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Vuelta a España Discussion
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| SportingNonsense |
Posted on 16-08-2015 23:50
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Damn, Suaza crashing out of the race really sucks. Been an extremely quiet race for us outside of the sprints, and that really did not help. That little bit of mountain training has worked a charm so far for Swift though, to survive the stage. Relying on breakaways to stop him sliding down the Points standings though.
Pluchkin seems to be cruising to a first GT victory.
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| Avin Wargunnson |
Posted on 17-08-2015 06:27
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Wow, another perfect stage from Pluchkin, who is hopefully ready to shred the Pou Pou tag with Metinvest, we could not imagine better Vuelta so far. Great gap to Tenorio and now also the points jersey with KOM competition also looking like something to fight for. Now hold on to that, just three more stages to go.
Thanks for the nice report tsmoha and congrats to Ayubowan, Pinot with an emulation of his real life TdF attacks? 
Guardini abandoning was expected, he already got some top10s along the way, so his role was fullfilled.
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| Smowz |
Posted on 17-08-2015 06:44
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You know it is always pleasing when an active manager looks set for a first GT win.
Pluichkin is a pretty decent fit for metinvest unlike last years horrible hybrid Red Bull squad Alarcon win. He is acting like the boss of this race now.
Interesting to see Dekker sort of rewinding the clock a bit now we are getting into recovery time.
One consolation and rather miracle for near absent red bull squad they are all still in race after sprinters Armageddon there. Still stage 20 could see more absentees.
Big performances from Pinot and Valverde there and sort of sensible AI really.
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| Ad Bot |
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| SportingNonsense |
Posted on 17-08-2015 09:26
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It's quite an interesting battle for the (likely) 3rd place actually. Amador looking for a first GT podium, Dekker for a first podium since 2011 TdF and Gesink for a first since 2009 Vuelta. Kinda hoping for one of the Dutchmen to do it after such a gap, as Amador will be more able to podium in future more mountainous GTs.
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| valverde321 |
Posted on 17-08-2015 09:40
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Great stage, two stage wins now, and hopefully a good chance at keeping 7th overall over Phinney now. Wouldn't mind beating Pluchkin in the remaining stages, just to get the points jersey as well. That would be fantastic.
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| roturn |
Posted on 17-08-2015 09:42
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Cunego one of the riders of the season I guess.
His decline allows him to ride 2 GT`s alongside some more race days. And apparently he is scoring pretty well in both GT`s.
Could really save Meiji from relegation himself.
The podium fight still thrilling with the Dutchies getting some bonus seconds today. |
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| ember |
Posted on 17-08-2015 09:48
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Cunego is flying in the mountains here! That was probably Pluchkin's bad day, which didn't do much harm, but at least good to see his competitors able to take time when he wasn't fully up for it.
Guldhammer is just looking more and more safe for 9th. Well done to take 50 seconds on Phinney there, but with the final TT, he will need to take at least three minutes on Angliru, which shouldn't happen 
Gesink must start to fancy his chances for the podium as well now, eventhough there was no gap, those 12 bonus seconds could prove valuable as he should be stronger than Amador on the final day. Dekker also going strong these final stages, but he will need to gap Gesink on Angliru.
valverde321 wrote:
Wouldn't mind beating Pluchkin in the remaining stages, just to get the points jersey as well. That would be fantastic.
Sounds rather difficult with one of the two stages left being a 41 kilometers long TT |
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| valverde321 |
Posted on 17-08-2015 09:50
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ember wrote:
valverde321 wrote:
Wouldn't mind beating Pluchkin in the remaining stages, just to get the points jersey as well. That would be fantastic.
Sounds rather difficult with one of the two stages left being a 41 kilometers long TT
Its actually a shame, if I didn't bring Bennati he probably would have finished higher on some of the flat stages, but I think its still mathematically possible anyway, so why not be hopeful
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 17-08-2015 09:56
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Cunego! Really helping Meiji scoring a good points haul here. Congrats, valv.
Happy to see Pozzovivo with a rather good stage. Happened not too often here, but looks like another solid GC at least. Too bad we lack a breakaway rider for mountains this year though. Well, should be happy enough with one unexpected stage win from Gillett, who's one of my favorite domestiques (though lacking outstanding stats of course).
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| Avin Wargunnson |
Posted on 17-08-2015 09:59
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valverde321 wrote:
ember wrote:
valverde321 wrote:
Wouldn't mind beating Pluchkin in the remaining stages, just to get the points jersey as well. That would be fantastic.
