Volta a Catalunya 2018

This one is starting today, coverage from 14:45 on Eurosport.

No time trial this year and it will have back to back summit finishes during the week.

Stage 1 (153km) profile:



Hard to look passed Movistar and the on form Valverde for this, backed by Quintana and the Paris Nice winner Marc Soler who has finished 3rd here.

letape

Agree it’s hard to look past Valverde; but will be interesting to see how Dan is going. He won this in 2013 and podiumed a couple of years ago.

bazermc

Sam just pipped at the line. Nice viewing for a bank holiday while catching up on my ironing

Shake of the head on the line, he went and then looked like he knocked it off and tried to go again but hadn't the road to do it. Haven't seen the replay I'd need to see it again.

Is Uran here? The intro showed him along with other favourites but don't see his name on the start list.

joujoujou

Uran withdrew @ the last minute.

Good job done at the level crossing earlier in the stage today. No one allowed to jump through. Mass wee breaks ensued so that part of spain is bound to stink now

Stage ran way over the expected time today, no sign of Sam at the end McCarthy took up the sprint in his place. Valverde won the sprint and is now in the leaders jersey with some handy bonus seconds.

Lusk_Doyle

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/van-garderen-guardedly-upbeat-about-his-chances-in-volta-a-catalunya/

What is even the point of this article? TJ has not, will not, and cannot do anything results wise other than crash or get dropped. That's all that ever happens. Why even talk about anything else. Sure, positive mental attitude and all that but step back TJ and see the wood from the trees.

Talk about TJ doing something in races is to me like Carlton Kirby is to most others!

Edit: I should say that I mean as a GC contender rather than stage winner. That's what he is continually being pushed as but when push comes to shove at the top end of things in the big races he can't hack it.

MPFGLB

Diary is back

Nicolas Roche: 'It's good that concussion is being taken more seriously'

https://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/cycling/nicolas-roche-its-good-that-concussion-is-being-taken-more-seriously-36723101.html

at1withmyself

Third in the Volta ao Algarve this year wasn't a bad result, I still think he has a 1 week race in him!

Lusk_Doyle wrote: »

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/van-garderen-guardedly-upbeat-about-his-chances-in-volta-a-catalunya/

What is even the point of this article? TJ has not, will not, and cannot do anything results wise other than crash or get dropped. That's all that ever happens. Why even talk about anything else. Sure, positive mental attitude and all that but step back TJ and see the wood from the trees.

Talk about TJ doing something in races is to me like Carlton Kirby is to most others!

Edit: I should say that I mean as a GC contender rather than stage winner. That's what he is continually being pushed as but when push comes to shove at the top end of things in the big races he can't hack it.

MPFGLB

Seems from Nico's diary BMC might pay for cutting back on the team size this year ...I think they have one of the smallest teams on the WT

Lusk_Doyle

A one week race contender, maybe. A GT contender most certainly not.

Stage shortened today by about 40k and a few of the climbs axed due to risk of avalanche

Oh chapeau

De Gendt

. What an effort.

TheBlaaMan

Deleted User wrote: »

Oh chapeau

De Gendt

. What an effort.

Given its a stage race, with one thread and highlights available each evening, spoilers covers on the results would be best.....

What happened to Dan ? He was there just before the tunnel the group he was with came out without him (or was it a new group that formed in the tunnel ?)

TheBlaaMan

TheBlaaMan wrote: »

Given its a stage race, with one thread and highlights available each evening, spoilers covers on the results would be best.....

What happened to Dan ? He was there just before the tunnel the group he was with came out without him (or was it a new group that formed in the tunnel ?)

Edited: that thought I'd hit the tag button there

Looked to be all hell breaking loose in the tunnel from the delayed shots.

MPFGLB

https://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/cycling/nicolas-roche-itll-be-hard-to-shift-valverde-in-the-mountains-now-36726896.html?dfgfdgdfgdfgdfgdfgdgfd

Enjoyed that today, coverage picked with with 35 to go so the racing was well and truly on. Faster pace compared to the last few days which ran over buy nearly an hour.

Valverde looked in great shape again but it was the team work with Soler and Quintana that looked even better. Dare I say Quintana is looking in much better form than what I saw of him last year.

MPFGLB

Today was good racing except for Valverde wining...that was not real

Surprised about Dan Martin ??

And Aru was so far down it looks strange

Didn't hear Aru get mentioned at all this week that I recall. Over 12 minutes down today so sickness or really hasn't hit form yet.

Latour had some fight in him to try and get back on a few times and take 4th.

irishrover99

Dan hasn't looked great this year and its worrying considering he's up against riders you would be expecting him to beat in the Tour, Latour,Bennett and Hugh Carthy.
Hopefully he turns it around

Eurosport joined the race today with about 17km to go 5 of which was through a tunnel. Though I'm not sure thats their fault more when the race organisers set times for TV I think and terrible coverage of the leading pair at the end.

Mohoric thinking he's won was funny

I see Philip Deignan has a DNF no idea why but he was a fair distance back yesterday. Not a man I hear a lot about at all these days. Had a fair few DNFs last year and didn't feature much in the major races, Giro I think and Dauphine?

cunavalos

Sam survived today and with Hedag and Bouhanni out of the race, he may fancy his chances tomorrow if Bora can control the breakaway and ensure a sprint finish. Nothing worse than a 2nd CAT and most of the climbing is in the first half of the stage.

retalivity

Deleted User wrote: »

Eurosport joined the race today with about 17km to go 5 of which was through a tunnel. Though I'm not sure thats their fault more when the race organisers set times for TV I think and terrible coverage of the leading pair at the end.

