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Vuelta a Espana Discussion
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| ember |
Posted on 01-02-2025 13:18
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Doesn’t look to be a GT for us, really. Groenewegen hurting, and Novak looking again super strong following Dombro, but unfortunately getting caught and dropped. He fights on, though, which is encouraging. |
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| knockout |
Posted on 01-02-2025 14:35
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A bit of a mixed stage for us. Foss with a fairly bad day, dropping out of the top 10 but the rest of the team performed very well with both Blums and Eenkhoorn climbing into the top 20 GC positions. It's very close behind them with large gaps ahead of them so likely looks a bit better than it really is but that is a fantastic depth and a nice situation to be in. Plapp also had a solid stage and has overtaken all competitors in the U25 classification - not counting Ansons who actually defended the jersey for another day. Very nice!
We are also looking pretty strong in the Team classification which was one of our hopes when sending four strong 77-78 MO guys here. So far that is looking very promising as well. So really, there is a lot of reason to be positive so far but this race can still turn fairly bad very quickly. But i like the current outlook even if we havent got any big points yet.
The next stage is one where I'd like to see one of our four climbers join the break. Looking at the gc situation, Plapp looks like the most realistic one to go but i wouldnt mind Eenkhoorn or Blums either. Always hard to tell but I'd hope that there are a couple KoM points awarded along the way and id like us to go for those tomorrow. Especially with two flat stages following that stage so recovery before the next GC stage should be fairly doable, this seems like a must-attempt to me.
A Big Thank You To All MG Reporters! |
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| Luis Leon Sanchez |
Posted on 01-02-2025 23:21
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A solid stage that from Choi! Finished about where he should but ensured he held onto Wellens and Amezawa for 7th and gaining time on guys like Aular, Sivakov, and Stussi.
He stays 4th in the GC for now but he's going to have a battle on his hands vs Galta for that position and then it's a fight in that 5th-6th region which would be a really strong result. Let's see how he goes!
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| baseballlover312 |
Posted on 02-02-2025 03:26
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Terrific stage for us. Team was well placed and Galta was very strong. Gaining time on everyone except the top 3 is huge. Still very early, but we're in a solid position to at least fight for the top 5 throughout now. Choi tied on time, and a better or similar climber to most of those behind. These sorts of grueling climbs seem to favor Galta's skillset, and it showed here.
The combination of good positioning and the early leader attacks played well for our depth guys too, with Gregaard and Eg both finishing in that big chase group. They're still quite a ways down from those first week splits, but a few more stages like this and they'll climb back into the top 25 region, which would be great.
Congrats to beagle and thanks for the report!
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy |
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 05-12-2025 17:46
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| OlegTinkov |
Posted on 02-02-2025 06:07
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Samolenkov still has the time to talk to his DS
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| Nemolito |
Posted on 02-02-2025 08:13
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Quite ambitious from Aular to be the first to attack
Gained two spots in the gc, but also lost valuable time to other top-7 opponents, perhaps most interesting name to us being Choi with a good stage. In theory still some stages to get that time back, but our Zara friend seems to be having a good form, so it definitely will not be easy. Nice to see Osorio climbing a little bit in the rankings. Maybe ha can get into the top-30 as well.
Thanks for the sublime report, kb!
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| baseballlover312 |
Posted on 03-02-2025 03:23
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A less than ideal day compared to yesterday, but still very solid. Galta didn't quite have the same legs as before, but only loses time to a couple of guys while gaining on Choi to take 4th overall. Wellens and Sivakov appear to be the big contenders for top 5 (at least before any final week shenanigans). We'll always be a tick below the top 3 at least, but I've been very happy with the efforts so far. Also nice to have both Gregaard and Eg in the top 30 now.
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy |
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| redordead |
Posted on 03-02-2025 06:45
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Maybe Rajovic has something left in the tank for one of these two flat stages as we're pretty much useless in breakaways so far.
"I am a cyclist, I may not be the best, but that is what I strive to be. I may never get there, but I will never quit trying." - Tadej Pogačar
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| knockout |
Posted on 03-02-2025 09:14
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Having Blums in the break was nice to see. Didnt work out and somehow there were no kom points to gain in the first half of the stage so we only got a time loss out of it but was worth an attempt.
Foss unfortunately again dropped by the favorites but his gc position is still very solid and within reach of a big third week break overtake.
Eenkhoorn is coming into shape as well, slowly climbing the ranks, could be up for a strong result.