Sounds rather difficult with one of the two stages left being a 41 kilometers long TT
Its actually a shame, if I didn't bring Bennati he probably would have finished higher on some of the flat stages, but I think its still mathematically possible anyway, so why not be hopeful
Keep dreaming, but it would need some serious fuck-up from Pluchkin, who should actually be able to increase the points lead to Cunego in last two stages. Anyway, congrats for the second stage win with this legendary italian.
Stage 19 was so far the worst one from Pluchkin, at least he did not loose so much time and had a nice gap prior to that. So the lead is still comfortable and after a day off he needs to be the man again tommorow at Angliru. He does not exactly need more time on Tenorio, but he cant afford to loose any, because of unpredictable nature of TTs with this edition.
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| jt1109 |
Posted on 17-08-2015 10:02
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Happy to see Zachary Hughes in the break as all 3 of my loanees continue in the race hope they can get through the next stage but that maybe tough for Boivon
Congrats Valv for Cunegos win |
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| SportingNonsense |
Posted on 17-08-2015 10:09
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Quite impressed by Cunego on his Vuelta debut. Wasn't sure it was really the route for him, but he has been great.
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| Alakagom |
Posted on 17-08-2015 11:25
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Wow so the 70MO Froome beats the 79MO Brenes.... And i thought this race couldn't turn more ridiculous..
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| Smowz |
Posted on 17-08-2015 11:36
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Not quite the leader sat in pack meltdown but close. Angiliru now - stupidly steep bastard but mercifully a short stage so less likely to cause huge gapping.
That said riders are tired, another minute gap may see PouPou snatch defeat from jaws of victory on ITT - though he looks good enough at the moment.
Big stage I think for Gesink and Amador and the outsider Dekker. Gesink is most likely to suffer the mountain at the end we shall see how he goes!
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| Kami |
Posted on 17-08-2015 11:44
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Good to see Tenorio not losing any time to Amador/Gesink and even gaining some back on Pliuchkin. He should still have it in the bag, unless something amazing happens on the Angliru.
Cunego really performing great.
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| Bushwackers |
Posted on 17-08-2015 14:13
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Interesting to see Pluchkin not dominate a stage. This battle with Gesink is very exciting as well. Amador will definitely need to gain some time on him tomorrow if he wants to keep his podium through the TT, although he did beat him in the earlier TT. Dekker is menacing as well. Hopefully Amador's 84 MO shows in stage 20.
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| SportingNonsense |
Posted on 17-08-2015 20:03
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Urgh, hate to see a GC rider abandoning on Stage 20. Really shitty for Phinney.
Tenorio and Amador disappointing, so that's the victory sewn up for Pluchkin now. Should be a Dutchman on the podium but Abal has continued his remarkable performance, so you never know.
Huge relief to see Swift cling on and survive the time cut. Well-deserved race finish for him.
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| roturn |
Posted on 17-08-2015 20:03
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Pluchkin winning the Vuelta. I guess it`s save to say now. Well done.
Cunego though. He is really a miracle. What a season for him so far.
Amador failed. Terrible news for UBS who need every point. Might have been the difference between relegation or staying up in the end.
Phinney...well shit. I mean better a half active team (sorry Sykkel) then a very active like it happened a lot to SotD or alexkr in the past. But in ideal scenario no GC rider should crash out at all and in especially not on the 20th stage as 8th in the GC...
Really happy for Gesink to take the 3rd now. Tomorrows ITT though could still mix a bit up. |
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| alexkr00 |
Posted on 17-08-2015 20:05
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I was disappointed that Gesink could only gain the bonus seconds in the hilly stages but I guess his ride on the Angliru makes up for that.
Van der Velde with a pretty good Vuelta, being an important asset to Gesink's GC campaign. And he got a 4th place in the KoM rankings to reward himself. Too bad he was not able to crack the top 30 though.
I'd like to think Gesink's podium is safe, but given how the first two time - trials went, I don't think he has it in the bag just yet.
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| Kami |
Posted on 17-08-2015 20:09
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Tenorio with a strong ride, might have even been stronger or on par with Pliuchkin, but going to late. Overall, i guess i can't complain that much, second is still a very good result. I did really want a stage win, which unfortunately we didn't get. Perhaps tomorrow with Phinney going out (which is very unfortunate).
Looking overall, Tenorio got kinda outperformed in the mountains. He was never able to really make gaps when in larger groups, and always finished behind Pliuchkin (which is expected) but also behind riders like Cunego, Gesink, Dekker & Abal which really shouldn't be happening every mountain stages. On itself, it doesn't matter that much if it's not for the stage, but still, points are points and i can really use them right now.
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