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

[roundabout]

24 seconds slower this year than in 2012 up the climb.

http://www.climbing-records.com/

 

[DFA123]

I think that Valverde and Rodriguez should ride more courageously, 'cause it seems that Contador is constantly on the limit. They are running out of the road.
This way, they might finish fighting agains each other for a podium place instead for the overall victory.

It's just in the sprint though isn't it? Mostly different muscle systems, so any longer and they'd have to go aerobic again so Contador would catch them (and probably pass them). Contador is possibly the worst sprinter in the peloton.

 

[jaylew]

Valverde winning the stage and gaining 5 seconds on Contador in 3rd.

11 seconds gain total.

Valverde finishing second on the stage and not working with Contador gaining 5 seconds on Contador in 4th.

11 seconds gain total.

Valverde being dropped by AC after going to the front and pushing the pace.

20 seconds lost.

He's racing Contador, not Froome.

 

[roundabout]

Valverde being dropped by AC after going to the front and pushing the pace.

20 seconds lost.

He's racing Contador, not Froome.

I am with you actually. Just pointing out that in a race for GC Valverde probably gained the most time possible over Contador without spending unnecessary effort

 

[jaylew]

I think that Valverde and Rodriguez should ride more courageously, 'cause it seems that Contador is constantly on the limit. They are running out of the road.
This way, they might finish fighting agains each other for a podium place instead for the overall victory.

Please explain to me how Purito could have ridden more courageously today. He rode for the Vuelta win, not to preserve the podium.

 

[TheGreenMonkey]

The TT is only 10 km, and Purito is quite good in short distance time trials. Just watch TT's of a similiar distance in Catalunya, PN..

But he would need 30 seconds to be safe for sure

I have not payed much attention to Rodriguez in short TTs so perhaps I have underrated him. However I do not think he will beat either Contador or Valverde.

 

[jaylew]

I am with you actually. Just pointing out that in a race for GC Valverde probably gained the most time possible over Contador without spending unnecessary effort

Sorry, responding to so many misguided posters today.

 

[yespatterns]

My impression has always been Piti is a coward. A smart coward, granted, but not a champion. Purito rode well as did Froome and Aru (and Barguill). Piti did the usual wheel suck, and while he gained a few seconds there is absolutely nothing noble about him or his riding . I hope he leaves cycling asap. Other than him, a great last climb today.

 

[sir fly]

It's just in the sprint though isn't it? Mostly different muscle systems, so any longer and they'd have to go aerobic again so Contador would catch them (and probably pass them). Contador is possibly the worst sprinter in the peloton.

In the sprint proven.
But the fact that he fades after the accelerations means that he's giving everything he has. One timely counter-attack could break him, I have an impression.

 

[djpbaltimore]

It's just in the sprint though isn't it? Mostly different muscle systems, so any longer and they'd have to go aerobic again so Contador would catch them (and probably pass them).

I totally agree with this. Having enough reserves to make an anaerobic effort to sprint to the line and gain a few seconds is a much different proposition than dropping Contador somewhere on the climb and sustaining the gap.

 

[Donkey]

Did you actually watch the race? Purito attacked a couple of times including early and also had to respond to AC's attacks. What exactly was he supposed to do? The human body can only do so much.

And what would have probably have happened if Valverde had set the pace? AC would have attacked him and he likely wouldn't have been able to respond and would have lost time instead of gaining it.

Of course I didn't. I'm not even interested in cycling, that's why I'm writing to this forum and to this particular thread ;-)

I really really really believe that if Valverde contributed more and Stupido, sorry, Purito at least a bit the result among them would be the same but Froome would have lost at least 15 more seconds.

I think Stupido's wife must be in love with Alberto, otherwise I have no idea why is he so scared of him. But it's his bad, we all saw last year that if he sets a pace in front of a group, he does very good, but no, he wants to be the best mountain sprinter

 

[GroupDK]

It give sense why Contador is afraid of Froome..

Valverde & Rodriguez he's comforatble with and had from time to time over many years sense that these oldtimers he knew very well from the oldschool and wich he useally was pretty confident with, and prooved it Again and again-.

Froome quite the oppesit.. and had really made a mockery of him at numerous occations and been on a hole different level, suited up with Froome's great TT skills

So it make sense, why Contador still got a lot of fokus on Froome, WHO are the only one that had show signs of alien tendencies from time to time...

 

[inthepink]

My impression has always been Piti is a coward. A smart coward, granted, but not a champion. Purito rode well as did Froome and Aru (and Barguill). Piti did the usual wheel suck, and while he gained a few seconds there is absolutely nothing noble about him or his riding . I hope he leaves cycling asap. Other than him, a great last climb today.

Dan Martin had a fantastic ride today to coem from a crash & 1minute 36 down to finsish ahead of Barguil and 22 seconds down

 

[naviman]

It give sense why Contador is afraid of Froome..

Valverde & Rodriguez he's comforatble with and had from time to time over many years sense that these oldtimers he knew very well from the oldschool and wich he useally was pretty confident with, and prooved it Again and again-.

Froome quite the oppesit.. and had really made a mockery of him at numerous occations and been on a hole different level, suited up with Froome's great TT skills

So it make sense, why Contador still got a lot of fokus on Froome..

