Does a Shortened Time Trial Reshape the GC Battle? | Vuelta a España Stage 17 Analysis & Stage 18 Preview | THEMOVE+

Summary

THEMOVE Podcast Summary

Episode: Does a Shortened Time Trial Reshape the GC Battle?

Vuelta a España Stage 17 Analysis & Stage 18 Preview

Release Date: September 10, 2025
Host: Lance Armstrong (Spencer Martin filling in), with Johan Bruyneel

Main Theme

This episode dives into a dramatic Stage 17 of the Vuelta a España, where young Giulio Pellizzari claimed a breakout victory amidst wind-ravaged mountains, while GC contenders appeared vulnerable. The episode pivots to assess how the sudden shortening of Stage 18’s crucial time trial—from 27km to 12km for safety—may fundamentally alter the General Classification (GC) battle. Expert analysis explores team tactics, upsets in the white jersey standings, and late-breaking news around race operations and ongoing protest risks.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Stage 17 Recap: Unexpected Outcomes Among GC Contenders

[00:27–03:00]

• Breakaway Dynamics & Team Tactics:
  • The break went early and was tightly controlled by Visma for the stage win with Jonas Vingegaard.
  • Visma's control was “impressive” but "clearly to win with Jonas"—they kept the gap tight (Johan, 02:45).
• Final Climb Action:
  • On Alto de Moradero, UAE support faltered, leaving Joao Almeida isolated, while Vingegaard had strong teammates.
  • Unexpectedly, Jai Hindley and Tom Pidcock looked strongest—Almeida and Vingegaard, usually dominant, visibly struggled.
• Winner’s Move:
  • Giulio Pellizzari, just 21, seized a hesitant moment, attacked solo, and took his first pro win. “Nobody wants to chase…Rides to his first career professional victory.” (Spencer, 01:37)

2. GC Favorites Show Vulnerability

[03:00–06:30]

• Both Vingegaard and Almeida appeared subdued, not attacking decisively even when rivals showed weakness.
  • “Jonas is obviously…the lead. It's highly likely he's going to win this Vuelta. But this is not the 100% Jonas Vingegaard.” (Johan, 02:57)
• The headwind and steep gradients amplified suffering, with “the two big favorites…not the strongest guys of the lead group today.” (Johan, 05:50)
• Long-term fatigue from the Tour de France seems to be taking its toll on several riders.

3. Team Tactics and Domestique Impact

[07:09–09:36]

• Visma managed four riders near the summit, while UAE left Almeida isolated—raising questions about support strategy and the price of breakaway efforts.
  • “It cannot be that Visma has four riders and then Almeida is isolated.” (Johan, 07:14)
• Ben Tulett’s role as a domestique was highlighted as pivotal.
  • “Great pickup, Ben Tulett for Visma…writing himself into a different tax bracket probably with these performances.” (Spencer, 09:33)

4. Giulio Pellizzari: Rising Star

[09:37–12:23]

• Detailed Pellizzari’s meteoric rise: notable for escapes in the Giro, now taking a major stage win in his second grand tour.
  • “Super impressive from Pellizzari.” (Spencer, 10:32)
• Anecdote: Pellizzari, Isaac Del Toro, and Antonio Tiberi live in the same San Marino apartment complex—raising commentary on agents and tax advantages (12:23).

5. Upcoming Time Trial—Sudden Shortening Changes Everything

[30:23–34:47]

• The time trial has been slashed from 27km to 12km due to safety (high winds), upending all predictions.
  • “For safety reasons, the time trial has been shortened from 27km to 12km…that changes everything.” (Spencer, 00:12/30:26, recurring theme)
• The abbreviated course reduces risk for red jersey Vingegaard by minimizing time that rivals can take back.
  • “The less kilometers, the less he's at risk to lose to Almeida…definitely good for Jonas.” (Johan, 33:16)
• Implications: It “probably seals the Vuelta for Jonas,” and is also “huge for Tom Pidcock.” (Spencer, 33:42)

6. White Jersey Battle—A Two-Horse Race

[19:37–20:47]

• Pellizzari and Matthew Riccitello are locked in a duel for white; a “giant drop-off” after them.
  • “It’s a two man race after today…initially I was hopeful for Riccitello, but after today, difficult, especially with Pellizzari in this shape.” (Johan, 20:26)

7. Team UAE’s Tactical Puzzle

[14:44–17:29 / 35:55–37:29]

• Criticism over UAE letting domestiques target stage wins over helping Almeida.
  • “I cannot understand…if UAE allows Jay Vine or anyone else on UAE, except Joao Almeida to go full gas in the time trial.” (Johan, 35:55)
• Conspiracy that UAE is more focused on stage win stats (wanting 100 wins in the season) than overall GC.
  • “If one of them wins the time trial, that's not a good look for the team.” (Spencer, 37:03)

8. Security & Protest Threats Impacting Race

[22:54–26:56; 39:56–40:22]

• Highest security measures since 2022 NATO summit in place for final Madrid stages.
• Ongoing threat acknowledged from protest groups—discussion of fan access as both appeal and vulnerability of cycling.
  • “Anybody…can be taken out at any moment by just one crazy person.” (Johan, 25:10)
• New rule: If a stage is interrupted and neutralized, no winner will be designated (Johan, 39:56).

9. Wildfire-Scarred Landscape

[21:09–22:23]

• The day’s visual drama noted: stark, burned mountains from recent Spanish wildfires underscored the difficulty and isolation of the climbing.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Visma’s Control:
  • “Wilco Kelderman and Dylan van Baarle…I don't know how many kilometers these guys have been riding on the front in this Vuelta.” (Johan, 02:50)
• On Pellizzari’s Moment:
  • “Nobody wants to chase. Rides to his first career professional victory.” (Spencer, 01:37)
• On GC Unpredictability:
  • “It was almost inverted: the further down you are, the stronger you looked on the climb.” (Spencer, 06:03)
• On the Time Trial Shortening:
  • “For safety reasons, the time trial has been shortened from 27km to 12km…that changes everything.” (Spencer, 00:12 & 30:26)
• On UAE’s Strategy:
  • “If UAE allows Jay Vine or anyone else on UAE, except Joao Almeida to go full gas in the time trial, I cannot understand this.” (Johan, 35:55)
• On Racing’s Vulnerability:
  • "The riders are not protected…anybody can be taken out at any moment by just one crazy person." (Johan, 25:10)
• On White Jersey Race:
  • “Normally the white jersey mimics the GC, but this is totally decoupled—a two man race.” (Spencer & Johan, 19:37-20:26)
• On Pellizzari’s Progress:
  • “First pro win, second Grand Tour already…sixth in the Giro, now most likely to be fifth.” (Johan, 10:36)

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Important Timestamps

• [00:27–03:00] – Stage 17 recap, breakaway and climb summary
• [02:45–06:30] – Critique of GC favorites' performance and team dynamics
• [07:09–09:36] – Domestique impact, Vishma's advantage, UAE faltering
• [09:37–12:23] – Giulio Pellizzari’s background and implications of his win
• [19:37–20:47] – White jersey breakdown; young rider standoff
• [30:23–33:42] – Breaking news: Time trial shortened; forecasting impact on GC
• [35:55–37:03] – UAE’s controversial tactics regarding the time trial
• [22:54–26:56; 39:56–40:22] – Security escalation & neutralization rules due to protests
• [21:09–22:23] – Commentary on wildfire-scarred scenery
• [39:56–40:22] – If stage neutralized due to protest: “no winner” rule

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Tone & Style

• Analytical, conversational, and at times irreverent—mixing deep expertise with casual cycling-insider banter.
• Candid about team strategies, rider personalities, and organizational politics.
• Willingness to challenge orthodoxy and poke fun at the sometimes-illogical decisions in pro cycling.

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Final Thoughts

This episode offers a rich, behind-the-scenes look at the changing face of the Vuelta. Tactics and form are scrutinized, unexpected triumphs are given context, and broader concerns about security and the unpredictability of top-level cycling loom large. The shortening of the time trial shakes the GC calculus—“that changes everything”—and the hosts’ sharp analysis positions listeners miles ahead of the standard race recap.

Next episode preview: Expect immediate post-time trial reactions, deeper parsing of GC shifts, and continued monitoring of security and protest threats as the race heads toward Madrid.

Transcript

[A]

So, Johan, 27. Wait, do I have the right. Did they redo this? Hold on a second. This can't be right.

[B]

Well, if you. Yeah, now it's 27.

[A]

Wait, no. For safety reasons, the time trial has been shortened from 27km to 12km.

[B]

Oh my goodness. Oh, wow.

[A]

Whoa.

[B]

That changes everything.

[A]

Everybody, welcome back to the Move Plus I'm Spencer Martin. I'm here with the Johan Berniel. We are breaking down stage 717 of the Valta Espana won by 21 year old Giulio Pelizari, with Tom Pitcock second, Jai Hindley third, Jonas Van Der Guard fourth. Shall I made a fifth. Pidcock looking pretty good. Holding off that surge from Jai Henley will also predict tomorrow's time trial. Key time trial in the GC stage 18. And Johan, before we get your thoughts on how the stage played out, I'll just go back and get people up to speed. The race started pretty simple. Race starts, breakaway goes. Visma says we want to win the day with Jonas Vinegar. So they hold that gap extremely tight. They get to the final climb, they catch the breakaway, time it perfectly. They're going up the climb. Jay vine whole, whole UAE support team dropped pretty early. Joel Ometa is alone, but Jonas Finnegaard has multiple teammates. And then Tom Pickock and Jai Hindley are going like it was weird because the two top GC guys, Joao Alameda and Jonas Vinegar looked the weakest of the front group. Immediately was was selected out to be Jai Henley, Tom Pidcock, Jonas Van Der Guarda and Ben to let. And also Matthew Ricatella who's up there in the gc. But Ben To Let offering key domestique work for Vinderard, especially when the the Pitcock Hindley attacks were going, Vinderard could just fall. It was a headwind on the climb, so it makes it easier to follow. Vinegard could follow his teammate. Chalameda was alone, but he did get back into the group. And then when there was a calm moment, Julio Pelizari attacks Red Bull. Um, I mean, what an advantage having two GC riders up there. He attacks. Nobody wants to chase. Rides to his first career professional victory. And then Tom Pidcock, after being attacked by Jai Hindley, looks really impressive. Comes over the line, 16 seconds back, 2 seconds in front of Jai Henley. So reversing the time losses he's been suffering. And then Jonas Finnegaard comes back 20 seconds behind Pilizzari with Joao Meda two seconds behind him. So these guys kind of look like they were limping through. Matthew Riccatello 26 seconds back, doesn't look like he's going to get the white jersey. Elizari looks too strong, but I guess we'll see in the time trial tomorrow. But Johan, what was your takeaway of the day from today's stage?

