Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Minneapolis
Posts: 5,789
Bikes: 2022 Salsa Beargrease Carbon Deore 11, 2020 Salsa Warbird GRX 600, 2020 Canyon Ultimate CF SLX disc 9.0 Di2, 2020 Catrike Eola, 2016 Masi cxgr, 2011, Felt F3 Ltd, 2010 Trek 2.1, 2009 KHS Flite 220
Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4435 Post(s)
So we keep talking about Sky's dominance, but how many other teams really came to the Vuelta with the GC as their chief goal? Maybe 3-4 others? Astana with Aru, Bahrain-Merida with Nibali, BMC, with TJ, who is becoming a perennial also-ran?
The reason I am prompted to ask is today's stage, where Quick Step clearly prioritized the stage win rather than protecting their GC contender, De La Cruz, who got caught out and dropped from 4th to 5th. He's only a little more than 2 minutes back, and surely if Froome were to stumble, he could be a contendor. And even if Froome is untouchable, De La Cruz still has a good chance to podium in the GC, but still they preferred the stage win.
You would never see Sky go for the stage win while their contender was losing seconds from the GC group.
And btw, Quick Step has done a great job winning stages in this race. Apart from Sky, they seem to be the only team that has repeatedly shown successful strategic team work. Just not towards the GC.