OFFICIAL Stage 4 Results: Valentin Paret-Peintre ABANDONS!
Laurens De Jong
Hello, Vuelta a España Gamers!
STAGE Grade: B-
I rate today’s stage a B. But it’s a stage of missed opportunities. The opening climbs would have been spectacular, if we could have watched them. The gorge coming out of the mountains was crushingly beautiful, so I’ll still give 3 stars for the route, but it should have been higher. Ben Turner winning the stage is kind of a surprise, but most of the top ten wasn’t. Overall, we’re still waiting on a really good stage.
A single point for Gaudu finishing more than eight places ahead of Vingegaard to take the red jersey. When riders are tied, they are classified according to the sum of their finishing positions in each stage. Yesterday, that sum was 45 for Vingegaard and 53 for Gaudu. Today, Gaudu finished 25th (total now 78) and Vingegaard was 42nd (total now 87). Cute, but not terribly important.
Route: 3/5 GC: 1/5 Tactics: 1/5 Sprint: 4/5 Surprises: 3/5
The peloton rode right past the Durance ski lift in Montgenêvre today. I had prepared a write-up of that lift with its bizarre turns. There are more lifts in Serre-Chevalier, also visible from the route, although they’re nothing special.
But the Spanish TV doesn’t start coverage until hours into the stage. Like the old days! I love the old days, but I love watching an entire stage race even more. We got to see none of the racing, and absolutely zero ski lifts.
Our only opportunity to see a special ski lift would be in La Grave. There’s a single lift in La Grave, and it’s a pulsed-movement aerial ropeway. Pulsed lifts are not common, although also not rare. They’re used when the operator wants the short ride time of a detachable ski lift for the low price of a fixed grip. That works only in low-volume rider situations. Not rare: two are being built in the US right now, one in Alaska and one in New Hampshire. Intended to move riders from the parking lot to the slopes. Low volume, short ride times.
Not in La Grave. Its lift goes all the way up to the La Meije glacier. Built in 1976 by PHB, a manufacturer I’ve never heard of. I have seen this lift in person, but haven’t ridden it. It takes you to the snow, but there are no runs down. You’re just expected to find your own way back to the valley. Every day the mayor of La Grave is the first one up. He skis down and if the snow is like he had in mind, the lift opens to the public. The La Grave ski area has the best backcountry skiing in the world. You ski all day, then you sleep in the old village. If you’re lucky, your room is near the Église Notre Dame De L’Assomption. The locals call it the New Church. Because it was built in the eleventh century.
How European.
The peloton would pass La Grave, according to the road book, with 119.3 kilometers to go. When the TV coverage started, the riders had 118.1 kilometers to go. Imagine my disappointment! A whole race report with no reason to write about ski lifts.
I stuck with it, though, in case the Spanish organizers had their math wrong. And rightly so. The breakaway came through La Grave a few minutes later. If you rewind the tape to where there is 116.5 kilometers to go, you’ll see the lift on the bottom left. Five gondolas, attached to each other, just coming out of the base station. That’s how a pulsed lift works, all the gondolas are bunched together.
Happy Days.
A bit later, the route passed the ski resorts of Les Deux Alpes and l’Alpe d’Huez. But even the helicopters didn’t bother with those, too far away from the valley.
I’m taking the time to tell
you all of this because there wasn’t much of race to enjoy. I’m sure there was
lots to see on the two categorized climbs — but we didn’t have a chance to see
it. The breakaway that was there when the TV coverage started made their move a
few kilometers from the top of the Col de Montgenèvre. Where that Durance ski
lift is. From there you can ski all the way to Sestrière, where the Giro d’Italia
finished earlier this year and Isaac del Toro disgraced himself Simon
Yates won it.
But I’ll let it go. Both the del Toro thing and the ski lifts.
On the slopes of the Col du Lautaret, Sean Quinn attacked out of that breakaway. That earned him the combativity award today, but the other four caught up with him on the “descent.” I use quotation marks because part of that descent included sections of 10% and 18% uphill. Because la Vuelta.
And so we ended up with a bunch sprint in a finale that wasn’t really designed for one. Ten minutes before the finish, I looked at the roadbook. One day we’ll learn not to design bunch sprint stages like this, but not yet.