[B]

Yeah, well, takeaway of the day is that Visma, in my opinion, rode the whole stage to win the stage with Jonas. The proof, you know, they kept it at 140, 150 all the time with two riders impressive. Wilk Helderman and Dylan Van Bar have done. I, I don't know how much kilometers these guys have been riding on the front in this va. But it was clear that they wanted to win this stage. And once the selection is made amongst the favorites on this incredibly hard climb, the last climb out Alto de Moradero, we see that Jonas has not attempted one single time needed to win the stage or to drop Joel Maida, who was in trouble at some point. So that confirms what we have been saying for a number of days now, that Jonas is obviously, he's in red, he's in the lead. It's highly likely he's going to win this Vuelta. But that is not, this is not the, the, the 100 Jonas finger guard, a Vingegaard who's in, in great shape. Even the Vinge guard from two years ago in the Vuelta, yeah, would have, I mean, with that kind of shape, he would have attacked and dropped Almeida today when he was in trouble. He didn't. It was headwind on the last climb, but you know, it was also very steep. So you know, the wind is a bit less of a factor, but the wind was incredibly, incredibly strong. There was actually reports this morning rumors that it was so windy in the morning that they were actually considering of putting the finish line when they were putting up the barriers in the morning early, they were considering debating whether they would put it 3km lower just at the end of the extremely steep part because you could see on the images was extremely open on top and the wind was amazingly strong. That's a bit what I take away a part of. Of course the incredible victory for Julio Pelizardi. We could talk about him a little bit a bit later, but I, I would say Jonas and Almeida, Almeida definitely not on a good day today limited the losses. I actually feared that Almeida would lose more time when I saw him getting dropped like on the lower slopes when I guess that's when Jay vine did his first attack. You know, Ameda was in trouble and he came in his interview, he said that he knew that that pace was too fast, that they would not be able to maintain that. And then he took his own pace, which he did, but I don't know, I feared that he would lose more time. He came back on his own pace, but was never able to make any attempt. And every time there was an acceleration, he was on the ropes. Jonas, not to the same degree, but in my opinion, he was also suffering. So the two big favorites were actually not the strongest guys of the league group today.

[A]

Yeah, it was almost inverted where the further down you are, the stronger you looked on the climb. I guess part of that is because you need to look. They needed to take time. But it's clear we're dealing with Jonas Vanguard below his best, because with the time trial tomorrow going in now he's chipped back. He's got 50 seconds still. I mean, I don't. I think we talked about this the last they've done. Almeida and Vinegar have done this course before, this time trial, course 20, 23. I think Almeida took 28 seconds on him. So it's not. And Almeida's stronger now than he was then. So Vinegar would have taken time if he could. As you said, they paced back the breakaway. They were going for the stage win. He just wasn't feeling good enough or strong enough to do it. I also thought. I was worried about Jamal made it myself. I thought he looked okay, like, pacing himself back. I thought he could have used a teammate kind of like Jonas Vinegar had with Ben to let. And if you're telling me that Jay vine is not as good of a climber as Ben to let, I don't know if I'd believe you. So I think he should have been. You start to see the toll of these breakaways, I feel like.

[B]

For sure, for sure. I mean, that's also something that I remarked today, Spencer. I don't know if it would have made a big difference or not, but, you know, it cannot be that Visma has four riders and then Almeida is isolated. Solaire and Ayuso were nowhere to be seen on that last. Even in the lead up to that last climb, because they said the climb was 8.8 kilometers, but it actually started way before, like a 12k to go already. There was like a 2 kilometer steep climb where everybody got dropped. I used to got dropped way before that. I guess Soler got dropped on that stretch. And. And so vine was still there and Groschach was still there, but they were in the back. And as soon as. As soon as they got to the steep parts I checked. Jay vine lasted 800 meters on the last climb when it was 8.808. 8.800 meters, 8 kilometers, 800. He was dropped at 8k to go. You know, I think he spent so much already, you know, I mean the only guy that actually was always where he had to be and probably today had a bit of a worse day was Gross Artner. He's always been next to Almeida, he's been amazing. But Jay, fine today should have been. I mean he should have. If he didn't have. If he didn't waste all the energy in the. In the other stages, you know. So Visma was, was obviously in a better situation again. I repeat, on a steep climb like this, you know, if you have the legs after two kilometers of really steep climb, then it's the five, six favorites and there's nobody there. I mean, at the most, maybe Vingard could have Sepkus maybe. Right. And in that case Gross Artner and Jay vine wouldn't be there anyway because they're not in the five, six strongest guys. Yeah, but still, I think it's also a mental advantage. If you see, hey, you know, I'm now by myself, everybody's on the limit and there's still three of these yellow guys with the red guy, right? Yeah, that doesn't. I mean it's not a good feeling.

