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

[Zinoviev Letter]

Nice to see Moncoutie win. I don't think that there was anything wrong with Sky's tactics, what was lacking was an extra pair of legs for the last 6-7km. They had to ride tempo to control Bauke and Dan and so it comes down to sacrificing one of the riders. Unfortunately for Froome, the choice was logical. In terms of strength, it looks like the podium should be Nibali, Wiggins and TGBM. Kessiakoff is still up there, but he doesn't seem to be strong enough to get away or gain bonuses, which he needs.

I think they'd already had Froome working on the front for quite a while before Martin and Mollema went. Wiggins seemed to be the one who dragged the pack back to them.

It's nice that Kessiakof is doing well, but I have to say that I hope that the first time he's visible isn't standing on the lowest step of the podium.

 

[Gloin22]

Wiggins has an 11 second advantage on Nibali though. If Rodriguez is gaining 2 or 3 minutes on Wiggins, then Nibali is gaining a hell of a lot more than 11 seconds.

I didn't see anything brilliant from Nibali so far this Vuelta. It's Rodriguez that has been the best so far, winning 2 stages. His problem is inconsistency as seen. If he goes to Angry Lou with form he had 2 days ago, he won't do much, even to Wiggo. If he gets it right, he'll be gaining laods, as eveyrbody is saying. But there's nothing spectaculer i have seen from nibali that shows he will gain much.

 

[Rechtschreibfehler]

This Vuelta has been really strange...

I really want gaps though, in the mountains preferably. Looking at the size of the main group going up the mountain on every stage tells me something is weird.

I'm hoping for fireworks this weekend. This Vuelta needs it.

And it's quite obvious what it is I think. Look at the stage profiles.
There aren't any damn mountains before the MTFs.

 

[roundabout]

He tried attacking before, it didn't work. I suppose he should have stayed quiet in the last km, lest someone in the internet made fun of him.

Moreno tried attacking. Rodriguez put himself into the wind for a bit.

 

[hatcher]

He tried attacking before, it didn't work. I suppose he should have stayed quiet in the last km, lest someone in the internet made fun of him.

Yes, I was clearly being serious.

 

[Thomsena]

Can someone explain me the tactics from Sky today? Why would you destroy Froome like that when there were no threat in the breakaway and the pace by Froome was not really slow nor was it fast enough to do any damage?

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

He tried attacking before, it didn't work.

Not very seriously, he didn't.

 

[hrotha]

Moreno tried attacking. Rodriguez put himself into the wind for a bit.

Moreno enjoyed some leeway. He didn't have the likes of Wiggins following his wheel immediately.

Yes, I was clearly being serious.

When someone uses "lest" in their posts, complete seriousness is not usually their main objective.

 

[LukeSchmid]

true, however the most impressive thing was his ascent time which was pretty fast for modern cleaner cycling

Okay, if his time was quick then that is impressive. If he can be very good on Angliru the podium is certianly highly likely. Like everyone though he still has to find a way to beat Nibali.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Wiggins has an 11 second advantage on Nibali though. If Rodriguez is gaining 2 or 3 minutes on Wiggins, then Nibali is gaining a hell of a lot more than 11 seconds.



Yeah this seems to be more and more the case.

I'll be interested to see if this new collective wisdom on Jrod killing it on Angrylu actually occurs.

I have a feeling its going to be next weeks version of the Anton delusion.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Can someone explain me the tactics from Sky today? Why would you destroy Froome like that when there were no threat in the breakaway and the pace by Froome was not really slow nor was it fast enough to do any damage?

The best thing for Wiggins was a strong, steady, pace. It plays to his strengths, but more importantly it discourages attacks and makes it tough for those who do attack to get a significant gap. Froome was the last Sky domestique left, so it was his job to set that pace.

Because he did it so effectively, there wasn't a meaningful attack until Martin went off with Mollema and Slagter. At that point Wiggins was still fresh and was able to grind his way up behind them. If Wiggins had shared the work earlier with Froome he might not have been able to do that. If Sky had neglected to set the pace in the first place, there would have been more serious attacks and Wiggins would have used energy dealing with them.

 

[Lexman]

Can someone explain me the tactics from Sky today? Why would you destroy Froome like that when there were no threat in the breakaway and the pace by Froome was not really slow nor was it fast enough to do any damage?

i suppose just maintaining as long as possible a steady rhythm to avoid interval accelarations which Wiggins doesn't like

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

I'll be interested to see if this new collective wisdom on Jrod killing it on Angrylu actually occurs.

I have a feeling its going to be next weeks version of the Anton delusion.

