Vuelta a San Juan 2023 (January 22-29)

[Libertine Seguros]

So around 10 years ago, there was much derision of the Tour Down Under, it being a very dull race that deliberately did not use the obstacles at its disposal in order to not stop riders from coming, being a very short and boring race consisting of five sprints and Willunga Hill that most riders not from Australia itself treated as a bit of warm weather training, and anybody who actually wanted to do some challenging racing in January instead headed to Argentina.

Oh how the tables turn, now it's the precise opposite, the Tour Down Under has finally turned into a competitive race with varied stages, and San Luís with its ITT, the hilly stage around the motor racing circuit and its two MTFs (one short one long) has been replaced by this absolute mess.

 

[RedheadDane]

They could combine the two races and call it the San JUAEn Tour.

The transfers would be hell, though!

So 201 km in 4 hours and 22 minutes apparently means an average speed of 37 km/h. Is RedheadDane employed by the organisers?

I don't like your post! PLEASE DON'T REPORT ME!

 

[Samu Cuenca]

I don't like your post! PLEASE DON'T REPORT ME!

I used to report almost all of your posts, but I gave up since nothing happened.

 

[tobydawq]

I used to report almost all of your posts, but I gave up since nothing happened.

I still do.

 

[Mayomaniac]

The sprinting field is actually quite good here.

I'm happy for Tivani's 5th place. Nice to see that he finally got a pro contract. He was really good in the u23 ranks at Unieuro when they also had Almeida for a short time and even was a stagiaire at UAE, so I was surprised to see him not turn pro afterwards (Richeze would have been a great mentor for him). He's a fast guy who can climb a bit, he was 9th on the Alto de Colorado when Remco won the gc in 2020 and finished 11th on the gc.

 

[Extinction]

Well, sure... No need for shaming me...

It's not shaming, but wry irony.

 

[DJ Sprtsch]

A break of four riders are chasing the head group of five riders, but are not getting closer than a minute it seems. Peloton 4 minutes behind the leading five.
Strange big town they are riding through. Or whatever you might call it.

 

[Lequack]

Imagine the city paying a lot of money for coverage and then the route planners coming up with this. What a shame. Even a circuit race around the block would be much better.

 

[Bonimenier]

The break flew up that climb at a blistering pace. Let's see what kind of damage it can do to the peloton.

 

[DJ Sprtsch]

The most bizarre KOM I've ever seen.

 

[BR2]

Did they burn?

 

[DJ Sprtsch]

Huh?
Pieter Serry raced up the KOM in the front of the peloton while sorting out his musette.

 

[DJ Sprtsch]

Comedy gold. Absolutely nothing happens for ages, the only action to look forward to is the points sprint and we don't get to see it.

 

[Skijumper Roglic fan]

Oh, this El Cerrillo climb was maybe even steeper than we already thought it was. PCS‘s liveticker: „El Cerrillo (0.5km à 0.5%)“…

That is quite funny… ;-)

Edit: Just noticed that legendary Cerrillo was already part of Giro del Sol‘s stage 1, on January 6, 2023… Epic climb! :
https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/giro-del-sol-san-juan/2023/stage-1 (profile at the bottom)

 

[Lequack]

I'm going to spoil the stage. Jakobsen will win again. I know, who would have expected that.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Tailwind on this part means a headwind for the final 500 metres, fwiw.

 

[glassmoon]

lol... impressive

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Simmons wins, exact same move as Stybar three years back.

 

[Red Rick]

Lol attacking when Evenepoels turn is finished, very smart.

 

[perico]

Simmons is a beast.

 

[BR2]

Now that was a crazy final! Loved it!

 

[Didinho]

Smart and strong move. Well deserved!

 

[KZD]

Finally something different than a bunch sprint happening in this race.

 

[Lequack]

I am now a big fan of Quinn Simmons.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Remcos fault