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

[Scirea]

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.

Wiggins on the descent is going like my grandma. You shouldn't forget that. If anything, he'd lose time after the top of the climb.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Sagan not in that group

 

[More Strides than Rides]

Sky has 3 riders in the bunch to Geox's 4? I can't tell

 

[La Canaja]

30 left if I'm not mistaken. Leaky with 3.

 

[Ferminal]

Sagan not in that group

Gavazzi?

Doesn't matter, any "sprinters" still lurking in there will be shed this time. Purito could wrap up the points with any luck.

 

[Maxiton]

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"?

Maybe he was a fan.

 

[Catwhoorg]

Wiggins on the descent is going like my grandma. You shouldn't forget that. If anything, he'd lose time after the top of the climb.

An effect of his injury no doubt, but most certainly going to ruin any chance he has of getting a jump of people today.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

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.

Somiedo
16 196 MARTIN, Daniel GRM + 1' 37''

Angliru
11 196 MARTIN, Daniel GRM + 1' 41'

Those are considerably lesser days to me. If you compare to his win on La Covitalla and 4th place at Pena Cabarga...

 

[wirral]

Sean Kelly knew straight away what shenanigans had been going on.

 

[Gingerale]

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

exactly.

wow went to get coffee and the peloton has shrunk! martin is still in there. and quite a few liquigas.

 

[Gloin22]

Impressed by Lofkvist so far... good to see him doing better

 

[cineteq]

Sagan not in that group

Neither is Poels

 

[Descender]

I can't see Poels in the group?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Neither is Poels

Neither is Seeldraeyers (just noticed)

 

[Random Direction]

Lofquist is going to majorly pop sometime soon

 

[webvan]

Looking steep now, time for wiggo to go into "time trial mode" and take Froome with him, he owes him so much.

 

[Havetts]

Can someone link me a stream - preferred Sporza if possible !

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I can't see Poels on he group?

He's been dropped quite a while ago. Just like the first days (when he lost 2 minutes on the flat) he can't stand the heat.
But we already knew Poels was inconsistent. Is more a 1-day/1-week racer to me

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I don't like the fact that Mollema is hanging in the back all the time. Is he bad today?

 

[Random Direction]

http://sports-livez.com/channel/ch-5.php

don't have a clue what language though

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Somiedo
16 196 MARTIN, Daniel GRM + 1' 37''

Angliru
11 196 MARTIN, Daniel GRM + 1' 41'

Those are considerably lesser days to me. If you compare to his win on La Covitalla and 4th place at Pena Cabarga...

The first is the bad day I was talking about, and is the only MTF he didn't attack on.

The second was a day when he was off the front on both the penultimate climb and on Angliru! I don't think that coming in 11th on Angliru after getting away on both the Alto del Cordal and then again on Angliru itself is a bad performance at all. It shows an entertainingly unwise tactical sense, but not a weakness in the climbing legs.

 

[Havetts]

http://sports-livez.com/channel/ch-5.php

don't have a clue what language though

Dutch - it is the Sporza stream, thanks alot!

 

[Descender]

He's been dropped quite a while ago. Just like the first days (when he lost 2 minutes on the flat) he can't stand the heat.
But we already knew Poels was inconsistent. Is more a 1-day/1-week racer to me

He's still young, he might need some mileage in three-week tours. He's exciting though, I like him

 

[zapata]

If (when) they're caught, I'm rooting for Zubeldia.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

He's been dropped quite a while ago. Just like the first days (when he lost 2 minutes on the flat) he can't stand the heat.
But we already knew Poels was inconsistent. Is more a 1-day/1-week racer to me

to be fair it is his first GT (basically), he had a good first 2 weeks.
plus he has raced a fair bit this year, probably too much.