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

[SafeBet]

Don't really get how Froome is the biggest threat to Contador here. Where is he gonna make time on Berto?
Valverde is only 30 seconds behind and looks very hard to drop if he doesn't attack first.

 

[mr. tibbs]

the **** bullet, bala merde, I like it

Lol that is nice. Here's hoping Froome crushes them in the final TT.

As several have already posted, maybe it's time for Contador to stick with Froome and nip bonus seconds from him. Purito and the BM won't know what to do.

 

[T-Nielsen]

Valverde rode very well and very smartly (unlike yesterday). It's in his favour to keep Froome in the race if he's going to win

He refused to help close a gap of a handfull of seconds that would have given him the stagewin and bonus-seconds.

Please explain again why it is not in Valverdes interest to drop a rider who is in a position to overtake him at the TT?

 

[jaylew]

Valverde attacks and he's stupid. He doesn't and he's a disgusting wheel sucker.

Purito attacks a couple of times and he's also a wheelsucker.

People around here

They're trying to win stages and the overall. They're not racing against Froome. Valverde was smart today. He's racing for the win, not to put time on Froome.

 

[afpm90]

Stupid/coward race by Purito.

 

[DFA123]

Contador has a real problem now, Froome clearly is the main threat, but these 2 other Spaniards are jerking around with Contador, so he is afraid to really attack hard, because even if he did put more time into Froome, Valverde will wheelsuck right up to the line. I don't know what he can do at this point, other than just sticking with Froome and just marking Valverde and Purito.

He just needs to do enough to stop Froome from gaining time. If Valverde and Rodriguez sprint for the line in the last two mountain stages they still won't catch Contador even with full bonuses.

 

[l.Harm]

Like this they don't have any chance to win, only if they extend Vuelta to 35 stages to have enough bonus seconds to reach Contador.

31 seconds left only. Two stages are enough then.

Besides, if he would've applied the same tactics yesterday he wouldn't have lost the 20 seconds and even be a lot closer.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Contador another big day over on his path to another GT win

 

[T-Nielsen]

Don't really get how Froome is the biggest threat to Contador here. Where is he gonna make time on Berto?
Valverde is only 30 seconds behind and looks very hard to drop if he doesn't attack first.

TT. If Froome is hot he can make a difference. Nothing Valverde will gain in a sprint will equal what he will lose at the TT.

 

[sir fly]

You are a disgrace by naming then cowards. Purito was clearly on his max when Contador attacked. And Purito even attacked 2/3 times himself.

The hate towards some guys really goes to far sometimes. First Froome, now Purito and Valverde. Who's next?

The couple of Spaniards that has finished in front of Contador clearly had some reserves.
It's cowardly to wait for the sprint to use that reserves and not to try to make the difference before, especially if you need it.

 

[go crazy]

Valverde rode smart today.

Incorrect. There are 3 more MTF's to go. The three Spaniards clearly could have put real time into Froome today, instead they let him hang around, remaining the main threat to all three of them. If they ride together today and put more time into Froome, then the 3 of them could fight it out another day. All they did was gain a few seconds on AC, but let Froome remain within striking distance. Valverde is a huge a$$.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Have we reached a point now where we can officially state that Valverde is dumb???

Eh how? He gained 11 seconds on Contador and 18 on Froome even though he clearly wasn't the strongest. How is that dumb?

 

[Arredondo]

Stupid/coward race by Purito.

It was not a coward race by Purito. He attacked three times, but Valverde and Contador came back everytime. After that he had to answer 10 attacks from Contador. He was just on his max.

Jesus, it's not PCM right? Attack, attack, attack, coward!

And Valverde was the best, see his sprint. So if there was a rider who made a mistake, then it is Valverde. Because he would have won the stage.

 

[T-Nielsen]

We reached that point already at last years world champs, this is just reaffirmation of it.

........

 

[Dazed and Confused]

oh forgot D Martin. Solid recovery.
Should be able to beat Uran at the end. Tall order, but its doable.

 

[Donkey]

You are a disgrace by naming then cowards. Purito was clearly on his max when Contador attacked. And Purito even attacked 2/3 times himself.

The hate towards some guys really goes to far sometimes. First Froome, now Purito and Valverde. Who's next?

And who wanted Rodriguez to attack? He should have shared the pace. Once they reach the final climb, the organizers should remove the big ring from his bike ;-)

 

[DFA123]

TT. If Froome is hot he can make a difference. Nothing Valverde will gain in a sprint will equal what he will lose at the TT.

This. And also Froome, if he finds some form by Ancares, which isn't impossible, could take a minute on anyone.

Valverde and Rodriguez can't drop Contador outside the last 200m - there aren't enough bonus seconds for them to close the gap.

 

[Hugo87]

31 seconds left only. Two stages are enough then.

Besides, if he would've applied the same tactics yesterday he wouldn't have lost the 20 seconds and even be a lot closer.

When he's gonna take those 31 seconds?

Certainly not in those final 10 km ITT and not on the stage 20 (it's not enough).

 

[roundabout]

TT. If Froome is hot he can make a difference. Nothing Valverde will gain in a sprint will equal what he will lose at the TT.

Valverde can produce a shocking TT from time to time, but the current margin over Froome should easily be enough

 

[aarononymous]

so anyoed, thet sent a replay of 2012 Vuelta on my TV today

except Quintana would have been unchained today instead of pacing them

 

[djpbaltimore]

You are a disgrace by naming then cowards. Purito was clearly on his max when Contador attacked. And Purito even attacked 2/3 times himself.

The hate towards some guys really goes to far sometimes. First Froome, now Purito and Valverde. Who's next?

I agree. Purito made one of the strongest attacks on the climb. It took Contador a bit to close the gap. The low gradients at the top really discouraged successful attacks IMO. The course design dictated the tactics at the end.

 

[naviman]

Don't worry- he will when nobody is expecting it. Just wait until last stage when he somehow "summons" his 2012 TDF accelerations and steal the Vuelta title from Contador- mark my words

OK I've marked your words I would love to see that, just for the entertainment

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Eh how? He gained 11 seconds on Contador and 18 on Froome even though he clearly wasn't the strongest. How is that dumb?

Exactly, very clever racing by Valverde today. Unlike yesterday.

 

[T-Nielsen]

Eh how? He gained 11 seconds on Contador and 18 on Froome even though he clearly wasn't the strongest. How is that dumb?

He missed the win by refusing to close a miniscule gap. Oh and in the process he would have taken time on a man that may overtake him in the TT.

 

[Arredondo]

The couple of Spaniards that has finished in front of Contador clearly had some reserves.
It's cowardly to wait for the sprint to use that reserves and not to try to make the difference before, especially if you need it.

But if Purito attacked with 3 km to go, both men would have responded and refused to work with him.

A sprint to the line is something else then a attack from further out.