Contador needs to use his eyes more. Can't he see that Froome is struggling? There is no need for him to attack like he did today. Froome is not going to be a threat for GC.

 

[Donkey]

My impression has always been Piti is a coward. A smart coward, granted, but not a champion. Purito rode well as did Froome and Aru (and Barguill). Piti did the usual wheel suck, and while he gained a few seconds there is absolutely nothing noble about him or his riding . I hope he leaves cycling asap. Other than him, a great last climb today.

Exactly. And when he really wants to act like a champion it's tragic. Shame he's won Vuelta '09, Movistar has won TTT and there are bonus seconds. Otherwise he would be happy to be in top5.
and Stupido is only another silly version of Piti. Shame I only saw him providing class once - last year WC

In the sprint proven.
But the fact that he fades after the accelerations means that he's giving everything he has. One timely counter-attack could break him, I have an impression.

yes, the worst sprinter indeed. But I think he suffers a bit from lack of stamina like always when he's not in 100% form. But I really hope he didn't go 100% in his attacks today, not even once.

 

[jaylew]

My impression has always been Piti is a coward. A smart coward, granted, but not a champion. Purito rode well as did Froome and Aru (and Barguill). Piti did the usual wheel suck, and while he gained a few seconds there is absolutely nothing noble about him or his riding . I hope he leaves cycling asap. Other than him, a great last climb today.

He tried it your way yesterday and lost 20-30 seconds.

 

[Donkey]

Contador needs to use his eyes more. Can't he see that Froome is struggling? There is no need for him to attack like he did today. Froome is not going to be a threat for GC.

I disagree, only tomorrow and/or on Stage 20 we would be able to rule Dawg out. Or not. He shouldn't be underestimated for a single second.

 

[DFA123]

I disagree, only tomorrow and/or on Stage 20 we would be able to rule Dawg out. Or not. He shouldn't be underestimated for a single second.

Exactly; there is only one rider in this race that potentially could take anything close to a minute out of Contador. And it's not Valverde or Rodriguez.

 

[Donkey]

He tried it your way yesterday and lost 20-30 seconds.

which is good

no, seriously. If he's in front with Bertie and unable to distance him, it would be logical to work with him and oversprint him later. Then I would say: wow, a very good job today. Not to work, wheelsuck and then sprinting is not smart. He can be very sorry when finishing 4th after Aru and/or Froome and/or Stupido succesful long attack on Mon or stage 20. No-one is saying he should have attacked today.

 

[jaylew]

and Stupido is only another silly version of Piti. Shame I only saw him providing class once - last year WC

Your last sentence here is so ridiculous I shouldn't bite, but here goes:

What, exactly should Purito have done differently? He tried to attack 3 times. He tried early, he tried late. He also had to respond to AC's attacks.

Unlike Valverde, it was smart for him to attack as he's further behind, a worse TTer and is better on the really steep stuff. He tried, it just didn't work.

 

[yespatterns]

He tried it your way yesterday and lost 20-30 seconds.

I wouldn't call it "my way" since plenty of cyclists win in ways other than wheelsucking and trying to grab the table scraps. If that it's all he had to offer then so be it, but there isn't anything exciting about it.

 

[jaylew]

which is good

no, seriously. If he's in front with Bertie and unable to distance him, it would be logical to work with him and oversprint him later. Then I would say: wow, a very good job today. Not to work, wheelsuck and then sprinting is not smart. He can be very sorry when finishing 4th after Aru and/or Froome and/or Stupido succesful long attack on Mon or stage 20. No-one is saying he should have attacked today.

The problem is, if he had gone to the front and set the pace, AC would have likely attacked and he may have been unable to respond. Contador would be stupid not to attack in that situation.

 

[Donkey]

Your last sentence here is so ridiculous I shouldn't bite, but here goes:

What, exactly should Purito have done differently? He tried to attack 3 times. He tried early, he tried late. He also had to respond to AC's attacks.

Unlike Valverde, it was smart for him to attack as he's further behind, a worse TTer and is better on the really steep stuff. He tried, it just didn't work.

I repeat: I don't think anyone should have attacked. I just think three Spaniard should have worked together to gain time to Froome. Especially Stupido which is the same time as Froome and is not gonna have a chance to wheelsuck in stage 21
the time differences among those three would be the same anyway and they would distance Froome more.

If they did it a few times already, Froome could have a big margin now and they could fight amongst each other with less risk.

Of course I might be totally wrong, but this is what I would do in their trousers. And I'm not in a bad shape this year I must say

 

[MBotero]

I still don't get way everybody attacks Valverde,the guy is more like a sprinter than a climber.The simple fact that he can hang on with the climbers should be praised,not slammed.Why is he to blame,that those climbers can't drop him?
And if he want's to win this Vuelta why should have worked for Contador or Purito?

 

[Donkey]

The problem is, if he had gone to the front and set the pace, AC would have likely attacked and he may have been unable to respond. Contador would be stupid not to attack in that situation.

this would prove you right, I agree. On the other hand we can all see Bertie is focused in Froome. Why would he attack someone who is hepling him gaining time on Froome?