2010 Vuelta al Pais Vasco

[theswordsman]

I bet even Berti and Lance would have had some fun going up that climb regardless of whether or not they want to peak in July.

February 19 Volta ao Algarve Stage 3 Contador attacked at the base of the Alto do Malhão for a mountain finish stage win.

March 11 Paris-Nice Stage 4 Contador wins the mountain finish by ten seconds over Valverde and Samuel Sanchez.

Yep, I'm pretty sure that "even" Alberto Contador would be willing to attack on a climb in April. We'll see for sure next week at Castilla y Leon. But please don't lump a guy who's won stages and races already this year together with a guy who really does only care about July.

 

[theyoungest]

Gesink looked like a blind squirrel on jet skis on that descent. He came close to losing it about three times.

Just watched the video of the final k's, with my Vandergoggles off. I think you're trying to perpetuate the "Gesink can't descend" myth. Didn't see any near-disasters.

 

[theswordsman]

Horner has always been like that. A super strong team mate who always falls a bit short when he has the chance to ride for himself.

At least he's staying healthy so far this year. I really felt sorry for him with all the different injuries last year.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Indeed, the only moment Gesink lets go is on a straight piece of road where Valverde was sprinting till he was in the first group. And 5 seconds later Gesink returns.

Where is the bad descending part? Or are we blaming Gesink can't follow a sprinting Valverde? That isn't a real suprise now is it (seeing as Valverde beats Freire in a group sprint...)

 

[Angliru]

Ofcourse, jumping out someone's wheel you've been in for kilometers to close a gap is not that hard, sorry. But it was shameless. But Valverde is always that way.
Always counting on his sprint and sucking all the way.

When is the last time we saw an actual attack by Valverde without trying to profit as much as possible from teammates or opponents?

Ventoux stage, Dauphine 2009 where he gifted the stage win to another rider.
You asked.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Ok, that is true, but apart from that? I think we have to go back on his Kelme time.

 

[Moondance]

Just watched the video of the final k's, with my Vandergoggles off. I think you're trying to perpetuate the "Gesink can't descend" myth. Didn't see any near-disasters.

Nope.... I can't either.

I reserved judgment before, but I really don't have a clue to what Isso is referring. He's going flat out, but I don't see him be close to falling once, let alone thrice as Isso claimed. Maybe he can point it out for our orange-coloured glasses

 

[Bala Verde]

Valverde does exactly what matches his abilities best. Sit, wait and sprint. Kinda like Evans, minus the sprint (all in jest ACF94 . In this case he pulled a Freire, 2nd place and a couple of meters short of tarmac.

Great ride by footloose - happy feet Horner, although 3k of dancing on the pedals might have ruined his chances in the end.

Gesink was on his 'gums' D) on the downhill, when he had to sprint for Valverde's wheel, but he hung in there and even proved he isn't an 'iron' in the sprint D)

Glad to see that Sanchez recovered from his bad day earlier in the vuelta, awesome result for his team and the People who litter their language with seemingly random equis...

Kloeden was mashing potatoes/kartoffeln?

Can anyone from the homeland send me the Vandercloggles? Eager user in the land of the free.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Gesink said that he never went into the red and kept riding just below his maximum. He also said he felt Valverde was having trouble following, but he knew Valverde would try and explode/attack just after the climb, he tried to follow but 'Valverde went incredibly fast'.
And the close sprint was because he knew the finish from last year and knew how to take the final corner at top speed, unfortunately, Valverde is still Valverde, and thus faster.

 

[Bala Verde]

Pretty close finish Valverde/Gesink:

 

[theyoungest]

Pretty close finish Valverde/Gesink:

Gesink got robbed!

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Horner said he was 'robbed' by the Spaniards. Valverde let the gap for Sanchez, that is true.

He also says he will take the victory in the time trial.

 

[peloton]

Horner said he was 'robbed' by the Spaniards. Valverde let the gap for Sanchez, that is true.

He also says he will take the victory in the time trial.

I don't understand, how was he robbed?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Valverde and Sanchez playing together

 

[peloton]

Valverde and Sanchez playing together

I must've missed that one.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Hey I'm just the messenger. Horner feels this way, not me

his exact words:

“I felt good. I dropped everybody. They worked together – whatever. I can still win it in the time trial,” Horner told VeloNews at the finish line. “I know the (TT) from last year. They won’t be able to do some team tactics there.”
“It was a little Spanish get together. Sánchez didn’t get me. Valverde opened up the gap on him, and then sat up on me on one of the corners. We’ll see if that works later,” Horner said. “The legs are good – I’ll beat ‘em in the time trial.”
Read more: http://velonews.competitor.com/2010...sque-tour-valverde-leads_110857#ixzz0kXXwjhB4

