Vuelta a España Vuelta a España 2025, Stage 9: Alfaró – Estación de Esquí de Valdezcaray (195.5k)

[Krzysztof_O]

Almeida criticizing his team. Great!

Before the race many of us expected Almeida & Ayuso cooperation wont be perfect and here we go

 

[KZD]

No I didn’t. Precisely why this version is shockingly different level.

Almeida did 6.5w/kg on the Piancavallo climb in the 2020 Giro when he was just 22. Sure, he has improved since then but given that he is now 27, it would have been surprising if he didn't. He has already a very good time trialist in his Quick-Step years too.

Surprised that Visma blew up the race today but Vingegaard said that he was on a great day. Pidcock has always been very strong on unipuerto stages, I doubt that he will be as strong during the harder stages but its still impressive for him to finish with Almeida.

 

[AnotherArmChair]

Visma not playing any games, everyone on same page for Jonas, UAE meanwhile going full circus with Vine wearing clown suit, Ayuso doing daily yo-yo.. Why no plan?

Seems to me UAE wants to keep them all happy and I guess not that focused if Pog is not there

 

[Oldman]

There's no break going without Vine/Aysuo.

If Pedersen thinks he's winning this from the break I have overestimated his brain

RR, this didn't weather too well today. Surprised Vine checked out so early. When Ayuso was at the back before the climb you could tell it was going to be a very bad UAE conference after the race.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

How many times does that duo race in the same group in a season?

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Pidcock explains that Almeida was too strong and he couldn't give him any turns.

It's amazing how many riders are permanently strong enough to follow pace and chase down moves but not strong enough to contribute.

I heard him say that
Almeida said P. had no balls.
Then P. said if you slow down I'll give you a turn
Which he did

 

[Oldman]

Why should pidcock give him a turn? Almeida is the weird one for expecting pidcock to help him win the vuelta. They both said the right things in the interviews.

But to largely sit on and then pull the weak bs of taking a couple of bonus seconds from Ayuso Almeida that will mean nothing to Pidcock's chances. *** move.

Ripper: thanks for the edit catch

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Almeida was too strong...until the end when Pidcock managed to find that extra special something to outsprint him for 2nd. So much douchebaggery packed into a single stage. Who said this would be boring?

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Why should pidcock give him a turn? Almeida is the weird one for expecting pidcock to help him win the vuelta. They both said the right things in the interviews.

Is Pidcock trying to ride for GC? If so, then he should collaborate with Almeida to maximise his gains over the group behind. If not, then is he going for stage wins? If so, then he should collaborate with Almeida to maximise the chance of catching Vingegaard up front. If not, then what the hell exactly is he doing there, riding to try to gain a 2nd place for UCI points for Q36.5 seems the most logical, in which case sure, sit on and outsprint Almeida at the end, but then you can't be surprised when people perceive the racing as negative.

Although seeing Almeida blow up at not getting cooperation was kinda funny after he pulled the "no gifts" card earlier in the season (even though it was fun to clown on Mas for asking for the stage in full view of the cameras).

 

[Lequack]

Lanterne rouge podcast

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjjjKySXMxo

 

[RedheadDane]

How many times does that duo race in the same group in a season?

Making the "not give him a turn" all the easier.

 

[Oldman]

Seems to me UAE wants to keep them all happy and I guess not that focused if Pog is not there

What would he focus on if Pog was there? Trying to stay on his wheel or going off early for his own agenda? Another young rider's hubris will be his undoing.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

I can't wait until Lidl-Trek unleash the fearsome duo of Ayuso-Ciccone on the cycling world.

 

[Red Rick]

Is Pidcock trying to ride for GC? If so, then he should collaborate with Almeida to maximise his gains over the group behind. If not, then is he going for stage wins? If so, then he should collaborate with Almeida to maximise the chance of catching Vingegaard up front. If not, then what the hell exactly is he doing there, riding to try to gain a 2nd place for UCI points for Q36.5 seems the most logical, in which case sure, sit on and outsprint Almeida at the end, but then you can't be surprised when people perceive the racing as negative.

