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

[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.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Kung knows he needs time in the bank for the cat 1, not ideal for him Schmid being on his wheel but Vacek perfect to go with.

 

[Netserk]

Lafay is not the rider I would have sent with the Euskatel chasse patate.

 

[Red Rick]

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.

If he misses such a move Id think that is his podium gone instantly

 

[Netserk]

Kung knows he needs time in the bank for the cat 1, not ideal for him Schmid being on his wheel but Vacek perfect to go with.

Huh? Schmid is good company, no? Strong and committed. Cattaneo would have been better, McNulty too, but Küng would have been worse off if Schmid weren't there.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Huh? Schmid is good company, no? Strong and committed. Cattaneo would have been better, McNulty too, but Küng would have been worse off if Schmid weren't there.

Schmid could drop Küng on Herrera, though.

 

[Netserk]

If he misses such a move Id think that is his podium gone instantly

As in he'd be too weak to defend it the coming stages anyway? If so, I don't agree.

Schmid could drop Küng on Herrera, though.

He is still more likely to be defeated by the group chasing him, and even if he'll be dropped, he can still plausibly catch him afterwards. He needs strong company to have a fighting chance.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Huh? Schmid is good company, no? Strong and committed. Cattaneo would have been better, McNulty too, but Küng would have been worse off if Schmid weren't there.

Looking at the past week, I would think Schmid, whilst committed is too strong to help to the foot of the climb, risks getting dropped like a stone on the early 11% section of Herrera and not being able to get back.

 

[yaco]

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

It makes perfect sense to me in that situation. Go on the territory that suits you, and burn out the teams that have multiple riders.

 

[E_F_]

I like dogs.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Movistar have Lazkano/Arcas at 1 minute from the front and Canal at 4, know it's unlikely but it would be an awesome setup for an ambush.

 

[Slavique Nuke]

What happened to Ide Schelling, he was a decent rider in the Bora. Astana is that bad?

 

[QueenStagiaire]

We‘re now in the birth town of the bald fraud, as Bernie Eisel just made me aware of on German commentary

 

[tobydawq]

How hard would it be to put a time gap to the group that's actually relevant?

 

[tobydawq]

We‘re now in the birth town of the bald fraud, as Bernie Eisel just made me aware of on German commentary

Also a city where Roglic won a stage two years ago.

 

[Danskebjerge]

Øvskaltel. (Only funny for Danes.)

 

[Red Rick]

As in he'd be too weak to defend it the coming stages anyway? If so, I don't agree.

He is still more likely to be defeated by the group chasing him, and even if he'll be dropped, he can still plausibly catch him afterwards. He needs strong company to have a fighting chance.

I envision a groupb with the 5-8 better climbers dropping him and joining their teammates from the break, while O Connor would have to wait for a group to cluster together

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Øvskaltel. (Only funny for Danes.)

I sure don't find it funny

 

[Devil's Elbow]

It makes perfect sense to me in that situation. Go on the territory that suits you, and burn out the teams that have multiple riders.

It makes perfect sense for the solo riders and I'm not saying it doesn't, the odd part is that all the teams with multiple riders have managed to collectively miss out.

 

[AmRacer]

Küng the climber.

 

[Netserk]

I envision a groupb with the 5-8 better climbers dropping him and joining their teammates from the break, while O Connor would have to wait for a group to cluster together

Oh, absolutely. Which is why today is a good opportunity for those who need to take a lot of time on O'Connor.

 

[SafeBet]

Kern Pharma with 3 of the best 12 riders of the break?

 

[Tim Cahill]

Kung looking good, even if he loses a bit he can make it up easy on the descent from here.

 

[search]

after finishing 17th from the peloton on Cuitu Negru, you'd think Valter should be one of the favorites to win from the break today. But instead he got dropped with the sprinters.