La Vuelta a España 2018

Stage One [ Individual Time Trial ] has happened already! h

Hands up all you people who missed it didn't realise it had started?  

There is the absence of many well known names of the TdF, and the inclusion of many not so well known names [i've not heard of anyway] but this is a grand tour that will be exciting, and will be good to see who emerges up General Classification, after a flat stage albeit slightly hilly and with summit finish tomorrow; next week on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday the race is in the mountains; so soon into ball breaking action that could set the tone for the top GC challengers over the next three weeks...

Results Stage One 

Rohan Dennis (BMC Racing) won the opening time trial of the 2018 Vuelta a España in Malaga, beating Michal Kwiatkowski to the stage victory and the overall lead.

The Australian champion blitzed the 8km course at over 49.6kph, well up on Kwiatkowski at the intermediate check before driving the pace to finish six seconds up on the Pole.

Thanks Debs - we're on it here and looking forward to it!

Should be exciting looking forward to it

Thanks Debs,

Just done a series record on it.Looking forward to how it unravels.It will be interesting how Kwiatkowski does leading Team Sky.With Froome and Thomas riding the Tour of Britain.

I've always loved the Vuelta especially after they moved it from May.It gives you a nice final Grand Tour fix before the season ends.

Results Update:

Stage 2 – Marbella to Caminito del Rey (163.5km)

1 Alejandro Valverde (Esp) Movistar Team in 4-13-01
2 Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Team Sky at same time
3 Laurens De Plus (Bel) Quick-Step Floors at 3s

Stage 3: Mijas to Alhaurín de la Torre (178.2km)

1 Elia Viviani (Ita) Quick-Step Floors, in 4-48-12
2 Giacomo Nizzolo (Ita) Trek-Segafredo
3 Peter Sagan (Svk) Bora-Hansgrohe

Overall classification after stage three

1 Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Team Sky, in 9-10-52
2 Alejandro Valverde (Esp) Movistar Team at 14s
3 Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Team Sunweb at 25s
4 Laurens De Plus (Bel) Quick-Step Floors at 28s
5 Ion Izagirre (Esp) Bahrain-Merida at 30s
6 Fabio Felline (Ita) Trek-Segafredo at same time
7 Emanuel Buchmann (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe at 32s
8 Tony Gallopin (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale at 33s
9 Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team, at same time
10 Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek-Segafredo, at 35s

It's a shame Channel 24 ITV4 [ Eurosport ] is not showing this live, i don't subscribe so can only watch the highlights at 19:00 : (

Meanwhile, early days yet but half the names in the top 10 GC aren't surprising, but good to see Team Trek having a dig with Felline and Mollema.

Stage 4 [ Tuesday 28th ] will not suit the sprinters : )

Thanks Deb's,

For posting the results.I missed yesterday's although did record it.

As you say the top 10 on g.c.I think Nairo Quintina will be after a podium spot as his TDF was a bit bellow what was expected.Still very respectable though.Looking forward to today's stage tonight.

Some big changes in GC positions after yesterdays stage 4:

1 Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Team Sky, in 13-47-19
2 Emanuel Buchmann (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe, at 7s
3 Simon Yates (GBr) Mitchelton-Scott, at 10s
4 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar Team, at 12s
5 Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Team Sunweb, at 25s
6 Ion Izagirre (Spa) Bahrain-Merida, at 30s
7 Tony Gallopin (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale, at 33s
8 Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team, at same time
9 Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) LottoNL-Jumbo, at 37s
10 Enric Mas (Spa) Quick-Step Floors, at 42s

And another big upset after todays hard and mountainous stage 5  [results later to avoid Spoiler]

La Vuelta continues with flat stages over the next three days so should cool down the jostling up in the top CG stages, and bring on some sprinting action, perhaps a chance for Sagan to shown his return to form after his TdF crash (?)

