Mads Pedersen took his triptych of victories on Stage 19 of The Vuelta a Espana and there was nothing anyone could do do about it. Trek-Segafredo announced their plan to take the stage at the start of the day, and boy did they deliver. They controlled the breakaway, ensured their man in the green jersey survived the two climbs and then delivered him perfectly with a glorious lead out. From the minute he swung out of the slipstream of Miles Scotson (Groupama-FDJ), there was never a doubt who would cross the line first. Bahrain Victorious’ Fred Wright rode superbly but just could not get past the Dane, he pipped fast finishing Gianni Vermeersch (Alpecin-Deceuninck) to second on the day. There was no change in the GC, but Primoz Roglic had plenty to say in a Jumbo-Visma press release.
Signed. Sealed. Delivered
There’s no doubt Mads P has been on superb form this Vuelta. We have seen him put that power to good use on several occasions, but what impresses me more is his race craft and his never give up attitude. He knows when to hold, knows when to break it out, he has patience and a calm head. He’s always had it, but it’s a joy to watch him thrive on these stages. He’s also ready to hold his hands up when it goes wrong, to just say, I was beaten by someone better and look to put it right another day, and he always has nothing but encouragement for his teammates. I like to think the Trekkie bus is a happy bus.
The plan…
With the stage underway, @Mads__Pedersen hopes that @TrekSegafredo can control the break and go for win #3 💪
Will today be another #MadsDay? 🤞 #LaVuelta22 pic.twitter.com/5B75WAYsRB— Bard Sion o Caerdydd 🇺🇦 (@velo_bristol) September 9, 2022
HA! yes.. that ice jacket is a lot TMNT like … perhaps I should start using COWABUNGA for his exploits!
Ha! I thought the same! pic.twitter.com/CwcyWXUt94
— Kelly Milligan (@kemilligan) September 9, 2022
The execution…
Controlling the break
This 😍#LaVuelta22 #WeAreATeam pic.twitter.com/3GLKpXQVsy
— Trek-Segafredo (@TrekSegafredo) September 9, 2022
Love this from Wanty 😀
They are working for the Danish great Julius Johansen 👍
— Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert (@IntermarcheWG) September 9, 2022
Survive the two Cat 2 climbs
#LaVuelta22
Breakaway is caught. Now Mads has to survive the climb. 7kms to the top and so far he is looking good!#WeAreATeam#LaVuelta22
📸 Charly López pic.twitter.com/nyKrY9IUIg— Trek-Segafredo (@TrekSegafredo) September 9, 2022
#LaVuelta22
The incredible 🇩🇰🧨 has just made it over the 2nd ascent of Puerto del Piélago ✅ ✅ (which was climbed at a very fast pace!).🏁 34kms and a reduced bunch is on the descent.
— Trek-Segafredo (@TrekSegafredo) September 9, 2022
Deliver the victory
Normally we’d see Alex Kirsch as the final lead out for Mads, but today Alex put his work in earlier so the plan had to change… here’s Mads
I had Kenny (Elissonde – ed.) pulling alone for really long, and Julien (Bernard) and Antonio (Tiberi) did a such a good lead-out when you take into account they never do lead-outs. Really, really impressive; they did super in the last kilometere.
Look at the dynamic duo in full flow
💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚
🇩🇰 @Mads__Pedersen does it again! The @TrekSegafredo man secures his third stage win of #LaVuelta22.
📽️ Rewatch the last KM thanks to @CarrefourES!#CarrefourConLaVuelta pic.twitter.com/G8vXMSP2CO
— La Vuelta (@lavuelta) September 9, 2022
"I think this was, by far, the hardest victory [to get] for the whole team."
A team effort from the drop of the flag to the white line.
Read more of @Mads__Pedersen's 3rd win in #LaVuelta22 below. https://t.co/mz2OIbuBAb— Trek-Segafredo (@TrekSegafredo) September 9, 2022
The celebration
When two Midge favourites collide
Very proud of the whole @TrekSegafredo boys today . Proper team work , and the fuoriclasse @Mads__Pedersen to delivering once again 🤩. https://t.co/5wiiNZ57eF
— Kenny Elissonde (@KennyElissonde) September 9, 2022
I love it too
What I love also is much is team mates celebrating the win. 🤩 here is @AntonioTiberi4 of @TrekSegafredo celebrating @Mads__Pedersen’s win. #LaVuelta22 pic.twitter.com/AAndg0qVwP
— Anna Mac of Britain (@AnnamacB) September 9, 2022
I am not betting against him in Madrid. Kom så Mads
Mads Pedersen has amassed the biggest EVER points total at La Vuelta since 1955 💚👍
379 PTS with two stages left 🤯
___
🇪🇸 #LaVuelta22 pic.twitter.com/Uu1AkIckb6— Velon CC (@VelonCC) September 9, 2022
Jumbo Visma statement
While the stage was ongoing, Jumbo-Visma released statement from Primoz Roglic and team boss Richard Plugge regarding the crash which took Roglic out of the Vuelta. The full statement can be read in the tweet below.
💬 "After the crash, it took me time to straighten things out. My conclusion is that the way this crash happened is unacceptable. This is not the way I want the sport to continue and I want to make that clear."
