2012 Vuelta a España: Stage 4:Barakaldo-Estación de Valdezcaray 160.6 Km

[Parrulo]

2012 Vuelta a España: Stage 4:Barakaldo-Estación de Valdezcaray 160.6 Km

Profile:

last climb:

small group at the finish and purito vs piti round 2?

 

[Descender]

If my garage ramp featured in a Vuelta stage they would label it a Cat 1 climb.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Alberto ftw!

 

[Afrank]

Purito v. Valverde round 2, purito FTW this time. Contador to put a little more into an attack then he did today and test Froome's endurance.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Henao will be hungry after today and take the win tomorrow. Valverde is the obvious choice if course.

 

[Descender]

I'm willing to bet with the first poster that feels up to the task that none of the big 4 wins tomorrow's stage.

If I'm wrong you can choose an avatar of your choice and I'll wear it the whole Vuelta.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

I'm willing to bet with the first poster that feels up to the task that none of the big 4 wins tomorrow's stage.

If I'm wrong you can choose an avatar of your choice and I'll wear it the whole Vuelta.

sure, why not

 

[Miburo]

There can be damage, remember gap in tour '11 last year?

Only 5% but we've had some action and next stages aren't hard so i expect something.

 

[Descender]

sure, why not

Prepare to lose.

 

[jens_attacks]

There can be damage, remember gap in tour '11 last year?

Only 5% but we've had some action and next stages aren't hard so i expect something.

it's actually pretty difficult until they hit that plateau

that would be some 9 kms at more than 6%

those 4 k's at 7% look tasteful

my predictions is that saxo and sky will go full-gas,alberto will attack again and one of purito and valverde will crack

for the win, winner anacona

 

[Fidolix]

sure, why not

Vae you also lack an avatar, go for it

I don´t think much will happen, it´s not steep enough, Berto will attack and Valverde steals it, no time gaps on first 5 guys in the gc.

Comments from AC about todays stage in case someone missed it:


"I felt strong and in excess, so of course I would test the legs, but there was only minimal time to get in the end, due to the short rise and the fact that there were no other mountains prior, so most favorites was fresh. However, I am still quite happy with the test, although of course I would have preferred to win, but the goal is still Madrid, and before the stage start today I would have been absolutely satisfied with the result. I might be missing still a little race pace, but I have the right punch, and it's a sign that I'm ready. Now I look forward to the next stages with optimism, "said Team Saxo Bank Tinkoff Bank's Alberto Contador.

 

[luckyboy]

Largeish group of favourites at the finish (today's top guys + 6secs group), with Piti or some top 10 GC outsider probably winning.

 

[SetonHallPirate]

I'm willing to bet with the first poster that feels up to the task that none of the big 4 wins tomorrow's stage.

If I'm wrong you can choose an avatar of your choice and I'll wear it the whole Vuelta.

I wouldn't bet that...I'd probably go for Daniel Moreno (again) myself. This almost looks like Sierra Nevada (the side climbed last year) lite.

 

[Descender]

If memory serves right, Valdezcaray has only been climbed in a road stage once in the history of the Vuelta (it was normally used as an ITT).

The stage was won by...

Sean Kelly.

 

[Cimber]

Sadly the last part of the climb is not hard enought. I dont expect much, if any, gaps among the top favorites.

 

[gerundium]

i expect contador to atleast attempt another attack. we will see if it works, the first kilometers of the mountain are reasonable for attacks.

 

[taiwan]

Berto to make a statement.

 

[trompe le monde]

Sadly the last part of the climb is not hard enought. I dont expect much, if any, gaps among the top favorites.

I agree, the flattening out of the finish will do much to erase any gaps. Would be a good stage for a non GC candidate to steal a stage...maybe M. Landa tries to make his mark.

I'm impressed with Valverde so far, though its still early yet. I just hope Anton is using the first week to round into form in much the same way Contador allegedly is. I expected a touch more from him on Stage 3, though he wasn't exactly terrible.

Anyway, to more excitement.

 

[Forunculo]

This stage smells the massive sprint (40-60 riders) or a break

 

[airstream]

I expect something sort of Lago Laceno Giro stage

 

[DominicDecoco]

If my garage ramp featured in a Vuelta stage they would label it a Cat 1 climb.

I kind of thought of the same thing, hehe. Kind of.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I expect something sort of Lago Laceno Giro stage

Don't think it's steep enough.

I expect either a group of 30-40 and a sprint won by somebody like Valverde, Rodríguez or Moreno, or the group lets somebody unthreatening get away in the closing kilometres for the win.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

The closing kms are exposed, right?

 

[Cimber]

The closing kms are exposed, right?

Ye (10 char)

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

Ye (10 char)

Great. Let's hope for some freaking wind then.

Sky to destroy the field on the flat.