Vuelta a San Juan 2023 (January 22-29)

[red_flanders]

Bring back San Luis.
Seriously, they picked one of the worse provinces of western Argentina to host a race. Mendoza, Salta and Jujuy would also all offer better terrain.
You can do some interesting stuff in Chile and Argentina, the former also has plenty of mountains around Santiago that could be used in a bigger cycling race.

Yeah, it's super weird. These races are often meant as a vehicle for the tourist industry. Now logically I know that there are more beautiful places in Argentina (I've never been, so I guess I ASSUME this), but this race has made me less, not more likely to want to visit that country. Dirty, messy, terrible looking residences...not what I'm looking for in a bike race. I enjoy being transported to beautiful destinations by our sport.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Yeah, it's super weird. These races are often meant as a vehicle for the tourist industry. Now logically I know that there are more beautiful places in Argentina (I've never been, so I guess I ASSUME this), but this race has made me less, not more likely to want to visit that country. Dirty, messy, terrible looking residences...not what I'm looking for in a bike race. I enjoy being transported to beautiful destinations by our sport.

Yeah, even the Tour of Quinghai Lake usually happens during the time when their rapeseed flowers bloom, to promote tourism and show great pictures.

Salta and Jujuy would offer spectacular rock formations that would look awesome on TV and you could actually promote Tourism.

 

[Red Rick]

Laughs in Dani Diaz...

Daniel Diaz couldn't beat Contador in his nightmare year.

Or maybe Contador himself peaked in January in 2013.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Daniel Diaz couldn't beat Contador in his nightmare year.

Or maybe Contador himself peaked in January in 2013.

Nah, that was 2012, he actually won the gc in 2013 (I had to look it up). Contador outsprinted him and Diniz on one MTF, but Dani Diaz finished over 1min ahead of all the other gc guys on the other mountain stage, one day earlier. On that stage he dropped Contador and all the others, putting over 1min into them.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Sam Bennett in the break 7 minutes ahead

 

[Samamba]

Why don't they do the climb they're doing today but from the other side? It would actually be 16km 5.5% climb. Do the parcours in the opposite direction and you would actually get a race.

 

[Faserr]

What is Bennett doing here? He should have no problem going over the hill in the buch.

 

[Lequack]

I like this strategy from Sam Bennet, it's gutsy.

 

[happytramp]

What is Bennett doing here? He should have no problem going over the hill in the buch.

Didn't he try something similar in Paris-tours at the end of last season?... Went in the break, attacked, then got reeled in and still came 3rd in the sprint? Might be trying it again.

Although realistically he's probably just trying to build form by pushing it a bit harder than he would in the bunch.

 

[Faserr]

Yes, I also think that he is training and hopes for a slim chance to succeed. He still can try his luck in the sprint if they are caught.

 

[BR2]

They did let Lopez get into the break?

 

[BR2]

They did let Lopez get into the break?

Oh, the wrong Lopez.

 

[Samamba]

So is Bennett actually in there or not? I see mixed reports. Would be weird if he's in there

Organization tweets it's not Bennett, but Bernal???

 

[Samamba]

Are they really trying to show that it's hot by eating a raw egg?

 

[Salvarani]

PCS has it as Bernal now.

 

[happytramp]

flip... Just seen that eurosport isn't showing it. GCN the only place to watch or is it on somewhere else?

 

[BR2]

Can't believe it's Bernal... but would be cool...

 

[Squire]

So is Bennett actually in there or not? I see mixed reports. Would be weird if he's in there

Organization tweets it's not Bennett, but Bernal???

'Allllllberrrrrrrto Contadoorrrrrrrrrr' deja vu

 

[BR2]

Can't believe it's Bernal... but would be cool...

I mean, yeah, he did get points, so I guess it's true.

 

[Lequack]

This live coverage is great.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Is the gap still 7 minutes?

 

[Bonimenier]

At least we could see yesterday's thrilling stage in full.

 

[Bonimenier]

At first glance it really does look like Bernal.

 

[Red Rick]

Is the gap still 7 minutes?

PCS has it at 7 minutes but also says "apologies for no longer updating" while livestream isn't showing distance or timegap

 

[Samu Cuenca]

PCS has it at 7 minutes but also says "apologies for no longer updating" while livestream isn't showing distance or timegap

I thought there could have been updates coming from somewhere else perhaps, but the official Twitter account for the race said 7:10 over an hour ago and hasn't updated it since.