-
The Cycling News forum is still looking to add volunteer moderators with. If you're interested in helping keep our discussions on track, send a direct message to
In the meanwhile, please use the Report option if you see a post that doesn't fit within the forum rules.
Thanks!
A Vuelta podium would be the biggest result AG2R have had for years, a Vuelta win would be the biggest result full stop. They would be fools not to pursue it just because O'Connor is leaving.
Yes of course but like you've seen today, teams often act like fools.
I would hope so. If I was the DS I would have a team meeting and say, “guys whatever strategy we had for the race before and whatever individual targets you had for yourselves—that all goes out the window now. This opportunity had dropped into our lap out of a clear blue sky, so we’re going to make the most of it. That is, everyone all in for Ben.”
Have you ever seen the Purche/Hazallanas descent? It's basically a highway, as untechnical as it gets. You need to actively be riding like an idiot to crash there.
They shouldn't. Gall should get a free ride for as long as O'Connor stays in Red. O'Connor is good at his own pace (as we saw today) and they potentially have other climbers to help him anyway
Woah, how did that happen? Congrats to Ben O'Conner for a huge breakaway win. I hope he can finally rediscover his 2021 Tour legs, coz now he will really need that level. Also came 4th in the Giro so he's obviously on a good season. He is 28 now so in the sweet spot for a pro - another reason why it was stupid to give him so much time.
True. But if Mas wants to win Movistar should have done something worthwhile also. UAE has no GC rider? Visma aren't interested in Kuss defending his title?
If were the team owner I would dimiss my DS for encouraging passive racing. I want my riders to race actively to earn possible points so that my team could avoid relegation. Or, if I were the sponsoring a team, I will pull out my sponsorship. Soft pedalling is tantamount to sandbagging.
He isn't badly hurt at all. Apparantly he was fighting a bit with Riccitello previously to be on Van Eetvelt's wheel and Ricci crashed in front of him
I responded to your post with a laughing emoji because I was wondering who would point at PR...you did one better, you posted a pic!
I think AG2R should use Gall as a domestique in some places but honestly, he might be more helpful in a free role at times. Like, if Gall can follow Roglic when he tries to go from far out Roglic can't just pull a guy really close to him on gc for dozens of kilometers if there is still another climb left. Gall might he able to neutralize moves even if O'Connor isn't strong enough to follow
While today was a huge performance from O'Connor, I think some are overreacting a bit regarding the GC implications of it. This is one of the hardest Vuelta routes that I remember so 5 minutes is not that big of a gap against someone like Roglič or even Almeida.
I feel like there's dozens of riders in this peloton who might qualify for a "hold my beer" moment with regards to the bolded.
But irrespective of Sunday's descents my point stands re the entire Vuelta. I just watched Adam Yates & a bunch of others wipe out earlier today so... yeah, it'll always be the primary concern.
Rog knows this better than anyone, i.e. his (in)famous no risk no glory moment in 2021 happened on a very slippery descent in hot conditions.
Maybe, but if O'Connor has found his 2021 form again then this will have a major impact
So Bora wanted to loan out the jersey so that the team will not have to work so much, but now they have to work to get Rog in position to attack?? Makes zero sense.
Also Lipowitz... I understand these guys are not the brightest but the basic rules are you stay with your leader (long before Horner said it
) but if you find yourself in the break you have the perfect excuse to not work. And his only job was to be glued to Ben's wheel. That was it. And what did he do? Dumbness squared. It seems as though he thinks he did well today... which is mind boggling. Maybe teams need to hire some smart guys as DS's and not only ex pro riders. Just pay some mathematician/physicist/engineer good money to make some smart decisions.
Also Lipowitz... I understand these guys are not the brightest but the basic rules are you stay with your leader (long before Horner said it
) but if you find yourself in the break you have the perfect excuse to not work. And his only job was to be glued to Ben's wheel. That was it. And what did he do? Dumbness squared. It seems as though he thinks he did well today... which is mind boggling. Maybe teams need to hire some smart guys as DS's and not only ex pro riders. Just pay some mathematician/physicist/engineer good money to make some smart decisions.
I think this so as well. Then in the steep finishing climbs O’Connor might climb best just doing his speed and VPP should be able to stay with him for a long time.
Gall is also a pretty bad downhiller, so maybe its bad to keep him with O’Connor at the top of the last climb when there is downhill finish?
Yeah....no. I think we saw an initial tactic based on 5 previous days of racing in the heat. Bora wants some help and the response got progressively weaker.
KZD said it: While today was a huge performance from O'Connor, I think some are overreacting a bit regarding the GC implications of it. This is one of the hardest Vuelta routes that I remember so 5 minutes is not that big of a gap against someone like Roglič or even Almeida.
O'Connor rode the last 30km incredibly and the teams that did finally attempt to bring him back couldn't, period. Watching almost every rider cross the line was like Dead Men Walking; Bora's reserved approach backfired on everybody but not at the expense of greater exposure in the week to come.
Domestiques relaying bottles in 100 degree heat for the first week puts all protected riders at risk, too. When we get into steeper hills a solo rider that misses those precious feeds will lose minutes, not seconds. Heat/bonk happens instantly in those conditions. That should also be a note to protecting O'Connor with Gall and whomever they have.
TRENDING THREADS
-
Teams & Riders The Remco Evenepoel is the next Eddy Merckx thread- Started by DNP-Old
- Replies: 29K
-
Teams & Riders The Great Big Cycling Transfers, Extensions, and Rumours Thread- Started by RedheadDane
- Replies: 11K
-
Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread- Started by Lequack
- Replies: 23K
-
-
-
Teams & Riders Everybody needs a little bit of Roglstomp in their lives- Started by johnymax
- Replies: 19K
-
Teams & Riders Jonas Vingegaard thread: Love in Iberia- Started by Samu Cuenca
- Replies: 7K
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram