2010 Vuelta al Pais Vasco

[Cerberus]

Looked like Oscar took Valv into the barricades; he's got reason to protest.

Also, wasn't sanchez with the lead group until the descent? Did he puncture or something?

Rolf Sørensen and the other Danish commentator seem to think it's borderline because Valverde could have tried going the other way around.

 

[Mellow Velo]

I don't know what happened to Sanchez, really weird

I do. I picked him to win the GC on another forum.

Rolf Sørensen and the other Danish commentator seem to think it's borderline because Valverde could have tried going the other way around.

That's my take, too. Fixated on his rear wheel, until too late.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Protest or no protest, Freire remains winner.

 

[Bala Verde]

So what do we make of that one? Was Valverde close enough to Freire's rear wheel, was Oscar OK to choice the line he wanted?

One thing for certain. For a man who is supposed to be suspended by his team, Piti is certainly on fire.

Looked like Oscar was just closing the gap.

What will the race organizers do. Honour the protest of someone who was supposedly suspended, or award the win to the 3x MSR winner...

 

[Francois the Postman]

So what do we make of that one? Was Valverde close enough to Freire's rear wheel, was Oscar OK to choice the line he wanted?

One thing for certain. For a man who is supposed to be suspended by his team, Piti is certainly on fire.

Not close enough I'd say, before he lost options and did get stuck. I doubt if Freire even knew he was there.

 

[maikel]

Nice one for freire, although a disputable win, but a win nevertheless!

Gesink looked very strong to me, together with Valverde he was the strongest of the bunch today it seemed. Sami sanchez Lost more than 1.30 today and Kloden also. Wiggins did look not good at all, I think the expectations people have of him now after one good tour are just miles too high

 

[Bala Verde]

Not close enough I'd say, before he lost options and did get stuck. I doubt if Freire even knew he was there.

The slowmo showed (IMO) that there was enough space for someone to stay in Freire's wheel (even on the barricade side) but not enough to pass him on that same side.

 

[Francois the Postman]

The slowmo showed (IMO) that there was enough space for someone to stay in Freire's wheel (even on the barricade side) but not enough to pass him on that same side.

Agree, don't dispute that he made that side impossible enough. But, like you said, not in an into the barricades sorta way. Valverde had the option of heading the other way and didn't, before he found the door closed. Two riders committed, one made a mistake, the other won clean and normal race-ish enough. For me.

 

[Beech Mtn]

I don't think Freire ever changed his line. Valv could've gone right - a ton of open room to Oscar's right.

edit-
It does look like Valv's front wheel is up next to Oscar's rear wheel. Maybe he couldn't have gone right.

 

[Bala Verde]

Agree, don't dispute that he made that side impossible enough. But, like you said, not in an into the barricades sorta way. Valverde had the option of heading the other way and didn't, before he found the door closed. Two riders committed, one made a mistake, the other won clean and normal race-ish enough. For me.

Yup, that's my take on it.

Sanchez losing time however seems odd. He was with the chase (20s?) downhilling that last climb and then in the last flat 10ish km he lost 1:30...

He must have had a mechanical/puncture?

 

[maikel]

Freire Disqualified

 

[Dr. Maserati]

Not close enough I'd say, before he lost options and did get stuck. I doubt if Freire even knew he was there.

You can bet Oscar knew he was there - and who it was too!

If Oscar was Italian there would have been a favourable decision for Valverde by now.

 

[Bala Verde]

Freire Disqualified

ouch... I must have had sand in my eyes

 

[Dr. Maserati]

Oscar demoted, Valv Piti gets the win......Justice has been served.

 

[maikel]

Unbelievable, just give it to ValvPiti, that man shouldn't even ride anymore. But hey it's their goldenboy

 

[Arnout]

Unbelievable, just give it to ValvPiti, that man shouldn't even ride anymore. But hey it's their goldenboy

They're Basque, not Spanish.

 

[maikel]

Oscar demoted, Valv Piti gets the win......Justice has been served.

That man shouldn't even been allowed to ride for his part in the Fuentes affair. So which justice are you talking about?

 

[skidmark]

yeah, even though we might not like it as fans, I doubt the race organizers take into account whether or not someone is in suspicion of doping when reviewing a disputed sprint. They probably just look at the sprint.

 

[maikel]

They're Basque, not Spanish.

The organisation and jury is not, the same as the Vuelta

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

No, it's an UCI Pro Tour race, so there is an international UCI jury.

Weird though, if Hagen/Tirreno is no DSQ, Freire is no DSQ here.
But appearently the UCI jury does whatever it feels like on the day itself. They don't take the same point of view everytime.

 

[maikel]

yeah, even though we might not like it as fans, I doubt the race organizers take into account whether or not someone is in suspicion of doping when reviewing a disputed sprint. They probably just look at the sprint.

That would count for most countries yes, but its Spain we're talking about...

 

[Arnout]

The organisation and jury is not, the same as the Vuelta

As far as I know its been organized by the Diario Vasco. But its definately not organized by Unipublic. Graphics are in Basque as well and look different from other races.

Don't know about the jury.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Hello, international uci jury.

I'm just saying, if this was a DSQ, then sure as hell the Hagen/Tirreno incident was.
But the UCI has never been good at anything really

 

[Ferminal]

That man shouldn't even been allowed to ride for his part in the Fuentes affair. So which justice are you talking about?

I found it quite witty.

 

[skidmark]

That would count for most countries yes, but its Spain we're talking about...

Right, I forgot the spanish were evil. Franco, the Inquisition and all. Thank heavens I live in a non-nationalistic, English speaking nation.