Read more about @rogla's comment. ⤵️
— Team Jumbo-Visma cycling (@JumboVismaRoad) September 9, 2022
The pertinent point is that he lays the blame for the crash at the feet of Fred Wright
The crash was not caused by a bad road or a lack of safety but by a rider’s behaviour. I don’t have eyes on my back. Otherwise, I would have run wide. Wright came from behind and rode the handlebars out of my hands before I knew it.
We have all seen the crash numerous times, and while we were not on bikes in the race, it does seem clear that this was an awful racing incident, with no blame attached. I can’t for the life of me see that Fred is to blame. It also really grinds my gears that they would release this, while the rider they call out is in a race and not able to defend himself.
I may not agree with his statement, but Primoz is perfectly entitled to feel the way he does, but surely there are better ways of handling this. Jumbo-Visma should have thought twice about publishing. Truly a PR gaffe that has rightly been called out by professional riders, journalists and fans alike.
It’s pretty rare that I can be bothered to comment on cycling’s petty bullshit but what a load of shit this is. Can only hope it’s a badly timed April fools joke or something. Only thing Fred could have done to avoid that is jump over the barriers into the crowd. https://t.co/ams2wzcdbS
— Dan McLAY (@McLAYDan) September 9, 2022
If anything, it was Roglic that moved most dramatically in that finale. But, ultimately, I feel it was just a racing incident.
Plugge stepping in and throwing Wright under the bus is also pretty poor show.
— Sadhbh O'Shea (@SadhbhOS) September 9, 2022
Fred Wright didn't move an inch. This whole thing is weird. https://t.co/zKBRTI5NDe
— Caley Fretz (@CaleyFretz) September 9, 2022
Today's statement from Jumbo and Roglic is really poor.
One thing is that I harshly disagree, but another is that they can't take it back.
It's said and done and you can't take it back. Can't fathom the PR-decision behind it really from a professional standpoint.
— Rasmus Nowak Franklin (@NowakFranklin_) September 9, 2022
Surprised to see Primož Roglič call out Fred Wright as the cause of his crash at #LaVuelta22.
From the images I saw, I simply saw a race incident, arguably more Roglič' fault because he's the one deviating the entire width of the road. 🤷♂️
Thoughts? ⤵️https://t.co/Hg6cEbgJlx
— Benji Naesen (@BenjiNaesen) September 9, 2022
Massively disappointing statement from Roglic. This was not Fred Wright's fault. It was Primoz's fault. The footage is pretty clear. Yes as much as possible needs to be done to improve safety of cycling finishes but this is the wrong example and the wrong person being blamed. https://t.co/XWusxFH0wV
— 𝔾𝕣𝕒𝕖𝕞𝕖 (@talkstough) September 9, 2022
With a meticulous built strategy Jumbo-Visma won the TDF. Kudos for that.
But with a absurd communication 'strategy' JV is handling the Roglic-case & throwing their image under the bus.
Don't ever openly fight a war you can't win, without weapons. (& take care of your riders) https://t.co/A9m9GCZFFJ
— Jonas Creteur (@jonas_creteur) September 9, 2022
This is still going extremely badly for Jumbo and Roglic… https://t.co/PCGC6uBqp8 pic.twitter.com/viUd6ijAgW
— Issie 💙 (@IssieAtch) September 9, 2022
Primoz has always been someone who doesn’t cast blame. No matter what fate he suffers, he remains calm under the severest of tests. He is classy and this seems very out-of-character.
I am going to assume Roglic is still suffering from concussion. Baffling that the team thought this was a wise statement to release. https://t.co/dZCcApeOiK
— natalie (@brassyn) September 9, 2022
This story will run and run…
I hear that Fred Wright will not speak with reporters at the finish today, but Bahrain-Victorious is going to release a statement responding to the Jumbo-Visma comments later. #LaVuelta22
— Sadhbh O'Shea (@SadhbhOS) September 9, 2022
Last word
La Vuelta peloton pay their respect
Silence at the start of #LaVuelta22 #QueenElizabeth @eurosport @DiscoverySports pic.twitter.com/Iorfg2t75N
— Sander Kleikers (@SanderKleikers) September 9, 2022
Results
Stage 17 Top 5
1 Mad Pedersen (Trek-Segafredo) 3:19:11
2 Fred Wright (Bahrain Victorious) same time
3 Gianni Vermeersch (Alpecin Deceuninck) s/t
4 Ben Turner (INEOS Grenadiers) s/t
5 Mike Teunissen (Jumbo-Visma) s/t
GC Top 10
1 Remco Evenepoel (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl ) 73:18:23
2 Enric Mas (Movistar) +2:07
3 Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates) +5:14
4 Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana Qazaqstan) +5:56
5 Carlos Rodriguez (INEOS Grenadiers) +6:49
6 João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) +7:14
7 Thymen Arensman (Team DSM) +8:09
8 Ben O’Connor (AG2R Citroen Team) +9:34
9 Rigoberto Uran (EF Education-EasyPost) +9:56
10 Jai Hindley (Bora-hansgrohe) +12:03
All the Jerseys
Leader’s jersey : Remco Evenepoel (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl)
Points jersey : Mads Pedersen (Trek-Segafredo)
King of the Mountains jersey : Jay Vine (Alpecin-Deceuninck)
Young Rider Jersey : Remco Evenepoel (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl)
Team competition : UAE Team Emirates
For the full stage review, go to cyclingnews
Go here for the official La Vuelta website