2012 Vuelta a España: Tarazona – Jaca, 175 km

[Eshnar]

two days ago people said this was the best grand tour of the year...

people are stupid
Someone of them should tell me what's the difference between stages like this and flat bunch sprints.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Contador is now Uran.

Long climbs will be fascinating.

Froome might win the worlds at this rate.

What the ****. Why is Contador Uran.

 

[Arnout]

two days ago people said this was the best grand tour of the year...

I've never said this.

So sorry for Anton

Don't be sorry for Anton, he's just failing big time. Doing **** all year to be fresh in the Vuelta and he's gone after one decent showing in Vuelta a Burgos and on the Arrate. I don't know what he's doing, but it can't be much good.

 

[No_Balls]

Contador was "killed" by the fast steady pace of Sky train...

I think he was "killed" even before that team set up a ride. It wasnt his day, obviously.

 

[gog...]

action didn't start till late in the climb because everyone was waiting for contador but he didn't have the legs

 

[El Pistolero]

I think that's not so bad from Contador. I mean he is not the "go fast on short climbs" type of rider (he was good on a few similar stages). There will be much different on longer climbs.

Yeah, Froome putting everyone on minutes different.

 

[slim charles]

No .

Stop reverse-jinxing it already

 

[glassmoon]

Still a lot of racing to go, and we haven't gotten in to the really big mountains. You never know what might happen, Froome might crack later in the race.

+1
i think in 3rd week or so he (Froome) will crack due to TdF hard work for wiggo. AC still got big advantage over Rodriguez in TT and long climbs imho.

 

[roundabout]

Well actually it was not extremely boring, at least something happened. But in my course guide I marked this as one of the best stages on paper, and I think it will be. More of this to come, but worse. It is unimaginative, most of all.

Yeah, unimaginative is the best term. Fast pace to whittle the group down to the max and then the best uphill finisher wins.

 

[johnnycash]

Contador will be fine, a minor setback. He'll be there at the end, don't worry Florecita.

I did think on Arrete that his repetitive attacks lacked punch and perhaps were trying to make a point, intimidate the opposition a bit, rather than actually gain time.

Long way to Madrid.

 

[Arnout]

people are stupid
Someone of them should tell me what's the difference between stages like this and flat bunch sprints.

Well, some time differences. I don't mind a few stages like this, but it's only this. It's sad really.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Don't be too negative Flo. Bertie is a fighter, he'll try again and again. It's not over at all.

Of course he'll try. But I'm sure Froome and Purito will drop him in the big mountains. Forget about him, he's done.

 

[Afrank]

Cracking is impossible for a Sky's leader.

Wiggins in vuelta 2011

 

[happytramp]

Every time Kelly mentions how much time Froome took out of Contador it becomes less and less. Started at 12 now down to 4 or 5.

 

[hrotha]

In my opinion Purito was always going to put some seconds on everyone else, but I didn't expect Froome to do better than Contador here. More importantly, I didn't expect Contador to cross the finish line with that look in his face and almost soft-pedalling.

 

[rzombie1988]

Don't give up on AC yet. He's never been great at these short steep finishes. Wait until the mountains. One weak attack and a first place finish will put him in the lead.

 

[FoxxyBrown1111]

Beautiful. I loved it.

 

[Arnout]

Predictable, that's the word. You know exactly what is going to happen, and when. It's like watching a football match while knowing the final score, the only question is who are the goal scorers.

 

[No_Balls]

Cracking is impossible for a Sky's leader.

It seems impossible for the team as a whole. Reminds me, i really need to visit that Tenerife traing camp.

 

[Der Effe]

Of course he'll try. But I'm sure Froome and Purito will drop him in the big mountains. Forget about him, he's done.

I'd love to collect all the facepalms in the world and hand them out to you.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

people are stupid
Someone of them should tell me what's the difference between stages like this and flat bunch sprints.

Poor, poor year for gts.

Lucky we have the podium girls

 

[SiAp1984]

Still a lot of racing to go, and we haven't gotten in to the really big mountains. You never know what might happen, Froome might crack later in the race.

Of course, nothing's been decided yet. However, we have to assume that AC is going to lose time on Froome in the ITT and Froome just has to follow the attacks of his opponents in the mountains + he has a super-strong team.

I still think it is possible for AC to win, but as it already showed in the Tours of 2010 and 2011, the days when he was clearly the strongest climber among the race favorites are over (unless he races a Giro with virtually no serious competition). I wonder if he will pull off something like Alpe d'Huez in last years Tour? Might be a good idea at a later point, though...

 

[richwagmn]

In my opinion Purito was always going to put some seconds on everyone else, but I didn't expect Froome to do better than Contador here. More importantly, I didn't expect Contador to cross the finish line with that look in his face and almost soft-pedalling.

Cramps? Something wasn't right. But again, Froome looked good.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Alberto says he suffered a cramp. I don't believe him though.

 

[Koba80]

классно! Катюша победа!