UKH

That's Quintana seen smiling AGAIN in 2019.

Gosh, I heeded the billing of this stage as a sprint stage and didn't get around to watching. Reading the report this morning it looks like it turned into a very intresting GC day.

Very surprising victory! A classic case of the leading group getting caught looking at eachother and not wishing to lead and tow anybody else! I bet Roche is kicking himself...I was really hoping he'd get a win. I really like the Vuelta....

Cracking stage today. Quintana should enjoy that 6 second lead on the rest day because Roglic is going to put about 20 times that into him on Tuesday. And poor Marc Soler, having to sit up to gain Quintana a handful of seconds. Don't know what he drinks but Quintana owes him a few.

I reckon Carlton Kirby had had a few. WTF was he on about?

I thought exactly the same and nearly said so in my last post. He's usually a bit over the top but today he called lots of stuff wrong. I suspect Kelly finds him pretty hard work. He's got that job because he can fill the dead air, not because of any insight he has into pro cycling.

I agree 100%

Carlton Kirby is the most annoying commentator he just bumbles on about inane pointless crap. Yesterday he never mentioned the fact López had blood running down his arm clearly showing there had been a crash at some point when the coverage went down.

The combination of Kirby and Kelly just ruins the Eurosport coverage. Kirby is terrible but Kelly’s monotone voice just sends you to sleep. Ned B and David Millar on ITV4 are a million times better, interesting, well humoured and with contemporary knowledge of the Peloton and tactics. It’s just a massive shame ITV4 has no live coverage

Do the camera motos not have recording equipment, I've always been perplexed that when the live feed drops out that they aren't able to recover the footage once the cameras reach the stage finish? If they did then the highlights would be much better.

Interesting to speculate whether Soler would have been strong enough to have won in any case. Just got to love Movistar internal politics. 

Its not just Miller and Boulting on ITV 4. I love Gary Imlachs dry summing up.

By comparison i find Kelly's comments so inane.  As soon as someone goes to the front he'll pipe up with "hes riding for his leader (insert name)" with no comment on how this move is helping at all

The moto still has to actually be at incident and it does rely on  conditions being safe enough for the camera to be filming rather than hanging on for dear life ! Difficult job with riders spread over many km of unfriendly roads

It was quite terrifying when the camera moto crashed in the heavy rain on stage 8 while broadcasting.

Soler was well pi++ed off wasn't he!! Can't say u blame him as he looked strong and would have took it to the finish I reckon. I'm not sure I'd bust a gut for Quintana....they had a chance of winning the stage but blew it! I thought Roglic looked strong!

He was absolutely talking nonsense and even more annoying than usual.....I'm not too keen on Millar as a commentator but I think Ned is amiable....I prefer the overall eurosport coverage but put ITV4 on to avoid Kirby!!!

I cant abide listening to Kelly, him an Duffield used to be painful:

DD "So Sean i notice that some of the riders don't wear gloves, is there a reason for that, is it just personal preference or does it offer better grip for instance" 

SK "Well, to be sure, some rider don't wear gloves for better grip but its generally down to personal preference"

Insightful, thanks....

I keep expecting Kelly to come out with stuff like 'That would be an ecumenical matter' or 'Father, I killed a man!'

Joking aside, I like him but I grew up in Kelly's golden years and he was my absolute hero. Because of that I'm content to hear him mumble and begorrah his way through every race.

There was a brilliant exchange a few years ago maybe in the Giro. Kirby spoke for about ten minutes about whether the bunch should wait for a high placed rider who crashed. He read out all sorts of tweets and opinion and eventually said 'what do you think Sean?' to which Kelly simply responded:

"Race on"

And that was the end of that for the oracle had spoken.

Not seeing any highlights on Itv4 tonight. Anyone know when they're on? 

It's the rest day.

It was even worse! Poor Soler must be even more pissed off at having to sit up now.

Saw video* in the hail on flooded gravel roads from the "lost footage" of Sunday. Looked frightening doing their speed in those conditions.

*ITV4 highlights for Tuesday time trial.

Amazing TT by Roglic. Poor old Nairo just didn't have the legs today. 

He's been pretty up and down for a few years now. 

Roglic is bossing the Vuelta. Fantastic performance again today on a brutal hill. He could have won the stage if he wanted to but let his fellow countryman take the glory. Great to see new young talent come through this year. 

Aye, great performances.

Bloody hell, cross winds are exciting! Fantastic stage today (Wednesday).

Quintana takes 5 minutes, Movistar chases Movistar again.

Yup, you could see Valverde congratulating him with a baseball bat behind the team bus

I really think the Movistar DS needs to go back to race strategy school.

Or man management more likely.  Too many egos

Two places in the podium. The movistar ds is making the best of those two egos. Or is completely powerless!

Normal service resumed. Quintana dropped again. Valverde and Rogic bossing the hills. Shame about Pogacar but good to see Lopez back in white. 

Pogacar - great ride, a wise head on young legs.