2011 Vuelta a Espana Stage 3: Petrer - Totana, 164km

[Jeanne]

Chavanel might have a go

I'd be cheering for him, that's for sure

 

[Sylvester]

LOL, Menchov can be decent on these finishes but he can also be pretty average. Guys like Anton or Rodriguez could definetly take some time on him in some of the tougher finishes.

This is not Valdepeñas de Jaén, you know. We're talking about a stage with a 3rd category hill, 12 km away from the finish, in a stage that might be won by Sagan in a reduced bunch sprint. Will Menchov get dropped together with Rosendo, Doi, Jurgen Van de Walle and Cavendish?

 

[jsem94]

Yup. It's not like this is a real test for GC aspirants.

 

[TeoSheva]

Gasparotto can do well today

 

[Fergoose]

A very rare stage this year where you can test a GC contender with less strong descending skills. With so many contenders, some with question marks over their condition (Van den Broeck, Menchov) its got to be worth a dig by one of the contendersto get to the top near the front, try and bolt and see what happens – particularly if its hot enough for the road to be a bit sticky to play in the mind of the more cautious riders. An attacker can always sit up after a couple of kilometres if they haven’t got any gaps. I’d love to be wrong but I doubt Nibali will feel the need after such a decent start to his defence and I don’t know if any of the other GC contenders are particularly special going downhill.

Like the past two stages, I have no idea who will win but I doubt the pack will catch any break that goes over the summit. Like the previous stage, I know it won’t be a Garmin rider since their expert for such a stage is at home kicking his heels. I’d have loved to see Hushovd head to head with Sagan on this one, but you can’t have everything.

So, totally unoriginally, I’ll say Sagan vs Chavanel and I’ll plump for the older head to prevail against the younger legs.

 

[search]

The last 2k of the final climb looks rather steep, something like 8-9%. Anyone got a better profile?

A very rare stage this year where you can test a GC contender with less strong descending skills

there are 2 corners on the last 9km, I doubt it's so much about descending today

 

[Havetts]

Nothing is going to happen GC wise.

 

[sublimit]

I'm not too good at predicting these, probably Sagan but maybe CJ Sutton again. Whether he can survive on that climb though..

 

[just some guy]

I will go with GVA again, hopefully the mechanics @ BMC do a better job than so far ( might not be their fault, better never mind that sort of thing) .

Quinziato handelbars came off in the TTT and GVA could not change gears for the last few Km´s yesterday.

 

[insideout leadout]

Thanks. So 1200m at 10,4% including a short descent. I wonder how many of the sprinters who will survive today.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

GVA could not change gears for the last few Km´s yesterday.

Didn't know that.. that sucks! But on the positive side, maybe he can do better today then - I hope so!

 

[TeoSheva]

3 off the front:
Chavanel (Quick Step), Pidgornyy (Vacansoleil) y Edet (Cofidis).

 

[insideout leadout]

3 off the front:
Chavanel (Quick Step), Pidgornyy (Vacansoleil) y Edet (Cofidis).

+ Lastras (MOV) + Irizar (Shack)

 

[Michielveedeebee]

+ Lastras (MOV) + Irizar (Shack)

after less than 20 k's already 2 min plus

 

[just some guy]

after less than 20 k's already 2 min plus

the official ticker says 2 hours 46 min and 26 seconds after 28 km traveled.

Break for the win

 

[Michielveedeebee]

the official ticker says 2 hours 46 min and 26 seconds after 28 km traveled.

Break for the win

sick

But I use the official never faltering chrono of Andre Meganck

 

[just some guy]

sick

But I use the official never faltering chrono of Andre Meganck

we will go with Andre then.

separate comms on the ticker says 2.22 and a hot one of 32.5 Does Andre confirm ?

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

our live feeds are not online yet. they're covereing tennis

anyone got a live feed?
-thanks

 

[Ferminal]

Thanks. So 1200m at 10,4% including a short descent. I wonder how many of the sprinters who will survive today.

Hmm, Bennati's lead looks toast.

 

[insideout leadout]

Eurosport is live from 16.00 CET everyday.

 

[just some guy]

our live feeds are not online yet. they're covereing tennis

anyone got a live feed?
-thanks

Hour and a half away as far as I can tell.

 

[insideout leadout]

Hmm, Bennati's lead looks toast.

He managed it quite well at the queen stage of Tour of Denmark with the same gradients.

 

[theyoungest]

sick

But I use the official never faltering chrono of Andre Meganck

Lol. Never falters. Except when he mentions yesterday's winner as the winner of today's stage

 

[just some guy]

Gap up to 5.50 after 48 kms Leopard doing the work

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

He managed it quite well at the queen stage of Tour of Denmark with the same gradients.

There is no climb in Denmark of this length