Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 10/19/2020 11:31 AM |
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Starts tomorrow.....coming out hot with the prediction that the race never sees Madrid. COVID is exploding across the EU and definitely in Spain. |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 10/19/2020 12:06 PM |
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| I won't follow along in this prediction. The powers that be seem to be intent on running the course on the races, so unless a higher authority in Spain steps in, the Vuelta will run its course. It sounds like they are applying the ASO protocols from TDF so let's see how well it works in the ever increasingly challenging outside conditions. |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 10/19/2020 12:08 PM |
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| And that is one brutal course. How many uphill finishes can you pack in one race? Should be good, and the field at start also looks good. |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 10/19/2020 12:31 PM |
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On the Covid thing, I will add that what happens in other sports (read soccer) will be crucially important and their issues are in a way larger than cycling.
This is how Amstel Gold got canned. There were issues around soccer fan behaviour (crowding). This let to a "zero fans allowed" edict for all professional sports in NL. Because cycling cannot guarantee zero fans, the race got canned. Meanwhile COVID cases in professional soccer keep rapidly going up; while competitions continue somewhat foolheartedly this cannot go on forever.
Roubaix in turn got canned because the northern France region basically went back into lockdown so holding a race would have been politically tone deaf if you're trying to achieve compliance with lockdown measures. That is other way in which Vuelta could get halted.
Racing in Belgium has continued because they had been proactive and more strict on corona measures relative to FR and NL, so they've been in a slightly better spot to keep things going. |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 10/19/2020 01:06 PM |
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I will not be upset in the slightest if my prediction turns out to wrong.  |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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79pmooney
Posts:3180
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| 10/19/2020 01:52 PM |
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| It sounds like the race organizers are taking this seriously and will use TdF protocols or maybe tighter, having been witness to the Giro's lessor standards. I hope it can go forward and smoothly. We (the world) need examples of responsibility around this COVID. It can be done, but not in haphazard fashion. (Haphazard - see USA.) |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 10/19/2020 03:07 PM |
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Quick clarification - my prediction is not based on the Vuelta protocols, but just the rising rate of infections in Spain.
Although I am glad to hear they will be using the TdF protocols. |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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79pmooney
Posts:3180
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| 10/20/2020 11:01 AM |
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| Fun to see and American really mixing it up! The US riders have generally been the rare superstars, the guys who once in a while ride well for GC (like TJ van Garderen) or are simply pack fodder. Sep Kuss on mountain stages simply gets out there and rips races apart. He doesn't have to podium. Everyone o knows he was there! Helps a lot that with JV his role and abilities match perfectly. |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 10/20/2020 12:05 PM |
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With the amount of uphill finishes in this Vuelta Kuss could actually be a dark horse even though he does not want the leadership role. JV would be wise to keep him close in case Roglic falters.
Froome is done. So is Pinot. Also bummer about Woods crashing out. And that is just stage 1. |
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79pmooney
Posts:3180
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| 10/20/2020 12:17 PM |
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OC, the Vuelta has made up its missing first 3 days quite rapidly!
Agree that JV should treat Kuss as a potential leader and keep him up there on GC. But I stlil want to see him out there tearing up stages. |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 10/20/2020 12:58 PM |
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| Too bad my dentist does not have ability to stream cycling. Missed all the action. Painful. |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 10/20/2020 02:34 PM |
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Great stage...awesome racing with lots of shakeups on Day 1.
Really glad to see Chavez finish with the front group. Would love to see that kid get a big result after all his bad luck over the years. |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 10/20/2020 02:50 PM |
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Yes, I found a Sporza recap of entire final climb to watch over lunch. Excellent action.
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79pmooney
Posts:3180
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| 10/21/2020 10:09 AM |
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Froome - I never particularly cared for him, but I can feel for him. He's living my 1978 post-crash year. His crash happened four months earlier in the year so he gets to be alittle farther along than i was but he also had far more physical injury.
I rode my 1978 season knowing it was my last, that I wouldn't remotely hit the form I had the summer before; that the best I could do was the highest possible place in each race I rode.
CylingNews just reported Froome is in a bunch of three and dead last. Oh a mountain stage where he used to rule. Humbling. I spent that August riding 1-2 criteriums for the training so I could ride the 1-2 Mt Washington road race as my farewell to racing. You guys know I'm not a crit guy at all. 1-2 crit in that level of form? Three laps and I was off the back, TT'ing best I could until I got caught and pulled. Best work out was when I got caught by the lead woman, Lynn Lemaire, Nat TT champ and clubmate. Hung on her wheel for quite a few more laps until we got caught. My day over. She went on to win.
Today's a story Froome can tell his grand kids 40 years from now. That life isn't always a bowl of cherries and sometimes you have to suck it up and be humbled.
Ben |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 10/21/2020 10:41 AM |
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Best commentary of the day...a world champs jersey in XL size, that’s not done right?
Second best commentary...without race numbers (the poneys)
Froome - Ben fully agreed. I hope he can pick himself up towards end of race. |
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