Vuelta a España discussion (spoilers)

[deluz]

Who would’ve thunk Ben O’Conner taking the jersey on a break away.
Hope he can hold it and maybe be competitive.
He always seems to have bad days.

[novacyclist]

He looked good staying w/ the leaders yesterday but that breakaway effort must have burnt a match or two.

[br0qn]

that last climb today looked painful - 17% average for the 1st kilometer and then 10% and 13% ramps broken by easier bits...ouch

[steelbikerider]

Compared to the team that dominated last year, Visma isn't making much of an impact. Halfway up the 2nd climb, Kuss has no team left. Must be disappointing to be the defending champion and your strongest teammate is chasing stage wins.

[prototoast]

Originally Posted by steelbikerider

Compared to the team that dominated last year, Visma isn't making much of an impact. Halfway up the 2nd climb, Kuss has no team left. Must be disappointing to be the defending champion and your strongest teammate is chasing stage wins.

Of their two strongest riders last year, one isn't racing and the other is racing for a different team.

[Jaybee]

Also fair to point out that no one expects giant WvA to be dragging Sepp up 17% pitches. Visma has had a tough year. The riders that should be domestiquing for Sepp are all hurt or spent or at the end of their careers.

[Elefantino]

Who else had an AG2R shorts moment when Mas nearly bought it on the descent today?

[Nomadmax]

Originally Posted by Elefantino

Who else had an AG2R shorts moment when Mas nearly bought it on the descent today?

He did some straight up fighter pilot stuff saving that.

[br0qn]

Originally Posted by steelbikerider

Compared to the team that dominated last year, Visma isn't making much of an impact. Halfway up the 2nd climb, Kuss has no team left. Must be disappointing to be the defending champion and your strongest teammate is chasing stage wins.

i agree, though to be fair it's impossible to believe wva was chasing a stage today. surely he'd have been going up the road with plans to aid kuss at some point...i think i saw him at least handing off bottles to kuss as that group caught him.

Originally Posted by Elefantino

Who else had an AG2R shorts moment when Mas nearly bought it on the descent today?

haha. i was waiting for sean kelly to refer to the *****ty shorts after that. i gasped though, did both wheels leave the ground? amazing he stayed up and suffered only a dropped chain

**edit - just rewatched the mas scare, looked like he was riding a bucking bronco, rear wheel kicked up and sideways

[Spdntrxi]

Originally Posted by steelbikerider

Compared to the team that dominated last year, Visma isn't making much of an impact. Halfway up the 2nd climb, Kuss has no team left. Must be disappointing to be the defending champion and your strongest teammate is chasing stage wins.

he knew well before this started. I dont think he's disappointed in his team.

[trener1]

Originally Posted by Elefantino

Who else had an AG2R shorts moment when Mas nearly bought it on the descent today?

Me for sure, he is VERY lucky, if he would have crashed it might have been very bad.

[tv_vt]

Yeah, Mas. Bloody hell, that was scary.

[Clean39T]

Originally Posted by steelbikerider

Compared to the team that dominated last year, Visma isn't making much of an impact. Halfway up the 2nd climb, Kuss has no team left. Must be disappointing to be the defending champion and your strongest teammate is chasing stage wins.

Or relying on you to pull back the break so they can get a stage win..

But it is what it is. He needs to either Cavendish his way to the podium (freelancing on other teams' climb-trains) - or just accept it's an off year, enjoy the ride, maybe stage hunt - and get back at it in 2025.

[deluz]

What a ride by Yates. He must be taking lessons from Pogacar.
The way I see it 5 riders are now in contention to win the GC:

Roglic
Yates
Mas
O'conner
Carapaz

This could be more fun than the TDF.
I don't think this is the year for Kuss.

[Waldo62]

Not necessarily in that order.

snip:

Originally Posted by deluz

The way I see it 5 riders are now in contention to win the GC:

Roglic
Yates
Mas
O'conner
Carapaz

This could be more fun than the TDF.
I don't think this is the year for Kuss.