La Vuelta a España 2021

Lounge
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The secret team planning will be in Norse Code… :laughing:

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But if it don’t go to plan it could all end in runes…

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With today being a rest day they can a fjord to spend some time on it…

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Tuesday 31st August 2021

Stage 16 : Laredo > Santa Cruz de Bezana (180km) Flat

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Just a 3rd category climb in the middle today’s stage, it has a couple of steep ramps to contend with but these are unlikely to be long enough to hinder the sprinters from their quest of a mass sprint finish; the last one of this tour.

Stage 16 jersey wearers:

:red_square: Odd Christian Eiking (Nor) Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux
:green_square: Fabio Jakobsen (Ned) Deceuninck - Quick-Step
:large_blue_circle: Romain Bardet (Fra) DSM
:white_large_square: Egan Bernal (Col) Ineos Grenadiers

:small_orange_diamond: Ineos Grenadiers - Team Classification leader

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STAGE 16 Results : LAREDO TO SANTA CRUZ DE BEZANA (180KM)

  1. Fabio Jakobsen (Ned) Deceuninck - Quick-Step, in 4-08-57
  2. Jordi Meeus (Bel) Bora-Hansgrohe
  3. Matteo Trentin (Ita) UAE Team Emirates
  4. Michael Matthews (Aus) Team BikeExchange
  5. Alberto Dainese (Ita) Team DSM
  6. Jon Aberasturi (Esp) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA
  7. Rui Oliveira (Por) UAE Team Emirates
  8. Riccardo Minali (Ita) Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux
  9. Antonio Soto (Esp) Euskaltel-Euskadi
  10. Clément Venturini (Fra) Ag2r-Citroën Team, all at same time.

(no changes to top ten GC positions or jersey wearers)

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:green_square: POINTS CLASSIFICATION AFTER STAGE 16

  1. Fabio Jakobsen (Ned) Deceuninck - Quick-Step, 250pts
  2. Matteo Trentin (Ita) UAE Team Emirates, 123pts
  3. Magnus Cort (Den) EF Education-Nippo, 114pts

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The predicable sprint finish, and the third win for birthday boy Jakobsen who gains another 50 points! :birthday: :balloon: :balloon: :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes:

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Totally unmentioned in the Quest highlights!
a mass crash early in the stage involving over a dozen riders, some requiring on the move medical attention via the doctor’s car, and as the race progressed three abandonments, maybe more non-starters tomorrow - we will have to wait and see.

Rudy Molard - Groupama-FDJ
Giulio Ciccone - Trek-Segafredo
Sep Vanmarcke - Israel Start-Up Nation

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The Trek team leader, Ciccone was competitive in 12th place on GC, he suffered a knee injury in the crash.

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Wednesday 1st September 2021

Stage 17 : Unquera > Lagos de Covadonga (185.8km)

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A brutal mountain stage today, and to be followed up with an even more brutal mountain stage tomorrow, these next two days will test the metal of Odd Christian Eiking and Guillaume Martin.

Stage 17 jersey wearers:

:red_square: Odd Christian Eiking (Nor) Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux
:green_square: Fabio Jakobsen (Ned) Deceuninck - Quick-Step
:large_blue_circle: Romain Bardet (Fra) DSM
:white_large_square: Egan Bernal (Col) Ineos Grenadiers

:small_orange_diamond: Ineos Grenadiers - Team Classification leader

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STAGE 17 Results : ENQUERA TO LAGOS DE COVADONGA (185.8KM)

  1. Primož Roglič (Slo) Team Jumbo-Visma, in 4-34-45
  2. Sepp Kuss (USA) Team Jumbo-Visma, at 1-35
  3. Miguel Ángel López (Col) Movistar Team
  4. Adam Yates (GBr) Ineos Grenadiers
  5. Jack Haig (Aus) Team Bahrain Victorious
  6. Enric Mas (Esp) Movistar Team
  7. Egan Bernal (Col) Ineos Grenadiers + combatively award :medal_sports:
  8. Gino Mäder (Sui) Team Bahrain Victorious, all at same time
  9. Louis Meintjes (RSA) Team Qhubeka-NextHash, at 2-29
  10. Clément Champoussin (Fra) Ag2r-Citroën, at 2-44

:red_square: GENERAL CLASSIFICATION AFTER STAGE 17

  1. Primož Roglič (Slo) Team Jumbo-Visma, in 68-42-56
  2. Enric Mas (Esp) Movistar Team, at 2-22
  3. Miguel Ángel López (Col) Movistar Team, at 3-11
  4. Jack Haig (Aus) Team Bahrain Victorious, at 3-46
  5. Guillaume Martin (Fra) Cofidis, at 4-16
  6. Egan Bernal (Col) Ineos Grenadiers, at 4-29
  7. Adam Yates (GBr) Ineos Grenadiers, at 4-45
  8. Sepp Kuss (USA) Team Jumbo-Visma, at 5-04
  9. Felix Großschartner (Aut) Bora-Hansgrohe, at 6-54
  10. Gino Mäder (Sui) Team Bahrain Victorious, at 6-58
  11. Odd Christian Eiking (Nor) Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux, at 7-59