Debs

Yesterdays Stage 5 gave another upset to the General Classification, after the break-away managed to stay away from the Kwiatkowski 'Red-Jerry' peloton, and finish Stage 5 with a new Red-Jersy race GC leader, Rudy Molard:

1 Simon Clarke (Aus) EF Education First-Drapac, in 4-36-07
2 Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek-Segafredo
3 Alessandro De Marchi (Ita) BMC Racing Team, all same time
4 Davide Villella (Ita) Astana Pro Team, at 8s
5 Floris De Tier (Bel) LottoNL-Jumbo
6 Rudy Molard (Fra) Groupama-FDJ, all same time

Overall classification after stage five

1 Rudy Molard (Fra) Groupama-FDJ, in 18-27-20
2 Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Team Sky, at 41s
3 Emanuel Buchmann (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe, at 48
4 Simon Yates (GBr) Mitchelton-Scott, at 51
5 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar Team, 53
6 Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Team Sunweb, at 1-06
7 Ion Izagirre (Spa) Bahrain-Merida, at 1-11
8 Tony Gallopin (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale, at 1-14
9 Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team, at same time
10 Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) LottoNL-Jumbo, at 1-18

Many competitors are yo-yoing up and down the GC from one day to next, Molard's 28th GC position after Stage 4 has gone up to 1st, and over the next 3 days of flat stages he will probably remain in the red-jersey until the next mountain stage on Sunday.

Stage 4 was a particularly bad stage for Trek-Segafredo which resulted in both Fabio Felline's 6th GC place plummet down to 67th with over 12minutes down, and Bauke Mollema's 10th GC position plummet down to 49th and with over 9 minutes down, however Mollema has recouped some loss with his inclusion in the Stage 5 break-away and 2nd place podium finish, and which has lifted his GC position to 32nd.

Simon Yates had a good ride on Stage 4 to raise his 12 GC position to 3rd overall, which after Stage 5 has dropped to 4th position to include the new race GC leader Molard.

The constant GC shuffle ups and downs may be settled for the next 3 days of flat stages.

Debs

Results update of the three flat stages on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday:

Vuelta a España 2018, stage six: Huércal-Overa – San Javier. Mar Menor (155.7k)

1 Nacer Bouhanni (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits, in 3-58-35
2 Danny van Poppel (Ned) LottoNL-Jumbo
3 Elia Viviani (Ita) Quick-Step Floors
4 Simone Consonni (Ita) UAE Team Emirates
5 Matteo Trentin (Ita) Mitchelton-Scott

Vuelta a España stage 7, Puerto Lumbreras to Pozo Alcón (185.7km)

1 Tony Gallopin (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale in 4-18-20
2 Peter Sagan (Svk) Bora-Hansgrohe at 5s
3 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar Team
4 Eduard Prades Reverter (Spa) Euskadi Basque Country-Murias
5 Omar Fraile (Spa) Astana Pro Team

Vuelta a España  stage 8, Linares to Almadén (195.1km)

1. Alejandro Valverde (Esp) Movistar in 4-35-54
2. Peter Sagan (Svk) Bora Hansgrohe
3. Danny van Popel (Ned) Lotto Jumbo
4. Ion Izagirre (Esp) Bahrain Merida
5. Giacomo Nizzolo (Ita) Trek Factory Racing

<>

General classification after Stage 8

1. Rudy Molard (Fra) Ggroupama FDJ in 31-20-34
2. Alejandro Valverde (Esp) Movistar at 37s
3. Emanuel Buchmann (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe at 48s
4. Simon Yates (Gbr) Mitchelton Scott at 51s
5. Tony Gallopin (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale at 59s
6. Michal Kwiatowski (Pol) Team Sky at 1-06
7. Ion Izagirre (Esp) Bahrain Merida at 1-11
8. Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar at 1-14
9. Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) Lotto Jumbo at 1-18
10. Enric Mas (Esp) Quick-step Floors at 1-23

Read more at https://www.cyclingweekly.com/...#ftHYRSQzsUz0jpDm.99

Will Rudy Molard still be wearing the Red-Jersey after Sundays Mountain Stage 9 ?

Valverde lies in wait [and a few others too]

I predict loads of attacking tomorrow, and have a go heroes [...give it all in before the rest day on Monday] 

As i've said before; it'a a shame ITV4 isn't showing this live on freeview, Stage 9 has all the ingredients for a fabulous spectacle!