[A]

Great pickup, Ben to let for Visma, man.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Writing himself into a different tax bracket probably with these performances. Yeah, I mean some, I mean, I don't. We kind of brush past it, but. Julio Pelizari, 21 years old. If he sounds familiar, it's because at the 2020, I'd never heard of him before 2024. Jared Italia he is off the front. He's on the VF Group Bardianni cf CSF Fiazani team. He's off the front. It looks like he's going to win a stage. It's a terrible day, terrible weather in the breakaway and then Tada Pagacha like emerges from the GC group, mows him down like seems to pull back 30 seconds in the last hundred meters, wins a stage, gives him a jersey and then he signs a world tour contract, shows up to. That's when he's 20 years old, then shows up to the girdle tie this year, finishes sixth overall. This is his second grand tour of the year. And he wins a stage, one of the hardest mountain stages from the GC group. So super impressive from Pelizari.

[B]

Yeah, as you say, you know, first pro win, second Grand Tour already also, you know, sixth in the Giro now most likely going to be fifth. You know, when his last victory was Spencer as a cyclist. O was it like2020,23. He won the last stage of the Tour de La. Second was. He was escaped and he beat him in the sprint.

[A]

Isaac del Toro, pretty good win.

[B]

Yeah. Third was Junior Lerf. Also here there was Archie Ryan. Was Archie Ryan was there Kristen. And then the final GC was Isaac del Toro. And second was Julio Pelizari and fourth was Matt R. So they meet again two years after Ritello was actually in the lead until the last day, I think. And then Del Toro did an amazing ride. So, yeah, I mean, obviously, listen, this. This guy, I mean, we spoke quite a bit about him, I think in the second part of the Giro, if I remember correctly, that he looked like probably with the best three climbers of the. In the Giro. In the. In the second part of the Giro. Fun fact. Also, I heard today that Perizardi del Toro and Antonio Tiberi live in the same apartment building. Everyone on one store in San Marino. They share the same agent. So the agent obviously has set up their residents there. San Marino is, you know, a small independent country, which. But I think. Which I think also has great tax advantages.

[A]

You must. Yeah. I don't know if that's a coincidence.

[B]

Yeah. So he may have been witness of the cat shooting.

[A]

We wouldn't bring this up. Yeah, it's.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Or we don't know what he knows about that crime. But that's the first thing I thought of when you said they shared an apartment building. I mean, this is kind of. If you just pull out a little bit, kind of like red. So Red Bull. Bora Hansgro has Julio Pelizari. Jai Henley looks back. They also have. We don't remember him, but Florian Lipowitz, like another gc young GC writer. And they're getting Remco Evanopol and they have Primo's Roglic. Kind of like it's an interesting conundrum they have next year with all these emerging GC talents.

[B]

It's not looking bad at all. Yeah, Hindley obviously looks like he. He's back to his, you know, like when he won the Giro. I think he's on that kind of form, probably.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And so, yeah, it's going to be interesting to see, you know, between Hindley and Pitcock, the time trial tomorrow is going to be decisive. I think that doesn't look like they can drop each other on the climbs. Especially Pidcock today. I mean, Pitcock today was really, really good.

[A]

He was.

[B]

He was very, very good. Hindley was good, but I think Pidcock looked amazing.

[A]

Also Pitgard maybe the best I've ever seen him today. He was flying on that climb.

[B]

Yeah, Yeah.

[A]

I mean, the gap's probably, at least for tomorrow, too big for Henley to overcome Pickock, I guess, if he takes time. And then.

[B]

How much. How much is it?

[A]

Well, it's 36 seconds. And Hindley is not an amazing time trialist. That would be a lot to.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Make up tomorrow. I mean, the big One is Vindergaard, 50 seconds in front of Joal OA looking like he might be sick, frankly.

[B]

Almeida is not making up 50 seconds in 27 kilometers, Spencer. But it. If he gets a little chunk tomorrow, then it's actually all open until Saturday, you know?

[A]

Yeah, yeah. But if you're. If you're visma, you're thinking, well, he doesn't really have a team to put us under. Put us under pressure. I. I just, like, I think this is showing, like, maybe they went a little crazy with the breakaways. We'll talk about it tomorrow. But Jay Vines is second favorite. We'll talk about it when we talk about tomorrow. But Jay Vines the second favorite for the time trial. So that. That's like predictive of anything. And they are actually using riders tomorrow in the time trial. That shows that they have. They have no focus whatsoever on this GC because they need to be conserving everyone now to try to put vinegar under pressure.

