2011 Vuelta a España Stage 20: Bilbao → Vitoria, 185km

[Ferminal]

A team could decimate the pack on Urkiola if they wanted. We will either have a token break winning by minutes, and a group of 60-70, or a select group of 20 or so. If someone wanted to move up on GC they could try and drop Nibali, who was under the pump yesterday.

 

[Descender]

Urkiola is hard, but not that hard. I don't think it's harder than Peña Cabarga, for instance.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Cobo to keep El Maillot Rojo, Mollema to overtake Wiggins.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

With 40km of flat/rolling terrain after the last climb I can't think of any other scenario than the break winning or a large group sprint

 

[meat puppet]

Aye, here's hoping that Sky will try to break the race during and espes after the Urkiola. A final battle on the flats would be awesome, never mind the outcome.

But as someone pointed out already, Sky probably has too much to lose to go absolutely death or glory and the stage becomes just another story. As they used to sing. Perhaps a good story, though.

 

[Ferminal]

Interesting comments by O'Grady on tweeter about the race being too hard.

What has been too hard about it? Too much climbing (only 3 or 4 days with no serious climbs)? Angliru? An MTF on Stage 4? No consecutive easy days? Or just the race pace?

Last place is over 5 hours down on GC (with time to lose today), which is more than both the Giro and Tour.

 

[LukeSchmid]

Interesting comments by O'Grady on tweeter about the race being too hard.

What has been too hard about it? Too much climbing (only 3 or 4 days with no serious climbs)? Angliru? An MTF on Stage 4? No consecutive easy days? Or just the race pace?

Last place is over 5 hours down on GC (with time to lose today), which is more than both the Giro and Tour.

He seemed to be saying it is too tuff for worlds preperation, not the it is too tuff in and of itself

 

[Eyeballs Out]

Sky couldn't control a 4 man break yesterday on easier terrain than this. They should consider trying to put someone in the break who can wait after the Urkiola. Forget bonuses. Ultimately they need Wiggins to be super strong to have a chance - maybe attack with him first. If they have Wiggins + 1 up the road they have a chance

 

[ParfaitAmour]

Well this clashes with the LFC game, yet another chance to watch it as it happens scuppered.

Still hoping for Froome to grab the time he needs and a bit more *crossing fingers*

 

[craig1985]

I think Sagan will get the win if the break doesn't win by heaps, providing he isn't in the break.

 

[Tank Engine]

Sky couldn't control a 4 man break yesterday on easier terrain than this. They should consider trying to put someone in the break who can wait after the Urkiola. Forget bonuses. Ultimately they need Wiggins to be super strong to have a chance - maybe attack with him first. If they have Wiggins + 1 up the road they have a chance

I agree with the tactics, but to get Wiggins + A N Other up the road, I think they need a miracle. Wiggins is not going to go for it and Geox definitely won't let him.

 

[jens_attacks]

Interesting comments by O'Grady on tweeter about the race being too hard.

What has been too hard about it? Too much climbing (only 3 or 4 days with no serious climbs)? Angliru? An MTF on Stage 4? No consecutive easy days? Or just the race pace?

Last place is over 5 hours down on GC (with time to lose today), which is more than both the Giro and Tour.

i've heard it from a lot of riders now.it wasn't about the profiles,they said in 2000-2005 for instance vuelta was more relaxed and this year they raced it like it was le tour,guys dropping on the flat or on the first hill and all of that.

today i doubt that cobo can be in danger,40 kms is too much for froome.

 

[greenedge]

I hope the British can pull another miracle off just like at Salamanca. If they do there is deja Vu, as the Duke of Wellington won against French Marshals there in the Peninsular War. It will sure motivate them.

 

[Lupetto]

Interesting comments by O'Grady on tweeter about the race being too hard.

What has been too hard about it? Too much climbing (only 3 or 4 days with no serious climbs)? Angliru? An MTF on Stage 4? No consecutive easy days? Or just the race pace?

Last place is over 5 hours down on GC (with time to lose today), which is more than both the Giro and Tour.

He is free to leave the race like Cancellara did. Or to race in the US and Canada, if he thinks this is better Worlds Prep. For a race like Copenhagen, he might be right. For Worlds like Mendrisio it was quite good to ride the Vuelta and to finish it.

It is also hard, because we are in the second half of the season and if you're tired, you will have more trouble in a GT. Combine it with the heat and it can get difficult for some guys.

 

[Anonymous]

Ah well, if O'Grady doesnt win the worlds he can blame it on a tough vuelta.

Should have copied cav and ridden the Tour of Britain.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Ah well, if O'Grady doesnt win the worlds he can blame it on a tough vuelta.

Should have copied cav and ridden the Tour of Britain.

O'Gadry looks to be in the best form of the Aussies. He is looking quite strong. The difficulty will be a lot to do with the weather and the continual difficult terrain. There haven't been too many real, tough mountain stages although most stages have had some undualtions along with the weather which are quite difficult.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Kohler and Chavanel have been off the front but have been caught.

A group of 24 have now escaped.

Kohler should be up there for most combative rider. He has been attacking so much during the vuelta.

 

[happytramp]

I'm going to go out on a limb and predict that Dan Martin will attack on Urkiola

 

[icefire]

Found profiles of 3 of the climbs.

Cat 2 Karabieta:

Cat 1 Elosua:

Cat 1 Urkiola:

No weird roundabaut today in the last km. I mean, there is a roundabout with 700m to the finish, but it's obvious they have to turn left, leaving the roundabout on their right side.

 

[auscyclefan94]

BARREDO LLAMAZALES Carlos (151), KRUIJSWIJK Steven (155), TXURRUKA Amets (056), CARUSO Damiano (003), LE MEVEL Christophe (195), KARPETS Vladimir (087), VAN DE WALLE Jurgen (126), TORIBIO ALCOLEA Jose Vicente (029), CATALDO Dario (142), BENNATI Daniele (101), MONDORY Lloyd (017), BAKELANDTS Jan (121), KISERLOVSKI Robert (135), PEREZ ARRIETA Aitor (095), HOWARD Leigh (076), ROCHE Nicolas (011), NUYENS Nick (168), VAN AVERMAET Greg (038), CARRARA Matteo (211), LASTRAS GARCIA Pablo (115), MARYCZ Jaroslaw (167), MARZANO Marco (092), VORGANOV Eduard (089), MORI Manuele (093), DE KORT Koen (179), HORRACH RIPPOLL Juan (082) y ISASI FLORES Inaki (052).

 

[jsem94]

Now.. THAT is a break.

 

[goggalor]

Bye bye bonification...

 

[Lupetto]

Now.. THAT is a break.

Too many riders. Can't see thats this works. And with Roche a lot of riders won't ride.

 

[jens_attacks]

aupa txurruka!!!

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Stevo Kruijswijk...he is still alive despite his back problems