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

[kingjr]

I wonder after today if Contador really has a small health problem. Nothing sinister, but slightly hampering.

 

[ILovecycling]

This.

Quintana wouldnt allow contador to take it easy like that

on one hand Im happy for Alberto,he is very close to his 8 GT,but on the other hand it could've been only chance for Nairo for double.Like all colombians he will be obsessed with Tour I suppose.Sad abandon.

 

[Arredondo]

It is not 100% Contador, but looking at his rivals, he doesn't need to be. I am sure he will attack somewhere to finish the job in the final week.

Great heart from Froome: sheer willpower today, it's obvious that he doesn't have the legs, but who honestly thought with 6km to go he would finish within a Second of the big boys. As someone else said, the likes of Valverde and Rodriguez may regret not finishing him off.

I doubt Purito could push harder. He was on his limit.

Based on how Froome rode the climb, i don't think he would lose a massive amount of time if they really started to attack earlier.

 

[LaFlorecita]

I wonder after today if Contador really has a small health problem. Nothing sinister, but slightly hampering.

Yes you might very well be right

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Navarro far too good.

Looks like Cofidis no longer wants to be the laughing stock of the peloton.

I expect him to animate the MTFs here.
Superior recovery since the tour.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Why? It was a ****ty "tactic" from Sky driving off their captain for the second time running. Seeing him jo-joing uphill was admirable but did not justify the closest thing to a forum crash we´ve been since Ventoux.

I agree, even I can admit the 'tactics' were awful. That was not my point, Froome always gets labelled as mentally weak by many on here. Today he could have just bowed and admitted defeat when he dropped with 6k to go like lots of riders would have but he kept fighting. I admire him for showing heart today.

 

[Pricey_sky]

on one hand Im happy for Alberto,he is very close to his 8 GT,but on the other hand it could've been only chance for Nairo for double.Like all colombians he will be obsessed with Tour I suppose.Sad abandon.

Yes I can see him wanting to ride the Tour now for several years.

 

[naviman]

I was just reading the comments during the climb. Holy crap, there is a LOT of hate for Froome on these forums

 

[hrotha]

Every time Contador doesn't trash everyone, he must be injured.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

oh come on. He went for it 2 times before he got the gap

his first attack was at 2km to go. That's late imho/purito style. Sorry.

 

[sir fly]

I was just reading the comments during the climb. Holy crap, there is a LOT of hate for Froome on these forums

If you don't glorify Contador, you get hatred here.

 

[theyoungest]

Every time Contador doesn't trash everyone, he must be injured.

He trashes everyone while injured as well, so that point is moot.

Nice to see Gesink with an actual forceful attack on an actual mountain again. Nice win by Aru as well, although his style already bores me. Another final km specialist, great.

 

[HappyLoser]

Every time Contador doesn't trash everyone, he must be injured.

Of course, who cares about second places? (Valverde...?)

 

[hrotha]

his first attack was at 2km to go. That's late imho/purito style. Sorry.

Get with the times. Attacking with 2 km to go is now supposed to be epic.

 

[Pentacycle]

Another final km specialist, great.

He's much more than just that.

 

[Netserk]

Get with the times. Attacking with 2 km to go is now supposed to be epic.

Route more at fault than the riders for that.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Get with the times. Attacking with 2 km to go is now supposed to be epic.

Guess I'm old fashioned

Today was boring. But you know with Valverde/Rodriguez/Uran they are never going to attack from 6km on.

 

[hrotha]

Route more at fault than the riders for that.

Except today wasn't an exception, we see this happen almost every time, no matter the route or the profile of the climb.

 

[Carols]

I agree, even I can admit the 'tactics' were awful. That was not my point, Froome always gets labelled as mentally weak by many on here. Today he could have just bowed and admitted defeat when he dropped with 6k to go like lots of riders would have but he kept fighting. I admire him for showing heart today.

I have no idea why Sky was drilling while Froome was yo-yoing. Meanwhile the man's sheer will power moved him way up in my estimation. He showed the heart of a true bike racer, multiple times. I will never again see him as mentally weak, instead as a real fighter!

I must admit that I was really pulling for Gesink. I had a soft spot for him a few years back, but repeated disappointments and I just gave up. It was great to see him making a move!

Aru, nice win, great timing on the move.

Bala will sneak off seconds here and there. Maybe Alberto was paying for his efforts yesterday a little and just couldn't hammer them. Only 20 seconds keeps it interesting at least until Alberto can dispose of him .

All in all an interesting finale. It's a shame we missed the first 60km when all the action was until the final 10!

 

[Parrulo]

Get with the times. Attacking with 2 km to go is now supposed to be epic.

Ya Purito is the greatest attacker of the past decade

 

[cineteq]

Every time Contador doesn't trash everyone, he must be injured.

Some posters are saying that it was a hoax that he was injured coming to La Vuelta. But if he was not injured then he must be weak, no? Oh wait isn't he leading La Vuelta?

 

[Netserk]

Except today wasn't an exception, we see this happen almost every time, no matter the route or the profile of the climb.

Didn't see that a lot in the Tour.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Every time Contador doesn't trash everyone, he must be injured.

He seems to be a lot less strong than on stage 9&10. That's a bit odd.

 

[theyoungest]

He's much more than just that.

Yes, obviously he has to race the 200 km before as well

It's not wrong to use your strengths, but like Purito it can be boring.

 

[LaFlorecita]

PS the 1s gap between Contador and Froome has disappeared, ASO at it again like on stage 7?