La Vuelta 2025 ***SPOILERS***

[No Ta Doctor]

I strongly suspect that was more down to VLB's thuggish tactics.

Thuggish tactics being a single instance of a rider coming inside him at a feed zone (and not the incident a few days later where Soler(?) was losing his shît and the Visma rider calmly reached for his musette and passed it to him)?

Or do you mean where Pog and others were riding right behind a Visma car on the way to the start - at about jogging speed - and they braked as they came past a team bus, and it was definitely Visma brake checking them, even though it was filmed on a potato from 100m behind them and you can't see anything about what was going on around them?

Yeah, that's definitely why Pog wanted to go home, he thought they'd jump him in an alley if he stepped out of his hotel....

 

[DeadCalm]

Thuggish tactics being a single instance of a rider coming inside him at a feed zone (and not the incident a few days later where Soler(?) was losing his shît and the Visma rider calmly reached for his musette and passed it to him)?

Or do you mean where Pog and others were riding right behind a Visma car on the way to the start - at about jogging speed - and they braked as they came past a team bus, and it was definitely Visma brake checking them, even though it was filmed on a potato from 100m behind them and you can't see anything about what was going on around them?

Yeah, that's definitely why Pog wanted to go home, he thought they'd jump him in an alley if he stepped out of his hotel....

Pogacar was quoted as saying 'They do this a lot'. So, no, not a single instance. The brake testing speaks for itself. I'd also add the deliberate barging of him by Jorgensen as he and Van Aert moved past Pogacar on the approach to the Mur de Bretagne. Yes, I'd describe that as thuggish. YMMV.

I hope Grischa Niermann doesn't see that bit in bold. He'd likely think it a splendid idea.

 

[No Ta Doctor]

Pogacar was quoted as saying 'They do this a lot'. So, no, not a single instance. The brake testing speaks for itself. I'd also add the deliberate barging of him by Jorgensen as he and Van Aert moved past Pogacar on the approach to the Mur de Bretagne. Yes, I'd describe that as thuggish. YMMV.

I hope Grischa Niermann doesn't see that bit in bold. He'd likely think it a splendid idea.

Ah well, if Pog says it then it must be true. Not that any of his army of fans have provided any evidence that's the case from the most filmed rider in the peloton. And if you can conclude they were actually brake tested from that footage you have far better eyes than I have. Incidentally, Pog said that was his fault for not paying attention and riding too close.

 

[KingstonGraham]

Are we in the off season already?

 

[Blazing Saddles]

Anyhow I have noticed that a lot of the climbing in the first half of this race is low gradient stuff and today is no exception.
It doesn’t lend itself to making significant time gaps, so I wouldn’t be surprised if another breakaway chancer takes the spoils.

What’s the weather forecast?

 

[No Ta Doctor]

Nairo
(Actual Nairo at the Vuelta content)
https://bsky.app/profile/lavuelta.bsky.social/post/3lxjprlhhvk24

 

[Blazing Saddles]

Orla looks different this morning…..

 

[mididoctors]

They're off

 

[mididoctors]

Bit of hesitation,then attacks start

 

[mididoctors]

Hitting the first climb

 

[mididoctors]

Serious attacks begin

 

[mididoctors]

Olly Knight and denz trying

 

[mididoctors]

Ayuso riding tempo hurting the bunch

 

[mididoctors]

Ben o Connor looking for an opportunity

 

[mididoctors]

Jay vine trying to double up