La Vuelta 2026 ***Spoilers***

[TomDW]

I think Roglic will gain at best around 47 seconds on Mas in the TT. Mas seems to be in best ever shape and Roglic is nowhere close to prime Roglic.

I reckon Mas has got this sewn up. There's only 1 more mountain stage and the way Roglic is riding I don't think he'll challenge Mas. There's also the threat of shortened stages that might reduce any other GC action. It's looking very sticky for the next week down in Andalucia.

 

[T4tomo]

I reckon Mas has got this sewn up. There's only 1 more mountain stage and the way Roglic is riding I don't think he'll challenge Mas. There's also the threat of shortened stages that might reduce any other GC action. It's looking very sticky for the next week down in Andalucia.

stg 19 & 20 should both provide gaps on GC as the finish on 19 has some feisty ramps. But Mas currently looking stronger than Rog on the hills. I hope Rog puts a good chunk of time into MAs & Gall on the ITT, mainly to make the GC more interesting.

Also never rule out a long range lunatic attack from Carapaz!

 

[mjr]

I didn't hear either comment, but I can't help but feel he's got a point about the temperature. Hayter, Almeida and others have also been fairly vocal about it. The peloton is also down from 184 to 150 after just two weeks, a handful of those leaving were yesterday because of the heat

It was a particularly tone-deaf comment from Brennan yesterday saying that people in offices would have the temperature set to 20 degrees. He's saying that in Spain, where some buildings are legally prohibited from setting cooling below 27. I know racers don't exactly have time to integrate in the countries they visit, but surely some team press officer should have had a quiet word and briefed him on local law? I expect he'd made similar comments in private before saying it to reporters.

 

[Blazing Saddles]

I reckon Mas has got this sewn up. There's only 1 more mountain stage and the way Roglic is riding I don't think he'll challenge Mas. There's also the threat of shortened stages that might reduce any other GC action. It's looking very sticky for the next week down in Andalucia.

Just to reiterate what T4 said.
Stage 19 finishes on a 1st cat after 210kms and 4,200 vertical metres gain.
Stage 20 has nearly 5,000 metres gain and has an especial finish.

 

[matticus]

Mas seems to be on a bet - can a climber win the overall and still score almost SFA in the Climbing contest?!?

 

[wakemalcolm]

It was a particularly tone-deaf comment from Brennan yesterday saying that people in offices would have the temperature set to 20 degrees. He's saying that in Spain, where some buildings are legally prohibited from setting cooling below 27. I know racers don't exactly have time to integrate in the countries they visit, but surely some team press officer should have had a quiet word and briefed him on local law? I expect he'd made similar comments in private before saying it to reporters.

Yeah, he should definitely hang for that.

He's only just turned 21 and not au fait with Spanish employment law. Perhaps he's done a few shifts in offices out Darlo way where there might be aircon, or has friends or relatives that do.

To start throwing hyperbole like 'tone deaf' at him will just make him say: stuff the mixed zone or worse, start talking in rehearsed clichés. I'd sooner have him say what he thought and develop into a character.

 

[matticus]

He's only just turned 21 and not au fait with Spanish employment law.

Typical uncultured British sportsman! Most continental athletes would have degrees in political history, sports science, and employment law. By age 19. They would never make this kind of blunder!

 

[Pblakeney]

I didn't hear either comment, but I can't help but feel he's got a point about the temperature. Hayter, Almeida and others have also been fairly vocal about it. The peloton is also down from 184 to 150 after just two weeks, a handful of those leaving were yesterday because of the heat

I maintain that global warming must result in changes to the racing calendar.
Things cannot remain as they are, just cos.