2011 Vuelta a España, Stage 19: Noja - Bilbao (158,5km)

[Arnout]

BTW, I reckon there were like six or seven times as many spectators in the four mountain stages in the North (Farrapona, Angliru, Peña Cabarga and Bilbao) than in all the rest of stages put together.

Partly because of interest, but also because of houses per square mile

 

[Descender]

Partly because of interest, but also because of houses per square mile

Well that's true for the Basque Country, but Asturias and Cantabria are not particularly densely populated. Actually, the Farrapona and Angliru area is quite sparsely populated. Peña Cabarga is next to a rather big city, Santander, but then again Sierra Nevada is next to a big city too, Granada, and you didn't see many people there.

 

[nvpacchi]

I wouldn't be surprised if oviedo has a greater population than Santander. And both cities are a similar distance to their respective climbs as the crow flies

 

[nvpacchi]

:

Nice I want pics again

Sadly not many from Bilbao : too crowded, but still got some good podiums (there's also random city pics as I combined them all into one album: https://picasaweb.google.com/107994777371882995640/BilbaoAntonVictory

Also peña cabarga : I was able to get a photo with garate. Wasn't sure if he was annoyed or excited that someone actually knew who he was https://picasaweb.google.com/107994777371882995640/LaPenaCabarga

 

[Descender]

I wouldn't be surprised if oviedo has a greater population than Santander. And both cities are a similar distance to their respective climbs as the crow flies

Peña Cabarga is pretty much on the outskirts of Santander, Oviedo is also close to especially Angliru but a bit further north as you might know.

 

[Euskaltel!]

There couldn't have been a better winner today. Tomorrow that guy with the weird name without any pro victories!

Txurruka!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Euskaltel!]

I must have too much time on my hands, but... the longest article on Txurruka in Wikipedia is oddly, not Euskara but...

http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Чуррука,_Аметс

 

[El Pistolero]

I must have too much time on my hands, but... the longest article on Txurruka in Wikipedia is oddly, not Euskara but...

http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Чуррука,_Аметс

Lol, Euskara is 2 lines. Do you speak it by the way?

 

[The Hitch]

Hell NO.

I can't stand TTTs.

Agreed.

They are a disgrace.

 

[greenedge]

Nice ride by Anton. Sky should have upped the ante a bit earlier though Tommy rode well. Love Breseghin, he should get the most aggressive rider award for this Vuelta. And he could have been riding for a top 10 GC but he is not, he's seeking stage wins.

 

[The Hitch]

Oh yeah Brusegin has been awesome in this Vuelta.

Awesome. Big thanks to Marzo for what he has been doing here.

 

[El Pistolero]

Bruseghin always fades away slower than most other guys in a GT. I would say he's getting better, but you don't get better in a GT, you just get tired less quickly than the others. If a GT was 6 weeks he'd be in for the victory

 

[Descender]

Bruseghin always fades away slower than most other guys in a GT. I would say he's getting better, but you don't get better in a GT, you just get tired less quickly than the others. If a GT was 6 weeks he'd be in for the victory

You're right. He'd be up there with Menchov and Nieve.

 

[icefire]

Bruseghin always fades away slower than most other guys in a GT. I would say he's getting better, but you don't get better in a GT, you just get tired less quickly than the others. If a GT was 6 weeks he'd be in for the victory

He said yesterday in an interview that stages are too short for him. All he needs are 220+ kms every day

 

[La Canaja]

Hopefully Bettini will give him a jersey for the World Champions.

 

[greenedge]

Feeling sorry for Pauhlinio and all of RS at GT's.

 

[Carols]

:

Sadly not many from Bilbao : too crowded, but still got some good podiums (there's also random city pics as I combined them all into one album: https://picasaweb.google.com/107994777371882995640/BilbaoAntonVictory

Also peña cabarga : I was able to get a photo with garate. Wasn't sure if he was annoyed or excited that someone actually knew who he was https://picasaweb.google.com/107994777371882995640/LaPenaCabarga

Thanks for sharing. Garate does look a bit surprised

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I was just past the finishing line. The crowds were phenomenal. Every kilometre that ticked by, the gap would be announced and the place would go ballistic. Everybody was scared Bruseghin would catch Igor on the descent but once it became clear who would win, everything was electric. Antón is from the town the climb starts in and has trained on that climb since he was a little boy. It's not especially surprising he would a) want to win here; b) know how and where to dose his efforts on it.

At the team buses after the stage, the heat was so oppressive pretty much every rider just went straight in for a shower. Only one guy stuck around to do photos and talk to the fans. His name? Amets Txurruka.

 

[Zoncolan]

I was just past the finishing line. The crowds were phenomenal. Every kilometre that ticked by, the gap would be announced and the place would go ballistic. Everybody was scared Bruseghin would catch Igor on the descent but once it became clear who would win, everything was electric. Antón is from the town the climb starts in and has trained on that climb since he was a little boy. It's not especially surprising he would a) want to win here; b) know how and where to dose his efforts on it.

At the team buses after the stage, the heat was so oppressive pretty much every rider just went straight in for a shower. Only one guy stuck around to do photos and talk to the fans. His name? Amets Txurruka.

Very nice.