Vuelta a España Vuelta a España 2024, stage 18: Vitoria-Gasteiz - Maeztu, 179.3k

[Tim Cahill]

You just try and stop Marc Soler going for those KOM points.

 

[Rob5091]

Forget the Castrillo stage wins, this break composition is the best example yet of the chasm between both wildcard teams in this Vuelta.

Euskaltel saving themselves for the GC stages.

 

[Danskebjerge]

The peloton is in a dangerous breakaway.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Only Roglic missing from the top 8 of green classification. Including 5 of the weakest sprinters in the race.

 

[Rob5091]

AG2R Decathlon team meeting, "Whatever happens, none of you guys are going in the break!"
42 now with 3 minutes up the road.

 

[Lequack]

So the break will work for a Groves win today. How did he manage to convince them?

 

[Slavique Nuke]

Euskaltel is a completely donkey team

 

[tobydawq]

So the break will work for a Groves win today. How did he manage to convince them?

?

 

[Samamba]

Euskatel is hilarious. I mean how do you even miss a 40+ man break
It's a bit sad, you have 3 very decent Spanish Pro Conti teams now, but Euskatel is so far behind. Wouldn't be surprised if they fold in the future sadly as I don't see them getting the top 30 on the UCI ranking the next few years (which they need to get Vuelta WCs)

 

[Rob5091]

I stand corrected - Euskaltel giving us the rare sight of them leading the peloton.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Punishment ride or not the gap is coming down

 

[SafeBet]

I would like Vacek to win today.
He's been super consistent these past few months.

 

[Taxus4a]

Tomorrow they pass for my house, and I Will be at Pradilla Climb m, but today I know as well quite well the stage and Herrera is reslly hard. The fact Euskaltel is working ( Bravee for them) , the break has people of Landa, Mas and Carapaz, and Herrera is not far from the line, with more flinbs to come, make that something could happends.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Lazkano/Canal? and Pacher go with Euskaltel, they may aswell work a bit tbh

Edit: Canal, Lazkano already up front

 

[Taxus4a]

Whaylt a pity now the pelotón is going to stop...but I always hope one team can make hard the race before Herrera.

 

[Slavique Nuke]

The break should not allow Canal and Pacher to join

 

[search]

Euskatel is so far behind. Wouldn't be surprised if they fold in the future sadly as I don't see them getting the top 30 on the UCI ranking the next few years (which they need to get Vuelta WCs)

there was an article in Basque press today, according to which they are close to signing a new agreement for another three years

Araba abraza la Vuelta

La etapa vasca de la carrera une este jueves Vitoria-Gasteiz con Izki en un recorrido de media montaña de 179 kilómetros y con las ascensión al alto de Herrera como punto de inflexión

www.deia.eus

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Tomorrow they pass for my house, and I Will be at Pradilla Climb m, but today I know as well quite well the stage and Herrera is reslly hard. The fact Euskaltel is working ( Bravee for them) , the break has people of Landa, Mas and Carapaz, and Herrera is not far from the line, with more flinbs to come, make that something could happends.

Today stage is very close to the training roads of Mikel, correct? He's still living in murgia/Vitoria?

For me would be nice to see one of his teammates Cattaneo or vansevennent win today

 

[Tim Cahill]

About 20 riders seem to have peeled off the peloton and bridged to Euskaltel

 

[Netserk]

Was it Narvaez who nearly made Küng's move (together with an Astana rider), but is now back in the big breakaway group?

 

[noob]

After the sexy Covadonga this feels so... boring :O

 

[search]

Was it Narvaez who nearly made Küng's move (together with an Astana rider), but is now back in the big breakaway group?

him and Tejada, yeah

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Very odd for the fuga de la fuga to consist solely of riders without a teammate in the breakaway.

 

[Netserk]

This is the best chance for Carapaz and Landa to make the podium. If they can distance O'Connor and get Mas and Rogla with them, they have a lot of firepower up ahead.

 

[Squire]

I would like Vacek to win today.
He's been super consistent these past few months.

Poole deserves a stage win at some point in this race. But today is maybe not the day.