2025 Vuelta a Espana

Sadly, just heard that Campenaerts withdrew due to illness yesterday. Big loss for Visma and the race in general. Not many riders have that kind of strength, personality, and innovative spirit.
 
Last edited:
Race organizers face an impossible situation now. They can't just 3D-print hundreds of extra trained cops to secure even the 27 km time trial. Calling in troops may or may not be an option under Spanish law.

Spain is a democracy and democracies tend not to call out the army on street protestors. Also Spain like Ireland has come out strongly against this genocide. Just yesterday the Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez said "Israel is ‘exterminating a defenceless people" and announced a raft of measures to try to force Bibi to end this war (good luck with that). I expect both in the Basque Country and Catalonia, Palestinian support will be very high, as it is among the riders in the peloton with Jonas making his statement of support yesterday. The problem for the Vuelta organisers is they can't kick out Israel PT, that power lies with the UCI and like the Olympic committee they are being very slow to engage. Somewhat hypocritical as Russia has been (rightly) banned since 22 and the start of that terrible war. For the Olympic committee with the LA Olympics on the horizon I guess they are afraid of Trump and his unpredictable reactions. For the UCI? They seem to be just useless as ever, more concerned about handlebar width.

Anyway street protests, striking workers blocking the road, any and all seeking the TV cameras for publicity for their cause is a habitual problem that as cycling races take place on public roads and are free to watch they get hijacked for protest. The sport is just very vulnerable to protests. Been this way for decades. Hinault and other riders ploughing into striking workers in a massive fist fight in the 80s was a startling image back in the day!

hinaultparisnice.jpg
 
Chargeride said:
Cylists have week arms , lets blockade the race and....oof, vers me teef?
Click to expand...
Le Blaireau ("The Badger") was a farmer from Brittany ( Where a lot of the French Foreign Legion were recruited) He apparently sped up and ploughed into the striking workers blocking the road without touching the brakes! Love Phil Anderson in that photo as well, tough Aussie in the middle of the fray!
 
Ganna's 56+ km/h (~35 mph) average speed in today's flat 12.2 km time trial (Stage 18) set some kind of record. Doing that for 10 sec is unimaginable to me, let alone 13 min.

Came in late, so didn't see Ganna's finish, but all the ones I did see showed faces of pure agony at the line.

Does top-level long-distance running require that kind of pain tolerance? Any other sport?
 
Ironman triathlon.

My best under 25km TT speed was around 28mph. Ganna was flying. Even Jay Vine, who got around a 6 second advantage due to a screwup by the officials, couldn't catch him. Bravo.
 
I'd still like to see Jonas win the GC but am no longer confident that he will with only 40 sec on Almeida after Stage 18. The latter's been matching Jonas at every turn without the benefit of team help. Meanwhile, Jonas has passed up many opportunities to grow his gap with formidable team help.
 
Last edited:
Jeremy McCreary said:
I'd still like to see Jonas win the GC but am no longer confident that he will with only 40 sec on Almeida after Stage 18. The latter's been matching Jonas at every turn without the benefit of team help. Meanwhile, Jonas has passed up many opportunities to grow his gap with formidable team help.
Click to expand...
Well he better get a wriggle on as he has today and Saturday and then the gig's up. Sat is the day, but Jonas just has to stay glued to his wheel. Will Piddock hold onto a podium spot?

Looking forward to the Quebec Grand Prix later today, Pog v Remco v Van Aert (Part 1) with a supporting cast of both Yates bros, Quinn Simmons, Bilbao, Girmay, Alaphilippe and many more.
 
Only saw the Quebec highlights but looks like it was a great race, sunshine in Quebec City, huge crowds, 13 gruelling laps of an up and down course and a worthy winner. Along with Montreal on Sunday both circuits are a great rehearsal for the worlds.

Not going to link the YT highlights as the front pic gives away the winner, but I was very pleased for him.
 
Rás Cnoic said:
Only saw the Quebec highlights but looks like it was a great race, sunshine in Quebec City, huge crowds, 13 gruelling laps of an up and down course and a worthy winner. Along with Montreal on Sunday both circuits are a great rehearsal for the worlds.

Not going to link the YT highlights as the front pic gives away the winner, but I was very pleased for him.
Click to expand...
Watching the replay on HBO Max. Nice to see Pogi in action again.
 
Rás Cnoic said:
That was a steep concrete ramp in the Vuelta!
Click to expand...
That final Stage 20 climb may be the steepest-looking route I've seen in 3 years of watching pro racing. Have never seen the first 5 finishers all nearly collapse at the line.

Good attitude adjuster for my own climbing. "Buck up, Jeremy! If Vingegaard can survive Bola del Mundo, you can survive Docena Road."
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Jeremy McCreary
Tour de France 2024
4 5 6
Replies
107
Views
15K
Stefan Mikes
Stefan Mikes
Back