I'm still in red'" after shipping the better part of 2 minutes in 6 kilometers and having his teammates push competitors off the road. But that's just me.

 

[Hugh Januss]

Do the polka dots trump green or vice versa or does he get the choice of which one he wears. Bob Roll made a good point about the need for a jersey that denotes someone who actually holds the lead in more than one category. For example a green jersey with polka dot sleeves while the second place in kom still wears the polka dot jersey.

Easy, green polka dot jersey!

 

[RedheadDane]

Easy, green polka dot jersey!

Green jersey, polka dot shorts.

 

[AmRacer]

Easy, green polka dot jersey!

....weenie, yellow, polka dot....

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Green jersey, polka dot shorts.

So green torso, polka butt?

 

[tobydawq]

Do the polka dots trump green or vice versa or does he get the choice of which one he wears. Bob Roll made a good point about the need for a jersey that denotes someone who actually holds the lead in more than one category. For example a green jersey with polka dot sleeves while the second place in kom still wears the polka dot jersey.

Points jersey trumps KOM jersey in all races.

 

[Invicituz]

Sensational performance from Michael Woods, winning a career third Vuelta stage.

 

[Cookster15]

Congrats to Woods. Great to see him achieve his ambition to win in the Canadian national champion jersey. He really does like super steep climbs. He came 3rd in the 2018 Worlds at Innsbruck behind Valverde after getting away on a super ridiculous climb with AV and Bardet.

 

[Breh]

Interesting how Mas and Kuss were the only ones to follow Roglic initially.

Both ended among the worst of the GC contenders.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Interesting how Mas and Kuss were the only ones to follow Roglic initially.

Both ended among the worst of the GC contenders.

Where as Landa played it smarter

 

[Oldermanish]

Great win for Woods, a rider that is usually very strong in these "rampas inhumanas".

Massive performance from Roglič not only he took almost 2 minutes on O'Connor, he also caused his other big rival Mas to blow up in the last climb.

Landa doing really well just like Skjelmose who keeps climbing on the GC. Lipowitz very strong once again, top5 could still be a goal for him if Roglič keeps this shape.

Those guys all rode well with Mas attempting to match strides too long. He could've possibly limited the losses for today by backing off a bit. All the guys that came back to him came closer to their max than Mas and he may reverse his fortune on one of the upcoming stages.
Those that question Roglic's endurance can hold hope that will happen, at least.

 

[Gratemans]

Where as Landa played it smarter

Yep, doing it the Almeida way. But I can understand how very difficult it must be to pace yourself while you see others riding away.