Freeview [ for us cheapskates ]

Channel 24 ITV4 - live coverage of Tour of Britain 10:45-15:45  

What a pity with Kwiatkowski. It would be soooo cool to have the first ever Polish grand your winner. 

what to listen/watch

4th test

Formula 1

Tour of Britain

Tour of Spain

Don't have Sky so looks like flicking between radio commentary of the test and ITV4 coverage of the Tour of Britain … always seem to miss the important bits while on the other channel

F1 highlights  on Channel 4 this evening overlaps with cricket and spain highlights too … so listen to the cricket live and watch the tour of spain highlights tomorrow morning on ITV3 seems the way to go.

... of course I could miss them all and go out and get some exercise myself but that seems a little over the top :;

Allan

Allan Milne posted:

... of course I could miss them all and go out and get some exercise myself but that seems a little over the top :;

Allan Milne posted:

 Don't have Sky so looks like flicking between radio commentary of the test and ITV4 coverage of the Tour of Britain … always seem to miss the important bits while on the other channel

Allan

 

You could always record the cricket and switch to it during the commercial breaks in the ToB coverage, then play the cricket on fast forward!

naim_nymph posted:

Will Rudy Molard still be wearing the Red-Jersey after Sundays Mountain Stage 9 ?

Valverde lies in wait [and a few others too]

I predict loads of attacking tomorrow, and have a go heroes [...give it all in before the rest day on Monday] 

As i've said before; it'a a shame ITV4 isn't showing this live on freeview, Stage 9 has all the ingredients for a fabulous spectacle!

 

I am really looking forward to today’s stage. The fireworks might start today...

Brilliant stage today in the mountains well pleased for Benjemin King getting his first Grand Tour Stage.

Tabby cat posted:

Brilliant stage today in the mountains well pleased for Benjemin King getting his first second Grand Tour Stage.

Ben King also won Stage 4 last Tuesday 

Thanks Deb's for pointing that out.I must admit I have missed most of last week's recoded highlights.Also no Tour of Britan either.....I blame that stereo and the records and compact discs........   

Overall classification after stage nine

1 Simon Yates (GBr) Mitchelton-Scott, in 36-54-52
2 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar Team, at 1s
3 Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team, at 14s
4 Emanuel Buchmann (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe, at 16s
5 Ion Izagirre (Spa) Bahrain-Merida, at 17s
6 Tony Gallopin (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale, at 24s
7 Miguel Angel Lopez (Col) Astana Pro Team, at 27s
8 Rigoberto Uran (Col) EF Education First-Drapac, at 32s
9 Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) LottoNL-Jumbo, 43s
10 George Bennett (NZl) LottoNL-Jumbo, 48s

More positional changes after the mountains of Stage 9, and with less than 50 seconds now separating the present top ten on GC it still remains anyones race.

Tuesday 4th Sept - Todays Stage 10 is a flat stage, however a category  3 climb some 35 kilometres before the finish may provide a launch-pad for a break-away attack, someone is bound to have a go : )

Withdrawals  

To date: up to start of Stage 10

 Maurits Lammertink (Katusha-Alpecin) – DNS Stage 8 (illness)

Dan Martin (UAE Team Emirates) – DNS Stage 10 (family commitments: wife about to give birth to twins : )

Read more at https://www.cyclingweekly.com/...#V9ppvhiwF3PLXD5o.99

Withdrawals (continued)

Simone Petilli (UAE Team Emirates) DNF Stage 10 (Crash: abandoned race via ambulance)

The 25-year-old Italian was knocked unconscious in the accident, and given medical attention at the side of the road, before being taken to Zamora hospital, 50km north of the stage start in Salamanca, where he's in a "good and stable condition", according to his team."He's also suffered a deep cut to his left eyebrow, which required stitches, and some of his teeth are broken."He's able to interact with the team's doctor, Michele De Grandi, and the CAT scan has excluded neurological problems," continued the UAE press release."At this point, we are waiting on medical advice on when he can be discharged from the hospital."

