2014 Vuelta a España, Stage 15: Oviedo → Lagos de Covadonga (152Km)

[Vino attacks everyone]

But what does Aru got GC-wise which Purito and Valverde doesn't have?

rather big teeth

 

[wirral]

Today's stage live in Asia Pacific apparently but no Tour of Britain till 24 hours later.

 

[Asturiano]

COVADONGA: THE PLACE WHERE SPAIN WAS BORN

 

[TheGreenMonkey]

Asturiano. Lovely photos, thank you.

 

[Ryongsyong]

I don't think Froome will do anything similar with what he did yesterday. The Spaniards will keep an eye on him now.

Hard to keep an eye on someone when he's 15 seconds behind them riding his own pace. The Spanish riders are still going to want to attack each other at some point— they don't dislike Froome as much as people on this forum do to sacrifice their race positions just to annoy him. It can't simply be a case of following him up the hill. There are still too many GC contenders in touching distance; it only takes one to attack to cause everyone else to join in.

In any case, if everyone was riding like Froome, it would make for a boring race. As it is, they aren't, and have with differing tactics, so it makes it more interesting IMO, especially as his style of riding is quite tricky for the others to deal with.

 

[Ryongsyong]

I was just about to say the same thing, it looks like ToB is live with Vuelta highlights on at 5pm.

They are utter imbeciles. So we get get ToB live on two channels (ITV4 and Eurosport) and none are showing La Vuelta. This kind of incompetent and arrogant display is why in the future TV stations like these will simply not exist and we'll be able to choose what we want to watch. They are just idiots living in the 20th century who deserve no sympathy when they complain about people watching stuff online.

 

[Asturiano]

 

[Asturiano]

 

[Arredondo]

No Tour in the legs.

Could be. But Purito rode the Tour in service of this Vuelta. So i don't think he will falter that much that he will get passed by Aru.

 

[One Eyed Aussie]

COVADONGA: THE PLACE WHERE SPAIN WAS BORN

Muy bonito! Bien hecho chico.

Beautiful country.

 

[No_Balls]

They are utter imbeciles. So we get get ToB live on two channels (ITV4 and Eurosport) and none are showing La Vuelta. This kind of incompetent and arrogant display is why in the future TV stations like these will simply not exist and we'll be able to choose what we want to watch. They are just idiots living in the 20th century who deserve no sympathy when they complain about people watching stuff online.

Agreed. For everyone that has grew accustomed (fans and newcomers to the sport) to a peculiar race following it on a weekly basis this is a major slap in the face. Shows they dont take it that serious.

Even for a british public this Vuelta surely must come as more intresting then the home Tour with a close GC-battle and Sky/Froome still in the mix after a pretty good effort yesterday.

 

[sir fly]

My Eurosport will broadcast only Vuelta, but divided on the two channels.

 

[l.Harm]

Could be. But Purito rode the Tour in service of this Vuelta. So i don't think he will falter that much that he will get passed by Aru.

Yes you'd say so, but he clearly hasn't been in top form. Unless he's peaking for the third week, which is unlikely given his history in GTs.

 

[movingtarget]

So we've gone from "Contador will beat them all" to "Contador will get dropped by Rodriguez and Froome and Valverde and maybe Aru". Right. We shall see.

It's not about the overall it's about the stage. After yesterday's stage why wouldn't anyone think Froome and Rodriguez will do well ?

 

[gunara]

Today's stage live in Asia Pacific apparently but no Tour of Britain till 24 hours later.

Good news! I always feared ToB would be Eurosport September GT and drop the Vuelta to highlighthood, it hasn't happenned though.

 

[armchairclimber]

I love Cantabria/The Picos/Asturias and have been looking forward to watching yesterday and today all flippin year. I think it's time to cancel the Eurosport subscription.

 

[TheGreenMonkey]

How can anybody think the Tour of Britain is more important than the Vuelta. It is a good race but largely local race against one of the major races of the year. There is no comparison.

 

[TheGreenMonkey]

No break yet but Anthony Roux has been involved in a crash and has had to abandon the race. FDJ with only 4 riders left.

One of them Johan Le Bon has been very active trying to get a break going.

 

[icefire]

Pelucci abandons, so Betancur becomes lanterne-rouge 1:52 after Guardini.

 

[Arredondo]

Yes you'd say so, but he clearly hasn't been in top form. Unless he's peaking for the third week, which is unlikely given his history in GTs.

Well, he peaked for the third week in the Tour 2013.
And his 3rd week in de Giro 2011 was his best.
And he won his only stage in last years Vuelta in the last week.
And he dropped Contador on Bola del Mundo in the last mountain stage in Vuelta 2012.

So it's going to live it's own story, Purito and a bad 3rd week.

And clearly not been in top form is imo a little bit too harsh. Without he TT, he would have been 2nd behind Contador. So base on his climbing, he's really close to his best.

 

[Rollthedice]

How can anybody think the Tour of Britain is more important than the Vuelta. It is a good race but largely local race against one of the major races of the year. There is no comparison.

British broadcasters think whatever happens in Britain is more important than what happens in Spain and Sir Brad is more popular than the dawg. Can't blame them.

 

[Eyeballs Out]

How can anybody think the Tour of Britain is more important than the Vuelta. It is a good race but largely local race against one of the major races of the year. There is no comparison.

For UK TV execs, Wiggins + Cavendish > Froome

 

[TheGreenMonkey]

So it seems the break is,
Degenkolb, presumably going for sprint points,
Meyer
Vandewalle
Aramendia
Niemic

Niemic is the best climber and probably will have to do most of the climb solo if he is going to win the stage. Unlikely seeing they did not get away for quite a while and it is only a short stage. At least one team of a GC contender is going to want to keep the pace up to a reasonable level.

 

[Rollthedice]

So it seems the break is,
Degenkolb, presumably going for sprint points,
Meyer
Vandewalle
Aramendia
Niemic

Niemic is the best climber and probably will have to do most of the climb solo if he is going to win the stage. Unlikely seeing they did not get away for quite a while and it is only a short stage. At least one team of a GC contender is going to want to keep the pace up to a reasonable level.

I'd say no win from the break today, finish boni points up for grabs for the GC contenders.

 

[l.Harm]

Well, he peaked for the third week in the Tour 2013.
And his 3rd week in de Giro 2011 was his best.
And he won his only stage in last years Vuelta in the last week.
And he dropped Contador on Bola del Mundo in the last mountain stage in Vuelta 2012.

So it's going to live it's own story, Purito and a bad 3rd week.

And clearly not been in top form is imo a little bit too harsh. Without he TT, he would have been 2nd behind Contador. So base on his climbing, he's really close to his best.

Ye the third week was a gut feeling but I checked it and you're at least partially right on that. Let's just say I don't expect him to improve.