Now that was a dynamic stage 6 of the Volta Catalunya! Here are seven takeaways I have after watching it (from the couch, of course).
1. Jonas Super Strong and Not Riding All Out
For me, he looks very Tadej 2024 (although he was some 18 seconds faster today than Tadej's time), doing races he can win and winning without going outside of the zones and timing his winning efforts like a workout, not overreaching. I think this both gives him confidence and is building his body stronger in the races without breaking it down. He can't control the level Tadej is at, but he sure is controlling the level he is at, and that seems to be the best one yet.
2. Jonas' Winning Strategy
Jonas used the same winning strategy as yesterday, starting his attack with a 30-second surge to take his rivals above their threshold, then rides just below his where the others are over theirs, and then he counters himself with a higher-power 30-second attack to gain the gap. Once he has the gap, he slows to below his threshold and then resumes his effort close to his threshold to slowly open the gap.
3. Jonas Appears to Be "Training" for Higher Zones
Jonas appears to be "training" for higher zones later in the year by using a lower cadence in his efforts. This, of course, is my observation from the couch. But it seems he is so within himself that he can do this, and by doing this, he is setting the foundation for higher threshold zones later in the year. I noticed this yesterday and just assumed it was because of the headwind, but today it really stood out to me during his attack where he seemed to go out of his way to ride a bigger gear. IMO, had he used a higher cadence like he normally does, the gap would have grown much faster.
4. Lenny Martinez Is So Underrated He's Invisible
Red Bull may have had wings today, but they need glasses as they rode so lopsided today. They pulled the entire last part of the race to distance Felix Gall but towed Martinez, a faster finisher than Lipowitz and ahead of both of them in GC prior to the stage. I can understand using Remco to ride Gall out of GC before the last climb, but it would have been better to force Martinez to ride on the final climb and try to jump him in the final. Instead, Lipowitz just chased (strongly) Jonas like he was in the leader's jersey and trying not to lose it! I'm sorry, buddy, but Jonas is on another planet, so it would have made more sense to try and beat Martinez for second on GC.
5. Mr. Martinez Has Leveled Up
But seriously, Mr. Martinez has leveled up this year, and I think he is going to continue stacking World Tour podiums this year. He is an incredible bike racer and bike handler, so I would expect as his confidence and fitness improve, it is going to take someone to have a lot more fitness than him to beat him.
6. Remco Rode Super Strong for His Teammate
Remco rode super strong and for his teammate today. I can't help but think some of the struggles we have seen from Remco this year in the climbing races are more mental than physical. I am a firm believer that super physically gifted people always will struggle with the mental game more than the physical. Personally, I was in this situation in my career. I think struggling so much with it while being physically able to always be in the front of the race has made me a good coach, as I can see both sides of the sport for people. I can see and know the physical demands needed to be in the front, but I also know all the ways your brain can create resistance to perform there when it counts. Anyway, good to see him riding where he belongs, but he has got work to do upstairs to unlock what he is capable of in those climbing races. I worked with Dr. Joe Dispenza and Jacques Dallaire, who both helped me a ton. I think if I knew what I know now back then, I would have taken my work with them even more seriously. Remco needs a guru like one of these guys working with just him. This is just my from-the-couch opinion, of course.
7. Bummer to See Gall Fall Back in GC
Disappointing to see Gall fall back in GC due to his bike handling skills, and honestly, pretty unacceptable IMO. For as much physical talent and fitness as he has, it is also his job to be able to match the best riders on descents in mountain stages. It was not like there was rain and the roads were wet and slick. It was standard conditions, and Jonas, who is not going to risk it, was there quite easily. Gall also started the descent in 4th position and went backwards through the group from there in the corners. He has got to double down on working on this, or he will keep finding himself missing out on big results despite doing everything right from a physical perspective.
