Vuelta a España 2021 - Stage 7 Gandia - Balcón de Alicante (152 km)

dastardly00

The first day with multiple climbs... yay! Also full live TV coverage... yay!

Fernando Escartin's comments - "First true mountain stage. Six mountain passes, including two 1st category climbs, will test the peloton. A very tough day, with a constant up and down motion, almost without respite, ideal for the favourites to bare their teeth."

Note - the final climb will be closed to the public due to the risk of wildfire 🔥🔥🔥🔥

retalivity

Carthy attacked on the first climb, was caught, now out the back and a minute down.

The last sting of a dying wasp..

neris

Interesting to see what Movistar do today, though if Netflix is anything to go by it,ll be every man for himself, no plan B, total chaos and their GC hopes to totally out the backdoor

Didn't realise coverage was earlier today.

retalivity

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117780283#Comment_117780283

Valverde to attack on the last climb, Rog and Ineos to follow, Mas & Lopez to be dropped, Valverde to then be dropped 500m later.

Mark it!

odyssey06

Carthy abandons.

DSM have 5 riders in the break, looks like with Bardet out of contention on the GC they are targeting the stage and mountains classification for him.

mewso

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117781041#Comment_117781041

Pretty big break. Not sure what the likes of Jumbo want here. Maybe just to keep it around the 3 minute mark. Currently pulling but not very hard. Bad luck for Carthy.

Jesus that could have been so much worse for Valverde bad and all as it was.

EDIT: Wow he was nearly back on there before he pulled up. I don't like the guy but that was tough to watch.

dastardly00

https://twitter.com/lavuelta/status/1428728143959973894

Eeep

retalivity

https://twitter.com/tjanke/status/1428727721010647047

If that gap in the barrier wasn't there it could have been some shunt.

EDIT: I didn't realise there was such a drop off there, was bad every way

neris

Wonder is that Valverdes last Vuelta

De Bhál

strange place for a break in the barrier

Come on Storer. I don't have him in my velogames honest 😀

Morris Garren

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117781587#Comment_117781587

Carthy and Balburdie gone will damage a few Velo teams alright.

And don't you love the Vuelta route planners, paving a stupid steep and narrow goat path and then stick the finish line on a downhill bend with no fans. Beautiful

neris

They weren't letting fans up due to a risk of bush fire

Morris Garren

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117781844#Comment_117781844

I did hear that-- plus also the fact that you would likely need crampons and ropes to get to some of these finish locations. Back to deserted motorways tomorrow I suspect

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117781916#Comment_117781916

I know some of the roads tomorrow actually especially around La Mata and Torrevieje. Could be windy. The satellite map of the finishing town is worth a look!!!!!

Inquitus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117781957#Comment_117781957

I have cycled quite a lot around Torrevieja and been to Mar Menor a good few times, if the wind is up it could certainly cause splits, it can also be hotter than hell if the wind is not blowing especially on the more inland stretches.

https://img.aso.fr/core_app/img-cycling-vue-jpg/8/10111/0:0,1600:2245-960-0-70/a5d10

MangleBadger

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117781587#Comment_117781587

Looks like my run at the top has come to an end.

griffin100

Valverde and Hugh Carthy dnf’d today. Last time we’ll see Valverde in a GT I’d say, but you can never tell with him.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117782248#Comment_117782248

Was looking at the numbers earlier for Valverde. 30 Grand Tours, DNF 5, worst finish was 24th in GC at this years TdF and only 5 outside the top 10.

retalivity

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117782330#Comment_117782330

It is quite the run in fairness, as much as i should dislike the guy i kinda warmed to him after the Netflix doc.

Would be very surprised if he doesn't give it another year after how it ended this time round, he's still competitive.

griffin100

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117782330#Comment_117782330

His record is unreal. As above I don’t / shouldn’t like him but you have to respect what he’s done. The Netflix documentary really showed the respect / awe the other riders hold him in.

at1withmyself

Missed it yesterday so watching highlights now and gutted for Valverde, with Ineos not performing well so far then he had a good shot of a high GC position on his final tour.