[B]

That's what logic would say. Right. But there's not so much logic anymore in today's cycling. Let's talk a bit about Matthew Riccatello. I think. I think he did an amazing ride today. You know, at some point when, when really when it was going hard, Omega was dropped and there was only four writers left. So it was Hindley, Tom Pidcock, Jonas and Matthew Recatello. And then I think Almade Almeida was with Belizari. Almeida brought Belizari back. But. But there, it looked like it looked really good for him there. And, you know, obviously the headwind hindered the collaboration a bit. First of all, Jonas did not collaborate once, and I think Hindley and Pitcock did most of the work or the attacks. But yeah, I think. I think, unfortunately, I think that he made two mistakes today. Matthio Ricatello, first of all, when they were again those five or six riders together, he's one of the first ones who attacks after that, getting together again. And it was still quite far. I mean there was no way he would make it to the finish by himself. Maybe he was trying to put in trouble because he was dropped. You know, he had done that tempo for, for Hindley already and then he got dropped and then Almeida brought him back. That attack I think was a bit too over excited, I would say. And then secondly, you know, and he's actually said it in the interview also. But he should have reacted straight away, you know, on, on Piari. He had definitely had the legs to follow him.

[A]

Yeah, yeah, I, yeah, I mean that's easy for us to say but he definitely should have because easier, you know, he is the most to lose by that. And once he was away, you know, then he's with a bunch of people who don't care about reeling him in except for him. So then you're in a really bad place.

[B]

He said he, he said that he thought, you know, since Visma had been doing all the work that Jonas was. Would actually. Yeah, bring him back and try to win the stage. But you know, things change, you know, once you get to that last climb and there's attacks and then that's actually the first time you're close to your limit. Right. If you're one of those favorites, it's only then that you can say, hey, okay, I don't have it today to attack and stay away, you know. Yeah.

[A]

I think by then Jonas was in preservation mode, especially with survival mode. Yeah, Henley and Pitcock looking so strong. I think he was just holding on. It is pretty interesting. We're going into the last few days and our top two guys look this bad. I mean like relative, not, not what I expected at all. So I am also to come back.

[B]

I mean, one last thing, Spencer, on Matthew Riccatello, you know, I got this information that he was only added at the last moment. The Vuelta school. He actually did the Tour of Poland. Yeah, they were not going to take him to the Vuelta because he's leaving the team. I think it's public know that he goes to Decathlon AG2R.

[A]

I saw it in the Dutch media.

[B]

So yeah, I guess it is. I think it's public information. And so they actually said they came up with some kind of explanation that the climbs in this VTA were not suited for him. I think it's going to be very difficult to find a better course than this year's Vuelta for a rider like Matthew Riccatello.

[A]

Yeah, you couldn't come up with a better course. And then he only, he only gets on the Start line because Derek G. Has the spat with the team at the last second. So then they have no choice but to bring Matthew and now he's going to finish seventh, maybe sixth with Felix Gall is fading fast. Yeah, we'll see. We'll see.

[B]

I mean he's definitely top 10. So that's in top 10 in a grand Tour is that means, you know, easier said than done. There's not many riders who can say that after their career they have top 10 classifications in Grand Tours.

[A]

No, I mean if you look at this top 10, just the. Not many like Felix Gall remind like that guy's fading and so you could say vinegar as well. Like you can see the Tour affecting like having a, a fatigue effect on these guys. For sure. For sure. Not many riders from the Tour doing that well here. I mean the white jersey, this is interesting too, the white jersey. Normally the white jersey mimics the Young Jersey, mimics the GC. We have Pelizarry first, Riccatello second, a minute and eight seconds apart. Below them, Junior Le Cerf eight minutes back. So big drop off. Then fourth is Abel Balderstone. Abel Balderstone 20 minutes back and then if you go to 10th, it's Finlay Pickering an hour 15 minutes back. So it's actually like a. Interesting to see the white jersey totally decoupled from the gc.

[B]

Yeah, yeah. And it's. And it's a two man race. You know, it's a two man race after today. I mean initially I was kind of hopeful for, for Riccatello to get white, but after today I think it's difficult, especially in Pilizzari now with this stage when man, I mean, he's obviously in great shape.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

You know, to do what he does after doing the work and the lead outs and the preparation for the attacks of Jay Hindley. It's pretty impressive.

[A]

Yeah, it is impressive. Yeah. I heard a pundit say before the race like, oh, he's not a good climber. And I'm like, I don't know if that's true. And I think today proved that he is a pretty good climber because that was a brutal climb.

[B]

Yeah, yeah.

[A]

No trees because of the. I live in an area that actually looks similar to the burn scar they rode through the day and it was, it was, it was pretty bleak that, I mean I, I guess they didn't have a choice. They. It seems safe to run it up there. But I was, I was pretty shocked at the landscape today. Johan. I assume those are recent wildfires.

[B]

It looked really grim I mean, I was not aware. I mean, I was aware. There's been, there's been a lot of fires this summer in Spain. I mean, even close to my house there, there was really, there was wildfires and, and it's pretty scary. But there, I mean, it looked like half of the mountain burned.

[A]

Yeah, Yeah.

[B]

I, I, I did not remember. I mean, this morning I, I, I did some research and I, I, I, I mean, it came back when I saw the results in 2006. I think that's actually one of the last times that they went up Alto Moradero. I don't know if the last time, but in 2006, our team, Discovery Channel, we took the, Back then it was the gold jersey before the red jersey was the gold jersey. In the Vuelta, we took the gold jersey there with Yani Brajkovic. 19 years ago already.

