Vuelta a España Vuelta a España 2024 Stage 3, Lousã-Castelo Branco, 191.5k

[Devil's Elbow]

There weren't even 10 guys trying to sprint, lol.

 

[Penninepeddler]

10th Grand Tour stage win for van Aert.

1st one ever outside TdF... though tbf first time he has ever been at another GT!

 

[Sciatic]

Euskaltel has a sprinter?!

 

[scribers]

It's too early to have selections in a good race, but it would be nice if you don't end up with 12 large group sprint finishes in a GT. The profile pretends to allow a break a chance, but maybe the days of good breakaway stages are over?

 

[ontheroad]

The red jersey gave him wings, he executed that sprint perfectly.

 

[postmanhat]

WVA. The W stands for Winning!

Not sure about the VA?

 

[Peyroteo94]

Vuelta has 3 sprint stages, why bring sprinters?

 

[ice&fire]

There weren't even 10 guys trying to sprint, lol.

Huge props to Guillén for his contribution to that with the route designs of the last 15 years.
It makes sprints safer too.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Grande Wout and the first Vuelta stage top 3 ever for both new Euskaltel and Aberasturi

 

[Samamba]

Euskaltel has a sprinter?!

Aberasturi not really a surprise in this field. He's probably 3rd fastest here on pure speed.

 

[Valv.Piti]

It's too early to have selections in a good race, but it would be nice if you don't end up with 12 large group sprint finishes in a GT. The profile pretends to allow a break a chance, but maybe the days of good breakaway stages are over?

I think this is as pure of sprint stage you can get in the Vuelta unless you hit the pampas on the middle of the country or going along the coastline. Also, its the 3rd day, so thats pretty normal

 

[Ricco']

Seemingly organizers don't want to have good stages in the beginning. If the best of Portugal would be used, probably the best time to have them would be end of second full week.

They could easily have done this without having too much mountains and still showcasing beautiful landscapes and tourist spots.

1. Lisboa I.T.T.
2. Setúbal - Vila Nova de Milfontes
3. Beja - Marvão HTF

I mean, Castelo Branco has some pretty spots but they finish in a random industrial zone like we have so many in numerous cities. No one feels tempted to visit the city watching that. They don't even went through Monsanto or Penha Garcia, historical towns on the east side of Castelo Branco district.

 

[Andre]

Well done Wout!!! Third, second, and now first.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

It's a good job that he finally won something because if he kept losing and having bad luck I would eventually feel very sorry for him and start to support him.



Now I can continue to be a critic of the Belgian pozzato



Mickey mouse win against farmers.

 

[Barnacle Bill]

Nice one Wout

Visma can relax now, everything from here on out is a bonus

 

[red_flanders]

I think this is probably my favorite victory celebration! It’s fun, a bit silly, doesn’t show anyone else up, looks cool.

 

[Rob5091]

WvA got the jump on Groves and hung on - chapeau! Aberasturi in 3rd for Euskaltel - wow, and Lotto went with Livyns today - 7th.
We've had the Wout Show for 3 days now, and tomorrow begins the GC Kuss extravaganza.

Edit - add - and in the sprint competition for the ages, Lenny VE came in 23 rd but Vlasov a lowly 40 th spot, so I declare Lenny the winner ... Now let's see how they get on with some lumpy stuff.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Red Bull will wonder why they bothered sponsoring a team: they still get their wings celebration, even with no rider in the top 25.

 

[Sciatic]

They could easily have done this without having too much mountains and still showcasing beautiful landscapes and tourist spots.

1. Lisboa I.T.T.
2. Setúbal - Vila Nova de Milfontes
3. Beja - Marvão HTF

I mean, Castelo Branco has some pretty spots but they finish in a random industrial zone like we have so many in numerous cities. No one feels tempted to visit the city watching that. They don't even went through Monsanto or Penha Garcia, historical towns on the east side of Castelo Branco district.

That’s unfortunate, would have loved to see more of that.
Funny, because of your forum name I always assumed you were in Italy

 

[postmanhat]

It's too early to have selections in a good race, but it would be nice if you don't end up with 12 large group sprint finishes in a GT. The profile pretends to allow a break a chance, but maybe the days of good breakaway stages are over?

By current standards, relatively weak teams and leaders in this race. Seems a little like the Giro 22 which seemed to consist largely of breakaway stages? Hopefully we'll have a decent KOM competition.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

I think this is probably my favorite victory celebration! It’s fun, a bit silly, doesn’t show anyone else up, looks cool.

Didn't Sagan used to do something similar

 

[Lequack]

If only @Logic-is-your-friend was not banned so he could share in this joy. It's not every day that Wout does the albatross.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Great to see Wout bounce back from his crash 5 months ago and polish off the big names like Antonio Jesús Soto and Arjen Livyns.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

Mate is just ecstatic on the podium, good for the orange squad!

Edit - only just now found out Mate is 40, wow! I have a new old rider to root for!

 

[Izzyeviel]

GC Wout anyone?