La Vuelta 2026 ***Spoilers***

[phreak]

you seem to be forgetting he fell down a ravine in June and was only back racing at start of august - did you expect him to be on top form??

He beat Mas in Burgos.

 

[T4tomo]

He beat Mas in Burgos.

I could agree with the logic in your arguments, but then we'd both be wrong.

 

[phreak]

I could agree with the logic in your arguments, but then we'd both be wrong.

Not sure it's that complicated. In his last GT he did better than anyone who finished this race. He's had a torrid year, but in the last stage race before this event, he did better than everyone bar Gall. He finished several minutes down on the podium. Yes he crashed, but that "only" accounted for ~ 2 minutes of that. For instance, prior to his tumble, he was already over 2 minutes down on Mas and a minute down on Roglic. Therefore, I suspect he'll be disappointed with his race.

 

[TakeTheHighRoad]

I think it's par for the expectations of both Onley and the team, which goes to show how far down the pecking order Ineos have dropped.

It's not a nothing achievement, but I think that both rider and team will hope for more next season

 

[phreak]

I think it's par for the expectations of both Onley and the team, which goes to show how far down the pecking order Ineos have dropped.

It's not a nothing achievement, but I think that both rider and team will hope for more next season

Like you say, they're not really that team anymore, but historically there would have been a strong argument for a rider improving simply by virtue of moving from a Picnic-style team to Ineos. It's hard to say that's the case at the moment and doesn't seem to have gone that way for Onley.

 

[misforturob]

Like you say, they're not really that team anymore, but historically there would have been a strong argument for a rider improving simply by virtue of moving from a Picnic-style team to Ineos. It's hard to say that's the case at the moment and doesn't seem to have gone that way for Onley.

I think that would be a fair comment if his season was plan sailing with no problems. But it wasn't. Out of Paris Nice with illness. Out of Romandie with illness. Out of Dauphine with a big crash.

 

[Dogtrousers]

I wish I liked Mas, but he's just got too many teeth. It's like his mouth was done by Chat GPT or something

I'm just watching a review of the Vuelta and I can't get this out of my head.

 

[No Ta Doctor]

I'm just watching a review of the Vuelta and I can't get this out of my head.

I first noticed it watching that Movistar documentary a while back. There was something about him that made my skin crawl slightly and I couldn't quite work it out. I think he triggers some sort of primitive hindbrain response like snakes do

 

[Animo]

I first noticed it watching that Movistar documentary a while back. There was something about him that made my skin crawl slightly and I couldn't quite work it out. I think he triggers some sort of primitive hindbrain response like snakes do

Could be the way he pops up in absolutely world beating form from time to time and then disappears again. Clearly a shapeshifter.

 

[No Ta Doctor]

Could be the way he pops up in absolutely world beating form from time to time once and then disappears again. Clearly a shapeshifter.

A little editing help with your post...

He does tend to go a lot better in Spain than elsewhere though, it's true

 

[wakemalcolm]

Mas in a great position to hit top form in the 3rd week of the Vuelta.

Just remembered this from the Giro

 

[gsk82]

Like you say, they're not really that team anymore, but historically there would have been a strong argument for a rider improving simply by virtue of moving from a Picnic-style team to Ineos. It's hard to say that's the case at the moment and doesn't seem to have gone that way for Onley.

I was shocked they bought him out his contract off the back of one performance. It wreaked of desperation.

 

[wakemalcolm]

I was shocked they bought him out his contract off the back of one performance. It wreaked of desperation.

Which one: his 3rd in Suisse, his 4ths in TdU, 2nd in ToB or his distant 4th 12 minutes behind the leader in France?

He ended last year ranked in the top 10 but I'm worried about where his ceiling is.