It’s a bumper crop of craziness for this edition of Vuelta Tweets of the Week … from Valverde as a pup to the riddle of Landa, Pinot fan fiction and Primoz bonuses. It’s all here!!!!
Act normal!
“Why can’t you just watch it instead of living it Mum? You know, like a normal person.“ Is what he said. Told him I don’t know any normal cycling fans 😂😂😂
— Sasha the Smasher (@sasha_smasher) August 22, 2021
It really was a disappointment that we didn’t see the aqua bikes
This stage finishes in the ocean. A missed opportunity to race on aqua bikes. #LaVuelta21 #CouchPeloton #Innovation pic.twitter.com/60qxpkrIkw
— Belinda (@reallyspoketome) August 21, 2021
I’m going to be very grumpy if we get to 2am and DSQ leadout aren’t on these. pic.twitter.com/teUPAXc3sM
— Belinda (@reallyspoketome) August 21, 2021
If cyclists said what was on their minds
journo: Adam Yates, you attacked several times today, was that always the plan?
yates: As long as I breathe I attack motherfudgerrrr— tom owen (@tomowencc) August 22, 2021
I like Bah Vic’s jersey but I’m very pleased I’m not replicating it as an iced biscuit. #CouchPeloton
— Belinda (@reallyspoketome) August 16, 2021
Roglic stretches himself
It’s only the start of the second week but blimey, looks like Primoz Roglic has complete control of the race. But we can’t be sure until that final ITT …
Stage 7 of #LaVuelta21 Hope the guys did a good stretch and warm-up ! If I would stretch like Roglič they probably have to take me to hospital 😅. Vamos en una hora ! Good luck 💪🚵♂️ pic.twitter.com/tVEoDJWCHv
— Debby 🖤💛 (@Debby_Drckx) August 20, 2021
no one says "ah" quite like Primoz Roglic and @friebos
— Rudi – 5g fueled rider (@therudihartanto) August 23, 2021
Roglic is a sprinty mountaineer. #CouchPeloton #LaVuelta21
— Belinda (@reallyspoketome) August 22, 2021
Bonus sprints used to be called sprint primes
Prime
Primoz Roglic is literally Slovenian for time bonus #literally
— Cillian Kelly (@irishpeloton) August 22, 2021
"Fresh as a daisy at that final climb!" 😅
The battle between Primoz Roglic and Enric Mas was heating up earlier 🔥#LaVuelta21 pic.twitter.com/tHiM2U7mq8
— Eurosport UK (@Eurosport_UK) August 22, 2021
Primoz Roglic has never met a bonus second he didn't like. Always on the hunt. #LaVuelta21 pic.twitter.com/TSPb1wfPmM
— Sadhbh O'Shea (@SadhbhOS) August 22, 2021
How it started
Primož Roglič and Egan Bernal brace for battle ahead of multi-mountain monster at the Vuelta a España on Sunday:
"I have good legs, we’ll definitely fight for the red jersey.”#lavuelta21https://t.co/Bj6iZ0Cne5
— VeloNews (@velonews) August 21, 2021
How it’s going
Oh dear … looks like it’s up to Adam Yates.
After losing more time to Roglič on stage 9, Egan Bernal isn't sure where he stands. #LaVuelta21https://t.co/sOR39gnREx
— CyclingTips (@cyclingtips) August 22, 2021
I’m so happy to have Adam Blythe back on the couch and on comms. Brilliant. Utterly brilliant – and funny
🇨🇴 Egan Bernal❓
🇬🇧 Adam Yates❓Who should Ineos Grenadiers pick as their leader for the remaining of #LaVuelta21?@SportsOrla | @AdamBlythe89 | @daniellloyd1
— Eurosport UK (@Eurosport_UK) August 23, 2021
One way to get cool
An ice shower 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 the stage @Eganbernal? 🧯🧯🧯
This is how hot it is in Santa Pola today #LaVuelta21 🥵 pic.twitter.com/PxWE5RWhnv
— INEOS Grenadiers (@INEOSGrenadiers) August 21, 2021
Michael Storer looks too young to be someone nicknamed ‘The Destroyer’
“I’m going to have to set a new goal now!” 🙌
🎙️ Hear from @mjstorer_au, AKA 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗿, after his superb Stage 7 win at #LaVuelta21 pic.twitter.com/vtaOnKVhP4
— Eurosport UK (@Eurosport_UK) August 20, 2021
How do you solve a problem like Mikel?
