Vuelta a España Vuelta a España, stage 6: La Vall d'Uixó - Pico del Buitre, 183.1k

[Libertine Seguros]

Although early in the day I was wondering if we had a 1990 Giovannetti situation brewing, this eventually reminded me a lot of stage 16 of the Giro.

In the Giro, I had been waiting in frustration for something to happen... and when it did, we got a really good stage, but the outcome was so unpalatable that I liked it better when nothing was happening. In the Vuelta, I had been waiting in frustration for something to happen... and when it did, we got a really good stage, but the outcome was so unpalatable that I liked it better when nothing was happening.

It's just that at the Giro it took over two weeks to get to that point, whereas in the Vuelta we've still got over two weeks of potential action left.

 

[noob]

Kuss was a bait. He was allowed to get the stage, but he wasn't allowed to take red. I'd still say that's as a fact.

 

[Escarabajo]

I heard INEOS and Remco will have a meeting tonight!

 

[Netserk]

Quite clear he had a bad day if guys like Mas, who couldn't touch him last year, were simply riding away.

Mas was faster across all mountain stages than Evenepoel last year.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

first, Ineos is the biggest loser team on earth. why the HELL were they pulling today? they do not have a real GC rider in this race. their DS should be fired.

Geraint Thomas was 2nd in the Giro.

I've said more than my piece about Geraint Thomas the GC rider, and we can all meme on his usual post-July form as much as we like, but he was on the podium of a GT three months ago and is riding a different calendar to normal.

 

[Volderke]

Mas dropped him multiple times last year.

Multiple? I must have missed something!
Pandera yes, but Nevada he was just controlling as he was more concerned about Roglic in his wheel.

 

[ontheroad]

Think Storer will have to do a lot of domestique duty tbh, only guy on Groupama who can stay with Martinez in a peloton of <30 riders. And Martinez will likely stay in the top-3 until at least Tourmalet, assuming the jersey isn't offloaded to a breakaway.

The next great French hope? As Pinot retires up steps Lenny!

 

[Ulle97]

Mas was faster across all mountain stages than Evenepoel last year.

Pico Jano and Les Praeres??

Or are you talking about cumulative time over all mt stages??

 

[Sciatic]

I found a video of that crash... if you've ever doubted Sepp, just know he faceplanted & got straight up & rode off without stopping. Unstoppable object...

I remember that — it was uncanny he he immediately popped up and jumped back on the bike, completely unphased, not bothering to check for damage

 

[Volderke]

I heard INEOS and Remco will have a meeting tonight!

Is this like inside info with regards to team transfer (something the press would like to know) or is this tongue-in-cheek about Ineos and Remco discussing tactics as it seems Ineos rode for Remco today (something you are imagining just for fun)?

 

[Netserk]

Or are you talking about cumulative time over all mt stages??

Yes.

 

[RedheadDane]

The next great French hope? As Pinot retires up steps Kenny!

Lenny. Kenny is probably a bit old to be considered the next French hope.

BTW, is it just me, or does FDJ really like putting random unexpected riders into leader's jerseys?

 

[Escarabajo]

Is this like inside info with regards to team transfer (something the press would like to know) or is this tongue-in-cheek about Ineos and Remco discussing tactics as it seems Ineos rode for Remco today (something you are imagining just for fun)?

On a serious note I heard about a merger yesterday. That is a rumor from a podcast. Kind of weird but that is truly a rumor.

 

[ontheroad]

I hope they don't make Kuss work for Vinge and Roglic now. If they really are about the team win they need to get behind GC Kuss.
Also, how cool would it be to win each GT with a different rider. Probably a record never to be broken again.

Sepp will be getting a ticking off from Richard klugge at dinner tonight!! Meanwhile Madiot will have a wry smile.

 

[Nick2413]

What an epic stage and heist by Jumbo. Did Remco actually blow then get back into a groove or did he just ride the same Watts the whole time and Rog/Vinge dropped off a bit after the initial attack? Finishing behind the other GC guys indicates some weakness but it wasn’t that bad.

UAE stealthily having a nice day but still nobody looking to threaten Jumbo other than the question mark of Remco. Hopefully no illness again.

Looked like Kuss took his time celebrating to stay out of red. He could be a legit contender but may also get tricky if Jumbo rides with 3 leaders.

Vingegaard pulled for Roglic at points and both were on the limit, facial expressions actually looked worse for Vingegaard, so not too much to tell yet.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

The next great French hope? As Pinot retires up steps Kenny!

Another French hope who is going to do many more beautiful things on the climbs, but ultimately fall short of winning a GT thanks to his lack of TT ability. Martinez can't really do anything about it, though - impossible to keep up in the TTs when you weigh 52 kilograms even if you train for them properly (unlike a certain Romain Bardet).

 

[IndianCyclist]

great stage, two takeaways

first, Ineos is the biggest loser team on earth. why the HELL were they pulling today? they do not have a real GC rider in this race. their DS should be fired.

They have only one strategy if anything happens - The Train, God save the train. Obviously, They were chasing for a discount from Remco

 

[Sciatic]

Red after Xorret Catí, and Libertine posting a few very solid posts complaining about how miserable a rider Kuss is.

He doesn’t complain when Kuss rides like this!

 

[Andy schleck]

What an epic stage and heist by Jumbo. Did Remco actually blow then get back into a groove or did he just ride the same Watts the whole time and Rog/Vinge dropped off a bit after the initial attack? Finishing behind the other GC guys indicates some weakness but it wasn’t that bad.

UAE stealthily having a nice day but still nobody looking to threaten Jumbo other than the question mark of Remco. Hopefully no illness again.

Looked like Kuss took his time celebrating to stay out of red. He could be a legit contender but may also get tricky if Jumbo rides with 3 leaders.

Vingegaard pulled for Roglic at points and both were on the limit, facial expressions actually looked worse for Vingegaard, so not too much to tell yet.

It's normal. Vingegaard is with a tour france in his legs, roglic not.

 

[Valv.Piti]

He doesn’t complain when Kuss rides like this!

Sure?

 

[Sciatic]

I didn’t say he likes it!

Ed. She.

 

[zlev11]

Geraint Thomas was 2nd in the Giro.

I've said more than my piece about Geraint Thomas the GC rider, and we can all meme on his usual post-July form as much as we like, but he was on the podium of a GT three months ago and is riding a different calendar to normal.

he lost 47 seconds on an easy climb on Monday and dropped another 1:20 today, he wont be anywhere near the top 5 in this race. if they want to ride to protect 7th or whatever then fine, but that is loser mentality.

 

[movingtarget]

Geraint Thomas was 2nd in the Giro.

I've said more than my piece about Geraint Thomas the GC rider, and we can all meme on his usual post-July form as much as we like, but he was on the podium of a GT three months ago and is riding a different calendar to normal.

The Giro was probably his last good chance to win another grand tour. Missed opportunity but he gave it his all. The last half of the TT found him out.

 

[Riek s]

What a race, and onlye stage 6.

We will probably end up with 1-2-3 for JV, but if all the mountain stages will be ridden like this, maybe it is ok
(lets hope that the organizers catch up on how to convey it to the screen though....)

 

[hfer07]

So,

good racing altogether 
JV was truly dominating- Congrats to Kuss for the stage win (well deserved TBH) and then thanks to Primoz for attacking early to create the gap to Remco, whose response was Ok by limiting the damage to the minimum possible. Also good to see Mas in action & Vinge tagging to Primoz to the end (still wondering how they're going to define leadership - after the ITT maybe? )
Seems like La Vuelta is shaping up nicely