[A]

Wow.

[B]

Yeah. But I did not remember. It was so open. I had a different vision about a different view of it in my mind.

[A]

Well, do you have anything else on the stage before we go to predict tomorrow's critical time trial?

[B]

Yeah, no, that's, that's about it. Spencer. Yeah, I mean, luckily, luckily the, the stage could go on today. No, no incidents.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

I have gotten information that for the last two stages in Madrid, so for Bola del Mundo, which is in the Madrid area, and then the last stage that Madrid plans the highest security since the NATO summit in 2022 when it was in Spain, there's an extra 1500 police and Guardia Civil agents that will be on duty for the last two stages. So it looks like, I mean, measures are being taken to, to preserve the safety of the riders and to make sure that. Or make sure we do everything they can to have the Vuelta finish on Sunday evening in, in Madrid.

[A]

Yeah, I mean, today I think they were helped by. It's, it was so remote and so narrow. I don't think anyone could even get up there. And it's easy to keep people from going up to cause problems. Yeah, I kind of think the authorities have been a little lax on, like.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, maybe we on, on, on Saturday, Sunday. I think the risk is extremely high. I've seen, I've seen folders like. How do you say that? Like flyers.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Where they actually advertising to advertise the protests and they, you know, they ask people to come.

[A]

I mean, and there's like. Implicate. Yeah, I don't know you. If you, if they're too lax on it. And then you start to wonder like, well, anytime anyone has a grievance do they just come shut down the final stage of a Grand Tour? Like, it's actually kind of a bleak future for professional cycling if anyone can just come out and shut the race down.

[B]

Fragile because, you know, it's, it's, it's open on open roads, you know, and there's whatever 150, 200 kilometers of roads. You can't, you can't control everything, you know, and it's accessible for everybody except some, some areas for start and finish could, could be, you know, difficult to get because you need credentials and stuff. But other than that, you know, it's accessible for. That's also the popularity of the sport of cycling. Of course, you know that it's accessible, it's free and everybody can go. You know, it's, it's this, it's. I think it's the only sport, in my opinion, where you actually can touch the riders, you know, or in the, when you're in the mountains, you can hear them breathe.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

You know, and this is now obviously the, the, the weak point, you know, of, of the Tour of Spain that it's so accessible and anybody can, I mean, if you think about it, Spencer. Okay, we have, obviously now we have these protests and stuff, but if you think about it, in any big bike race, you know, anybody, any champion, the yellow jersey, the Tour can, can be taken out at any moment by just one crazy person.

[A]

Well, haven't we seen.

[B]

It has happened.

[A]

Matthew Vanderpoel's come under attack two years in a row at Roubaix.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. So, yeah, no, I mean, it's happened like when we talk. Talked about Giuseppe Guerini on Abdoulaye. I remember when I was a child, it was a, it was a major. Yeah. Disaster in Belgium when Eddie Merckx got hit in, hit in his. On his side by somebody and then he had to abandon, I think, a few days later. So, I mean, it's, it's obviously it's, yeah, it's, it's. The riders are not protected. You know, I mean, they're in a bubble, of course, like the race cars in the front and you have the, lots of police and security and then you have the peloton and then the cars behind it. It's a bubble of whatever it is, five minutes, 10 minutes of, of passing through. Right. So that that bubble moves and it's impossible to have protection over the 5, 6 hours of race all the time.

[A]

Well, I think it's going to be.

[B]

I.

[A]

We'll talk about this time trial. I'm a little worried about the time trial but let's take a quick ad break and then we will get back with our predictions. Everybody. This episode is brought to you by Manu Kora Honey. Are you looking for something simple and delicious to add to your wellness routine? Well, look no further. I'm doing I'm taking monocora every morning. Just a spoonful. When I come down to watch my vault of stages. It is rich, creamy and frankly the most delicious honey I've ever had. Has a slight smoky, smoky taste which I love. It's ethically, ethically produced by Manukora's master beekeepers in the remote forest of New Zealand. It contains powerful nutrients to support immunity and gut health. And the bees collect the nectar from the Manuka tea tree in New Zealand. The nectar is packed with bioactives and the honey that is produced has three times more anti dioxidants and prebiotics than than your average honey. A special antibacterial compound called MGO also comes from the nectar of the tea tree. Manukora third party tests every single harvest for MGO and makes makes these results available through their QR system. It's a complete game changer. All you need is one heap teaspoon each morning like I'm doing to get the most out of the amazing bioactives in Manuka. Additional usage throughout the day is completely fine and in fact it's encouraged because it helps you cut out other sweeteners. It's easier than ever to try. Manukura honey head to manukora.com themove to save up to 31% plus get 25 with the free gifts with the starter kit. It comes with an MGO850 plus Manuka honey jar, five honey travel sticks, a wooden spoon and a guidebook. That's manukora.com themove to save 31% plus 25 worth of free gifts all right, back to the episode everybody. This episode is brought to you by Fabric by Gerber Life. Running a household with kids is chaos. Podcasts, racing coverage, travel. It can be a lot. And while we plan for the day to day, the truth is you also need a plan for protecting your family if something unexpected ever happens to you. That's where Fabric by Gerber Life comes in. Fabric offers term life insurance you can get done today. Made for busy parents like you all online, all on your schedule right from your couch, you could be covered in under 10 minutes with no health exam required. And here's the thing. If you're young and healthy now is the time to lock those rates in. Even if you already have some coverage from your employer, that policy likely is not enough and it might not follow you if you switch jobs. Fabric makes it simple and affordable with flexible, high quality policies that can fit in your budget like a million dollars in coverage that for less than a dollar a day. This is something I personally think about a lot, especially if you are a cyclist. We don't like to think about it, we don't like to talk about it. But if you have kids and you're out there on the roads, you might want to think about term life insurance so your family is covered in case you don't come back. So join the thousands of parents who trust fabric to help protect their family. Apply today in just [e-mail] themove that's meatfab fabric.com the move M E E T fabric.com the move Policies issued by Western Southern Life Assurance Company not available in certain states. Prices subject to underwriting and health questions. So, Johan 27. Wait, do I have the right. Did they redo this? Hold on a second. This can't be right.

