Vuelta a España Vuelta a España 2024, stage 16: Luanco - Lagos de Covadonga, 181.3k

[noob]

My god some people really are searching for something to get upset about. The group was just being careful making sure they didn't crash on that wet section with some downhills.

Careful Rogla good

Even a sick noob understood this 🤣 I mean there was fog and wet roads. Would be idiotic to risk anything whatsoever

 

[Valv.Piti]

I think the overall level is just so even at the moment. Don't really matter what climbs you shove in front of them. These gaps are really small in the GC top-10, this is literally one MTF at Plateau de Beille in TdF with all guns blazing Pog gaps.

 

[Tim Cahill]

I think it's Carapaz probably with the most to lose not pacing, but I think he is the type to be planning something dramatic on 20.

 

[Izzyeviel]

Adam is never around when you want him

 

[Coffeeplanter]

No more complaining about Mas being boring or never doing anything. He has been aggressive the entire race.

Yeah, to be fair, those 46 seconds of excitement on Collada Llomena were 46 more than I anticipated.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

Vine looks right in the polka dots.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Yeah, to be fair, those 46 seconds of excitement on Collada Llomena were 46 more than I anticipated.

Never change, huh?

 

[Sciatic]

Shake of the head from O'Connor over the line, but he did better then a lot expected. Still in red but only 5 seconds on Roglic.

Before the stage, I didn’t think he would lose a whole minute. But when he was dropped so early on then I figured he would lose much more than that including his podium spot.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

Beautiful grotto

 

[Coffeeplanter]

Never change, huh?

What do you mean? I am genuine. I did not expect him to do that, I give him props for that. He tried, it just did not last very long.

I expected nothing, I got one minute of good fun. That's a W.

 

[Sciatic]

Should be better in 2025 as his off-season preparation for 2024 was far from ideal.

His preparation for that corner was likewise far from ideal,

 

[perico]

Never change, huh?

A hater?

 

[BullsFan22]

I hope Rogla doesn’t start playing games.

 

[shalgo]

Where did this form of Gaudu come from—he hasn’t looked like this since several Tours ago.

Paris-Nice last year?

 

[Libertine Seguros]

It's such a weird climb.

Gaps would literally be bigger if they put the finish lower

Problem is the only logical places would be at the Basilica, which would turn it into a puncheur 1km stomp finish, or Mirador de la Reina, which would turn it into a 2km stage with all the action coming on La Huesera.

The issue really for Los Lagos is that long stretch from Cangas de Onis to Soto de Cangas and onwards to Covadonga village, which just kills momentum from before.

You could go from Llomena over Mohandí and even Bada to toughen up that run-in, but you're always going to have to deal with the 15km or so flat between them so unless you make the race hard enough beforehand that it's worth persevering in the valley - like the Euskaltel break of doom in the 2010 Cotobello stage or the famous 2005 Heras stage to Pajáres, momentum is going to be killed in the valley.

Even going over Torno you're going to have the shorter flat from Soto de Cangas, and at the cost of not having any selective climbs close enough to Covadonga to make a difference. Fito or the Llomena-Mohandí doublette is the best you can hope for in that respect.

And unless they pave the eastern path from Següencu to Torio via San Blas, I can't see that happening. That would put a climb of just under 6km at about 9-9,5% at about 30km from the line and cut the pure flat between Soto and Covadonga village to about 6km. But it's a natural park and I don't see them wanting to do it seeing as there's already one road to access the Mirador at Següencu and limited traffic.

 

[Valv.Piti]

What do you mean? I am genuine. I did not expect him to do that, I give him props for that. He tried, it just did not last very long.

Well, alright. Just seemed like another dig at Mas.

 

[Sciatic]

I think to a degree it is understandable from Roglic and Bora... with the stages left it would be a shock if Primoz did not put 2-3 minutes into him minimum.

But for Carapaz and Mas? They likely both finish on the podium... but O'Connor is not a bad ITT'er and if I were them I would be starting to get a bit antsy.

They have basically 2 Mountain stages left and they have "only" been putting maybe ~1 minute into him on the mountain stages in the last week or so.

It would not be a total shock for O'Connor to come 3rd only because Carapaz and Mas are not respecting him enough.

Now, it shouldnt happen, but could.

But one of them is already on the virtual podium.

 

[Coffeeplanter]

Well, alright. Just seemed like another dig at Mas.

Not at all, I love it when people surprise me. I know for a fact Primoz Gerrans wouldn't do something like that.

 

[Oldermanish]

I think to a degree it is understandable from Roglic and Bora... with the stages left it would be a shock if Primoz did not put 2-3 minutes into him minimum.

But for Carapaz and Mas? They likely both finish on the podium... but O'Connor is not a bad ITT'er and if I were them I would be starting to get a bit antsy.

They have basically 2 Mountain stages left and they have "only" been putting maybe ~1 minute into him on the mountain stages in the last week or so.

It would not be a total shock for O'Connor to come 3rd only because Carapaz and Mas are not respecting him enough.

Now, it shouldnt happen, but could.

Good observation but EF has never been shy about aggression and Movistar needs to get on their ponies to assure a top 3. Good situation for Roglic and Bora to maybe rest up a bit for stage 20?

 

[Krzysztof_O]

So congrats to Soler on the win. A few km before the line his face looked sh*tty while Pool looked so at ease...it's better not to predict results by facial expressions!

O'Connor holds on by a hair's breadth, his reign in red is almost over. Primoz is getting closer to another Vuelta victory but he still has to watch out for Mas and Carapaz...he wasn't too convincing and had some problems with accelerations today.

 

[Oldermanish]

Soler looked done three times but still won. Good win. Mas looks the strongest but Roglic continues to do enough. O'Connor gave it his all and wanted another day in Red. Paced himself well.

I think Mas is being stalked. Roglic barely got out of the saddle to spin up to his moves which has to start getting into Enrique's head....

 

[perico]

Leave O'Connor in red by seconds and then take it away on the final time trial.

It will be gone before then. Stage 20 is going to be brutal.

 

[tobydawq]

Soler has kids?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Why on Earth does that merit so many exclamation and question marks?

 

[Sciatic]

So congrats to Soler on the win. A few km before the line his face looked sh*tty while Pool looked so at ease...it's better not to predict results by facial expressions!

O'Connor holds on by a hair's breadth, his reign in red is almost over. Primoz is getting closer to another Vuelta victory but he still has to watch out for Mas and Carapaz...he wasn't too convincing and had some problems with accelerations today.

Don’t think he was trying to do hard accelerations today, just content to pace himself back. But that could mean he wasn’t feeling great and knew he didn’t have to follow every push.

 

[tobydawq]

Not at all, I love it when people surprise me. I know for a fact Primoz Gerrans wouldn't do something like that.

I wonder what happened last time they rode that exact climb.