2011 Vuelta a Espana, Stage 16: Villa Romana La Olmeda (Palencia) - Haro, 180km

[jobiwan]

Going ahead and making this thread...

After the rest day, we have a typical transition stage before the last real test on Stage 17. If the weather plays nice, this will be a great chance to claim a sprint victory before Madrid, so expect the trains to be at full speed. However, there will be those brave few who think THIS is their chance to score one from the break. We'll see...

 

[dlwssonic]

What are sprinters are left

 

[Ferminal]

What are sprinters are left

Bennati
Sagan
Petacchi
Haedo
Boonen
Haussler
Sutton
Howard
Degenkolb
Van Avermaet
Mondory
Paolini
Ligthart
Veelers
Gavazzi
Reynes
Vigano
Gasparotto

 

[Parrulo]

tommeke is out with a broken bone

 

[cineteq]

boonen is out

 

[Ferminal]

tommeke is out with a broken bone

Oh He climbed Angliru with it?

 

[Parrulo]

Oh He climbed Angliru with it?

i dunno, but tommeke is a hard man like few in the peloton so it wouldn't surprise me.

its beyond me how so many people question his abilities and dedication.

 

[dlwssonic]

Bennati
Sagan
Petacchi
Haedo
Boonen
Haussler
Sutton
Howard
Degenkolb
Van Avermaet
Mondory
Paolini
Ligthart
Veelers
Gavazzi
Reynes
Vigano
Gasparotto

Very very little pure sprinters left though.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

damn. I didn't even realize kittel was out

 

[dlwssonic]

If GVA top 3s, I will let the forum choose an avatar of their choice for a month.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

the forum realizes he has no chance

 

[dlwssonic]

the forum realizes he has no chance

Its a really safe bet. But its not like the sprinting competition is that strong either.

 

[greenedge]

I think GVA could go well. Not so many top sprinters. Sky won't work for Sutton as they will be too tired and Haussler does not have the team around him to win. Sagan is the favourite and is certainly looking to get the points jersey.

Sagan
Howard
GVA
Petacchi
Bennati

 

[bicing]

From Cyclingnews preview:

David López says...
"I know this area pretty well and the one thing that will make it really tough is the wind. It’s flat but there will be tension in the bunch if the wind does get up. It might not affect the overall standings but no one should think this will be an easy day."

Sounds like an opportunity for a train to make some splits and surprise people on the flats. Would like to see HTC, Sky, Leopard Trek and Liquigas cooperate to create a split where Wiggins, Froome, Fuglslgangalang and Monfort could gain a handful of seconds and allow Sagan and Degenkolb to fight out the stage victory.

 

[auscyclefan94]

If GVA top 3s, I will let the forum choose an avatar of their choice for a month.

He has a chance but BMC will fail.

 

[craig1985]

Four or five years ago the peloton would lol about and the break gets 10 minutes plus and some random wins, but you would have to say a sprinter will get this, and I'll get with Ale-Jet FTW and Bennati to come 2nd.

 

[TeoSheva]

Degenkolb or Howard for HTC?

 

[TeoSheva]

Bennati
Sagan
Petacchi
Haedo
Boonen
Haussler
Sutton
Howard
Degenkolb
Van Avermaet
Mondory
Paolini
Ligthart
Veelers
Gavazzi
Reynes
Vigano
Gasparotto

too long your list, let's cut it

Bennati
Sagan
Petacchi
Haedo
Haussler
Sutton
Howard
Degenkolb
Mondory
Ligthart
Veelers

 

[Descender]

Wiggins to gain 12 seconds in the intermediate sprints.

 

[TeoSheva]

Wiggins to gain 12 seconds in the intermediate sprints.

yes, this is his new bike:

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Its a really safe bet. But its not like the sprinting competition is that strong either.

a guy like Ligthart is already faster, and he;s not top 5 material

 

[Lexman]

Oh He climbed Angliru with it?

yes, could barely hold his steering wheel but he made it...

 

[theyoungest]

a guy like Ligthart is already faster, and he;s not top 5 material

Ligthart is faster? You mean he once got 11th and Van Avermaet got 12th, or something?

 

[Praetor]

Ligthart is faster? You mean he once got 11th and Van Avermaet got 12th, or something?

I think they're equals when it comes to a normal sprint. They're quite fast, but they don't stand a chance in a real peloton sprint.

They have a better shot at a hilly finish with a decimated peloton, in which case I would rate Van Avermaet a bit higher.

 

[Forunculo]

Haussler want a flat sprint... here it is