2011 Vuelta a Espana Stage 14:Astorga → La Farrapona. Lagos de Somiedo, 173km

[movingtarget]

Good rides by Taaramae and Cobo but it looks as though Sky has the race won. Mollema and Menchov don't seem to have the legs to attack Wiggins and Froome. Nibali has been up and down since the race started and Rodriguez is a day to day proposition. Rodriguez is a great rider but he will never win a grand tour. He would be better off aiming for the KOM and stage wins. Fuglsang and Kessiakoff can no longer win. Cobo and Nibali will probably try something tomorrow but I don't think they will crack the Sky riders.

Considering the severity of his injuries in the TDF, VDB has done well. Neither Wiggins or Froome have looked like they were in big trouble on the climbs and I would be surprised if that changed now. If Froome is not a super-domestique, I don't know who is.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Why is Sastre up on the Geox team podium rather than Fuente?

Whats up with J Rod. Why does he fail so much so often?

He seems content with 2 stage wins, a day in red and maybe points jersey though.

I think he is demoralized by his TT performance

 

[killswitch]

I swear to god, when I saw Cobo riding everybody off his wheel I started laughing hysterically.

Like that? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztVMib1T4T4

 

[Tank Engine]

Great ride by Rein, although it's a shame that team tactics meant that de la Fuente couldn't go head to head with him. Katusha and Movistar at least tried, but did not succeed. Cobo looks threatening and Bauke is still hanging in there. Froome and Wiggins looked strong and today they definitely moved into pole position. They played a cool game waiting for the last 3k. Not that surprised that JRod got drooped at the end, but Nibbles

 

[Eyeballs Out]

The Shack's quest for the team comp didn't go so well today

+43:11 dropping them from 1st to 17th

No s******ing please

 

[3wheeler]

1 more Climb for Wiggins.. Can He handle the Gradient?... After todays showing Looks Likely.. When the Pain kicks in All the rest look in more trouble than Brad Anyway . Don't win Olympic medals without a touch of Class..

 

[Scirea]

Neither Wiggins or Froome have looked like they were in big trouble on the climbs and I would be surprised if that changed now. If Froome is not a super-domestique, I don't know who is.

I thought Wiggins looked totally wasted at the finish.

 

[Poursuivant]

Wiggins and Froome putting the hurt on again. They are in a great position but there is still time to be won and lost here. I think Sky have been pretty weak apart from these two.

 

[LukeSchmid]

1 more Climb for Wiggins.. Can He handle the Gradient?... After todays showing Looks Likely.. When the Pain kicks in All the rest look in more trouble than Brad Anyway . Don't win Olympic medals without a touch of Class..

2 more climbs.

 

[Andy99]

Very impressed by Froome and Wiggins today and if anything surprised by Nibali and Rodriguez. Good to see Mollema hanging in too.

Will be interesting to see how they fare on the Angliru.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Climb to the sky Bradley!
If he does then: respect.

Shame Ezequiel Mosquera wasn't there to show his legs like last year.

 

[movingtarget]

I thought Wiggins looked totally wasted at the finish.

Yes he did but I think he has a point to prove. He has been incredibly consistent in this race. I think he and Froome recover quickly from these efforts. So far better than their opposition it seems. It's been a hard race to predict so far. Nibali was the surprise for me today.

 

[Mellow Velo]

1 more Climb for Wiggins.. Can He handle the Gradient?... After todays showing Looks Likely.. When the Pain kicks in All the rest look in more trouble than Brad Anyway . Don't win Olympic medals without a touch of Class..

Folks write off the third week at their peril. It's not as easy as some think.
Complacency, illness or fatigue can still factor.

 

[The Hitch]

I'm just stating facts here.

He has never gotten stronger as a GT progresses. It's an observation. Nothing negative about the way he has ridden here. He has shown a lot of heart but I don't think he is in the right shape to win this Vuelta

Well his greatest stage and performance was the very last mountain stage last year on Bola del Mundo. He had lost time on earlier lesser climbs but going into that steep finale he really did bring it.

Well, what did he answer? I always felt Contador belongs with Unzue, not astana or saxo.

He said he would like to bring Contador into the project but Alberto has a contract with Saxobank.

Who? Herrada?

Nah Cobo.

 

[pastronef]

Wiggins looked shattered just as he crossed the line. Froome tried to give him a pat on the back or something, but Wiggo didn't even noticed

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

just finished watching.

awesome by wiggo and froome, brilliant.
Wiggo looks very strong, I think he has this now. Kudos. He did look wrecked at the end tho. Still, freakin awesome. respect.

Cobo a massive threat on the steep stuff tho. Probably the best climber at this race.

Nibbles fail. Jrod disappointing again.

And of course Mollema, in a great position to get a podium. Awesome.
Also poels awesome.

cant wait for tomorrow.

also a great cap off to a pretty excellent season for rein.

 

[roundabout]

2 more climbs.

Yes. Although Cobo has bit a bit disappointing on the short climbs early on there's a lot of time (by the standards of this Vuelta) that can be gained on Pena Cabarga even if Rodriguez takes the 20".

Edit: that applies to Mollema even more.

 

[Scirea]

Yes he did but I think he has a point to prove. He has been incredibly consistent in this race. I think he and Froome recover quickly from these efforts. So far better than their opposition it seems. It's been a hard race to predict so far. Nibali was the surprise for me today.

Okay, here is my point: Wiggins finished 20 seconds behind Cobo and it happened in large part thanks to Froome imo who did incredible work when Cobo attacked. And today they raced for how much, 4km? If Wiggins was wasted at the finish today, hell is waiting for him tomorrow.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

1 more Climb for Wiggins.. Can He handle the Gradient?... After todays showing Looks Likely.. When the Pain kicks in All the rest look in more trouble than Brad Anyway . Don't win Olympic medals without a touch of Class..

Correction: 2 more climbs for Wiggins.

You are completely forgetting there is still Pena Cabarga in the final week

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Well his greatest stage and performance was the very last mountain stage last year on Bola del Mundo. He had lost time on earlier lesser climbs but going into that steep finale he really did bring it.

I know someone would come up with Bola del Mundo, but there the opposition he had there isn't known for their awesome recuperation.. Peter Velits, Fränk Schleck, Nicolas Roche and again our friend J-Rod... maybe only Mosquera gets better day by day. The others not so much

 

[movingtarget]

Geox have done well although I thought Menchov would be in Cobo's position on GC. He was a disappointing in the TT. Cobo has got better as the race has progressed.

 

[Armchair cyclist]

Great way to pay homage to Txema on his anniversary by Wiggins and Froome.

 

[Geraint Too Fast]

great way to pay homage to txema on his anniversary by wiggins and froome.

+1


....

 

[Climbing]

I know someone would come up with Bola del Mundo, but there the opposition he had there isn't known for their awesome recuperation.. Peter Velits, Fränk Schleck, Nicolas Roche and again our friend J-Rod... maybe only Mosquera gets better day by day. The others not so much

Well... I suspected Nibali would attack on the descent before Angliru, now it's almost forced if he still wanna try to win the Vuelta. Could really animate the race!

 

[spanky wanderlust]

Well... I suspected Nibali would attack on the descent before Angliru, now it's almost forced if he still wanna try to win the Vuelta. Could really animate the race!

he looks finished to me. unless he eats a whole lot of pasta tonight, he is done. maybe not even top 10 now.

we will see.