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

[icefire]

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

After the ITT and the first rest day mountains come back to the race with a novelty: ugly weather.

Profile with weather forecast:

Route map:

Profile of the last climb:

The climb only hosted once a pro race, the 1993 Vuelta a Galicia:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZbqpbuGML8

As you may see in the video, the mountain is quite exposed, so wind may play a factor as it did on La Covatilla. I can't hold my laugh at those who said that you only get that kind of windy climbs in Spain. Do they know what Mont Ventoux means?

 

[roundabout]

I am hopeful that the coverage won't be interrupted.

 

[l.Harm]

So... which climbers are suited to this climb? Wiggins again?

 

[Lanark]

So... which climbers are suited to this climb? Wiggins again?

Probably the same riders as yesterday yeah, Wiggins, Froome, Nibali, Mollema. Can't imagine big differences during this stage, although the combination of following a rest day and possibly not so good weather could shake things up a bit.

 

[luckyboy]

Gee talk about a disappointing official profile. That makes it look tough as hell.

Also, This year rest days have always come when I have something important to do like exams or going to see a flat. Thanks ASO/RCS/Unipublic

 

[Sophistic]

Thats the MTF where Wiggins and Froome have to attack as the other 3 certainly favor the lighter guys.

 

[Tank Engine]

Thats the MTF where Wiggins and Froome have to attack as the other 3 certainly favor the lighter guys.

Does look like a day for the power climbers. Nibali and the Sky boys will be watching each other. Danny Boy (or TGBM) to slip away at the end and win.

 

[roundabout]

Forecast says fog so wind may be less of a factor. May help the lighter guys.

 

[maxmartin]

wiggins crack big time at this stage, Nibali Mechove Cobo maybe Fugslang gainning time this stage, do not know about froome

 

[Jamsque]

If Wiggins cracks it will be on a tougher climb than this.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

This climb is tough enough if you look closer at the percentages. I see plenty of (small) 10%+ parts

It isn't Angliru but it's not exactly a tempo climb either

 

[cineteq]

Watch out for Purito!! He's just 3'01" behind Nibali. He can still gain time throughout the rest of the mountains, and might be able to sneak in the podium.

 

[Zoncolan]

It will be interesting to see how different riders react to the rest day.
I expect Menchov, VDB 2, Nibali, Purito and Cobo to be the strongest on the day.
Of course, I always get it wrong, and I fully expect to continue that way.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Watch out for Purito!! He's just 3'01" behind Nibali. He can still gain time throughout the rest of the mountains, and might be able to sneak in the podium.

After losing 50' on La Covitalla I'm not sure he is in good shape for the longer climbs...

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

It will be interesting to see how different riders react to the rest day.
I expect Menchov, VDB 2, Nibali, Purito and Cobo to be the strongest on the day.
Of course, I always get it wrong, and I fully expect to continue that way.

JvdBroeck always has a bad day after a rest day. He hates them

 

[icefire]

After losing 50' on La Covitalla I'm not sure he is in good shape for the longer climbs...

You never know. He took last year almost 40 seconds to Nibali in a last km attack on Cotobello (10kms @ 8%) the only day they had three cat 1 climbs. He would need to gain more than in every mountain coming this week, but then he would probably suffer the day after. In the unlikely event that he takes the red jersey again he's doomed to wear it just one day.

 

[Greenflame]

After losing 50' on La Covitalla I'm not sure he is in good shape for the longer climbs...

I don't know how that climb translates to other climbs this Vuelta. The hard winds and low gradients made it hard and spectacular, but for Rodriguez those are about the worst possible circumstances to climb in, while for Nibali and Wiggins they're perfect. Rodriguez could defenitely take some time back on the others on this climb and (especially) the later climbs this Vuelta.

You could also be right though, perhaps he really doesn't have the form for the longer climbs. However, I don't think we can draw that conclusion just yet, especially coming from a single highly unusual climb.

 

[cineteq]

After losing 50' on La Covitalla I'm not sure he is in good shape for the longer climbs...

Actually, he said, in the interview that he felt great today, and yesterday he felt as if he didn't eat enough. So let's give him one or two climbs (+ bonus secs) to prove us wrong.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

The day after the rest day, I don't expect to see huge gaps on this. Sky will probably set the tempo - their best bet is to force a high pace and ride exactly as they did on La Covatilla. This is a long climb, they would ideally see a similar shelling of people as they did on La Covatilla - but this climb is longer. However, as it's the day after the rest day I don't expect riders to be as tired and therefore the gaps won't be too big; last couple of kilometres might be open season though since there's a couple of steep bits near the end.

 

[hatcher]

On paper it should be a safe climb for Wiggins, but I do worry that all that time away from racing will catch up with him at some point. Maybe it happened in the second half of the TT today.

 

[Señor_Contador]

Long irregular climb + crappy Galician weather + crappy road surface + quintesential Galician stage (either up or down, but never flat) = difficult day. For everyone.

 

[jsem94]

I can totally see Scarponi doing something. I think it'll be a group of 10-12 riders though, and a snappy rider taking the finish. Maybe Menchov could take the stage

 

[roundabout]

I am thinking that Sky won't chase the break very hard.

 

[jsem94]

Sky could even let a break win this, will eliminate bonus seconds for mountain sprinters and the team can conserve energy for when really needed.

 

[LaFleur]

Moncoutie or Taaramäe will surely be in the break to get the KOM points (looks like Taaramäe could be aiming for that if Moncoutie fails) and then the other one who didn't get in the break will launch an attack in the climb if the break fails.