Although seeing Almeida blow up at not getting cooperation was kinda funny after he pulled the "no gifts" card earlier in the season (even though it was fun to clown on Mas for asking for the stage in full view of the cameras).

It's very simple, the relative risk of pulling and then getting dropped far outweighs the gains from taking a few pulls especially before the climbing sections are over. After that there's still merit to sitting in the final km and making sure you win the sprint.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Raul Garcia pernia !!!!!

 

[Netserk]

Who in the *** attacks hard on Valdezcaray after not doing anything on Pal or Cerler?

Not doing anything on Pal?

The team want an easy race and are happy with Tommy Train and his wagons at the front of the peloton, so it makes sense to have a passive approach. Today Vingegaard felt good and overrode the team plan, with Almeida out of position that made good sense too.

I think Vingegaard would have done even more on the previous stages if the other teams had caught the break on those stages as well.

 

[Barnacle Bill]

Managing UAE when Pog is not there must be like herding cats but man, it's also entertaining. In decades to come we'll be reminiscing about this legendary lineup.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

It's very simple, the relative risk of pulling and then getting dropped far outweighs the gains from taking a few pulls especially before the climbing sections are over. After that there's still merit to sitting in the final km and making sure you win the sprint.

True, a worthy effort, but still not enough to snatch the Douche du Jour award from Ayuso.

 

[Netserk]

Is Pidcock trying to ride for GC? If so, then he should collaborate with Almeida to maximise his gains over the group behind. If not, then is he going for stage wins? If so, then he should collaborate with Almeida to maximise the chance of catching Vingegaard up front. If not, then what the hell exactly is he doing there, riding to try to gain a 2nd place for UCI points for Q36.5 seems the most logical, in which case sure, sit on and outsprint Almeida at the end, but then you can't be surprised when people perceive the racing as negative.

Although seeing Almeida blow up at not getting cooperation was kinda funny after he pulled the "no gifts" card earlier in the season (even though it was fun to clown on Mas for asking for the stage in full view of the cameras).

You saw what happened to Ciccone and Gall today?

I was very impressed by Pidders today, I thought he'd get dropped before he got to take a single turn on the front. Excellent ride!

 

[Oldman]

It's very simple, the relative risk of pulling and then getting dropped far outweighs the gains from taking a few pulls especially before the climbing sections are over. After that there's still merit to sitting in the final km and making sure you win the sprint.

Sitting on to survive is one thing....we speculate elsewhere if Pidcock will be a true GT contender and my opinion is he has other disciplines he's good at and enjoys. He may never concentrate of GT specific training periods to achieve what his fans want.
But he also just proved that, if you really don't want him to succeed just duplicate what he did to Almeida. Karma is a very ugly b*tch to guys like that.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Almeida rightfully critical of the team. He deserves more support than this.

 

[Ripper]

It's basically a cat.2 climb with a few kilometres of 2-3% false flat at the summit, and he's largely refusing to cooperate with Almeida too. I don't see it as being out of his range. If he's up there with Almeida as the best after Vingegaard on Angliru, it's another story.

It is also within the first half of what has largely been unknown intensive race thus far. The second half will definitely give an indication as to his resilience and HC climbing legs

 

[Netserk]

*When Pogacar is not there*

Why isn't he here?

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Raul Garcia pernia !!!!!

As always, very respectful...
Or maybe it's just an honest typo. I choose to believe that's the case.

Almeida was riding like a moto trying to close a gap that in itself had no influence on Pidcock's race as he's not really competing against Vingegaard. Time will tell whether that will bite him in the butt later on, but if he already cracks on Tuesday then it won't matter anyway.

 

[E_F_]

Why isn't he here?

He's avoiding Vingegaard, clearly.