Mohoric thinking he's won was funny

I see Philip Deignan has a DNF no idea why but he was a fair distance back yesterday. Not a man I hear a lot about at all these days. Had a fair few DNFs last year and didn't feature much in the major races, Giro I think and Dauphine?

His other half announced she was preggers last week so the focus on hard riding may have been elsewhere!

neris

Deleted User wrote: »

I see Philip Deignan has a DNF no idea why but he was a fair distance back yesterday. Not a man I hear a lot about at all these days. Had a fair few DNFs last year and didn't feature much in the major races, Giro I think and Dauphine?

You'd nearly forget about deignan and think we only had 3 pro riders. Surprised he's lasted so long at sky.

De Bhál

neris wrote: »

You'd nearly forget about deignan and think we only had 3 pro riders. Surprised he's lasted so long at sky.

He does a good job for them

at1withmyself

neris wrote: »

You'd nearly forget about deignan and think we only had 3 pro riders. Surprised he's lasted so long at sky.

I think Roche & Martin will be annoyed you forgot about them too 😉

Irish cyclists riding for pro teams in 2018
World Tour
Nicolas Roche BMC Racing
Sam Bennett Bora-hansgrohe
Philip Deignan Team Sky
Dan Martin UAE Team Emirates
Ryan Mullen Trek-Segafredo


Pro Continental
Conor Dunne Aqua Blue Sport
Stephen Clancy Novo Nordisk
Eddie Dunbar Aqua Blue Sport
Matt Brammeier Aqua Blue Sport


Continental
Cormac Mcgeough Jelly Belly Maxxis
Ben Walsh Vitus Pro Cycling
Bryan McCrystal Holdsworth
Matt Teggart Team Wiggins
Robert Jon McCarthy JLT-Condor
Sean McKenna Holdsworth
Michael O’Loughlin Team Wiggins
Conn McDunphy Holdsworth
Mark Downey Team Wiggins
Dermot Trulock Holdsworth
Damien Shaw Holdsworth

neris

at1withmyself wrote: »

I think Roche & Martin will be annoyed you forgot about them too ��

Irish cyclists riding for pro teams in 2018
World Tour
Nicolas Roche BMC Racing
Sam Bennett Bora-hansgrohe
Philip Deignan Team Sky
Dan Martin UAE Team Emirates
Ryan Mullen Trek-Segafredo


Pro Continental
Conor Dunne Aqua Blue Sport
Stephen Clancy Novo Nordisk
Eddie Dunbar Aqua Blue Sport
Matt Brammeier Aqua Blue Sport


Continental
Cormac Mcgeough Jelly Belly Maxxis
Ben Walsh Vitus Pro Cycling
Bryan McCrystal Holdsworth
Matt Teggart Team Wiggins
Robert Jon McCarthy JLT-Condor
Sean McKenna Holdsworth
Michael O’Loughlin Team Wiggins
Conn McDunphy Holdsworth
Mark Downey Team Wiggins
Dermot Trulock Holdsworth
Damien Shaw Holdsworth

I just saw that now on sticky bottle and was coming onto correct myself. Whoops.

Looks like a miserable day for a bike race there in spain today. Bora on the front leading the chase.

cunavalos

Missed opportunity for Sam, Bora and Michelton Scott underestimated and could not control the two breakaway riders and Sam finishes best of rest in 3rd

MPFGLB

Maybe its the weather or maybe its something esle but feel this race is lack lustre
Must be the dominance of Valverde

Also in both Paris Nice & Catalunya we have seen alot of the usual suspects missing in action

Take Catalunya ...Looking at the startlist before the race you'd expect Dan Martin.Aru,Pinot Barguil, Chaves, Henao, TJ , etc in the top 10...where are they ?

Same with Paris Nice...so many favourites no where to be seen

Dan was sick at Paris Nice so maybe lingering effects? Haven't seen where or if he finished today. I think a few others had illness too there but don't recall exactly who.

Aru didn't start today citing a leg muscle injury he picked up 20km into day one which would go a long way to explaining his anonymity in this.

Chavez had a dig the other day but Valverde started playing with him, trying to get him to ride knowing he wouldn't.

Thomas de Gendt has not started/abandoned no idea why just saw the graphic on screen.

Ah no Dan is down with two others.

MPFGLB

Deleted User wrote: »

Ah no Dan is down with two others.

He has such bad luck with crashes

Almost as bad as Geraint Thomas

velo.2010

MPFGLB wrote: »

Maybe its the weather or maybe its something esle but feel this race is lack lustre
Must be the dominance of Valverde

Also in both Paris Nice & Catalunya we have seen alot of the usual suspects missing in action

Take Catalunya ...Looking at the startlist before the race you'd expect Dan Martin.Aru,Pinot Barguil, Chaves, Henao, TJ , etc in the top 10...where are they ?

Same with Paris Nice...so many favourites no where to be seen

Needs more Contador!

Seriously though, these races have the same parcours for the most part each year. The riders (and spectators) know when and where there will be attacks. The likes of Contador would turn that on its head and attack way out when least expected. Younger riders are ever more riding to the numbers these days.

Good to hear Sagan talking recently about doing his own thing and making the race interesting for him and the crowds watching. More and more, he comes across like the Ronnie O'Sullivan of cycling!

On the final stage of the Tour of Catalunya today, Quintana fell on the descent and took down Bernal with him on the final stage - both out of the race with just a few Km to go.

Looks like Dan managed to finish, going by the list on cycling news he was 100th place at 7:34 down on the winner. So hopefully thats a sign he's relatively ok.