2023 la vuelta: straight-no chaser *spoilers because you're too lazy to avoid them*
09-05-23, 08:25 PM
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Did they live up to your expectations?
I would like to think that Kuss did enough to earn the leader role, but the real determination will be in the upcoming climbing stages. We know he can climb, but can he climb with the big boys all the way to the end with a target on his back? Vingo's (unsurprising) TT performance may have relegated him to playing a supporting role to Kuss and Roglic, but he's not out of it yet. most likely. I'm still doubtful that Jumbo will truly give Kuss the leader role. For now, Remco - and everyone else with podium dreams - has the soul-crushing task of keeping watch over 3 Jumbos.
Wild-ass prediction...Jumbo podium sweep.
I would like to think that Kuss did enough to earn the leader role, but the real determination will be in the upcoming climbing stages. We know he can climb, but can he climb with the big boys all the way to the end with a target on his back? Vingo's (unsurprising) TT performance may have relegated him to playing a supporting role to Kuss and Roglic, but he's not out of it yet. most likely. I'm still doubtful that Jumbo will truly give Kuss the leader role. For now, Remco - and everyone else with podium dreams - has the soul-crushing task of keeping watch over 3 Jumbos.
Wild-ass prediction...Jumbo podium sweep.
09-05-23, 08:33 PM
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loving the spicy vuelta takes. keep 'em coming.
like both almeida and soler (and mas) but think they're more consistent riders vs explosive riders. obviously, in a gt, you've got to have some of both and often at a moment's notice.
love the top 11 riders on gc currently. the wild card is martinez. has the weakest team but has been dynamite so far. can he continue to follow wheels? will the others isolate him?
will the others disregard him just enough at their peril?
like both almeida and soler (and mas) but think they're more consistent riders vs explosive riders. obviously, in a gt, you've got to have some of both and often at a moment's notice.
love the top 11 riders on gc currently. the wild card is martinez. has the weakest team but has been dynamite so far. can he continue to follow wheels? will the others isolate him?
will the others disregard him just enough at their peril?
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09-05-23, 08:43 PM
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stage once looks tailor-made for a breakway + solid climber. have already posited team bora's kämna and higuita (with kämna obviously winning stage 17) as
potential stage winners so far...let's go with one of the herrada bros from cofidis. one of them is retiring (can't 'member which one) after this year so it would be a nice feather in the palmares cap.
potential stage winners so far...let's go with one of the herrada bros from cofidis. one of them is retiring (can't 'member which one) after this year so it would be a nice feather in the palmares cap.
09-06-23, 12:05 PM
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stage once looks tailor-made for a breakway + solid climber. have already posited team bora's kämna and higuita (with kämna obviously winning stage 17) as
potential stage winners so far...let's go with one of the herrada bros from cofidis. one of them is retiring (can't 'member which one) after this year so it would be a nice feather in the palmares cap.
potential stage winners so far...let's go with one of the herrada bros from cofidis. one of them is retiring (can't 'member which one) after this year so it would be a nice feather in the palmares cap.
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09-06-23, 11:33 PM
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09-06-23, 11:36 PM
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ice station zebra stage 12…thinking kaden groves yet again.*edit*…meh…another 2nd place. bah.
Last edited by diphthong; 09-07-23 at 02:09 PM.
09-07-23, 02:11 PM
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stage 13…hc climbs of the aubisque and tourmalet. going with bardet to win from a breakaway.
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09-07-23, 02:22 PM
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This is going to be the first true test of whether Kuss can handle being the Jumbo leader. IMO, it would be poor form for Jumbo to ask Kuss to ride for Vingo or Roglic, but if he can't stay with the GC group when things get serious, all bets are off, and I would expect Vingo and Roglic to both be looking for opportunities to take red. I'm very curious to see how Jumbo plays the game. Will Vongo or Roglic attack at the expense of Kuss? Personally, I hope Kuss brings it!!
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09-07-23, 04:51 PM
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Going to be an incredible day ... you know Juan P El Patron has been very quiet... or geraint? Will they be crazy enough to let G into a break? Will there even be a break!?
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09-09-23, 12:08 AM
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well the herd got thinned somewhat. soler, remco and martinez shelled. (wishfully) thinking that the jayvee boyz will let a harmless break go. thought bardet for stage 13 and he gave it a little go but no. perhaps today is the ticket. **edit**picking bardet (again) for stage 14.
would like to pick ayuso (and he could win by a second or two) but he'll be heavily marked. ayuso's best chance to win is likely the angliru stage 17 fracas but (personally) already committed to kämna for that stage. cian looked pretty good today.
would like to pick ayuso (and he could win by a second or two) but he'll be heavily marked. ayuso's best chance to win is likely the angliru stage 17 fracas but (personally) already committed to kämna for that stage. cian looked pretty good today.
Last edited by diphthong; 09-09-23 at 02:35 AM.
