2012 Vuelta a España: Stage 3: Faustino V → Eibar (Arrate) (155,3km)

[Futuroscope]

Welcome back Contador. When he is in a race it means action!

 

[Futuroscope]

I would also like to say that you can't really draw any conclusions about who is the strongest of Froome and Contador just by looking at this stage. We all know that Alberto can make these incredible attacks but will he be able to sustain them in the longer climbs?

 

[Angliru]

When you have twice the strength of everyone else there's no need for tactics. When you are below top form and unable to dominate your rivals thats when a rider needs to start using his brain to get an advantage. Contador has got a lot to learn.

No offense but this is the most idiotic statement since.....since Armstrong made it.

 

[peacefultribe]

I think the Spanish boys had a little bit of fun with Sky/Froome today

Yes. Alberto was like a shark......just sizing up his prey. He's never raced against Froome, am I correct?

 

[winkybiker]

I just want to see Berto wipe the floor with "froome-dog". For trivial reasons, admittedly:

1) He looks down every 2 seconds. It is like clockwork. What is up with that?
2) His goofy, ugly sunglasses
3) His boring power-meter riding, which he learnt from Wiggo.

 

[El Pistolero]

Yes. Alberto was like a shark......just sizing up his prey. He's never raced against Froome, am I correct?

He has, but not since alien parasites have crawled into him.

 

[Publicus]

At the Tour, everyman left was in a row at the front leading in to each climb.

Today, it was 3 Roleurs and Froome. The other climbers floated about (Henao started the climb well back and moved forward) and occasionally set a light tempo for 20 second sections.

If you think this is the same tactic as the Tour, you weren't watching very hard in July.

So it was Sky intentionally holding back their train and not anything to do with the efforts of other teams? It must be nice to have that kind of power and control, even with the 'B' team, over the entire peloton. It's Sky's world and the rest of the teams apparently just live in it. Roll Sky Roll!

 

[El Pistolero]

Wasn't the excuse of Sky's domination in the Tour that the competition was weak? What's it going to be when Sky dominate again this Vuelta?

 

[The Hitch]

Wasn't the excuse of Sky's domination in the Tour that the competition was weak? What's it going to be when Sky dominate again this Vuelta?

They wont dominate, and their excuse was hard work and swimming coaches.

 

[Carols]

When you have twice the strength of everyone else there's no need for tactics. When you are below top form and unable to dominate your rivals thats when a rider needs to start using his brain to get an advantage. Contador has got a lot to learn.

Sure he's clueless hence finishing first in 6 straight GTs

 

[Koba80]

Throughout all these pages of Contador fanboyism, I couldn't find if anything happened with Uran's motorcycle appeal...

Anything?

 

[The Hitch]

I think it was henao and i haven't heard anything.

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

After finally watching the stage I'm more convinced then ever Froome will win this Vuelta.

Contador's belly is full of anger and he gave it everything he had today and achieved.... not a lot. Clearly he is not in his best shape and is certainly beatable.

Hmmmmm, I think once AC gets his racing legs back he will be more explosive. But will that happen during this Vuelta? I think yes he will get better, once he rides into better form.

 

[moonstation2000]

Hmmmmm, I think once AC gets his racing legs back he will be more explosive. But will that happen during this Vuelta? I think yes he will get better, once he rides into better form.

He SHOULD get better, and Froomw SHOULD get worse, as time goes on...

We'll see...

 

[Kwibus]

Wasn't the excuse of Sky's domination in the Tour that the competition was weak? What's it going to be when Sky dominate again this Vuelta?

I don't think they will dominate again. Froome will contend for the win though, but yesterday showed there won't be domination.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

So far Sky isn't dominating at all. They couldn't lay down their law on the peloton on the last climb. First Ten Dam took over because they were going to slow. Then Contador took over with attacks and after that Uran/Henao pretty much just followed the group behind and Froome was riding his own pace to come back every time. No Sky-train at all. Porte was also much weaker than in the Tour (or the competition was stronger...)