:green_square: POINTS CLASSIFICATION AFTER STAGE 17

  1. Fabio Jakobsen (Ned) Deceuninck - Quick-Step, 250pts
  2. Primož Roglič (Slo) Team Jumbo-Visma, 145pts
  3. Matteo Trentin (Ita) UAE Team Emirates, 123pts

:large_blue_circle: MOUNTAINS CLASSIFICATION AFTER STAGE 17

  1. Romain Bardet (Fra) Team DSM, 51 pts
  2. Michael Storer (Aus) Team DSM, 34pts
  3. Damiano Caruso (Ita) Bahrain-Victorious, 33 pts

:white_large_square: YOUTH STANDINGS AFTER STAGE 17

  1. Egan Bernal (Col) Ineos Grenadiers, in 68-47-25
  2. Gino Mäder (Sui) Bahrain-Victorious, at 2-26
  3. Juan Pedro López (Esp) Trek-Segafredo, at 10-35.

:small_orange_diamond: TEAM STANDINGS AFTER STAGE 17

  1. Bahrain-Victorious (Bhr), in 206-19-32
  2. Team Jumbo-Visma (Ned), at 6-37
  3. Ineos Grenadiers (GBr), at 8-49
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Roglic gave to Eiking 10 minutes???!!!

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The reign of Odd Christian Eiking is over, and it happened in the rain :cloud_with_rain:

Guillaume Martin weathered the storm better, he rode today’s stage hurting from injuries received in yesterday’s crash, and finished 15th at 4m 46s down from Roglič.

The GC is similar to how it was in the first week, but now everyone is down on more time to Roglič.

Interestingly, i see a lot of good climbers and class riders took it very steady today, the guys who are not interested in the GC but looking for a stage win, and keeping their power dry for later ; )

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Five more abandonments today:

Luis León Sanchez :es: Team Astana-Premier-tech
Mikel Landa :es: Bahrain Victorious
Itamar Einhorn :israel: Israel Start-Up Nation
Sander Armee :belgium: Team Qhubeka Nexthash
Kenny Elissonde :fr: Trek-Segafredo : (

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Thursday 2nd September 2021

Stage 18 : Salas > Altu d’El Gamoniteiru (162.6km)

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A shorter stage than yesterday but brutal climbs with many steep ramps, and the ball-breaker summit finish up the Gamoniteiru will cause mucho pain and delirium :smiling_imp:

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Stage 18 jersey wearers:

:red_square: Primož Roglič (Slo) Team Jumbo-Visma
:green_square: Fabio Jakobsen (Ned) Deceuninck - Quick-Step
:large_blue_circle: Romain Bardet (Fra) DSM
:white_large_square: Egan Bernal (Col) Ineos Grenadiers

:small_orange_diamond: Bahrain-Victorious - Team Classification leader

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Apparently, Mikel Landa the leader of Bahrain Victorious, abandoned yesterday due to not having returned to enough form after his broken collarbone injury from the Giro crash earlier this year. Bahrain Victorious however had a good overall finish yesterday taking 1st position in the Team Classification. Jack Haig continues to effectively lead the team with the support of Gino Mäder.

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Two non-starters this morning:

Dylan van Baarle :netherlands: Ineos Grenadiers
Carlos Verona :es: Movistar

151 riders on the start-line this morning :es:

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STAGE 18 Results : SALAS TO ALTU D’EL GAMONITEIRU (162.6KM)

  1. Miguel Ángel López (Col) Movistar Team, in 4-41-21
  2. Primož Roglič (Slo) Team Jumbo-Visma, at 14s
  3. Enric Mas (Esp) Movistar Team, at 20s
  4. Egan Bernal (Col) Ineos Grenadiers, at 22s
  5. Jack Haig (Aus) Team Bahrain Victorious, at 58s
  6. David De La Cruz (Esp) UAE Team Emirates
  7. Gino Mäder (Sui) Team Bahrain Victorious
  8. Louis Meintjes (RSA) Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux, all at same time
  9. Sepp Kuss (USA) Team Jumbo-Visma, at 1-06
  10. Adam Yates (GBr) Ineos Grenadiers, at 1-07.

Others:
37. Michael Storer (Aus) DSM at 11-25 + combatively award :medal_sports:

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:red_square: GENERAL CLASSIFICATION AFTER STAGE 18

  1. Primož Roglič (Slo) Team Jumbo-Visma, in 73-24-25
  2. Enric Mas (Esp) Movistar Team, at 2-30
  3. Miguel Ángel López (Col) Movistar Team, at 2-53
  4. Jack Haig (Aus) Team Bahrain Victorious, at 4-36
  5. Egan Bernal (Col) Ineos Grenadiers, at 4-43
  6. Adam Yates (GBr) Ineos Grenadiers, at 5-44
  7. Sepp Kuss (USA) Team Jumbo-Visma, at 6-02
  8. Gino Mäder (Sui) Team Bahrain-Victorious, at 7-48
  9. Guillaume Martin (Fra) Cofidis, at 8-31
  10. Louis Meintjes (RSA) Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux, at 9-02.

