2011 Vuelta a Espana, Stage 21: Circuito del Jarama - Madrid, 94km

[Descender]

Have the goods.

So breaking through at 26 means you don't have the goods? That doesn't make sense. We should scrap around one third of the greatest stage racers of the last decades then.

 

[roundabout]

That's not the point. Always having the goods and breaking through at 26 while not totally contradictory certainly is enough to make people doubt the talent level.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Cobo was known as a talent as big as Contador when he was in his junior and espoir period. So... still not coming out of nowhere

 

[roundabout]

Contador didn't take 3 years to break through.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Contador didn't take 3 years to break through.

So? Are you suggesting every (super) talent in his youth breaks through instantly?
Because history shows that's not the case, for many and many.

That's just stupid to suggest

 

[roundabout]

No. I am suggesting that he wasn't/isn't as talented as Contador to begin with so he came out of nowhere.

 

[Tank Engine]

What is his excuse for his lackluster Giro then? Antón has been touted as a GTs candidate for ages, and he keeps falling short time and time again, despite quite obviously having the talent.

The argument is not about his excuses, it's about his supposed "mental weakness". A guy who comes into a 3 week tour when not at his physical peak due to his illness, but rides through it and wins a stage in the final week is rather showing mental strength. Clearly Anton has not lived up to his potential to finish high up in a GT. Obviously there are reasons for that. Some are very tangible: crashes (possibly bad luck, possibly bad positioning, handling skills), ill health, some possible reasons are less tangible, inappropriate preparation, concentration on the Vuelta rather than the Giro. "Mental midget" seems to be an argument conjured from thin air.

 

[Descender]

Before that win he had won Spanish U23 TT Nationals, but yes, he did come out of nowhere to win that Pais Vasco.

That being said, he always had the goods and had been talked about for years. As good as Contador? I don't think anybody has said that.

 

[Descender]

The argument is not about his excuses, it's about his supposed "mental weakness". A guy who comes into a 3 week tour when not at his physical peak due to his illness, but rides through it and wins a stage in the final week is rather showing mental strength. Clearly Anton has not lived up to his potential to finish high up in a GT. Obviously there are reasons for that. Some are very tangible: crashes (possibly bad luck, possibly bad positioning, handling skills), ill health, some possible reasons are less tangible, inappropriate preparation, concentration on the Vuelta rather than the Giro. "Mental midget" seems to be an argument conjured from thin air.

I certainly can't prove I'm right, but that won't deter me from stating my view on this subject.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

No. I am suggesting that he wasn't/isn't as talented as Contador to begin with so he came out of nowhere.

I said, in his youth. In the youth categories, read juniors and espoir, he was as good as Contador.

Just because he didn't break through as fast as Contador did doesn't make this any less true.
Your interpretation is lacking.

 

[greenedge]

Congrats to Sagan and also to Cobo.

 

[zapata]

Just 135 posts in this thread. Can't help thinking they might try something else to make the last stage more interesting.

 

[El Pistolero]

I said, in his youth. In the youth categories, read juniors and espoir, he was as good as Contador.

Just because he didn't break through as fast as Contador did doesn't make this any less true.
Your interpretation is lacking.

He's pro since 2003. He was a nobody for 4 years and a half. He was a nobody for most of 2009 and 2010 again.

That's not what I call having the goods for most of your career.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I don't see how your post has any connection to mine.

 

[El Pistolero]

My first reaction triggered this discussion.

 

[The Hitch]

hrotha did you go? You would have loved it. There were hundreds of Cobo fans in Bisonte shirts with Drums singing songs and waving Bisonte flags, and singing songs about De La Fuente.

One of the biggest cheers was when Matxin appeared on the podium and raised his hand in the air.

But by far the biggest cheer and surprise was when a huge group formed on the street after the podium with a lot of shouting.

I went over to see what it was.

Turns out The Great One had made a special appearance. Hundreds of fans shouted things like " Quieres mi novia Alberto?" and "Te quiero".

You would have loved it.

 

[El Pistolero]

hrotha did you go? You would have loved it. There were hundreds of Cobo fans in Bisonte shirts with Drums singing songs and waving Bisonte flags, and singing songs about De La Fuente.

One of the biggest cheers was when Matxin appeared on the podium and raised his hand in the air.

But by far the biggest cheer and surprise was when a huge group formed on the street after the podium with a lot of shouting.

I went over to see what it was.

Turns out The Great One had made a special appearance. Hundreds of fans shouted things like " Quieres mi novia Alberto?" and "Te quiero".

You would have loved it.

He was trying to take out Contador with his sniper rifle, but the fans were in his way.

 

[hrotha]

hrotha did you go? You would have loved it. There were hundreds of Cobo fans in Bisonte shirts with Drums singing songs and waving Bisonte flags, and singing songs about De La Fuente.

One of the biggest cheers was when Matxin appeared on the podium and raised his hand in the air.

But by far the biggest cheer and surprise was when a huge group formed on the street after the podium with a lot of shouting.

I went over to see what it was.

Turns out The Great One had made a special appearance. Hundreds of fans shouted things like " Quieres mi novia Alberto?" and "Te quiero".

You would have loved it.

Okay, I'm done puking, I can reply now.

No, I didn't go. I was kind of hungover*.
BUT! Watching it on TV I was like "Hey, someone with a Polish flag! Maybe it's The Hitch!" And one second later "That's sure tons of people with Polish flags, why would they... OH"

(In my defense, the Cantabrian flag is a pretty obscure one)

*the puking however had no relation to my being hungover

 

[El Pistolero]

I think I also saw a lot of Geox flags. Don't know how it's in Spain, but in Belgium everyone laughs with Geox and their stupid shoes and ads on TV.

"Geox, de schoen die ademt!"

God....

 

[The Hitch]

I think I also saw a lot of Geox flags. Don't know how it's in Spain, but in Belgium everyone laughs with Geox and their stupid shoes and ads on TV.

"Geox, de schoen die ademt!"

God....

The Geox flags were from the Cobo fangroup.

There were loads of them all wearing this Bisonte Vuelta 2011 t shirt.

 

[maltiv]

So, in conclusion, did Haussler, Fischer and Farrar earn their spots on the vuelta team over world champion Thor Hushovd? Farrar and Fischer were unable to stay on their bikes while Haussler seems to have completely lost it...

 

[cineteq]

So, in conclusion, did Haussler, Fischer and Farrar earn their spots on the vuelta team over world champion Thor Hushovd? Farrar and Fischer were unable to stay on their bikes while Haussler seems to have completely lost it...

Conclusion: JV failed

 

[theyoungest]

So, in conclusion, did Haussler, Fischer and Farrar earn their spots on the vuelta team over world champion Thor Hushovd? Farrar and Fischer were unable to stay on their bikes while Haussler seems to have completely lost it...

No, but it was never about deserving a place, just about being on the team next year. As you probably know.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Are we not allowed to make jokes?

hell no mofo.

Cobo, I am pretty thrilled to see the guy win.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

The Geox flags were from the Cobo fangroup.

There were loads of them all wearing this Bisonte Vuelta 2011 t shirt.

My personal favourite was seeing a guy riding up Peña Cabarga in a full cow costume with massive papier maché horns and a Geox jersey. He must have been sweltering.