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

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Poels has dropped from the front group... I think he is suffering with the heat again,that's how he lost 2 minutes in the first days

 

[Gingerale]

oh, dan martin getting restless come on, danny

 

[Ferminal]

So if you were Team Sky then what would you do?

Personally I'd try and reduce the peleton on the current climb, and then launch Wiggins on the final climb just before the road narrows, and see if Cobo counters. If he does then as soon as he catches Wiggins then immediately launch a second attack with Froome and try and break him.

I'm not sure Wiggins can accelerate quick enough to get away if Menchov is sitting on the front riding tempo.

 

[The Sheep]

Rodriguez @ the back

 

[jens_attacks]

fantastic basque fans

and this vivero climb looks harder than alpe d'huez lol.froome will slaughter here

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

oh, dan martin getting restless come on, danny

I've actually lost count of the number of climbs Martin has attacked on.

 

[Scirea]

So if you were Team Sky then what would you do?

Personally I'd try and reduce the peleton on the current climb, and then launch Wiggins on the final climb just before the road narrows, and see if Cobo counters. If he does then as soon as he catches Wiggins then immediately launch a second attack with Froome and try and break him.

Why would Cobo counter? Wiggins is a non-threat. Plus there will be other Geox riders to take care of Wiggins.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I've actually lost count of the number of climbs Martin has attacked on.

He's also had a few bad days where he was dropped without 1 attack. He is too inconsistent for a GT imho.

 

[Moncoutie]

Good climb that, but I just can't see Froome getting enough time (if any) on Cobo to hold on to the end.

 

[Moncoutie]

He's also had a few bad days where he was dropped without 1 attack. He is too inconsistent for a GT imho.

Would like to see him target the KoM for now, rather than anything GC related.

 

[Ferminal]

Good climb that, but I just can't see Froome getting enough time (if any) on Cobo to hold on to the end.

They can't drop him on the climb (ok perhaps Froome can), but maybe they can make the group small enough and gamble that Froome can outsprint him for a net gain on the bonuses.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Stick that in Le Tour and it's an automatic 1st cat.
Carnage to come.........
The Vuelta needs the Basques back.
Great, great crowds and atmosphere.

 

[Gingerale]

I've actually lost count of the number of climbs Martin has attacked on.

that's why he's grown on me

 

[Moncoutie]

They can't drop him on the climb, but maybe they can make the group small enough and gamble that Froome can outsprint him for a net gain on the bonuses.

He'd need to win the stage though, hard to imagine there won't be anyone left to outsprint him.

 

[joeyrobbo]

Why would Cobo counter? Wiggins is a non-threat. Plus there will be other Geox riders to take care of Wiggins.

Because of the 14km section after the climb.. if Wiggins takes off, and manages to get 30 seconds lead at the top of the climb, and he time trials the remaining flat section, if Cobo is isolated then he could lose a fair bit of time, if you also take into account any time bonuses at the finish. 30 seconds lead plus more seconds on the flat plus the winning time bonus could equal problems for Cobo. Unlikely that Cobo would be that isolated though, but he might not want to take that chance.

 

[Random Direction]

wide open on the descent - not very technical. Peleton also not catching much on the break.

 

[happytramp]

I've actually lost count of the number of climbs Martin has attacked on.

It's pretty impressive considering his GC responsibilities. Would you say he's In with a shout for the combativeness award?

 

[Ferminal]

Lookout for the two lane highway descent next time around...

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Would you say he's In with a shout for the combativeness award?

They'll be saving that for a Spaniard surely...

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

that's why he's grown on me

Particularly because when he goes, he puts the head down and goes rather than messing about.

 

[Maxiton]

Too bad it's not a MTF. Presents an almost insurmountable challenge for Sky.

 

[spalco]

So if you were Team Sky then what would you do?

Personally I'd try and reduce the peleton on the current climb, and then launch Wiggins on the final climb just before the road narrows, and see if Cobo counters. If he does then as soon as he catches Wiggins then immediately launch a second attack with Froome and try and break him.

Try to TTT the **** off the front without letting Froome take in the wind and hope to deliver him to the line and get the 20 points.

And Sean Kelly is clearly reading the cyclingnews forums imo, or where else would he come up with "Radio Luxemburg"?

 

[Random Direction]

peleton is at what now - 30 riders? half will easily be dropped by the time the fireworks really get going. This leaves around 15, say a group of 5 reach the top together, and another 3-4 catch back on down. 10 person sprint finish, including both Cobo and Froome.

 

[Straßenrennen]

wig-wam fetching bottles, nice to see him supporting froome.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

He's also had a few bad days where he was dropped without 1 attack.

No he hasn't. If I recall correctly, he had one bad day in the mountains and didn't lost much time even on that day. Every other day with reasonably long climbs he has been amongst the best, despite using more energy than most of his peers because he also attacked.

I'm actually impressed with his consistency in this Vuelta. It's the third week and he was the third strongest climber on the last MTF (finished fourth, but spent half the climb off the front on his own, then with Bruseghin). What I'm not impressed at all with is his time trial.