2014 Volta a Catalunya, Stage 7: Barcelona (Montjuic) (121 Km)

[Afrank]

ALT DE CASTELLBISBAL (P.M. 3ª Cat.). 4.4km, avg. 3.5%, max 5%
ALT DE CORBERA (P.M. 3ª Cat.). 3.9km, avg. 4.7%, max 8%
8 x ALT DE MONTJUÏC (P.M. 3ª Cat.). 2km, avg. 5.7%, max 8%

General Classification after Stage 6
1 RODRIGUEZ OLIVER, Joaquin (KATUSHA) 27:03:13
2 CONTADOR VELASCO, Alberto (TINKOFF-SAXO) + 4
3 VAN GARDEREN, Tejay (BMC RACING) + 7
4 BARDET, Romain (AG2R LA MONDIALE) + 10
5 QUINTANA ROJAS, Nairo Alexander (MOVISTAR)
6 FROOME, Christopher (SKY) + 17
7 TALANSKY, Andrew (GARMIN SHARP) + 18
8 POZZOVIVO, Domenico (AG2R LA MONDIALE) + 26
9 BARGUIL, Warren (GIANT-SHIMANO) + 42
10 KISERLOVSKI, Robert (TREK FACTORY RACING) + 48

 

[VeloHuman]

De Gendt won this stage last year from a ways out. Would love to see that happen again, and he's been off the front a lot in the 2014 edition.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Surely Contador will attack and Saxo will make it as hard as they can up those little hills. Not sure they are long/steep enough for it to work though.

 

[manafana]

hard to see this is one of those very open stages anyway. Contador is fancied but don't see it myself

 

[whittashau]

Does the ES coverage start at the same time as normal for this one?

 

[pdluz7]

Weather??? ....wet or dry????

 

[Honderclass]

Contador should be up there, Froome will be looking to gain practice from this race ahead of Tour de Romandie

 

[Jspear]

I'd really like it if Contador was able to win the stage and take the overall....don't know how likely that it. Purito does well on this sort of circuit. If a breakaway rider wins, I'd like to see Voeckler win.

 

[hfer07]

Contador to try once more an epic move...BUT Purito has got this already - It will be a great stage indeed

 

[Pricey_sky]

Are there bonus seconds at the finish again for this?

 

[Jspear]

Are there bonus seconds at the finish again for this?

Yes.

"The time bonuses on offer at the finish - ten, six, and four seconds - can only help make the challenge even more complicated.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/rodriguez-im-expecting-a-hard-fight

 

[Fzotrlool]

Wonder if Purito will go for a stage win even though he leads the race. It's like a light version of last year's Worlds.

 

[wirral]

If you are not in Europe, beware the clocks went forward last night. You have been warned.

 

[TourOfTexas]

This stage is too short. It should be 240km!

 

[Pricey_sky]

So let's say for arguments sake Contador beats Purito in a 2-man sprint for the win today. Purito would get same time but would lose his 4 second lead with the bonus seconds. Who would win the race as they would be level?

 

[Fzotrlool]

So let's say for arguments sake Contador beats Purito in a 2-man sprint for the win today. Purito would get same time but would lose his 4 second lead with the bonus seconds. Who would win the race as they would be level?

Contador.

http://inrng.com/2014/03/volta-a-catalunya-stage-7-preview/

If the stage is raced hard and there are only a dozen of riders left on the last climb, Rodriguez should attack. For him, the best defence would be an attack. This is tailor-made for him.

 

[Roude Leiw]

Does the ES coverage start at the same time as normal for this one?

Schedule of the ES player says live starts at 1515 for french and german channel

 

[wirral]

Does the ES coverage start at the same time as normal for this one?

Same time in Central Europe but not the same time anywhere else because Daylight Savings has now started in Central Europe.

 

[Ruby United]

There's no beating purito. I expect a good climber to take it from a small break, like TDG or fuglsang, but purito will easily cover up attacks from contador or Quintana

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Hopefully this man will take the win and move up a couple of places in the GC:

Stage looks good on paper, I think it will offer the best race action of the entire event (ok, the bar is almost touching mother earth at this point so it doesn't take much), but lets see.

 

[greenedge]

I cycled up Montjuic last year! (not a road bike/ i think the race differs from where we went up to,the lookout)- so I hope it's an exciting race. I think Contador, Bardet, Froome and Quintana could all attack- but JROD should be able to go well here.

 

[Arredondo]

I cycled up Montjuic last year! (not a road bike/ i think the race differs from where we went up to,the lookout)- so I hope it's an exciting race. I think Contador, Bardet, Froome and Quintana could all attack- but JROD should be able to go well here.

This is the easiest side of the Montjuich. Last year, i wondered if they already tackled him, and indeed, they already passed it. That shows it isn't hard at all (not comparing the side they did in the Vuelta 2012).

 

[manafana]

someone on twitter said the last lap is in fact a double climb? not sure if this is the finish or not

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Contador will go ballistic on the descents. I think Rodriguez will be able to follow him, though. These two to finish together with a small gap to the next.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Contador will go ballistic on the descents. I think Rodriguez will be able to follow him, though. These two to finish together with a small gap to the next.

I think so too. Contador will try everything but Rodriguez will be able to follow.

Then Contador uses his new sprint skills and beats Rodriguez to win the stage and the overall