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

[Duartista]

If Geox fail at the end as things look now, will the Geox sponsors who were not happy with the none WT status for this year but hung around anyway pull the plug on the team ?

Diadora maybe sponsor a team, I know of one team whos leader has a personal sponsorship with them maybe they sign on ?

Just making rumours with the 2nd bit, but what do you folks think.

Maybe they'll try to get rid of Gianetti. Will be difficult though because I think he holds the licence.

 

[LaFleur]

Taaramae felt really bad today. Had a nosebleed during the race and then his stomach started aching (apparently he drank too much, but he drinks so much because he got cramps) and then he stopped drinking to make it a bit better, but then he got cramps all over the body because he didn't drink (so crap all around). Somehow he managed to the finished, but showed the strength he has to get over the mountain with feeling bad. He said that Anton was left behind in the climb with a bout 1km to!! Got back in the descent.

 

[maltiv]

Taaramae felt really bad today. Had a nosebleed during the race and then his stomach started aching (apparently he drank too much, but he drinks so much because he got cramps) and then he stopped drinking to make it a bit better, but then he got cramps all over the body because he didn't drink (so crap all around). Somehow he managed to the finished, but showed the strength he has to get over the mountain with feeling bad. He said that Anton was left behind in the climb with a bout 1km to!! Got back in the descent.

Oh no! Certainly doesn't look good for him tomorrow then.

 

[theyoungest]

did rabobank wait for him?i guess not,bad form it is.

I doubt his teammates knew about this. He broke a spoke, just when the **** hit the fan.

 

[cineteq]

He said that Anton was left behind in the climb with a bout 1km to!! Got back in the descent.

Good insight info which combined with what I read on Galdeano's comments on Anton suggesting he's not as good in 2010. We're going to find out as soon as tomorrow with Sierra Nevada's stage...

 

[ingsve]

No, I meant not going with Kiserlovski a priori, before the Vuelta even started. And yes, I suspect it's political and that it'll only get worse as we get more "national" teams.

There's certainly national politics going on. Before the Vuelta Kessiakoff was going to be the leader and I guess Kiserlovski was also going to be co-leader with him but then they brought on Kashechkin who then got the designated leader role and Kessiakoff was told that he was going to ride for Kashechkin and to also make sure to finish well so that they could get high on team GC. I assume Kiserlovski was told the same thing.

Kessiakoff has also stated "We'll see who has the best legs and who is in the best position when we get further into the race. We'll ride for whoever is in the best spot. I hope he (Kashechkin) will do well. I'm at [the teams] service."

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I expect Movistar to probably try to get a win here, and I've earmarked Madrazo and David López as the riders most likely to give it a go, based on their attitudes, performances and showings in March and April.

Damnit, half there, wrong riders.

 

[Tank Engine]

Nice to see Roche up there. If Anton did have to catch back on (and not for a mechanical) that is worrying. Lastras took his chance very well. I'm sure we'll be seeing Chavanel again soon.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Kruijswijk said he had good legs but due to a broken rear wheel he lost contact.

Really sucks

 

[Swede1]

So Menchov didn't have any kind of mechanical? Is he simply out of shape? I guess his move to Geox was not a good one for him.

 

[Markooo]

If Anton is out of form, if Menchov and Sastre are out of form, this Vuelta will be boring.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

If Anton is out of form, if Menchov and Sastre are out of form, this Vuelta will be boring.

J-Rod trying vainly to win back the time he inevitably loses in the ITT could be very fun nonetheless.

 

[Arnout]

I don't really believe Taaramae to be honest. Coming over the climb they showed they had a motor behind the peloton. If Anton was there, they would have shown him instead of the random guys they showed now.

What's more, I'm fairly certain I saw at least one Euskaltel jersey in the bunch on top of the climb.

Well, I guess we will see tomorrow.

 

[hrotha]

So Menchov didn't have any kind of mechanical? Is he simply out of shape? I guess his move to Geox was not a good one for him.

Delgado mentioned yesterday that he asked Menchov if he had done altitude training or anything special for the Vuelta, and that Menchov said he hadn't, which Delgado found surprising because that wasn't usual for Denis.

 

[hrotha]

I don't really believe Taaramae to be honest. Coming over the climb they showed they had a motor behind the peloton. If Anton was there, they would have shown him instead of the random guys they showed now.

What's more, I'm fairly certain I saw at least one Euskaltel jersey in the bunch on top of the climb.

Well, I guess we will see tomorrow.

The Spanish moto commentator did say Antón had been dropped just before the top.

 

[Markooo]

What's more, I'm fairly certain I saw at least one Euskaltel jersey in the bunch on top of the climb.

It was Verdugo. I saw Nieve next to Anton when climb was starting.

 

[The Hitch]

If Anton is on bad form that makes things interesting. I expected him to run away with this.

If Nibali contends again there will have to come a time when people stop saying "oh it doesnt count because Menchov, Anton etc were off form", because he is managing to hit that contenders form every single time, while others struggle.

I dont have full faith in Nibali on the mountains though, and while i always hyped Michelle as one of the best, some pointed out that top italian gc guys dont always do well at the Vuelta (eg Di Luca). Can he motivate himself for it?

Which brings us back once again to Purito.

He has his problems, we all know what they are, but i do expect him to be on form, which is more than it seems most have managed.

All will be revealed tomorrow.

Anda Joaquim.

Menchov to pull a Schleck tonight and stagger back to the hotel at 4am

Nicely done

 

[Duartista]

So Menchov didn't have any kind of mechanical? Is he simply out of shape? I guess his move to Geox was not a good one for him.

Apparently he had an unspecified mechanical at the beginning of the climb which caused him to be in a bad position - but after that he basically just didn't have the legs.

 

[Arnout]

The Spanish moto commentator did say Antón had been dropped just before the top.

Mmm ok. Well, we'll see.

 

[cocteau_ireland]

Yes,certainly nice to see roche give it a poke at the end. Clearly not for time but borne out of frustration for well ropey season. Pity de weert and taaramae losing loads. Is that what happens when young riders pushed into two gts a season?

 

[roundabout]

Taaramäe didn't lose anything. De Weert is 29 I think.

 

[hrotha]

Yes,certainly nice to see roche give it a poke at the end. Clearly not for time but borne out of frustration for well ropey season. Pity de weert and taaramae losing loads. Is that what happens when young riders pushed into two gts a season?

Gotta give it to Roche, he's ridiculously competitive. Reminds me of Zabel, who always sprinted - for 1st, 2nd or 40th. Roche may have a bad season here and there, and I'm not sure he's truly a GC guy, but he'll always bounce right back.

 

[Winterfold]

LOL at Wiggo/Sky dishing it out on a Cat 3 and Anton suffering

Haven't they read the script?

 

[LaFleur]

Taaramae lost no time despite feeling ill.

Kascheckin seems to be a flop and Kiserlovski is not really himself this season. Kangert blogged, that Kascheckin and Kiserlovski went off the back on first climb already! Kangert went after them and got them back up, but had nothing to do when they fell off the back on the 2nd one.

 

[Eyeballs Out]

How on earth did Le Mevel finish in the lead group ? He seemed to be in a bad way after his crash. I just assumed he'd roll in with the Cav group (if at all)