The first couple of spot prize stages on the Fantasy Vuelta have come and gone, so it's time to name a couple of winners and get some t-shirts in the post. Let's see how it all shaped up on stages 13 and 15.
"This has got breakaway written all over it, the kind of lumpy transitional stage where the GC boys will let a group go away", we said of stage 13. Shows what we know, as the HTC train reeled in the break before Matt Goss led Cavendish wide round the last corner to set up a second consecutive stage win for the Manxman.
Team Ghostriders didn't have Cavendish in the roster, but they did have Tyler Farrar – who picked up almost as many points as Cav thanks to an intermediate sprint – and seven other scoring riders. Only Tom Danielson didn't make it onto the score sheet, and the 106-point haul was the biggest of the day.
Stage 15 we had down as one for the climbers: shows what we know. Step up Carlos Barredo, who's been riding the final climb to Covadonga as part of his training regime since his earliest days as a cyclist; he lives just 50km away. Barredo shot off the front at 60km as part of a 15-man group and soloed to the line from 10km out, with a string of escapees in his wake.
It was a day when you needed Barredo then: Team Cats vs Paine had him, and they also had fourth placed Greg Van Avermaet, plus a bunch of other riders who picked up both placing points on the day and some overall position scores too, helping them to a massive haul of 135 points and a road.cc tee.
If you haven't won yet then don't dismay, there's still three more spot prizes up for grabs. Next up is stage 17; we said it'd be an individual time trial and we're pretty sure we'll be spot on this time. With a rest day on the Tuesday you'll get to make four swaps, so look out for those chaps who have been keeping their powder dry for the race against time...
Interesting theory - how many points does it take for them to drive carefully?
At the end of the consultation in May 2025, a decision will be taken.........
The absurdity of it deepens when you realise that those points were acquired by the age of 26.
BAM!
"Polartec Power Shield RPM fabric – which has a 10,000mm hydro head to keep wet weather out, and an industry-leading breathability spec of 30,000g...
Oxfordshire councils are quite capable of letting you down too!...
'each spoke' (single) and 'leaf spring' (made of many leaves) seems contradictory.
I guess Morrissey could claim it.
I do see a lot of delivery riders (on illegal e-motorbikes) with their faces covered...
Stuff like this seems more relevant than ever after the Trump victory. sorry not a funny