2022 season, Grand Tours, Vuelta a España

Vuelta a Espana 2022 : Stage 19 – Mads makes it three

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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…

HA! yes.. that ice jacket is a lot TMNT like … perhaps I should start using COWABUNGA for his exploits!

The execution…

Controlling the break

Love this from Wanty 😀

Survive the two Cat 2 climbs

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

The celebration

When two Midge favourites collide

I love it too

I am not betting against him in Madrid. Kom så Mads

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.

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.

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.

This story will run and run…

Last word

La Vuelta peloton pay their respect

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

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