2014 Vuelta a Espana, Stage 11: Pamplona - Santuario de San Miguel de Aralar 153.4KM

[LaFlorecita]

I now hope Valverde takes the necessary bonus seconds to win this. Looking good if he can hold himself.

Haha that would be silly

 

[BigMac]

Gesink should have gone to Canada and get a win there. Things here look more difficult for him.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

I think he was neither bluffing nor cooked, he just rode his own pace without going into the red before the very end.

Yeah, you're right. I thought I responded to another reply.

 

[No_Balls]

Dissapointed that Contador didnt really attack himself, but he did ride a smart race

Its always disappointing when he is not up to it. But allt things concerned he rode a tactical great race concerning there are plenty to go. We will see some action later on im sure.

 

[Afrank]

Nobody chased him down. Valverde and JRod too scared to expose themselves and AC happy to let someone else take the bonus seconds

Looked like they were chasing, especially in the final few hundred meters. A gift IMO would be if they were coming into the final together and let him go ahead and not challenge him in the sprint.

Here I think he just timed it right and took advantage of a lull or some such thing. Timing attacks right so you get a gap when the others look at each other is an important part of the tactics game.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Sardinia smiles

 

[Rollthedice]

I have no idea how Froome did that, what heart from the guy.

Credit to Aru on the win.

Nobody seemed to want to drop him, except maybe Cataldo.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Exactly........... Contador will finish valverde off another day

I got the impression he couldn't do much more. No real punch.

 

[infeXio]

According to a short interview with Froome just after he finished, he kept his own pace, as he was still feeling the fatigue from yesterdays TT

 

[hrotha]

Crap stage.

 

[rhubroma]

Congrats to Aru.

Can't understand Valverde and Rodriquez today, when Froome was yo-yoing off the back, why didn't they attack? No legs aparently. Expected more from Contador today as well.

Now Froome is still in GC. Big missed opportunity by the others.

 

[go crazy]

LOL the Tour SUCKED in comparison to this race! Much better racing, and a wholly better route. I'm glad Froome and Contador are battling it out in this far superior race!

 

[Cance > TheRest]

I maybe wrong but im sure even the number 1 hating site cycling news(only joking) is liking Froome more and more. He is fighting like hell many would just give up especially his diva teammate.

Why should he even have an incentive to give up? There is nothing extraordinary in what he is doing. Afterall this was his goal ever since quitting the Tour in start July. I guess after your logic, we should all feel the same admiration for whoever finishes the Vuelta

 

[Pricey_sky]

Nobody seemed to want to drop him, except maybe Cataldo.

Yes I feared the worst when that happened with 6k to go, he just kept riding though and suddenly was only a second down on the leaders in the end. The writing looked on the wall when Contador hit the front but even he isn't in the best shape to attack hard.

 

[go crazy]

Crap stage.

Amazing analysis. You should be a writer or something. And I do mean "something".

 

[mr. tibbs]

Congrats to Aru.

Can't understand Valverde and Rodriquez today, when Froome was yo-yoing off the back, why didn't they attack? No legs aparently. Expected more from Contador today as well.

Now Froome is still in GC. Big missed opportunity by the others.

Agreed. Froome hung on really well today, I thought he was gone several times. Can't help but think that the Tour will makes itself known in the final week of the Vuelta, and Valverde will regret not building a buffer against Froome on days like today.

Nice wine for Aru!

 

[arvc40]

Best bit was when Froome came to the front and Contador slaped him back in place

 

[TANK91]

Looked like they were chasing, especially in the final few hundred meters. A gift IMO would be if they were coming into the final together and let him go ahead and not challenge him in the sprint.

Here I think he just timed it right and took advantage of a lull or some such thing. Timing attacks right so you get a gap when the others look at each other is an important part of the tactics game.

I completley agree Aru to me is only rider today who made Contador take just a little longer than usual to get back to him. Not saying Aru was stronger than Alberto but even his 1st attack was great. Not many try again do they.


I know you are AFrank and i know others who like Nibali like Aru, i think it will be intersting how it shapes up between them too. I persoanlly would find it unfair if after this great year Aru can not do atleast the Giro as leader.

 

[SKSemtex]

Nice win for Aru. So who is better? Aru? Majka? Whos is going to be next top star? I know that answer is Quintana . But from these two?

 

[naviman]

I was very impressed by Froome. But I just don't see how he could get a podium. I do see this race becoming like 2012.

 

[BeagRigh]

Nice wine for Aru!

Typo or did he get wine as prize?? I'm hoping for the latter

 

[No_Balls]

Why should he even have an incentive to give up? There is nothing extraordinary in what he is doing. Afterall this was his goal ever since quitting the Tour in start July. I guess after your logic, we should all feel the same admiration for whoever finishes the Vuelta

Given all this alien crap the fanboys are spitting out in endless numbers one would think that he´ve done something unheard of in the name of the sport. What we got? Jo-joing, and barely kept on with the leaders - as was the case in stage 6.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Today's stage makes me hope that maybe Froome can find something in week 3. I still can't see it happening but today proved you cannot write him off.

Valverde is still in this if he has the legs to keep taking bonus seconds at the finish.

 

[hrotha]

Amazing analysis. You should be a writer or something. And I do mean "something".

Thanks, I thought it was pretty good myself, especially compared to "this is a great race and a great route".

 

[MBotero]

Great win for mini Nibali he timed his attack perfectly,Valverde managed to not get dropped and got his boni seconds,this Vuelta is not over yet.Froome was hilarious going back and forth like in Vuelta 2011,still don't think he'll trouble the Spanish trio.