Mikel Landa posted a dashing new profile pic, which is I believe is the closest he gets to screaming ‘Game on, mother$&?!ers!’ #LaVuelta21 #Landismo
— Racejunkie (@racejunkieblog) August 18, 2021
The dashing new profile pic obviously didn’t work …
legit question: Jack Haig is almost a minute ahead of Mikel Landa in GC – at what point do the Bahrain boys change their plans
— kate wagner @ la vuelta 💃 (@mcmansionhell) August 21, 2021
Good for Mikel Landa. Shows a healthy mind. https://t.co/ZRgArvaWLZ
— Wine & Wheels (@defence_on) August 17, 2021
I will never fully understand the ups and downs of Mikel Landa. Sometimes superman performance’s, other times just not good enough. 🤔#LaVuelta21
— Darko Marjanovic (@DarkoMar5) August 22, 2021
Winning stuff. Totally believe he has the talent but something else is stopping him
— Journal Velo (@JournalVelo) August 20, 2021
He was at Sky but didn't seem comfortable in that role. But then didn't seem comfortable in the leader role either. So maybe he's just not comfortable.
— Journal Velo (@JournalVelo) August 20, 2021
The more I watch sport the more I realise that often the difference between a great and a very very good is mental.
— Journal Velo (@JournalVelo) August 20, 2021
Busted flat in Baton Rouge
Movistar had a very topsy-turvy weekend. Mas keeps up with Rog, but Jacobs and Valverde crash out.
A broken shoulder blade and rib, and a collapsed lung for Johan Jacobs after he crashed at the Vuelta a España yesterday. Fingers crossed for a good recovery #LaVuelta21 https://t.co/CLkCD361ha
— Sadhbh O'Shea (@SadhbhOS) August 23, 2021
Alejandro Valverde was about to animate stage 7 when he hit a crack/pothole in the road and lost control of his bike. Skidding and sliding (miraculously) between the barriers and somehow kept from falling down the mountain. But it was the end of his Vuelta, even though he tried to carry on. That took a lot of umph out of the peloton, the VV timeline and the stage itself …
“It could’ve been a hell of a lot worse!”
🗣️ 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆 discuss the crash that ended @alejanvalverde’s #LaVuelta21 hopes in dramatic fashion.@SportsOrla | @AdamBlythe89 pic.twitter.com/0PkqVBNp1F
— Eurosport UK (@Eurosport_UK) August 20, 2021
Yes that was heart grabbing 💯💥
— Amy E White (@AmyEWhite3) August 20, 2021
Not happening for Valverde, who abandons what could be his final Vuelta in tears #LaVuelta21 pic.twitter.com/aQKmTeKQGz
— Neal Rogers (@nealrogers) August 20, 2021
Aw rats, Valverde? That’s about 20% of the fun factor in any race right there. Speedy recovery wishes! #LaVuelta21
— Racejunkie (@racejunkieblog) August 20, 2021
This shows how close Alejandro Valverde was to a far worse outcome. #LaVuelta21 #sbsvuelta #couchpeloton https://t.co/vFeFy5Z1hk
— Matthew Keenan (@mwkeenan) August 22, 2021
Alejandro Valverde – the Spanish Marti Pellow …
Was thinking about Valverde today. Long career, then my mind went to Kelme, then it went, those times were ridiculous but so so fun. Great kit too. pic.twitter.com/WNGew6wvsg
— Velorooms (@Velorooms) August 20, 2021
See what I mean?
The gruppetto
Ganna time …
"Everyday we pull full gas" 👊🏻
🥇 Olympic Gold Medalist @GannaFilippo tells us how great it is to be back on the road for @INEOSGrenadiers after Stage 2 @tourofnorway following a successful month on the track 💪
_______
🇳🇴#TourofNorway pic.twitter.com/bAXBlvO1lk— Velon CC (@VelonCC) August 20, 2021
Love this pic
he opened with Mystery lead out Train
— Simon (@broom_wagon) August 20, 2021
KitKat wars! Lukas is in Tokyo reporting on the Paralympics. In his spare time, he is searching out different KitKat flavours in Japan.
Japan is the home of the mad Kit-Kats! I want a review of the Matcha Tea one please 😉
— Brónagh (@BeebsyMcA) August 23, 2021
Except he’s showing neither a well-honed sense of adventure nor the fundamental understanding of the remit of anyone on Twitter …
You are ZERO fun.
— Brónagh (@BeebsyMcA) August 23, 2021
Animal serenade …
My heart can't take it 💗💗💗💗
Actual dream life— fiona (@fiona_wyse) August 23, 2021
Heaven! Oh Tibo.
— Brónagh (@BeebsyMcA) August 23, 2021
Thinking about it … it has been reported that Pinot finds strays and gives them to his friends – sometimes riding with kittens in his cycling jersey as he transports them to their new home. So therefore, surely the song would be What’s New, Pussycat?
The last word
Sometimes all you can do is sit and wonder.. pic.twitter.com/vCJNxIUYlI
— Marge Simpson (@MarjorieSimpson) August 6, 2021