 

[LaFlorecita]

So far Sky isn't dominating at all. They couldn't lay down their law on the peloton on the last climb. First Ten Dam took over because they were going to slow. Then Contador took over with attacks and after that Uran/Henao pretty much just followed the group behind and Froome was riding his own pace to come back every time. No Sky-train at all. Porte was also much weaker than in the Tour (or the competition was stronger...)

This I think...

 

[theyoungest]

So far Sky isn't dominating at all. They couldn't lay down their law on the peloton on the last climb. First Ten Dam took over because they were going to slow. Then Contador took over with attacks and after that Uran/Henao pretty much just followed the group behind and Froome was riding his own pace to come back every time. No Sky-train at all. Porte was also much weaker than in the Tour (or the competition was stronger...)

Yes, they were lucky to have most good climbers from other teams crash, and arrive at the mountains with a massive dent in their form. Look at Valverde now vs. the Tour, what a difference.

Sky were strong in the Tour, but like always the media have taken their obsession with the team a little too far and forgotten about how perfectly the Tour panned out for them.

 

[Miburo]

That valverde and purito were so strong yesterday is not such a big surprise, those kinda climbs are most suited for them. Short and explosive.

It's also suited for Contador though but the thing is that Contador is as good on short climbs like this as on long climbs. That's the difference with purito and valverde.

Let's hope to see some action, and sometimes on lesser steeper parts the gap will be made.

 

[Gloin22]

Yes, they were lucky to have most good climbers from other teams crash, and arrive at the mountains with a massive dent in their form. Look at Valverde now vs. the Tour, what a difference.

Sky were strong in the Tour, but like always the media have taken their obsession with the team a little too far and forgotten about how perfectly the Tour panned out for them.

Ummm.... most people here said becuase of how they perfomed- they OBVIOUSLY doped... soo ...

So don't say it was just the media - because most people went berserk in July in the clinic

 

[The Hitch]

Getting quite desperate bringing in your clinic fights here. As i recall the clinic went berserk specifically when it turned.out that the guy who cried that no team should be allowed doping doctors turned out to be working with lienders.

Now leave your spin for where it belongs.

 

[johnnycash]

We haven't seen anything conclusive yet, as Purito predicted. Other than Cobo is not in 2011 form, somewhat unsuprisingly.

AC looks in great shape and with the other 3 contenders, should be a great Vuelta.

Easy to say competition was weaker in the Tour but Valv was there and got his *** handed to him on GC. So explain that. We don't know how far CF would have got up the road on his own either.

AC getting stronger/Froome getting weaker is unsubstantiated. Froome didn't fatigue at all in July. No reason whay he can't do the same here as a leader.

Round 1, AC lands some heavy punches but Froomey takes the sprint. Good racing.

Valv defintiely seems to have had his Weetabix between the Tour and the Vuelta though....

 

[theyoungest]

Easy to say competition was weaker in the Tour but Valv was there and got his *** handed to him on GC. So explain that. We don't know how far CF would have got up the road on his own either.

Valverde was involved in the massive crash that eliminated most of Sky's competition. A hard crash in the Tour means GC aspirations are over. But everyone seems to ignore it, rather blaming lack of form or quality.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

So far Sky isn't dominating at all. They couldn't lay down their law on the peloton on the last climb. First Ten Dam took over because they were going to slow. Then Contador took over with attacks and after that Uran/Henao pretty much just followed the group behind and Froome was riding his own pace to come back every time. No Sky-train at all. Porte was also much weaker than in the Tour (or the competition was stronger...)

whare are you talking about? if it wasn't for a motorbike crashing henao. sky would've had 3 riders in first 10. only henao isn't working for froome quite clearly. only uran is

 

[johnnycash]

whare are you talking about? if it wasn't for a motorbike crashing henao. sky would've had 3 riders in first 10. only henao isn't working for froome quite clearly. only uran is

Didn't Movistar and Saxo do most of the work on the front? Sky did ALL the work in the tour other than a few sporadic turns from Liquigas.

I think its clear Sky are one of the strongest here but very much comparable to the other top 4 or 5 teams at the Vuelta, albeit with a strong leader, and do not intend a US Postal-style shut down of the event like they did in July.