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

[Ferminal]

How dare you?

Suggest that an Avenir winner being there is as surprising as a fat sprinter

Reinardt isn't that bad uphill. But yeh, Barguil has been pretty average on MTFs this year so this is a nice showing.

 

[Carols]

Tells a lot about his form. I'll repeat myself, serious podium contender.

Agreed, he is looking good.

 

[Ferminal]

KDW and FDG lose 7 minutes, random Belgian 15th-25th might be a struggle this time. Though Bart is still around and Hermans should arrive on the scene here.

 

[roundabout]

Reinardt isn't that bad uphill. But yeh, Barguil has been pretty average on MTFs this year so this is a nice showing.

Top 20 Poland, top 20 Dauphine. Finishing in the main group today is circa that level

 

[hrotha]

KDW and FDG lose 7 minutes, random Belgian 15th-25th might be a struggle this time. Though Bart is still around and Hermans should arrive on the scene here.

Losing 7 minutes shouldn't be a big problem for that 24th place, provided they get better.

edit: regardless, only FDG is a true hero and legend of the top 25.

 

[aarononymous]

Today reality hits SKY-- Uran was always the one to keep while Sergio needs more years to develop

Rigo showing his class. I always liked him as he was what I consider the first of the new generation of Colombians to succeed in Europe, although not necessarily the strongest.

Looks like Henao will be working for Froome in the Tour next year.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Headline gotta be the collective failure of Euskaltel.
Well, there are no reason to hold anything back now.

 

[maltiv]

I have absolutely no idea why there was only one sky rider in the final selection. What happened to the likes of Kiriyenka and Cataldo? Sky as a team were vulnerable in tour too...

They're still overtrained.

 

[hfer07]

Betancur also gone!!!damn It was expected due to the lack of racing-perhaps he's aiming at stage wins while Pozzo is in command......

gotta say- My Colombian fellows got hit really hard today-and is only stage two ....

 

[jens_attacks]

1. ITA NIBALI, Vincenzo 31 ASTANA PRO TEAM 5h 07' 22''
2. IRL ROCHE, Nicolas 205 TEAM SAXO-TINKOFF 5h 07' 30'' + 8''
3. ESP ZUBELDIA, Haimar 189 RADIOSHACK LEOPARD 5h 07' 32'' + 10''
4. USA HORNER, Christopher 184 RADIOSHACK LEOPARD 5h 07' 32'' + 10''

_O_
awesomeness!

and ivan basso got the form.

congrats to roche, pretty nice victory. but i hoped for domenico and sergio what a disapointment...

 

[aarononymous]

Pretty sure Betancur hasn't raced since the Giro. He's setting himself up for an overdue stage win, and perhaps preparing for world championships. Not sure what happened to Henao...

 

[JRanton]

Headline gotta be the collective failure of Euskaltel.
Well, there are no reason to hold anything back now.

Nieve finished with the favourites. I would say Henao's fail is the biggest story considering we all know Samu Sanchez is over the hill now.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

It was more why they sacrificed so many bullets for Samu, although it could be argued that Igor's clearly not in form either, Landa's probably too young and Egoi Martínez isn't a GC threat so now they'll have more freedom to go for stages.

In which case, it seems strange that their best stagehunter isn't even in the team.

 

[Spicco]

Pretty sure Betancur hasn't raced since the Giro. He's setting himself up for an overdue stage win, and perhaps preparing for world championships.

Indeed, he's focusing on the worlds. Apparently didn't even want to ride the Vuelta, but the team made him since it's the best WC preparation.

 

[JRanton]

The official Vuelta site seems to be missing 22 riders from its results sheet...

 

[saneguy]

What a year for Roche. Super in the Tour and now again in the Vuelta. Great going...

Henao just blew away. Very surprising. So then Uran becomes the de-facto Sky Leader. Interesting!

 

[Netserk]

Roche is always better in the Vuelta than the Tour. At least as far as I remember.

 

[Mkind07]

Shout out to Jesse van Rensburg finishing in the main group

 

[Richeypen]

What a year for Roche. Super in the Tour and now again in the Vuelta. Great going...

Henao just blew away. Very surprising. So then Uran becomes the de-facto Sky Leader. Interesting!

If I were Sky I would let Uran fend for himself and go for the breaks and stage wins.

 

[JRanton]

Good job from NetApp-Endura today. Konig 4th and Huzarski finished with the main favourites. De La Cruz and Mendes not too far back either.

 

[manafana]

ireland really has had a mega year not seen since the 80s

 

[trevim]

Bah I'm disappointed with André Cardoso and surprised by José Mendes.
Also, it's good to see Nieve again being the saviour for the amazing show from Anton and Sanchez.
Now I hope Saxo gets a couple more wins because their record this year is pretty thin even counting with Velasco's unavoidable double win Lombardia-Emillia

 

[woodburn]

Surprising to see Fuglsang drop three minutes. Samu ... not so much.

 

[Hysminai]

nah, Fuglsang is just here to help.

 

[The Hitch]

What a year for Roche. Super in the Tour and now again in the Vuelta. Great going...

I don't think he was super in the Tour at all.