Vuelta Ciclista a Andalucia - Ruta del Sol 2023 (February 15-19)

[Lequack]

So they changed the final because of Pog?

 

[Samamba]

Surprise surprise

 

[Didinho]

Wellens thinks he's Pogi.
So he's got his yearly february win in Spain.

 

[Salvarani]

Wellens!

 

[ice&fire]

Peloton overtakes moto camera in the descent and we miss the finish of the main group

 

[Lequack]

Nice win after being given the freedom by UAE.

 

[Red Rick]

Lol the ego to go take that sprint for 25th

 

[Samamba]

This race is completely over. Peloton didn't even try on the last hill. Wellens was faster than the bunch after a whole day in the break.

 

[search]

Diaz, Gorka and Wellens moved up into Top 10 in GC, according to the provisional classification

 

[hayneplane]

This race is completely over. Peloton didn't even try on the last hill. Wellens was faster than the bunch after a whole day in the break.

Pogacar looked so casual and almost bored on the final hill that he seemed like he wanted to goad others into accelerating so he had an excuse to crack on.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

What a finish by Wellens, he crushed the rest of breakaway on this short murito. Strong performance. Nobody even tried to attack Teddy on the last ramp. Not that they would have a chance as the Slovenian looked very comfortable at the end.

 

[Lequack]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1625902773588963331

View: https://twitter.com/VelonCC/status/1625902773588963331?s=20

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

What a finish by Wellens, he crushed the rest of breakaway on this short murito. Strong performance. Nobody even tried to attack Teddy on the last ramp. Not that they would have a chance as the Slovenian looked very comfortable at the end.

He also looked comfortable a few minutes before he got dropped last summer. Vroom vroom.

But i agree, he wasn't going to lose time here.

 

[yaco]

Wellens was a class above, however the tactics from riders in the break were puzzling - They needed to attack the group and make Wellens bring the escapee back, not that it would have made much difference.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Congratulations to Tim Wellens for winning the stage.

The rest of the stage went with the wind. Hopefully Bahrain tries something in the remaining two days. If nothing else at least to let Moho go for a stage. We'll see.

 

[Samamba]

Interesting breakaway, surprised UAE let this one go.

 

[search]

interesting, yeah, both Sivakov as well as Cepeda are fairly high up in GC. But now that Zambanini was dropped I guess Bahrain will chase as well, and launch Landa on the steep climb with ~30 to go. So it could very well still come back together.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Broadcast started, Bahrain working on the front, absolute losers

 

[Netserk]

Broadcast started, Bahrain working on the front, absolute losers

What do you think they could reasonably stand to gain from not working?

 

[Red Rick]

What do you think they could reasonably stand to gain from not working?

Lower future expectation on your tendencies to pull for no reason.

 

[Tim Cahill]

What do you think they could reasonably stand to gain from not working?

Zambanini is in the break who is only 30s back, even if he fails to get back to the front he can still be used to go across to later in the stage, this doesn't work if UAE, who had reason to chase Sivakov, still have most of their riders when the attack comes. It's unlikely that Pogacar can be beaten this way obviously due to his strength, but if he falls, has a mechanical or something happens then Buitrago and Landa aren't too far behind on GC to capitalise, again this doesn't work if UAE have been given an easy ride and can drill it back for Pogacar.

Even if they bring it back then Pogacar just beats them in the end the vast majority of the time, if they want to go for the stage then the best way would probably be to have as many as possible in the final and roll attacks, again doesn't work if UAE still has everyone with them and Bahrain have used their horses bringing back the break.

It just seems like they aren't prepared to risk their 2nd/3rd to win.

 

[Netserk]

I don't think cashing in 2nd and 3rd in GC counts as no reason, @Red Rick.

 

[Samamba]

Zambanini is in the break who is only 30s back, even if he fails to get back to the front he can still be used to go across to later in the stage, this doesn't work if UAE, who had reason to chase Sivakov, still have most of their riders when the attack comes. It's unlikely that Pogacar can be beaten this way obviously due to his strength, but if he falls, has a mechanical or something happens then Buitrago and Landa aren't too far behind on GC to capitalise, again this doesn't work if UAE have been given an easy ride and can drill it back for Pogacar.

Even if they bring it back then Pogacar just beats them in the end the vast majority of the time, if they want to go for the stage then the best way would probably be to have as many as possible in the final and roll attacks, again doesn't work if UAE still has everyone with them and Bahrain have used their horses bringing back the break.

It just seems like they aren't prepared to risk their 2nd/3rd to win.

Zambanini is already back in the peloton lol. They started riding when he got dropped.
Mohoric attacking in the descent before the finish is probably their best shot at winning something here.

 

[KZD]

Zambanini is already back in the peloton lol. They started riding when he got dropped.
Mohoric attacking in the descent before the finish is probably their best shot at winning something here.

It depends on whether Pogačar is thinking about lighting up the last climb or not.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Zambanini is already back in the peloton lol. They started riding when he got dropped.
Mohoric attacking in the descent before the finish is probably their best shot at winning something here.

He was 30 seconds from the front when they started riding by PCS, I think Pogacar just drops Mohoric on the final climb here.