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

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You folks are being silly—Wout was in a tough break all day yesterday so that was unlikely today: so imagine the team bus, “okay we can chase the break and grab KOM and 50/50 chance at stage win, or we can f&cking around and do nothing today. Cause you all are paid to chat while chillin at back of the peloton.”

Van Aert was literally freewheeling on that last climb, not even breating, he was fit enough to go in the break with teammates.
 
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But it did look pretty
Let's go with this from PRC then, with the super steep Acebo, then the version of Leitariegos with 3km at 9% at the start before joining the last 30-35k of today's stage instead.

ribadeo-villablino.png
 
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Ok, but they would still have to control other riders in what would be a big break. You think his chances were 90-100% of winning then?
Wout could have attacked over the top the climb-that would have been an alternate scenario.

It's never 100% but at least you don't sacrifice your whole team to just get beaten by the faster rider. But like you see it was nowhere near 100% the way they rode today. They overestimated the last climb and underestimated Groves here.
 
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