Miraculously, everyone stayed upright. Alpecin-Deceuninck did their patented lead-out, and just like Mads Pedersen yesterday, Jasper Philipsen was guaranteed to win the stage.
But he didn’t. Someone else did. Il suo nome è Ben Turner.
Yesterday I felt that David Gaudu was faster than Pedersen. Even without that inside move, he would have won. Today, I’m not sure. It’s close. But there absolutely was a mistake. I was watching as it happened, frustrated that I couldn’t fix it.
Philipsen’s final lead-out rider was Edward Planckaert. The road had a few turns and I think Planckaert got confused. He did not do what I have written about so many times here: allow your sprinter enough space on either side to choose how they want to make their move. Planckaert was too close to the barriers. Philipsen could go only one way, but was boxed in by Turner.
Philipsen could have gone sooner, perhaps that would have helped. But he said he didn’t think he could beat Turner if he had gone earlier. So perhaps Turner was just the fastest sprinter today.
But Planckaert did make that mistake. They’ll talk about that on the team bus tonight.
Team Josh* have picked Bruno Armirail, today’s nobody-else-picked-him focus rider. Armirail is a French rider. As French as they get. All his pro cycling and even his amateur career he’s been on French teams. For many years as a domestique on Groupama – FDJ; so, yes, for David Gaudu. And since last year for Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale, for Felix Gall.
He's never won an international race. He’s a three-time French individual time trial champion, and he’s won a time trial stage in the Tour Poitou. Okay, that was an international race but not really. Half the peloton was French, half of the rest raced for a French team.
But okay, Armirail didn’t have to domestique for Gall today, so he chose to go on a solo attack with 32 kilometers to go. He did it where I have told you to attack: right after an intermediate sprint. He just rode up there with the sprinters and kept going after everyone started freewheeling.
But sadly, nobody can ride solo for 32 kilometers when the peloton wants a bunch sprint. You can be the three-time French time trial champion, you’re going to get caught.
And Armirail did get caught. He had a gap of over 40 seconds and I thought: perhaps he has a chance. But then the peloton did the math, got on the gas, and caught him quickly. Still sixteen kilometers to go. They caught him early.
Watch the final kilometer HERE.
Watch the official La Vuelta highlights HERE.
Watch the extended NBC Sports highlights HERE. (La Grave at 1:34)
Read the TNT Sports report HERE.
Valentin Paret-Peintre’s abandon affects only Team Ansel. He had scored 21 points and would probably be good for a few times that. Forty points can win or lose this game.
Another bunch sprint, and a win for Team Samuel again. Most points from the stage, most points overall, most riders in the Top-25 (five). They move back up to fifth. Team Charles and Team Dominic were closely behind in second and third. Team Charles go to second overall, Team Dominic third.
Next were Team Hugo, with most points from classifications, and they remain in the lead.
Team Ansel and Team Josh tied for fifth. Team Ansel finally lose second place overall, they’re now fourth, and Team Josh remain in eighth.
Team Tadej were seventh today, they remain ninth. Next were Team Grace, they’re still sixth.
Three teams tied for ninth: Team Amalia, who drop to seventh; Team Liz, who remain eleventh; and Team Sam, who remain tenth.
The teams without sprinters missed the boat today. Team Will in twelfth, dropping down to twelfth overall as well. And Team Sylvia in thirteenth, both today and overall.
Wednesday race, finally in Spain, is the rare mid-race team time trial! I believe this is the first time in six years of running the AAVC Grand Tour game that there’s a team time trial other than stage 1. Remember: half points for the results, but all classifications get the normal points.
The favorites are UAE Team Emirates – XRG; Team Visma – Lease-a-Bike could challenge, but that’s true for INEOS Grenadiers and Lidl-Trek as well. I’m just going to enjoy the race with no firm expectation. It’s a time trial, which I don’t normally watch, but it’s a team time trial, which I never miss.
And it’s Figueres. The Spanish artist Salvador Dalí was born there and died there. Shortly before his death, he proclaimed: “When you are a genius, you do not have the right to die, because we are necessary for the progress of humanity.” That probably explains why I’m still writing race reports.