09-09-23, 02:40 AM
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so what are your thoughts? remco stays in the game for pride/team demands and shoots for a stage win or two or bounces and prepares for the next job?
thinking his visibility is better in la vuelta than elsewhere now. if he stays, will be interesting to see if he goes rogue and the other teams just let him go.
not saying he's going to magically roll back into contention if he goes on a breakaway bender but thinking uae, bora, movistar and jv wouldn't mind a
casual friday at the office in the last third of la vuelta.
thinking his visibility is better in la vuelta than elsewhere now. if he stays, will be interesting to see if he goes rogue and the other teams just let him go.
not saying he's going to magically roll back into contention if he goes on a breakaway bender but thinking uae, bora, movistar and jv wouldn't mind a
casual friday at the office in the last third of la vuelta.
09-09-23, 07:48 AM
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Seems Remco's bouncing back, it's to be expected. He's shed tears yesterday apparently but I'm surprised none of the media has contrasted yesterday and his ability to recover with that horror crash he suffered a few years ago. I mean if you can recover from a broken pelvis after that horror crash in Lombardi you can ride all the way to Madrid. It's something you learn how to deal with - it's not like he's been knocked out of the Tour top spot a day before Paris.
The point of the Vuelta is to enjoy it, and Remco's going to have better memories now soaking it in with a few possible stage wins. Have some tapas. Also why not a super duper domestique role within the team? Shame Bagioli is out, but there's still guys in his team that could win on a number of different terrain.
Leading into that ... before GC Kuss had shown himself I had pondered wether Roglic would like a 4th Vuelta or maybe this is just a build up to next year's tour. I'm pretty sure Roglic will be the man for the tour next year, I don't think Vingegaard likes the hassle of the tour spotlight.
Allez Bardet!
The point of the Vuelta is to enjoy it, and Remco's going to have better memories now soaking it in with a few possible stage wins. Have some tapas. Also why not a super duper domestique role within the team? Shame Bagioli is out, but there's still guys in his team that could win on a number of different terrain.
Leading into that ... before GC Kuss had shown himself I had pondered wether Roglic would like a 4th Vuelta or maybe this is just a build up to next year's tour. I'm pretty sure Roglic will be the man for the tour next year, I don't think Vingegaard likes the hassle of the tour spotlight.
Allez Bardet!
Last edited by GrainBrain; 09-09-23 at 07:54 AM.
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09-12-23, 09:54 PM
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stage 17...the angliru...who ya got? going with kämna ftw.
09-13-23, 07:36 AM
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Nice try Larry, always good to see the camera wave. Yeah Soler! Here we all thought only the Angliru would have action ... 
Memories of 2019 but this time he's probably ignoring the radio
Wow Soler pulling in the front of the chasing group?
I've forgotten to mention how crazy well Groves has been climbing!
Memories of 2019 but this time he's probably ignoring the radioWow Soler pulling in the front of the chasing group?
I've forgotten to mention how crazy well Groves has been climbing!
Last edited by GrainBrain; 09-13-23 at 07:58 AM.
09-15-23, 08:31 PM
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last horrible prediction of the year…stage 20…remco.
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09-16-23, 07:20 AM
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Thinking back to previous stages...
... stage 18 Interesting attack by Nico Denz and Vlasov before the final ascent. Didn't come to much but was neat to see that tactic where the rider in the break is a spring board.
Stage 17 has left me wondering what Soler could've done if he'd done his attack at the base of the last climb before the Angliru.
Stage 19 Dainese got his third win of the year, stage here and the giro that's got to help the team spirit yeah? Glad I didn't smack talk others fantasy choices 😬
Stage 20 now is turning out to be fairly straight forward, a ton of quickstep riding in the break. I don't think I've seen Remco sprint in awhile so if he can't get separation before the final climb it will bet interesting.
I'll throw out Vendrame to make it interesting. Anyone seen other interesting tactics throughout the race?
Stage 17 has left me wondering what Soler could've done if he'd done his attack at the base of the last climb before the Angliru.
Stage 19 Dainese got his third win of the year, stage here and the giro that's got to help the team spirit yeah? Glad I didn't smack talk others fantasy choices 😬
Stage 20 now is turning out to be fairly straight forward, a ton of quickstep riding in the break. I don't think I've seen Remco sprint in awhile so if he can't get separation before the final climb it will bet interesting.
I'll throw out Vendrame to make it interesting. Anyone seen other interesting tactics throughout the race?
Last edited by GrainBrain; 09-16-23 at 07:35 AM.
09-18-23, 01:15 AM
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helluva last stage of la vuelta. that breakaway of ganna, groves, costa, denz, kämna and remco was the stuff cycling dreams are made of.
there's a few reasons why la vuelta is my fave gt. the audacity and chutzpah today just added to them.
love, hate or meh remco, dude pushed and prodded la vuelta narrative so often and turned it up to eleven throughout. that was fun.
congrats to seppuku.
there's a few reasons why la vuelta is my fave gt. the audacity and chutzpah today just added to them.
love, hate or meh remco, dude pushed and prodded la vuelta narrative so often and turned it up to eleven throughout. that was fun.
congrats to seppuku.
Last edited by diphthong; 09-18-23 at 01:24 AM.
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09-18-23, 11:30 AM
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09-18-23, 05:10 PM
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09-18-23, 07:52 PM
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Ugh it's like $40USD to just ship a GC Kuss shirt state side from Jumbo Visma's website. Anyone know if Sepp will get in on the meme Merch for charity?
https://www.teamjumbovisma.com/promo...asual-t-shirt/
https://www.teamjumbovisma.com/promo...asual-t-shirt/