[B]

Well, if you. Yeah, now it's 27.

[A]

Wait. No. For safety reasons, the time trail has been shortened from 27km to 12km.

[B]

Oh my goodness. Oh, wow.

[A]

Whoa. That changes everything.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So I was worried. I was just about to say I'm really worried about this time trial. And so clearly was the Volta Espana. They shorten it to 12K. Do we have a route? It looks like it's the same map. So we don't know where the 12k is, but we still have the little tiny climb. 500 meter climb, 7 1/2 percent. Fairly straightforward, but it is kind of technical. It's in. It's in a city. Which also makes it harder to control the safety aspect because there's more people there. I'll list off the favorites. This does change how we're going to approach everything.

[B]

This.

[A]

This is wild that this is happening live. Felipe Ghana. This is on FanDuel in the US might be different on Unibet. Philippe Gana minus 195. Jvine plus 500. Alec Saunt plus 900. Juan plus 1100. Dan Hou plus 1400. Stefan Kung plus 2000. Joal Meda plus 2500. Jonas Finger plus 2500 goes on and on and on. We'll call him out when we need. When we need to. If you want to bet, check out nxt bets.com bet outcomes. You'll see where you can bet where you live and the best signup bonuses and prices on each book. Johan, who do you think is going to win this now? Shortened time trial.

[B]

Yeah, well, now that it's shorter, even more. I mean, I was gonna always pick Filippo Ghana, but. Yeah, from 27km to 12.2km now I'm gonna pick Filippo Ghana for sure. On Unibet, he's. I mean, I got him at 176. Maybe it has changed now since. Since they changed the route.

[A]

I'm gonna put my bed in right now for him because I'm worried it's gonna change because of that news. This is. This should be like a layup for Ghana with this because with. Actually I'm in Texas right now. Maybe I can't bet. But Ghana is. You know, he. He should win this 12k. He's been waiting for this. Assuming he's not carrying an injury or illness we don't know about, I'm gonna go Ghana as well. He's -195 on FanDuel in the US so that's what I'm gonna get him.

[B]

Out if I can. Just checking here on Unibet and right now the. They're. They just took everything off and I guess they're redoing the numbers.

[A]

Oh boy.

[B]

There's no answer. There's no odds up right now on Uniberg. Crazy for the moment.

[A]

This is. I mean, what time is it in Madrid right now, Johan?

[B]

It's. It's almost 10pm that is a late.

[A]

Alteration to the course.

[B]

Wow. Yeah, I just saw it came out 40 minutes ago. So. Yeah, listen, that changes a lot. Of course it's not safe yet for Jonas. Right. But it's obviously the advantage Jonas. The less time. Time kilometers, the less he's in at risk to lose to Almeida if he uses at all. Right. So I think this is definitely good for Jonas.

[A]

This is huge for Jonas. It's also huge for Tom Pidcock. A lot less surface area to lose the. To lose your podium spot or lose the lead if you're Jonas Finnegaard. Yeah, I'm afraid this probably seals the Vuelta for Jonas. I'd assume they're gonna.

[B]

Let's not underestimate the last stage, Spencer. It is in terms of vertical meters the most difficult one compared to. I think we said on before. I mean I think we said stage three or four, but it's. It's like 10 meters more. On Saturday they go two up, two times up Nava Serrada. And then the last time they. They keep going another 3km. The last 3km of Saturday stage are much harder of what we've seen today. Much harder.

[A]

I mean, the problem is, if it's harder, Almeida and Vinegar might get dropped together. I don't know if. I don't know if they're going to be leaving each other behind at this rate. I think.

[B]

I don't think so. I still think they're the two best climbers. Henley's looking.

[A]

Henley looks good. Tom pickup looks good, too. So if Ghana doesn't win, do you think there's a wild card on this shortened course?

