2011 Vuelta a España Stage 17: Faustino V --> Peña Cabarga 211,0 km

[Carl0880]

The 30s when Froome got to the front were just amazing, I don't know how often we see that on MTFs today, which are usually just tempo riding + late attack. Froome has little acceleration to speak of but put everything into that burst - very risky but it is what the situation called for.

I agree, everyone wants to say he attacked to early but I think he was fine.

Its well documented that Cobo struggles mentally at times (Heck he considered retiring just 3 months ago) so I imagine the thinking was to launch a massive attack and if Froome can go into the red jersey on the road maybe Cobo panics and just drops back.

The credit goes to Cobo for keeping his head and clawing himself back.

 

[3wheeler]

Cobo was rocking and rolling there a Bit.. If it wasn't for the Home Fans It could of been all over with a Km to go.. Was just pride that got it Back.. Still He looked the more knackered of the two... Froome could still edge this..

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

At least thanks to this development the Basque stages might still provide excitement

 

[Moncoutie]

I agree, everyone wants to say he attacked to early but I think he was fine.

Its well documented that Cobo struggles mentally at times (Heck he considered retiring just 3 months ago) so I imagine the thinking was to launch a massive attack and if Froome can go into the red jersey on the road maybe Cobo panics and just drops back.

The credit goes to Cobo for keeping his head and clawing himself back.

Yeah Cobo did great to hold it all together when he got dropped & get back up to Froome.

 

[El Pistolero]

Memories of Bola del Mundo last year, lots of similarities.

This climb is Ventoux-like, sort of standing lonely over the Bay of Santander. Some nice scenery.

Here's a difference with Bola del Mundo: they went 10 times faster.

 

[Thorn Cycling]

Omg, what a stage! Tiny difference between 1st and 2nd is going to make the coming stages epic

 

[maltiv]

What a ****ing brilliant ride by Chris-Joaquin Froome!

 

[dlwssonic]

Can someone explain to me why the heck was Froome a Kenyan?

 

[Race Radio]

Classy interview by Froome

 

[patrick767]

Not as disastrous as the decision to have Froome hold back and support the great pretender Wigans.

Hindsight is 20/20. It was a sensible move at the time. Froome had nothing in his career before this Vuelta to indicate that he could podium, let alone win. Wiggins did. Wiggins is also still in a position to podium in a Grand Tour. Calling him "the great pretender" is ridiculous.

Froome has burst on the scene as a grand tour rider in this Vuelta. How many people were predicting that one? Good for him!

 

[theyoungest]

All hail Froome! I hope Mollema still makes the podium, that way we'll have a top-3 which literally no one expected.

 

[Carl0880]

Omg, what a stage! Tiny difference between 1st and 2nd is going to make the coming stages epic

Also dont forget that there is only about 25 secs between Wiggins and Mollema for that final podium, and Mollema has the advantage of an entire tea mworking for him. I expect Mollema to unleash some attacks on the climbs in the Basque region to try to get a gap away from Wiggins

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Can someone explain to me why the heck was Froome a Kenyan?

Born in Nairobi, moved to Johannesburg as a teenager

 

[simo1733]

Great ride by Froome and Cobf course Sky could have done things differently in retrospect but it is still their best GT ever.
When Brailsford said a British tour winner in 5 yrs I always thought he meant Dan Martin not Froome.

 

[hatcher]

Can someone explain to me why the heck was Froome a Kenyan?

because he was born there?

 

[roundabout]

Can someone explain to me why the heck was Froome a Kenyan?

Because he was born there?

Or you're asking why his talent wasn't noticed by Britain? Or something else?

Edit: Echo

 

[luckyboy]

Can someone explain to me why the heck was Froome a Kenyan?

He is Kenyan. He was born there and moved to South Africa in his teens. He is British through his grandparents.

So he's not British.

 

[patrick767]

Omg, what a stage! Tiny difference between 1st and 2nd is going to make the coming stages epic

And I thought most of the course for the final week looked boring. It would be if it wasn't for this great battle at the top.

 

[dlwssonic]

Born in Nairobi, moved to Johannesburg as a teenager

LOL ok. Thanks anyway.

 

[SantiBotero]

Froome is the Bernard Lagat of cycling!

 

[spalco]

He is Kenyan. He was born there and moved to South Africa in his teens. He is British through his grandparents.

So he's not British.

He has a british passport apparently. So he is British.

 

[hrotha]

He is Kenyan. He was born there and moved to South Africa in his teens. He is British through his grandparents.

So he's not British.

Holy contradiction, Batman!

 

[Moncoutie]

Haha just seen the finish on ITV4, lol at Keenan calling a Cobo win 100m from the finish!

 

[simo1733]

Froome is the Bernard Lagat of cycling!

Yes with the same high altitude physiology.

 

[patrick767]

Damn... what happened to the Leopard guys today? Monfort and Fugslang were here yesterday:

5 Maxime Monfort (Bel) Leopard Trek 0:02:40
7 Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Leopard Trek 0:03:08

Today they apparently lost over 4 minutes as they dropped from the top ten:

10 Chris Anker Sörensen (Den) Saxo Bank Sungard 0:07:06

Crazy... I expected some time gaps on the tough final climb, but it's not a long climb. I didn't think top ten riders who'd performed well in the difficult mountain stages last week would lose so much time. Somehow both Leopard riders completely blew up. Maybe they hung out with the Moviestar guys?