2014 Vuelta a España, Stage 14: Santander → La Camperona. (201 Km)

[myrideissteelerthanyours]

My only concern is what to watch on Steephill tomorrow night: the last 5km video or the last 3km video? A PM might come handy.

Why watch at all?

 

[the sceptic]

2 things - 1. There are mountains here. 2. Mountains are AC's terrain....he has said his knee is "no longer hurting at all."

Considering his weak team he could be put under a lot of pressure by movistar and katusha but its hard to do that on these stages where everyone arrives together before the sprint for bonus seconds.

 

[DFA123]

Surface looks awful in the vid, is it still that way or was it resurfaced?

Pedro Delgado did a feature for Spanish TV here - http://www.rtve.es/alacarta/videos/vuelta-ciclista-a-espana-2014/pericopuertos-2014-camperona/2742575/ - and said that it has been re-surfaced since he climbed it.

The surface looks kind of similar in Delgado's video to how it does in the video that cineteq posted - so it probably is in better condition now.

 

[icefire]

My only concern is what to watch on Steephill tomorrow night: the last 5km video or the last 3km video? A PM might come handy.

They'll be so slow that steephill will have to adapt and provide only last 500m and last km videos

 

[icefire]

This where Quintana was going to take a min. on Contador
I hope Purito takes this.

Btw, good stage to get rid of Froome once and for all. Perhaps some zigzagging action? http://youtu.be/lEGpv0xn0E8?t=7m25s

The road is too narrow tomorrow and the fans will make any significant zigzagging nearly impossible

 

[Jspear]

Considering his weak team he could be put under a lot of pressure by movistar and katusha but its hard to do that on these stages where everyone arrives together before the sprint for bonus seconds.

It will be a shame if no tries on at least stages 16 and 20.

 

[cineteq]

Purito Rodriguez FTW

 

[May0maniac]

Considering his weak team he could be put under a lot of pressure by movistar and katusha but its hard to do that on these stages where everyone arrives together before the sprint for bonus seconds.

They could try to ride Puerto de San Glorio hard to drop Albertos team and isolate him. It could be a brutal strategie IF we had crosswinds after that climb, but that doesn't seem to be the case. But nonetheless, isolating Contador could always be a good strategy.

 

[SafeBet]

Why watch at all?

Cuz cycling is a drug and I'm big time addicted.
I even watch Fleche Wallone sometimes.

 

[cineteq]

The road is too narrow tomorrow and the fans will make any significant zigzagging nearly impossible

Then he'll come to a stop, no?

The surface looks kind of similar in Delgado's video to how it does in the video that cineteq posted - so it probably is in better condition now.

I think it is

 

[DFA123]

They could try to ride Puerto de San Glorio hard to drop Albertos team and isolate him. It could be a brutal strategie IF we had crosswinds after that climb, but that doesn't seem to be the case. But nonetheless, isolating Contador could always be a good strategy.

I don't think Contador needs a team on a day like this. He only has to mark two riders (plus possibly Froome) and no team will be able to do repeated attacks on the final climb. I don't see why he would care if someone like Moreno or Nieve worked really hard or went off the front - it's not as if they would be able to help Rodriguez or Froome on those last 4km.

 

[Miburo]

Cuz cycling is a drug and I'm big time addicted.
I even watch Fleche Wallone sometimes.

Believe it or not, I watch the last 10 km of FW.

The drug is real.

 

[King Of The Wolds]

I'm curious on which gearing they'll ride. Contador said in an interview 39x30, but after all he's said on his knee...

I don't think the climb's that tough. 39x28 maybe for the steep bits.

 

[DFA123]

I don't think the climb's that tough. 39x28 maybe for the steep bits.

Froome will be in a 34-32 spinning at about 120rpm on the 20% ramps.

 

[Miburo]

Considering his weak team he could be put under a lot of pressure by movistar and katusha but its hard to do that on these stages where everyone arrives together before the sprint for bonus seconds.

Nah bro, that doesn't matter anymore. The harder the Mountain stages are, the better for AC.

That tactic only works when you isolate Contador and for example have a guy (like quintana would be) to do some early attacks that is dangerous for GC.

Who is gonna do that? Purito and piti will never ever do that and none of their teammates are a danger for Contador. And the other guys are or not good enough or just not a threat at all.

Besides purito and piti would eventually ride themselves since they're too scared to lose their podium spot.

 

[ILovecycling]

Contador is lucky this vuelta doesnt have any mountain stages

I don't know,i see the final climb similar with Pena Cabarga,just a bit longer.

ten characters

 

[icefire]

Then he'll come to a stop, no?

If fans at La Camperona do like those in Angliru a rider coming to a stop will be pushed forward. If they do like those in Zoncolan, there will be someone saying "Don't push that dude, he's not Spanish"

 

[manafana]

Contadors to lose for me long and steep suits him the best.

 

[VeloHuman]

Hopefully Contador's GC rivals will realize that the only way to beat him is to attack like crazy and take advantage of his weak team. That way we get an entertaining race.

 

[blaxland]

Question guys.If someone like Esteban Chaves(orica)attacked on the San Glorio climb,would they let him go for it?or would they consider him a threat?If not Chaves then who else?this stage has attack written all over it.

 

[hfer07]

Believe it or not - I'm wishing the "resurrection" of Froome to make this more thrilling....

 

[Rechtschreibfehler]

I don't think the climb's that tough. 39x28 maybe for the steep bits.

It. has the speepest kilometer of racing History in it, 17,9%. And that is after almost 200k.

 

[Angliru]

Question guys.If someone like Esteban Chaves(orica)attacked on the San Glorio climb,would they let him go for it?or would they consider him a threat?If not Chaves then who else?this stage has attack written all over it.

Chavez lost 4 (?) minutes in the itt.

 

[rhubroma]

RREEPPLLAAYYYYY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMHfjVgYGuo

Hope AC takes time on Valverde though

People don't seem to realize that Aru won, because he was just far enough back on GC to be given just enough leash to take the victory. This takes nothing away from the 24 year-old Italian's acheivement of course, but he won't be able to "suprise" anyone this time.

Contador for the win.

 

[Roude Leiw]

Question guys.If someone like Esteban Chaves(orica)attacked on the San Glorio climb,would they let him go for it?or would they consider him a threat?If not Chaves then who else?this stage has attack written all over it.

Considering the relative weakness of Bertis team, i would let everybody with 8 min + go. So that would be more or less starting with Pardilla