2012 Vuelta a España: Tarazona – Jaca, 175 km

[Descender]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=839zsOCia9w

Thank you.

 

[DominicDecoco]

Because it is a shorter uphill-finish fitting for a sprint in the end. But note that he also says that he "normally should be there".

I'm just not buying it. The climb was just fine for him. Froome could perhaps have used that excuse if he had trouble. Fair if he got cramps but let's not turn this into 'Andy-territory' where every climb he doesn't do great on isn't his 'type of climb'. Everybody can have an off-day - he should stick with that reason.

 

[King Of The Wolds]

Should be easy since he doesn't get tired.

We're on day 6. And he' already been beaten twice by Purito, who's got more days racing in his legs this year. Some perspective please.

 

[Escarabajo]

Why people keep confusing Henao with Porte or even Uran???

 

[robert_c]

Purito made a beautiful move for the win. Great finish.

 

[robert_c]

We're on day 6. And he' already been beaten twice by Purito, who's got more days racing in his legs this year. Some perspective please.

Fan boys (girls) can't be reasoned with.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Why people keep confusing Henao with Porte or even Uran???

Just watched the Eurosport highlights, and pleased to confirm there was never any confusion there - not sure why they were accused of such earlier. They only talked of Porte on the penultimate climb, and correctly identified him when he dropped off well before the finish. After that they remembered he was gone and called Henao Henao.

 

[El Pistolero]

We're on day 6. And he' already been beaten twice by Purito, who's got more days racing in his legs this year. Some perspective please.

Oh please, he's had more rest than Froome who just finished the Tour and Olympics. Also, Jrod is the Cavendish of these finishes. He'll fail for the overall like usual while Froome won't. We all know this.

Of course people will find it hard to swallow when some 27 year old all of a sudden becomes one of the best in about every discipline of cycling. Just look at his time trial position, it's awful yet he beats some of the best time trial specialists in the world! I've watched Froome time trial before 2011 and it was horrible, one of the worst riders I had ever seen.

So yeah, he seems to not tire at all.

 

[Miburo]

We're on day 6. And he' already been beaten twice by Purito, who's got more days racing in his legs this year. Some perspective please.

Twice?

In a sprint while going downhill doesn't count and btw the next day purito dropped.

 

[No_Balls]

I'm just not buying it. The climb was just fine for him. Froome could perhaps have used that excuse if he had trouble. Fair if he got cramps but let's not turn this into 'Andy-territory' where every climb he doesn't do great on isn't his 'type of climb'. Everybody can have an off-day - he should stick with that reason.

I can understand that. I think it is some excuse of sorts to add for the bigger picture even if one fail to belive in what he is saying here. I have noticed a whole shift in tune from AC during this last days which i dont know i am that comfortable with. He seems genuine honest of everything he feels, how it goes, his form. During the last couple of years his normal approach was "unsure of form", "Did well today. Hope to be good tomorrow". It is in many aspects a whole new approach to the press which i dont know what to believe of. A good AC has always been a modest figure who is not that talkative, let alone speaking about climbs that "dont suit him".

 

[King Of The Wolds]

Oh please, he's had more rest than Froome who just finished the Tour and Olympics. Also, Jrod is the Cavendish of these finishes. He'll fail for the overall like usual while Froome won't. We all know this.

I repeat, day 6. Nobody, including Julich, who stated as such, knows how Froome will do later in the race, as it's completely unchartered territory.

 

[Kwibus]

How does this climb not suit Alberto? ... It was just fine for a character like Alberto.

Alberto agrees with you.

"For me it is the best climb,” he explained, “which I knew, but also that under normal circumstances it would have been no problem for me to fight for the stage. “But hey, I'm happy because, despite having this bad luck, the loss has been minimal.”

“I liked the attitude of Froome today,” he added. “It is important for the race to see riders of this calibre attack.

“It's good for the Vuelta, which will also give me some opportunities in the coming days.”

I also like his comments on Froome. He's encouraging him to attack so I'm sure Contador was frustated by the boredom of the TdF as well and likes it better when Froome attacks.

“Because of the heat, and the high temperatures we’ve had, I was beginning to suffer cramps on the final climb,” Contador said after the stage, “and I told myself ‘hey, Alberto, just get up it the best you can.’ I think I saved the day quite well."

It seems as if Alberto is enjoying himself most of all.
The Vuelta isn't over yet. Should be some good fights in the longer mountain stages.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

I do wonder exactly what he means by cramps; I can't imagine being able to continue at anywhere near race pace if my legs were actually cramping - you'd need to stop and stretch, even for a couple of seconds, and it would come back very quickly.

 

[El Pistolero]

I do wonder exactly what he means by cramps; I can't imagine being able to continue at anywhere near race pace if my legs were actually cramping - you'd need to stop and stretch, even for a couple of seconds, and it would come back very quickly.

Tighten your muscles hard and I'm sure you'll cramp up eventually. That's the pain pro cyclists are feeling when they cramp up like Contador.

 

[doperhopper]

I also like his comments on Froome. He's encouraging him to attack so I'm sure Contador was frustated by the boredom of the TdF as well and likes it better when Froome attacks.

Or some kind of Dirtie's spohisticated psychowarfare? Tire the diesel by manipulating him to attack, moreover, on meaningless bumps (though 26 sec is almost half a min).

 

[Kwibus]

Or some kind of Dirtie's spohisticated psychowarfare? Tire the diesel by manipulating him to attack, moreover, on meaningless bumps (though 26 sec is almost half a min).

It's not meaningless. Or should they wait till the final mountain?

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Tighten your muscles hard and I'm sure you'll cramp up eventually. That's the pain pro cyclists are feeling when they cramp up like Contador.

When your muscles cramp, they will not lengthen on command until you stretch them out - it's not simply a pain issue, there is actual loss of function.

I presume Contador is talking about something a bit milder, or just saying he felt on the edge of it happening.

 

[El Pistolero]

When your muscles cramp, they will not lengthen on command until you stretch them out - it's not simply a pain issue, there is actual loss of function.

I presume Contador is talking about something a bit milder, or just saying he felt on the edge of it happening.

You can stretch on your bike you know. I cramp quite easily, so I know what it's like.

Contador just has a much higher lactate treshold than us.

 

[alberto.legstrong]

whatever the case, cramps, dehydration, lack of race miles, I enjoy his commentary always. Athletes at the highest level tend to be good 'poker players'. Trying to decipher their comments is tailor made for forum message boards.

 

[Escarabajo]

Actually don't mind this Sky train, because I know that attacks are going to come no matter what their pace.

Not really!

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

You can stretch on your bike, but i'd be quite impressed if you could do it whilst also pedelling a pace that is dropping all bar about 10 riders.

Not sure what your lactate threshold comment has to do with anything, given cramps are not induced by lactic acid, and even if they were, your comment would only reinforce my point that it seems unlikely he fully cramped.

 

[The Hitch]

actually, I'd entertain the possibility that saxo & bert were sandbagging like astana was in 2010 morzine (or was it that) when andy finally found a pair and attacked at 1k to go.

anyhow, gonna be a tight race probably.

Morzine did prove Contadors weakness though, since it turned out he was bellow form that tour.

Besides no way does he sandbag to 17 seconds, having sprinted for 2s before.

 

[DominicDecoco]

I also like his comments on Froome. He's encouraging him to attack.

Yep, brilliant comment that.

 

[The Hitch]

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

Of course stages like this are way better. The breakaway can stay away, there are more people that can win and there are gc gaps.

 

[The Hitch]

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.

You knew Froome would take 11 seconds out of Contador? Man you should go put all the money you have on whatever outcome you forsee for tomorrow