Standings after stage 4:
|
Rank |
Name |
Points |
WAS |
MOVES |
|
1 |
Team Hugo* |
741 |
1 |
0 |
|
2 |
Team Charles* |
713 |
3 |
1 |
|
3 |
Team Dominic* |
695 |
4 |
1 |
|
4 |
Team Ansel* |
693 |
2 |
-2 |
|
5 |
Team Samuel* |
688 |
7 |
2 |
|
6 |
Team Grace* |
657 |
6 |
0 |
|
7 |
Team Amalia* |
652 |
5 |
-2 |
|
8 |
Team Josh* |
636 |
8 |
0 |
|
9 |
Team Tadej* |
577 |
9 |
0 |
|
10 |
Team Sam* |
447 |
11 |
1 |
|
11 |
Team Liz* |
415 |
12 |
1 |
|
12 |
Team Will* |
409 |
10 |
-2 |
|
13 |
Team Sylvia* |
362 |
13 |
0 |
Standings after stage 4 (including adults):
|
Rank |
Name |
Points |
WAS |
MOVES |
|
1 |
Team Feng |
758 |
1 |
0 |
|
2 |
Team Hugo* |
741 |
2 |
0 |
|
3 |
Team Kari |
716 |
5 |
2 |
|
4 |
Team Corsa |
715 |
4 |
0 |
|
5 |
Team Charles* |
713 |
7 |
2 |
|
6 |
Team Adam |
707 |
3 |
-3 |
|
7 |
Team Craig |
696 |
8 |
1 |
|
8 |
Team Dominic* |
695 |
9 |
1 |
|
9 |
Team Ansel* |
693 |
6 |
-3 |
|
10 |
Team Samuel* |
688 |
13 |
3 |
|
11 |
Team Chuck |
662 |
12 |
1 |
|
12 |
Team Grace* |
657 |
11 |
-1 |
|
13 |
Team Amalia* |
652 |
10 |
-3 |
|
14 |
Team Kent |
651 |
14 |
0 |
|
15 |
Team Josh* |
636 |
15 |
0 |
|
16 |
Team Mitchinson |
616 |
16 |
0 |
|
17 |
Team Laurens |
615 |
17 |
0 |
|
18 |
Team Joe |
602 |
18 |
0 |
|
19 |
Team John |
590 |
24 |
5 |
|
20 |
Team Amelia |
588 |
19 |
-1 |
|
Team Rob |
588 |
20 |
0 |
|
|
22 |
Team Tadej* |
577 |
22 |
0 |
|
23 |
Team Wes |
565 |
23 |
0 |
|
24 |
Team Jonwaine |
558 |
25 |
1 |
|
25 |
Team Corey |
537 |
21 |
-4 |
|
Team Julie |
537 |
26 |
1 |
|
|
27 |
Team Doug |
465 |
28 |
1 |
|
28 |
Team Sam* |
447 |
30 |
2 |
|
29 |
Team JB |
428 |
27 |
-2 |
|
30 |
Team Liz* |
415 |
31 |
1 |
|
31 |
Team Will* |
409 |
29 |
-2 |
|
32 |
Team Sylvia* |
362 |
32 |
0 |
|
33 |
Team Kate |
208 |
33 |
0 |
Complete breakdown of points from stage 4:
|
Name |
STAGE RESULTS |
PINK JERSEY |
PURPLE JERSEY |
BLUE JERSEY |
WHITE JERSEY |
POINTS/CLASS |
TOTAL |
PREVIOUS |
CUM. TOTAL |
|
Team Amalia* |
31 |
47 |
6 |
1 |
1 |
55 |
86 |
566 |
652 |
|
Team Ansel* |
50 |
39 |
11 |
1 |
5 |
56 |
106 |
587 |
693 |
|
Team Charles* |
72 |
39 |
11 |
1 |
6 |
57 |
129 |
584 |
713 |
|
Team Dominic* |
72 |
38 |
11 |
1 |
6 |
56 |
128 |
567 |
695 |
|
Team Grace* |
40 |
44 |
6 |
1 |
5 |
56 |
96 |
561 |
657 |
|
Team Hugo* |
51 |
49 |
11 |
1 |
5 |
66 |
117 |
624 |
741 |
|
Team Josh* |
50 |
39 |
11 |
1 |
5 |
56 |
106 |
530 |
636 |
|
Team Liz* |
55 |
19 |
6 |
1 |
5 |
31 |
86 |
329 |
415 |
|
