Vuelta a España Vuelta a España 2024, stage 14: Villafranca del Bierzo - Villablino, 200.4k

[Devil's Elbow]

The most underwhelming stage design of this Vuelta. Villablino is well-positioned to have a really hard mountain stage, coming from Acebo up a more interesting side of Leitariegos to finish, but instead we have a nailed-on sixth breakaway stage in a row.

Don't really have time to write much else, so the climb profiles only it is. Leitariegos from this side is actually behind Montevergine when it comes to steepness by a decent margin... the GC riders should have plenty of company left at the finish.

 

[Red Rick]

When O'Connor was suddenly up 5 minutes I legit spent a full hour coping how attacking this stage was viable.

I do wish this was Ventana and then San Lorenzo and Somiedo

 

[saunaking]

pfff. We just had this stage yesterday

 

[Pinot's goat]

These stages replace the really boring flat ones in this Vuelta.

 

[Eyeballs Out]

Profile note:- I think that apparent ramp after the Cat 3 descent is actually just a tunnel.

Anyway for an obvious breakaway day the easy Cat 1 should provide a good battle - plenty of riders with a chance if they have the legs

 

[Red Rick]

I'm trying to think of ways that Van Aert doesn't win this stage and I'm drawing blanks here.

 

[SHAD0W93]

I'm trying to think of ways that Van Aert doesn't win this stage and I'm drawing blanks here.

That he’s not a top 30 climber and gets distanced on the final climb.

 

[ice&fire]

These stages replace the really boring flat ones in this Vuelta.

At least there's someone who gets it.

I'm trying to think of ways that Van Aert doesn't win this stage and I'm drawing blanks here.

He's already lost tomorrow's stage by being in the break today. I mean. Can't someone at the team have a global look at the roadbook?

 

[scribers]

Are we now complaining about breakaways now succeeding? I thought these were a greed-less relic of the past in the age of super teams.

 

[scribers]

He's already lost tomorrow's stage by being in the break today. I mean. Can't someone at the team have a global look at the roadbook?

Bruyneel emphatically claims (and is usually right) that the riders in breakaways tend to be in them day after day toward the later half of a GT. No reason why WVA won't be in it again so long as there are points up the road.

 

[ice&fire]

Bruyneel emphatically claims (and is usually right) that the riders in breakaways tend to be in them day after day toward the later half of a GT. No reason why WVA won't be in it again so long as there are points up the road.

He won't be as fresh as if he had taken today easier. Now, if his new goal is the KOM instead of more stage wins he needs to grab as many point as possible in the early climbs of every stage.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Notable names who phoned it in today, perhaps in anticipation; Castrillo, Poole, Rivera, Lazkano, Hermans.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Notable names who phoned it in today, perhaps in anticipation; Castrillo, Poole, Rivera, Lazkano, Hermans.

Lazkano is clearly not feeling well at the moment. He's not phoning anything in.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Lazkano is clearly not feeling well at the moment. He's not phoning anything in.

Looked fine a few days ago, multiple attacks from the break, not at his top level but didn't seem sick? He seemed to work a bit today at the front before the climb then drop off.

 

[Lequack]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1829557968968306928

View: https://x.com/TeamEmiratesUAE/status/1829557968968306928

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Looked fine a few days ago, multiple attacks from the break, not at his top level but didn't seem sick? He seemed to work a bit today at the front before the climb then drop off.

Yesterday he got dropped quite early and he looked to be suffering a lot, and we've also heard that Rubio has Covid.

 

[ice&fire]

Lazkano is clearly not feeling well at the moment. He's not phoning anything in.

Lazkano crashed hard in the stage to Córdoba and is riding in pain since then.

 

[elguapo]

14th stage would be raced in relaxed for recovery in preparation to a more aggressive racing on stage 15.

 

[will-10]

Are we now complaining about breakaways now succeeding? I thought these were a greed-less relic of the past in the age of super teams.

Thanks to UAE we had a huge quota of breakaway wins to catchup on. Van Aert ftw

 

[scribers]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1829557968968306928

View: https://x.com/TeamEmiratesUAE/status/1829557968968306928

To be fair, he might have already been dead and is a science experiment

 

[movingtarget]

Going to be a lot of tired riders in the final week. Expect more ups and downs in the top 10. Another stage for the break.

 

[Rob5091]

20 guys up the road with 10 minutes on the peloton?

 

[search]

He's already lost tomorrow's stage by being in the break today. I mean. Can't someone at the team have a global look at the roadbook?

Valter said van Aert only joined the break when he saw Groves was in there, a dangerous contender for the green jersey.

So it may actually be more about maths than reading skills.

 

[tobydawq]

Well, at least the fight for the stage in a break should be more entertaining on a climb like this than on a climb like yesterday's.

 

[ice&fire]

Valter said van Aert only joined the break when he saw Groves was in there, a dangerous contender for the green jersey.

So it may actually be more about maths than reading skills.

That makes sense. I caught the broadcast when they were just before the intermediate sprint and I don't recall seeing Groves around, so I didn't understand why WVA was there and why he was putting so much effort when today's stage is more suitable for him.