2011 Vuelta a Espana Stage 11: Verín - Estación de Montaña Manzaneda 167,0 km (31/8)

[Moondance]

As long as he doesn't get the jersey he's not a threat.

Hmmm... Playing with fire there.

Either way, Sky'll get the gap down to four minutes or so and then keep it steady. That's how I'd play it.

 

[luckyboy]

They just need to let the break swallow up the bonus seconds, and also not lose much time to Duarte etc.

 

[Moondance]

a massive 20 seconds yes. on the final clibm good luck taking back minutes on that group, 19 guys with very strong climbers that aren't tired at all.clearly the gc teams don't take duarte serious. we will see

Since sky have come to the front they've eaten up 40 seconds in 5 kilometers. At that rate it's more than enough to deny anyone in the break a Top-10 GC entry.

 

[roundabout]

Sky might be wrong.

Duarte will keep improving. He already looked better in La Covatilla.

He was top-20 climber at best there. He may keep improving and it wasn't his favorite climb but letting him gain 2-3 minutes here doesn't really change things as much as it's being suggested.

 

[hatcher]

I'd guess Sky would be perfectly happy to let Duarte gain 3 or 4 minutes at the line.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

a massive 20 seconds yes. on the final clibm good luck taking back minutes on that group, 19 guys with very strong climbers that aren't tired at all.clearly the gc teams don't take duarte serious. we will see

Im certain they will take big time back. The break wins by 3-4 mins max.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Since sky have come to the front they've eaten up 40 seconds in 5 kilometers. At that rate it's more than enough to deny anyone in the break a Top-10 GC entry.

they've taken back 30 seconds now and that is in the climb. the leading group isn't going very hard at all. the final climb I can see the best rider perhaps riding maybe a minute slower than the best of the peloton. unless the peloton start chasing very hard in first easy 15 km of the climb

 

[Gingerale]

i hope dan martin or bauke or some attacks start off the front and create chaos

 

[Fetisoff]

Wonder why Katusha don't help with the chase. They can't be seriously thinking that Horrach can take the stage win in a field like that.
Saving themselves for later stages instead of tiring out in a stage that doesn't really suit Purito? Maybe, but he did say he wanted to attack today. Interesting...

 

[hrotha]

He was top-20 climber at best there. He may keep improving and it wasn't his favorite climb but letting him gain 2-3 minutes here doesn't really change things as much as it's being suggested.

Yeah, but again, he's supposed to be riding himself into form. A top 20 in La Covatilla might translate into a top 10 today and a top 5 in the next MTF. Who knows.

edit: obviously there's some risk involved in any decision they take, and Sky must think the risk of blowing up the team isn't worth it. I don't think they're necessarily wrong, but there's the potential for it to turn out badly for them.

 

[Moncoutie]

Duarte 9/5
Moncoutie 2/1
LLS 6/1
Txurruka 13/1
Intxausti 13/1

On bet365.

 

[Moondance]

His Holiness proving his fallibility once again.

 

[Jux1893]

I think Paulhino could fight for the win.

+1

Paulinho for the win - Serra da Estrela style

 

[Zoncolan]

His Holiness proving his fallibility once again.

How so? Please elaborate.

 

[roundabout]

His Holiness proving his fallibility once again.

I thought it was Kozontchuk?

 

[luckyboy]

Duarte 9/5
Moncoutie 2/1
LLS 6/1
Txurruka 13/1
Intxausti 13/1

On bet365.

Ha, no way is Moncoutie not going to take this.

 

[Fetisoff]

I thought it was Kozontchuk?

Yes it was, Secretary of State of His Holiness The Pope a.k.a. Dmitry Konontchuk

 

[Moondance]

I thought it was Kozontchuk?

Oh... My bad. I'm watching on a stream during a lecture... So I saw a Geox rider behind the peloton and the law of probabilities led me straight to Menchov.

Can you blame me?

 

[Zoncolan]

I thought it was Kozontchuk?

Yes, Kozontchuk, No. 68. Menchov is 65.

 

[roundabout]

Oh... My bad. I'm watching on a stream during a lecture... So I saw a Geox rider behind the peloton and the law of probabilities led me straight to Menchov.

Can you blame me?

No, I first thought it was Menchov myself until I could see his number and the caption came up.

watching the Vuelta during a lecture, that takes me back...

 

[Ferminal]

Jorgensen attacks, followed by Palomares (not Bernabeu).

 

[Moncoutie]

Ha, no way is Moncoutie not going to take this.

SHHHHH! Don't jinx him!

 

[Nielsa]

Oh... My bad. I'm watching on a stream during a lecture.

Can you blame me?

For not paying attention to your lecture, yes.

 

[Broth3r]

I don't feel like browsing back 20 pages to find the post were parrulo goes nuts about Paulinho being in front, so I'll just say I'm with ya. Go Sergio!

 

[canyonball]

+1

Paulinho for the win - Serra da Estrela style

Duarte and Moucoutie have to be the favorites. Paulinho comes third in line for me. Not the strongest, but a slick rider. I give him a good chance for the stage.