Team Sam* |
50 |
21 |
9 |
1 |
5 |
36 |
86 |
361 |
447 |
|
Team Samuel* |
88 |
35 |
13 |
1 |
0 |
49 |
137 |
551 |
688 |
|
Team Sylvia* |
1 |
27 |
1 |
1 |
5 |
34 |
35 |
327 |
362 |
|
Team Tadej* |
50 |
26 |
11 |
1 |
11 |
49 |
99 |
478 |
577 |
|
Team Will* |
0 |
33 |
1 |
1 |
5 |
40 |
40 |
369 |
409 |
Complete breakdown of points from stage 4 (including adults):
|
31 |
50 |
6 |
1 |
6 |
63 |
94 |
613 |
707 |
|
|
Team Amalia* |
31 |
47 |
6 |
1 |
1 |
55 |
86 |
566 |
652 |
|
Team Amelia |
50 |
28 |
11 |
1 |
6 |
46 |
96 |
492 |
588 |
|
Team Ansel* |
50 |
39 |
11 |
1 |
5 |
56 |
106 |
587 |
693 |
|
Team Charles* |
72 |
39 |
11 |
1 |
6 |
57 |
129 |
584 |
713 |
|
Team Chuck |
51 |
43 |
9 |
1 |
6 |
59 |
110 |
552 |
662 |
|
Team Corey |
0 |
41 |
3 |
1 |
8 |
53 |
53 |
484 |
537 |
|
Team Corsa |
51 |
44 |
11 |
1 |
5 |
61 |
112 |
603 |
715 |
|
Team Craig |
50 |
43 |
11 |
1 |
8 |
63 |
113 |
583 |
696 |
|
Team Dominic* |
72 |
38 |
11 |
1 |
6 |
56 |
128 |
567 |
695 |
|
Team Doug |
50 |
27 |
9 |
1 |
0 |
37 |
87 |
378 |
465 |
|
Team Feng |
63 |
45 |
11 |
1 |
5 |
62 |
125 |
633 |
758 |
|
Team Grace* |
40 |
44 |
6 |
1 |
5 |
56 |
96 |
561 |
657 |
|
Team Hugo* |
51 |
49 |
11 |
1 |
5 |
66 |
117 |
624 |
741 |
|
Team JB |
0 |
33 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
37 |
37 |
391 |
428 |
|
Team Joe |
51 |
36 |
11 |
1 |
0 |
48 |
99 |
503 |
602 |
|
Team John |
74 |
28 |
13 |
1 |
5 |
47 |
121 |
469 |
590 |
|
Team Jonwaine |
50 |
33 |
9 |
1 |
5 |
48 |
98 |
460 |
558 |
|
Team Josh* |
50 |
39 |
11 |
1 |
5 |
56 |
106 |
530 |
636 |
|
Team Julie |
74 |
19 |
13 |
1 |
4 |
37 |
111 |
426 |
537 |
|
Team Kari |
50 |
41 |
11 |
5 |
8 |
67 |
117 |
599 |
716 |
|
Team Kate |
7 |
14 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
20 |
27 |
181 |
208 |
|
Team Kent |
50 |
36 |
11 |
1 |
8 |
56 |
106 |
545 |
651 |
|
Team Laurens |
50 |
34 |
11 |
1 |
6 |
52 |
102 |
513 |
615 |
|
Team Liz* |
55 |
19 |
6 |
1 |
5 |
31 |
86 |
329 |
415 |
|
Team Mitchinson |
50 |
34 |
11 |
1 |
5 |
51 |
101 |
515 |
616 |
|
Team Rob |
50 |
30 |
11 |
1 |
7 |
49 |
99 |
489 |
588 |
|
Team Sam* |
50 |
21 |
9 |
1 |
5 |
36 |
86 |
361 |
447 |
|
Team Samuel* |
88 |
35 |
13 |
1 |
0 |
49 |
137 |
551 |
688 |
|
Team Sylvia* |
1 |
27 |
1 |
1 |
5 |
34 |
35 |
327 |
362 |
|
Team Tadej* |
50 |
26 |
11 |
1 |
11 |
49 |
99 |
478 |
577 |
|
Team Wes |
43 |
36 |
6 |
1 |
5 |
48 |
91 |
474 |
565 |
|
Team Will* |
0 |
33 |
1 |
1 |
5 |
40 |
40 |
369 |
409 |
-Laurens.