:green_square: POINTS CLASSIFICATION AFTER STAGE 18

  1. Fabio Jakobsen (Ned) Deceuninck - Quick-Step, 250pts
  2. Primož Roglič (Slo) Team Jumbo-Visma, 162pts
  3. Matteo Trentin (Ita) UAE Team Emirates, 123pts

:large_blue_circle: MOUNTAINS CLASSIFICATION AFTER STAGE 18

  1. Michael Storer (Aus) Team DSM, 59 pts
  2. Romain Bardet (Fra) Team DSM, 51 pts
  3. Primož Roglič (Slo) Team Jumbo-Visma, 48 pts.

:white_large_square: YOUTH STANDINGS AFTER STAGE 18

  1. Egan Bernal (Col) Ineos Grenadiers, in 73-29-08
  2. Gino Mäder (Sui) Bahrain-Victorious, at 3-05
  3. Juan Pedro López (Esp) Trek-Segafredo, at 13-20

:small_orange_diamond: TEAM STANDINGS AFTER STAGE 18

  1. Bahrain-Victorious (Bhr), in 220-29-28
  2. Team Jumbo-Visma (Ned), at 4-01
  3. Ineos Grenadiers (GBr), at 15-22.
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Michael Storer gains 25 mountain points over three climbs to win the polkadot jersey from his team mate. Should make interesting conversation at the Team DSM evening meal dinner table :laughing:

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That will make an interesting conversation, but I think the conversation with Jack Haigs team mate that withdrew would be more interesting. His team were less than impressed apparently after what was labeled a selfish ride the stage before.

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Friday 3rd September 2021

Stage 19 : Tapia > Monforte de Lemos (191.2km)

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A sizeable breakaway is expected today, after a mad scramble up the first climbs.

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Stage 19 jersey wearers:

:red_square: Primož Roglič (Slo) Team Jumbo-Visma
:green_square: Fabio Jakobsen (Ned) Deceuninck - Quick-Step
:large_blue_circle: Michael Storer (Aus) DSM
:white_large_square: Egan Bernal (Col) Ineos Grenadiers

:small_orange_diamond: Bahrain-Victorious - Team Classification leader

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Only made sense if he had consolidated his escape for the stage victory… that would’ve been beautiful.

Team tactics have not made sense to me this race: why does Moviestar have two for podium position? It’s impossible to say they are working for each other or making any headway on Roglic. Kuss rode really well and took care of his guy. I really wanted Roglic to find another gear and just ride away again after Storer cracked and Bernal couldn’t accelerate.

Hard hard day, awesome to see the GC group ride down all the breakaway riders on that last killer climb. Nice one - and fair play to Lopez on grabbing a stage and staying away on the double digit last km.

Exciting.

Regards alan

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This confused me briefly. Thanks for the thread though.

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Storer won enough mountain points to have a very successful day. He was also trying for the stage victory, however when the GC guys were closing in but still chasing 2 minutes behind Storer at the base of the Gamoniteiru, Bardet attacked and remained about 10 seconds out the front of the GC crew, this continued for about 15 minutes before Bardet got caught and dropped. This attack can only look like Bardet attempting to defend his polkadot jersey from his team mate 2 minutes up the road. This team tactical oddity went completely unmentioned in the Quest highlights.

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Quote of the race!!!

Totally agree about the breaks and the races-within-the-race. Storer has really captured my imagination this race, I don’t really recall thinking about him before. As a long shot underdog, getting a third (hard) stage would have had a lot of romance imho. Bardet is / has been riding well: also great to see. I cannot fathom what their conversations in the team trailer or over dinner must be at the moment. Movistar, ok they’re always a gang of individuals without a team strategy… but have they now infected other teams too? Lol, perhaps a bit harsh…

These crazy difficult stages always appeal to my sense of the individual, rising to the occasion and showing us something truly astonishing. I went once to Spain, rode with my (infinitely better!) friend, and discovered that not only I’m crap at climbing, I’m also crap at descending on those wicked wicked scary roads. The true benefit of that humbling (but fun!) week’s experience has been the huge increase in my level of astonishment and admiration when I watch and thrill to the achievements of these super talented and fearless riders. (Whew… waxed a bit overboard there… but you get my drift I’m sure).

Thanks again for a great thread, btw: wonderful stuff!

Regards alan

Edit to add: also agree it made less than zero sense for Bardet to drive the chase and close in on Storer… not a “team” perspective and definitely a factor in him not being able to close the deal in the stage. Probably not the only factor, given the severity of the final climb and the length of time Storer had been out

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