Bad news for Team Emirates who are now down to six men.

<>

Meanwhile yesterdays Stage 10 ended with a predicable sprint finish:

1 Elia Viviani (Ita) Quick-Step Floors, in 4-08-08
2 Peter Sagan (Svk) Bora-Hansgrohe
3 Giacomo Nizzolo (Ita) Trek-Segafredo

(No change to GC)

Elia Viviani takes his second victory in this years La Vuelta, Peter Sagan seems to be gradually progressing back to good form and almost a stage win since his TdF crash, and another podium position for Giacomo Nizzolo.

<>

Todays stage is hilly - as is tomorrows,

back in the mountains on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday

(Rest day Monday) next week on Tuesday Individual Time Trial ; )

Vuelta a España 2018, stage 11: Mombuey – Ribeira Sacra. Luintra (207.8km)

1 Alessandro De Marchi (Ita) BMC Racing Team, in 4-52-38
2 Jhonatan Restrepo (Col) Katusha-Alpecin, at 28s
3 Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Bahrain-Merida, at 59s

General Classification after Stage 11

1 Simon Yates (GBr) Mitchelton-Scott, in 45-57-40
2 Alejandro Valverde (Esp) Movistar Team, at 1s
3 Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team, at 14s
4 Ion Izagirre (Esp) Bahrain-Merida, at 17s
5 Tony Gallopin (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale, at 24s
6 Emanuel Buchmann (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe, at same time
7 Miguel Angel Lopez (Col) Astana Pro Team, at 27s
8 Rigoberto Uran (Col) EF Education First-Drapac, at 32s
9 Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) LottoNL-Jumbo, 43s
10 George Bennett (NZl) LottoNL-Jumbo, 47s

It's a miracle! - Jesus has arisen up the GC and wins the Red Jersey on Stage 12 : )

Fantastic stage today, the 18 man break-away kept ahead to finish over 11 minutes up on the main peloton.

However, the first four riders to [sprint] finish found very poor safety standards with photographers, and a running official in the way, a collision saw two riders go down, bruised and cut but not thought seriously injured : /

Jesus Harrada was 5:45 down in 22nd GC place gained enough time to take the lead with a fairly substantial 3:22 lead.

Stage 12 finish: Mondoñedo to Faro de Estaca de Bares. Mañón (181.1k)

1 Alexandre Geniez (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale, in 4-22-59
2 Dylan van Baarle (Ned) Team Sky
3 Mark Padun (Ukr) Bahrain-Merida
4 Dylan Teuns (Bel) BMC Racing Team, all same time
5 Victor Campenaerts (Bel) Lotto Soudal, at 2s
6 Davide Formolo (Ita) Bora-Hansgrohe, at 5s
7 Gianluca Brambilla (Ita) Trek-Segafredo, at 24s
8 Dries Devenyns (Bel) Quick-Step Floors, at 48s
9 Thomas De Gendt (Bel) Lotto Soudal, at 2-27
10 Valerio Conti (Ita) UAE Team Emirates, at 2-29

others

16. Jesus Herrada (Esp) Cofidis, at 2-32
22. Simon Yates (GBr) Mitchelton-Scott, at 11-39

Overall classification after stage 12

1 Jesus Herrada (Esp) Cofidis
1 Simon Yates (GBr) Mitchelton-Scott, at 3-22
2 Alejandro Valverde (Esp) Movistar Team, at 3-23
3 Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team, at 3-36
4 Ion Izagirre (Esp) Bahrain-Merida, at 3-39
5 Tony Gallopin (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale, at 3-46
6 Emanuel Buchmann (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe, at same time
7 Miguel Angel Lopez (Col) Astana Pro Team, at 3-49
8 Rigoberto Uran (Col) EF Education First-Drapac, at 3-54
9 Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) LottoNL-Jumbo, at 4-05

Read more at https://www.cyclingweekly.com/...#MMfBpTfxsllS9M1W.99

Friday 8th Sept:

Todays very tuff Stage 13 looks set to be very exciting, the summit finish includes a climb section of 1 in 5 a couple of kilometres before the finish.