He's unlikely to suck as bad as Igor, even if the wheels fall off his bike and he has to carry the frame up on foot. But, yes, it's a big assumption that JRod will have enough to smash up the field and not one that's really grounded in his performance on long climbs so far.

 

[LukeSchmid]

I'll be interested to see if this new collective wisdom on Jrod killing it on Angrylu actually occurs.

I have a feeling its going to be next weeks version of the Anton delusion.

I think it is a possibility, far from certain. He might stuggle, any of them could struggle and lose lots of time. Being slighty off on the day could mean the difference from winning the whole thing to finishing off the podium.

 

[shalgo]

There's a certain GT that doesn't visit any mountain before stage 12. Does that count?

And yet even there I doubt the gaps have been so small--that is what is strange about this Vuelta--several mountaintop finishes and a TT--but the gaps are still so small.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

He's unlikely to suck as bad as Igor, even if the wheels fall off his bike and he has to carry the frame up on foot. But, yes, it's a big assumption that JRod will have enough to smash up the field and not one that's really grounded in his performance on long climbs so far.

I don't think he'll be as bad as Anton - I just think he'll underperform the collective expectation like Anton.

 

[Scansorial]

Couldn't they have forced Nibali to help do the chasing? He's the biggest GC threat anyway, so why not put some pressure on him?

 

[Griotto]

Nice to see Moncoutie win. I don't think that there was anything wrong with Sky's tactics, what was lacking was an extra pair of legs for the last 6-7km. They had to ride tempo to control Bauke and Dan and so it comes down to sacrificing one of the riders. Unfortunately for Froome, the choice was logical. In terms of strength, it looks like the podium should be Nibali, Wiggins and TGBM. Kessiakoff is still up there, but he doesn't seem to be strong enough to get away or gain bonuses, which he needs.

The podium could very well be like that but Kessiakoff hasn´t been trying to get away so we don´t know how strong he is - but he sure had no problem following today as it seemed.

 

[Papparrazzi]

Can someone explain me the tactics from Sky today? Why would you destroy Froome like that when there were no threat in the breakaway and the pace by Froome was not really slow nor was it fast enough to do any damage?

Exactly what I was thinking. Froome gets distanced, and you see Wiggo powering the front of the group along, for what? Mollema and Martin were caught, there was only Rodriguez 20 seconds up the road .... let another team do the work!!

 

[Lexman]

Couldn't they have forced Nibali to help do the chasing? He's the biggest GC threat anyway, so why not put some pressure on him?

How that? an attack by Froome? That might happen in the next MTF since he hasn't the red jersey anymore ...

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Couldn't they have forced Nibali to help do the chasing? He's the biggest GC threat anyway, so why not put some pressure on him?

Nibali isn't going to work on the front when both Froome and Wiggins are still there and looking strong. The mere fact that there's two of them, not to mention the fact that they have the Red Jersey, makes controlling attacks their problem first.

 

[hatcher]

Exactly what I was thinking. Froome gets distanced, and you see Wiggo powering the front of the group along, for what? Mollema and Martin were caught, there was only Rodriguez 20 seconds up the road .... let another team do the work!!

To take time on riders like Fuglsang.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Once again having to play a little bit of catch up.
Really impressed with Rabo's animation, today.
TGBM starting to look a true GC threat.
JRod was never going to get mush back on that climb into that exposed wind.

Wiggins looks very strong, but the team collectively look pretty mountain weak.

Glad Fuglsang couldn't suck all the way to the top. He's was starting to look like a handy replacement for Leipheimer, at Bruyneel-Trek.

Fred Kessiakoff is the new Dennis Menchov. Never seen, but no distance from the podium.

Oh and Moncoutie once again showed his climbing class.

 

[Tuarts]

I think they'd already had Froome working on the front for quite a while before Martin and Mollema went. Wiggins seemed to be the one who dragged the pack back to them.

It's nice that Kessiakof is doing well, but I have to say that I hope that the first time he's visible isn't standing on the lowest step of the podium.

Can you fault the guy though? He doesn't waste energy on attacks that get dragged back, he stays in middle of the pack conserving energy and his team seem focused on helping him. It's not his faults the cameras dont spend 30s panning on him or gets a mention every opportunity by "panelists".

 

[shalgo]

And yet even there I doubt the gaps have been so small--that is what is strange about this Vuelta--several mountaintop finishes and a TT--but the gaps are still so small.

Time gap to fifth place at the TDF after 11 stages in recent years:

2011: 2:37
2010: 3:31
2009: 0:46
2008: 0:57
2007: 3:08
2006: 1:52
2005: 3:16

Very small gaps in a couple of years, but even then not a mere 19 seconds. And usually much larger.