Plapp was a victim of chaiyasombat profiting from the break but still within reach of the youth jersey.
A Big Thank You To All MG Reporters! |
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| Luis Leon Sanchez |
Posted on 03-02-2025 09:49
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Not the greatest day from Choi but hopefully saving himself for an outside assault on the Top 5 later in the race! Back to Thijssen and stage hunting tomorrow 
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| Nemolito |
Posted on 03-02-2025 09:53
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Good stage by Aular I think, no attacks this time but just riding towards the finish line at his pace. 7th on the stage and in the GC is what we hope from him, so hopefully he can keep this up. Like bbl said, also expecting some week 3 breakaway stuff, so hopefully this place and time below the red jersey means Aular is also allowed to be in that good breakaway, once it is there.
Thanks for another stellar report, kb!
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| DubbelDekker |
Posted on 03-02-2025 10:00
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Not good. Again the same pattern of Dombrowski attacking first, getting brought back by one of his two rivals and the other winning the stage and GC time.
You need to ride a bit smarter Joseph.
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| knockout |
Posted on 03-02-2025 15:43
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I have no clue what to think about this stage. Dversnes getting 2nd on the day from the stage is awesome and sth i really hoped to see at some point when picking his development route but at the same time Foss AND Plapp losing tons of time on a stage where it absolutely wasnt necessary is super annoying.
I guess overall, this still has to count as a positive stage for us as secured points are more valuable than the loss of potential GC points but it also reduces the chance for a huge jump in the third week. (And it might still be somewhat benefitial for Foss' changes to get into breaks a bit earlier than i would have otherwise expected)
Derek Gee is such a cool rider. Knew why i wanted to sign him as a lvl3 talent. Congrats there!
A Big Thank You To All MG Reporters! |
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| ember |
Posted on 03-02-2025 18:00
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Fully understand why we don’t go for the breakaway there. Hopes we had the needed strength to bring it back, but either not good enough or not bothered
Thank you for another report, kb! And congratulations on the stage win, SN! |
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| tastasol |
Posted on 03-02-2025 23:29
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After a super slow Vuelta for us, the guys are finally starting to move a bit. Solid effort by Roman on stage 12th and finally some points for Hulgaard with 4th place on the latest stage. Hopefully that's a sign for better things to come in the last part of the race.
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| baseballlover312 |
Posted on 04-02-2025 00:10
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Guess it's good the break won in the end, cause AKA finishing outside the top 40 would have really pissed me off. lol
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy |
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| baseballlover312 |
Posted on 04-02-2025 03:48
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The downfall of AKA will be studied. 
Very rough race for him. The sprint lottery is always the sprint lottery, but he's been completely MIA on the last half dozen sprint stages while 78 sprinters consistently place. Disappointing way to finish his last maxed GT.
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy |
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| redordead |
Posted on 04-02-2025 06:10
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The last two stages were a masterclass on how to score zero points
"I am a cyclist, I may not be the best, but that is what I strive to be. I may never get there, but I will never quit trying." - Tadej Pogačar
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| knockout |
Posted on 04-02-2025 07:19
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Crazy how often my guys are caught in behind splits in this race. Both Foss and Sureda are only ever mentioned in those situations and while not mentioned Plapp usually seems to be there as well. Guess the team doesnt warrant any positioning in the eyes of the AI :/
At least it didn't have any consequences this time.
A Big Thank You To All MG Reporters! |
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| Nemolito |
Posted on 04-02-2025 07:46
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A little bit of mixed feelings about stage 13. Halvorsen did sprint to a third place in the peloton, so better outcome thannwhat we got from the breakaway, but then again the sprint might have been totally different AI-wise if the break wasn't still there. Was nice to see Ruiz at the head of the peloton for once though.
In the end it was also fun and I can count myself lucky enough to be in the breakaway with two of our developing youngsters, with Nigerian champion Abolaji doing some great work for our local hero Aguilar Mendez. Winning the sprint was always an almost mission impossible when starting under the kite with his stats, so fifth in the end is still a nice result, and a second positive thing to remember from his Vuelta after also having the hotseat for a little while in the time trial some days ago. A shame Abolaji finished 11th and couldn't reward himself with a symbolic point.
Stage 14 then a bit similar to most sprints so far for us, with a seventh place not being amazing, and Gaviria winning as usual again
Thanks for the great reports, kb. And thank you for posting, Ulrich!
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