Vuelta a Espana

It is funny how luck still plays a big part. WVA kept in to save a transfer tomorrow. Was very close to taking him out today.  

Yes luck plays a huge part in the game.

Dunbar winning wrankles me.

That is the first time he has ever been in the break (acording to PCS) and he wins it on a relatively flat stage.

A pure fluke.

I had him in and it was more for his price and the odd 10-20th place on GC days. A win was a big bonus.

What a strange stage today !!

Visma are incredibly determined to bring the break back.

If they catch the break will they set it up for an ace descender ?

It's a bit annoying as I had Frigo as a breakaway gamble that payed off. Won't even get combativity as Narvaez is last man standing. WvA had this stage marked in red pen I think. It's why I left him in yesterday.

I had him penned in for this stage too, just a pity I took him out for the last stage.

Looks like it turned into a sprint stage !!

I made a mistake, I took out Landa to bring van Aert back in. I should have left Landa in and dropped O'Connor. A transfer needlessly wasted.

Fortunately looking like a GC day today.

I kept van Aert in for today but he has been quiet today. Maybe the climbs for KoM points were too steep for his liking. Looks like a lot of players kept him in.

Should be an entertaining finish today.

Van Aert was too big a risk to take out . I thought he would go again today with his finish line being the intermediate sprint. Surprised Kruijswijk didn't go for KoM points to protect Van Aerts lead as Vine is getting close to him. 

Watching that made me feel sick. Chris Horneresque.

Fortunately for me someone removed him from their team for today.

I spotted that. I would be inconsolable for days if it was me! 

Especially when you only have 6 transfers left for the final 6 stages !!

I find it hard to believe the peleton kept the gap to 2 minutes until the penutimate climb and then let it go out to 3 minutes before the final climb.

I suspect the break will win again on Tuesday now.

Congratulations to O'Connor.

He managed to control his natural impulse to follow the attacks today.

What happened to Gall ?

Don't know but it put him out of contention for anything other than a stage win. My suspicion would be he's ill as there would be no logic in deliberately losing time when his focus should be on his team mate and defending the leader's jersey. 

You have started off well, it took me ages to re-learn how to play (if I have).