So Sanchez came back because of working together. Right. Weird Chris, here I saw Sanchez rode up to him on the climb.
And Gesink is a Spaniard now damn, now I have no one left to cheer for

 

[Aguirre]

Hey I'm just the messenger. Horner feels this way, not me

his exact words:

“I felt good. I dropped everybody. They worked together – whatever. I can still win it in the time trial,” Horner told VeloNews at the finish line. “I know the (TT) from last year. They won’t be able to do some team tactics there.”
“It was a little Spanish get together. Sánchez didn’t get me. Valverde opened up the gap on him, and then sat up on me on one of the corners. We’ll see if that works later,” Horner said. “The legs are good – I’ll beat ‘em in the time trial.”
Read more: http://velonews.competitor.com/2010...sque-tour-valverde-leads_110857#ixzz0kXXwjhB4

So Sanchez came back because of working together. Right. Weird Chris, here I saw Sanchez rode up to him on the climb.
And Gesink is a Spaniard now damn, now I have no one left to cheer for

sounds stupid, the Spanish army against Horner, " I’ll beat ‘em", ja, ja, ja, ja, ja. Remember your Saunier Duval days and stop thinking that way,

 

[maikel]

Hey I'm just the messenger. Horner feels this way, not me

his exact words:

“I felt good. I dropped everybody. They worked together – whatever. I can still win it in the time trial,” Horner told VeloNews at the finish line. “I know the (TT) from last year. They won’t be able to do some team tactics there.”
“It was a little Spanish get together. Sánchez didn’t get me. Valverde opened up the gap on him, and then sat up on me on one of the corners. We’ll see if that works later,” Horner said. “The legs are good – I’ll beat ‘em in the time trial.”
Read more: http://velonews.competitor.com/2010...sque-tour-valverde-leads_110857#ixzz0kXXwjhB4

So Sanchez came back because of working together. Right. Weird Chris, here I saw Sanchez rode up to him on the climb.
And Gesink is a Spaniard now damn, now I have no one left to cheer for

I think Valverde helped Sanchez, they are also friends and Valverde had already won 2 stages and would take the leaders jersey. But if he didn't there is no way Horner would be able to beat Sanchez in a sprint, let alone Valverde. I don't know how good his TT is compared to Gesink and Valverde but he first has to live through next stage in which I am sure Gesink will try something

 

[Libertine Seguros]

But if a rider who's a GC threat gets off up the road, why shouldn't the other GC riders work together to bring him back? There's no reason for them not to if they all consider Horner a threat.

 

[peloton]

But if a rider who's a GC threat gets off up the road, why shouldn't the other GC riders work together to bring him back? There's no reason for them not to if they all consider Horner a threat.

exactly.
Horner whining about being robbed makes no sense whatsoever.

 

[Mellow Velo]

I used to rate Horner, but since he got all cosy with the twitter king and his half-pint, side kick, he's turned into a tosser, par excellence.

Since when was Bobby G a Spaniard?

 

[search]

Horner at Velonews: "I know the (TT) from last year. They won’t be able to do some team tactics there."

anyone got the result of this last years timetrial he's talking about? couldn't find it...

 

[Bala Verde]

I used to rate Horner, but since he got all cosy with the twitter king and his half-pint, side kick, he's turned into a tosser, par excellence.

Since when was Bobby G a Spaniard?

Didn't you know the condor?

Roberto 'el condor' Jesinque or was it Jecinque?

 

[search]

Horner at Velonews: "I know the (TT) from last year. They won’t be able to do some team tactics there."

anyone got the result of this last years timetrial he's talking about? couldn't find it...

ah, okay, he seems to talk about 2008

 

[theswordsman]

Writers don't even need an entire opening sentence to show their own point of view:

"Chris Horner was out-maneuvered by Spanish collaboration that robbed him of a shot at victory..."

He opened a promising gap and looked to have victory within his grasp, but Sánchez and Valverde worked together on the final 2km of false flats to catch their man.

Sánchez was happy with the victory, but denied there was anything nefarious going on between him and Valverde.

The Olympic champion admitted that he and Valverde are friends, but said their mutual interests were so obvious that there was “no need to even discuss it.”

“Sure, we worked together but it was because we had mutual interests, nothing else,” Sánchez told VeloNews. “(Valverde) was working to gain the leader’s jersey and I was riding to win the stage. It was not against Horner. We would have done the same thing if Gesink was up the road. (Valverde) and I are friends, but we didn’t do anything out of the ordinary.”

Read more: http://velonews.competitor.com/2010...sque-tour-valverde-leads_110857#ixzz0kXec79Fh

Of course they worked together. Why on Earth shouldn't they?