🥉👏 After another gutsy breakaway ride @solermarc93 takes 3rd place on the stage 12 of #LaVuelta24 . #UAETeamEmirates #WeAreUAE
Frustrated Poole and Schmid annoyed with INEOS: "Why didn’t we ride together in that group of four?"
CyclingThursday, 29 August 2024 at 20:07
Some were fuming, as nearly all nine defeated breakaway riders on day twelve of the Vuelta felt they might have had a chance to win. Pablo Castrillo surprisingly won after a solo effort because the bigger names behind him arrived too late.
Max Poole was the first loser. The Brit had already finished third from the breakaway the day before and now did one position better. Yet, whoever came to tell him this after the finish line did not receive a smile. "I am disappointed, but I gave it my all today. I might get a sense of satisfaction later. I have been so close two days in a row now, which is tough," the Team dsm-firmenich PostNL climbing talent said on Eurosport.
Poole had broken away from the other chasers in the final kilometer, but the almost stationary Castrillo kept him back. According to Poole, the reason the Spaniard stayed ahead was due to INEOS Grenadiers. "INEOS had two riders, so it's normal that everyone looks to them to close gaps. Soler attacked multiple times in the meantime, so we were watching him as well. I don’t really know why we didn’t start working together in that chasing group of four, but it is what it is. In the end, I went full throttle to the finish."
Read more below the video.
Mauro Schmid also pointed to INEOS after the race, during which Jhonatan Narváez (fifth) and Oscar Rodriguez (tenth) were the only duo from the same team. "It wasn’t ideal to be alone in the chase, but there were so many attacks that I thought it was better to ride at my own pace," said Schmid. "I had hoped they would hesitate behind me, but with INEOS having two riders, I knew they would play their cards. The headwind was tough in the first part of the climb, but at one point, I got close to Castrillo. However, I hesitated because I heard riders were coming up behind me. Looking back, I should have gone all out to bridge the gap, but I was on my limit."
Soler, who finished third, was actually the only one to compliment the day's winner. "He played it well," said the Spaniard riding for UAE-Team Emirates, who also personally came to congratulate Castrillo. "I wanted to win, but we had to congratulate Pablo. We will keep fighting to win a stage and be up there. Stage victories are hard to come by, so it will be a tough challenge."
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Latest Comments
- Van Aert is really handsome. He can influence me all day! Ditto for Philipsen. Why do you think many of us love cycling?: to see heroic attempts at climbing mountains at high altitudes or to watch speedsters sprint for the finish line or to watch a human being ride at break neck speed down a tricky descent? No, it's all about their lean physiques and muscular legs. (apologies for objectifying these dedicated and amazing athletes).BarwonHeadsUp25-10-2024
- It is unfortunate that the author can't feel the joy that Pogacar brings to the sport and his fans who are legion and I for one feel lucky to have watched such a memorable performance and historic season From the Strada until yesterday with multiple wins in stages in both tours and beyond dominance in the World's. He is proud to wear the Rainbow stripes, shows his leadership to protect his fellows and is as courteous and sportsman-like as the sport allows. He goes early to not have to respond to each attack as all the rest would make him do it. Any racer who could would do the same. Don't "grow tired" of greatness as it is always fleeting.ccrider13-10-2024
- What load of rubbish. Pog is likely a once in a generation cyclist, the like of which hasn't been seen since 'the Cannibal '. How many people were complaining that Merckx was making racing predictable? I remember this year's World RR as one of the most exciting I've watched. Mainly BECAUSE Pog was the favourite and launched what everyone thought (Pog included) was a suicidal attack with 80km to go. For the next 2 hours, I was on the edge of my seat thinking "this is too much, even for Pog". Maybe Zonnefeld prefers the snooze-fest that is a bunch sprint? Like most people I know, I can't watch two hours of the bunch riding very fast... I wait for the final 5km and watch just the sprint. In any event, most races are won from a sprint or lone break. What difference does it make who makes the lone break? Ultimately, the other contenders will have to figure out a way to beat Pog. Even if that means collaboration between teams. It's going to be an exciting few seasons, until the next Pog arrives on the scene. If this is boring, heaven knows what exciting looks like!Michael513-10-2024
- This is not a gravel race. UCI fail, from the surface they are on to team tactics. In what country was the first "gravel race" in what country is the most popular gravel race? Go with the race model that created the discipline.
Barnes127411-10-2024 - And don't forget he has now won 4 of the big 10 races (Grand tours, Monuments and WC/OG) in one year with a chance to make that 5. (5 has only been done once before)Joostmehrtens05-10-2024