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Vuelta a Espana Discussion
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| Nemolito |
Posted on 07-02-2025 08:22
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Quite a battle at the top, but at least that seems to mean the breakaway never really gets a chance for now, so as long as Aular isn't in it, that's positive for us.
Aular with a slightly stronger stage than Choi this time, only a few seconds separating them, but now in favour of us again. Don't know what to expect from the time trial though, Aular the better climber, but Choi could gain some time on the flatter/descending part in the beginning as well. Hopefully we can use the time trial to gain some more time on Amezawa as well, as except for him I think/hope everyone else behind us is getting to the point where even a breakaway would mean they don't jump us. Unless the favourite teams race differently in the last mountain stage, of course.
Thanks for the amazing report, kb, and thank you Ulrich for posting.
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| ember |
Posted on 07-02-2025 08:45
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Thank you for another thrilling report! The battle for the win is very intense and entertaining. Congratulations on another stage, ryant!
As Nemolito writers, surely the fight for the GC win me and the AI acts different regarding breakaways? Another stage I thought would go to the breakaway, but once again I was wrong  Nice to have Novak fight for breakaway participation, and also to see him be strong for the KoM points! Morton might be difficult to best, though, if he continues his winning streak! |
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| OlegTinkov |
Posted on 07-02-2025 09:31
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The report was so good it indeed deserves a double post!
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| beagle |
Posted on 07-02-2025 14:37
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Although Bernal lost red jersey today, his performance gave me a tiny hope it´s not over yet. It´s going to be a thrilling finale.
Manager of Polar in Man-Game
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| DubbelDekker |
Posted on 07-02-2025 17:44
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Again...same story. Dombrowski gets overeager chasing the break and has no energy left once Morton and Bernal hit the gas.
Very cool that the GC fight between those two is so close though.
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 05-12-2025 15:09
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| Roman |
Posted on 08-02-2025 02:23
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Very cool to see such a tight race for the GC.
Hope for some better result in the final sprint stage, it looks like it is either a win or a total disaster class positioning from Gaviria.
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| alexkr00 |
Posted on 08-02-2025 12:35
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Bernal back in the red jersey will make for a very interesting final mountain stage.
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| baseballlover312 |
Posted on 08-02-2025 13:38
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Thrilling race for the GC. Very cool to go into the last decisive stage really not knowing who's going to come out on top. Morton probably needed one more significant gain in the last week, but Bernal has hung tough, and now he can win just by riding the wheel. But Morton is still the better climber, and anything can happen. Either way, Bernal's training looks to have been one of the best investments of the offseason.
For us, it was solid. I honestly wasn't expecting TT to play as big of a role on that course as it did, but it was obviously a huge factor. Some pure climbers lost big time in that first half. For us, it could kind of neutral. Galta loses time to a couple of guys that can only pass him if there's a huge getaway break tomorrow, he gains a little more on Wellens, and stays firm in his top 5. Eg gains a few spots, and Gregaard loses none. A good day for us then, even if it looks like the Teams classification is going out of our reach.
Thanks for the reports!
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy |
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| baseballlover312 |
Posted on 08-02-2025 13:38
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Thrilling race for the GC. Very cool to go into the last decisive stage really not knowing who's going to come out on top. Morton probably needed one more significant gain in the last week, but Bernal has hung tough, and now he can win just by riding the wheel. But Morton is still the better climber, and anything can happen. Either way, Bernal's training looks to have been one of the best investments of the offseason.
For us, it was solid. I honestly wasn't expecting TT to play as big of a role on that course as it did, but it was obviously a huge factor. Some pure climbers lost big time in that first half. For us, it could kind of neutral. Galta loses time to a couple of guys that can only pass him if there's a huge getaway break tomorrow, he gains a little more on Wellens, and stays firm in his top 5. Eg gains a few spots, and Gregaard loses none. A good day for us then, even if it looks like the Teams classification is going out of our reach.
Thanks for the reports!
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy |
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| OlegTinkov |
Posted on 08-02-2025 14:44
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I still believe in that 3rd spot, let's go Tinkoff!
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| knockout |
Posted on 08-02-2025 17:40
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We need to get into that break for the final mountain stage with at least one, preferably more. Foss is still within reach of Novak/Karlsson/stüssi and a huge gap to the riders behind (that are not Evonik riders themselves) so an attack by him would be particularly risk free.