[B]

I mean, I was gonna pick someone, you know, in case the wind change or something. You know, I mean, it's difficult to pick someone else. I mean, I see that Jay vine was the second favorite. Honestly, Spencer, I cannot imagine even now with the changed course and the reduced distance, I cannot understand if. And tomorrow we'll probably talk about it. If UAE allows JVine or anyone else on UAE, except Joao Almeida to go full gas in the time trial, I could. I do not understand this. Honestly. I do not understand. You know, tomorrow the seven other riders just need to take it easy and just. Okay. Now even more than ever, you know, it's. It's all or nothing. And on stage 20, so nobody of UAE should go full. I've heard people say that they think Juana Yusuf can win the time trial. I mean, that would be something. That would be something.

[A]

That would. That would be borderline unprofessional, though.

[B]

Yeah. I mean. Yeah. Like, it should not be a surprise if it happens. Right? I mean, it's.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

It's just the fact that the team allows this. I mean, I would say, okay, guys, listen, this is the situation. We still have a chance to win tomorrow or tomorrow morning. They say to the riders today, everybody except Joe has a rest day. Simple.

[A]

Yeah. I mean, what do they care?

[B]

What do they care? I mean, today they won. They won number 82. They won victory number 82. Isabel Toro won Giro Toscana in Italy. 82nd victory of the year. So I think it's safe to say they're gonna get to 85, you know, pretty comfortably.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Someone wrote to me. Someone wrote to me and said that he had heard that they want to win 100 races this year.

[A]

Well, that would explain this madness that we've been seeing. If they go hard in the time trial, I mean, it's just because they've been absent when actually Almeida's needed them. And then if they win, if one of them wins the time trial, that's not. That's not a good look for the team.

[B]

It would be stage win number eight, you know.

[A]

Yeah. I mean that's. At some point it starts to look bad.

[B]

Yeah. Anyway, because we have to take is to pick another one. I'm gonna pick Alex Sehart. He's plus 1000 or he was plus 1000 when, when I saw the, the odds. He starts pretty early also and he's a pretty good time trialist. You know, there's, there's, there's. Okay, there's people. Ghana, there's Stefan Kung, there's Sega, there's Dan Hool. Those are the specialists, I would say. Right. The specialist time trials that are still in the race. So I think we're going to have, I mean, especially now that it's shortened, I think we should definitely pick one of those.

[A]

I'm going to pick someone that is on a different timeline than Ghana because Ghana is 137th overall. Just in case the wind changes. Like, remember we saw Dan Hoole, Dan Ultra win an unexpected TT stage recently. I'm going to go Bruno Amor plus 8000. He got fourth at the first time trial in the Tour de France this year. He's 19th overall. So he will be going at a different time than Ghana. I'm going to go with him for my wild card just in case something funky happens.

[B]

Yeah. It doesn't seem, it doesn't seem, Spencer, that the wind is going to be.

[A]

Strong.

[B]

And so it's here. I mean, on the information I have at seven, seven to nine kilometers an hour and it doesn't seem like the direction is going to change either, coming from the same direction. So I don't think that the change in wind will be a big factor. But you never know. I mean, you never know. So we know. We don't know.

[A]

Well then if you really want to start to play this out, to game this out, you start to. I mean, Ghana is actually maybe fine because he starts so early. But you start to think, well, if Ghana's disrupted by protesters or the stage starts and gets canceled halfway through, do they. What do they do? I mean, do they just like, Ghana's already gone? Is he gonna be just no result?

[B]

Well, I mean, today, this is another thing we forgot to say this morning the, the writers met together with the organization and there's a decision made that at any point, if there's a protest and the race has to be shortened or shortened. Yeah. The race is neutralized. There's not going to be a winner.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

This is a decision that was made this morning.

[A]

All right, so. Interesting. Well, man. Well, so, like, what if. What if there's a flag sticking out? Ghana hits it, crashes. Does that constitute a protest? Y. Yeah, so it is. It might be smart to pick. Throw a little bit of money on someone that's not gonna. Because you just never know it's gonna happen. This is one of the weirdest grand tours I've ever seen.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

In terms of very strange variables. Yeah. Well, anything else, Johan, on tomorrow's stage?

[B]

Nope. I mean, yeah, short time trial. Wow, that's a bummer.

[A]

I mean, it is a bummer. It's a huge bummer. Especially if, like, y. What if yonas loses, like, 10 seconds? Like, what would have been.

[B]

Yeah, I mean, you know, I mean, it's. If it's. Let's say if it's a second per kilometer, could be 12 seconds. It could have been 30 seconds.

[A]

I know. Yeah, yeah. And then. And then you're actually within. The thing is, if he would have taken 30 seconds back, he's 20 seconds down. Imagine he wins the final stage, then the gap actually doesn't have to be that big to overcome that. But now it's completely different because of this shortening.

[B]

But anyway, that's just in, you know, the supposition. We suppose. We suppose that Jonas is being overstepped.

[A]

Take time, you know, he could take time.

[B]

He's a good time trialist. He's a good time trialist.

[A]

You know, he has produced a few good time trials, you could say. I actually rode that. The 2023 TT course where he destroyed Pagachar, and it was shocking. You know, it looks short when he does it. You're like 40 minutes. What am I gonna be, 42 minutes? And it is shocking how. How much slower long those courses are. So. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. He. He's a pretty good time travel.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Well, thanks, Johan. Okay, we'll be back to talk tomorrow.