2013 Vuelta a España, Stage 2: Pontevedra - Baiona 177.7 Km

[SafeBet]

Not really. He would have to be about that level to take red.

or Nibali has to be quite weaker than expected

Nibbles could lose 20 seconds quite easily on such a finish. Never been his forte. And I don't believe he's at 100% anyway.

 

[Ruby United]

I'll go with a Columbian sensation:

Betancourt first pick Henao second pick.

 

[Fight.The.Power]

Really can't see Nibali take this one.

Agree with Ruby that it looks like Betancourt for me too!

 

[cesko_jr]

Kišerlovski or Valverde! Kišerlovski early attack or Valverde group sprint.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

Really can't see Nibali take this one.

Agree with Ruby that it looks like Betancourt for me too!

Betancur is not on form.

 

[greenedge]

JROD to win, Valverde to attempt to drop others earlier on/ hopefully Sky send Uran to soften things up.

I also expect Horner to be there until the final dash to the line / hope Martin can show himself- hopefully he conserves himself.

 

[MatParker117]

Henao as he won on a similar finish earlier in the year.

 

[Bushman]

Henao at least in top 3, maybe he can win.

 

[The Hitch]

I'll go with a Columbian sensation:

Betancourt first pick Henao second pick.

A guy who got dropped by his below average ttt squad is going to win the next day?

 

[ILovecycling]

Purito 1st win

 

[Hugo Koblet]

This one is for Valverde. Nibali to lose time.

 

[ILovecycling]

This one is for Valverde. Nibali to lose time.

Why do you think its better for Valverde than Purito?
Its 8% at last metres

 

[Aguirre]

beyond 10% better for purito

under 10% better for valv, me thinks

 

[Netserk]

The finish suits Valverde better than Purito, but the tailwind will help Rodriguez.

 

[number0]

my opinion:
no JRO
no Valverde

it'll be a fight between Ulissi,Henao and may be Stybar..
my feeling is that JRO and Valverde will pay the tour's labours

 

[karlboss]

my opinion:
no JRO
no Valverde

it'll be a fight between Ulissi,Henao and may be Stybar..
my feeling is that JRO and Valverde will pay the tour's labours

Stybar? 11km at 6% with an 8% finish...Stybar? I'd say stranger things have happened, but I'm not sure they have. I like him, so I'd be happy to be surprised.

The stage will be raced conservatively small gaps between the top 20 as they only really open up in the final kilometre.

I'll go Moreno.

 

[Gloin22]

my opinion:
no JRO
no Valverde

it'll be a fight between Ulissi,Henao and may be Stybar..
my feeling is that JRO and Valverde will pay the tour's labours

That should happen in 3rd week. Not yet. They should fight for win today.

Look at Froome last year. He was on par wit best in 1st week, and then faded ( consider his peak was longer till Olympics and not ended at Tour ).

 

[jsem94]

No big gaps among GC favorites, but a few aspirants will probably struggle. Typical Unipublic stage, no need to watch anything but the final few kms.

 

[number0]

Stybar? 11km at 6% with an 8% finish...Stybar? I'd say stranger things have happened, but I'm not sure they have. I like him, so I'd be happy to be surprised.

The stage will be raced conservatively small gaps between the top 20 as they only really open up in the final kilometre.

I'll go Moreno.

it'll be a strange thing.but if i remember good,Stybar in the climb of Redoute went very hard..excuse me for my english.

 

[Bushman]

my opinion:
no JRO
no Valverde

it'll be a fight between Ulissi,Henao and may be Stybar..
my feeling is that JRO and Valverde will pay the tour's labours

Interesting bet with Stybar. I have no idea of how he will handle the climb, but if he can hang in there he will most likely be the fastest.

 

[Gloin22]

No big gaps among GC favorites, but a few aspirants will probably struggle. Typical Unipublic stage, no need to watch anything but the final few kms.

Well, not for sure.

There's a chance of high winds, hence echelons.

 

[que sera cera]

Luis Leon Sanchez should be an outsider on this Monte da Groba. Wondering what he'll make of this Vuelta anyway. Could see him win once or twice.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Why do you think its better for Valverde than Purito?
Its 8% at last metres

The last 500 metres are less than 7% in average. I think it needs to be steeper for Rodriguez to have the advantage.

 

[Orbit501]

Mikel Landa to do his new team for next season a favour and clean up from the break. By the end of the day, wearing Red and whatever colour the young riders & KOM jersey's are these days

This is all assuming my Caja Rural prediction doesn't come off of course. I still think the win will come from the break.

 

[trevim]

Wow a first category that goes to almost 700m !
Hopefully, André Cardoso will do fine and Nibali won't be dropped.