A Big Thank You To All MG Reporters! |
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| ember |
Posted on 08-02-2025 17:46
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Kind of good for Novak's KoM hunting that Bernal won this one and not Morton Congratulations, beagle! What a fight that is for the overall win, love to follow it.
Now, though... If the Morton show continues for another stage win, Novak really, really needs to find another brekaway, and then also to be strongest on several climbs to secure enough points to make a potential Morton stage win not be enough for the KoM jersey. Not confident he can do that, but it's definitely what we need to aim for. If we are lucky, the breakaway will also fight for the stage win, but we shall see.
Very excited for that final mountain stage! |
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| tastasol |
Posted on 08-02-2025 18:02
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The fight continues! Epic to get a grand finale on Bola del Mundo. Feels like some vintage stuff from real racing.
Happy to see Vingegaard sneak up to 15th. One more push now. Would be a good result for him.
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| ryant |
Posted on 08-02-2025 23:12
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Oooof really wished we would be stronger but it makes sense Bernal has the skills to take back Red before a titanic clash at Bola del Mundo. I guess we're lucky enough that we only need a small gap but I can't help but think Bernal is getting stronger and stronger these last few stages so I can't be confident at all Morton can do what he needs. It's been great to follow the race this last week but in the end it could be heartbreak for us despite the 4 stages wins.
PS can't remember a GT being this close for a while, I may be drastically wrong on that but having the top 2 just under half a minute between eachother this late in the race feels like that hasn't happened in a while. 
 John St Ledger in Team Bunzl-Centrica and Team U25Red Bull Driver in RFactor
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| Luis Leon Sanchez |
Posted on 09-02-2025 03:28
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A great performance there from Choi to be 4th only behind the Big 2 and Sivakov who has been really strong throughout. Pulls himself up to 7th and barring a disaster, shouldn't drop worse than 8th. Going to be his own battle vs Aular for us to watch tomorrow!
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| Ulrich Ulriksen |
Posted on 09-02-2025 04:30
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ryant wrote:
PS can't remember a GT being this close for a while, I may be drastically wrong on that but having the top 2 just under half a minute between eachother this late in the race feels like that hasn't happened in a while.
Well except for last year's TOA which was decided by 2 seconds (not that I am bitter). Although this feel like more of a see-saw battle. Whereas that was McNulty grinding back against Eastman over a number of stages but never actually catching him.
Good luck to all.
Man Game: McCormick Pro Cycling |
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| Nemolito |
Posted on 09-02-2025 09:52
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Seems like tt stat definitely had its importance. Aular back to eighth now, hopefully a fun final battle with Choi for seventh, and nothing too crazy with a breakaway to see him drop below 8th.
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| Luis Leon Sanchez |
Posted on 09-02-2025 19:56
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What a final day in the Mountains!
I thought for all money that Choi was going to slip up when he wasn't with the Top 9 going into the final kilometres but his tempo riding brought him back into it to finish ahead of Aular which was the goal today. 6th on the stage which sews up 7th in the GC which is a reallly solid result!
On the Red Jersey fight, wow it couldn't have been much closer! Morton really taking the fight to Bernal and doing all he could to win the stage even! But Bernal just too strong and able to hold on to what will be a memorable Grand Tour win.
Our attention switches to the final stage in the hopes that Thijssen can pull out a big result 
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| tastasol |
Posted on 09-02-2025 20:22
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Solid last day in the mountains from Vingegaard. Good to see him perform so well at the end of a GT.
Might have hoped for an even more spectacular GC fight, but it was a fight all the way. Big congrats to Bernal for taking it home!
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| ember |
Posted on 09-02-2025 20:52
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Very well done, Novak! Couldn't have asked for more seeing the stage went to the two top guns. Happy to seal the jersey and enough points along the way. Had some hopes when the final climb approached with the gap, but it clearly wasn't meant to be.
Having said that, that was perfectly fine, because what a show that was from Morton! Really feared Bernal gave it away with his attack with 3,5 kilometers to go, but what a defense that was from that point and all the way to the finish line. Congratulations to both, really! Morton for his crazy 6 stage wins, Bernal for an epic defense and the big prize at the end. And also a big thank you to kb for a superb report, covering the drama very, very well. Thank you! |
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