Lavuelta.es - right now - says Roglic got 0:00 behind [same time]; Remco 3:10 behind

Rojo goes to Rogo; :35 ahead on Enric Mas and 1:36 on Remco

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"What's your claim?" - Ben Gravy
"Your best work is the work you're excited about" - Rick Rubin

OK, NOW they say Remco was in the 0:08 group [shoulda taken a screenshot], so he retains Red by 1:26

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"What's your claim?" - Ben Gravy
"Your best work is the work you're excited about" - Rick Rubin

Did Remco actually have a flat, or did he feign a flat because he knew (as he admitted it in the post race comments) that he was out of position? He said in the interview that "I felt I had a flat tire". Could just be the use of the word "felt", but I wonder if they bother to confirm that he actually had a flat or if it could be observed in the video?

I always/often wondered if it would be possible or would it even be desirable to "fake" a mechanical [drop a chain on purpose, perhaps?] or run [gently] into the barriers inside 3K to preserve your placing in the finale?

I would think not, but what do *I* know?

Remco could've slowed down and pulled over because the "felt" a flat coming on, then gave the mechanic the secret code that means "find the flat, using a thumbtack if you need to" #wink_wink

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"What's your claim?" - Ben Gravy
"Your best work is the work you're excited about" - Rick Rubin

Roglic might be both the toughest and most unlucky contender ever.

It was a little suspect to me. I get and agree with the rationale for the 3k rule for crashes (or getting caught behind a crash). I wonder though if it's time to look at the rule as it relates to mechanical's so in the future there's no question of whether a solo mechanical was done in the last 3k for a competitive advantage.

He certainly was in no hurry to get going again, that's for damn sure

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"What's your claim?" - Ben Gravy
"Your best work is the work you're excited about" - Rick Rubin

CyclingTips has a good explanation.

With the only weirdness that in the video Remco's tire looks pretty darn inflated (could be a tire insert), and apparently happened as Roglic was going hard off the front and Remco was out of position to follow. I guess it's not like U.S. crits where there's an official there who gives a thumbs-up/thumbs-down on it being an actual mechanical.

Cue the Remco hater conspiracies.

Just sucks for Roglic as he def had the drop on him. Then the new green monster Madsman just hauls a group back up to him which also sucked. And then he crashed. That sucked too. 3x suck. Fun finish in a snoozer of a Vuelta though.

If Mini Maximus faked a flat, that's just not the Belgian hardman way.
Tommeke, weigh in on this....

https://www.velonews.com/...ttle-too-convenient/

Looking at the sideline video from Twitter, it's certainly softer than it should be

https://twitter.com/.../1567178937683296260

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"What's your claim?" - Ben Gravy
"Your best work is the work you're excited about" - Rick Rubin

And he is out. Bummer to see him withdraw. When good goes to bad goes to worse.

If, by some miracle, Enrique Mas can get those two minutes and more off Remco, Los Hermanos Mas would hold both El Maillot Rojo and La Linterna Roja

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"What's your claim?" - Ben Gravy
"Your best work is the work you're excited about" - Rick Rubin

He has had some bad luck but he should have been sprinting with those guys. I get being in the moment but really bad judgment on his part.He was not going to beat Mads and should have gotten whatever seconds he could and waited to attack again in a more favorable situation.

Maybe not good judgment in not protecting his front wheel in a chaotic sprint, but when he crashed it looked like he was just trying to follow the group in, not beat Mads.

Understand but my front wheel would not been anywhere near the others. Maybe I give up a second but race another day. But I am not the competitor he is.

I agree; I think he was trying to stay with the group, without a gap, and get "m.t." when the results posted

Then, add whatever time he had on the "flatted" Remco

"Everyone has a plan until the road punches you in the face" paraphrasing Mike Tyson

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"What's your claim?" - Ben Gravy
"Your best work is the work you're excited about" - Rick Rubin

Meanwhile, Craddock is being all kinds of hardman today.

Rigo ! What a ride

Yeah, good to see that. EF staff so happy that they bowled over a cameraman. Important for EF in the relegation battle given a Israel PT and others have been scoring points.

IPT gained 200 points in Maryland; EF gained 210 point.

EF gained 100 points today.

I'm assuming that IPT also gained some points at the Tour of Britain with a stage win and 2 days in yellow.

So, where is the cut line?

https://www.uci.org/...40iv1Cu?tab=rankings

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"What's your claim?" - Ben Gravy
"Your best work is the work you're excited about" - Rick Rubin

It's complicated. But here is a more helpful place (I'm guessing as I didn't see any points listing on the page you linked (didn't check tabs).

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It doesn't really matter what Phil is saying, the music of his voice is the appropriate soundtrack for a bicycle race. HTupolev

Thanks, H-!!!

Ah! So it's a 3-year points total
Got it!!!

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"What's your claim?" - Ben Gravy
"Your best work is the work you're excited about" - Rick Rubin