2014 Vuelta a Espana, stage 18: A Estrada-Monte Castrove en Meis (157 km)

[fauniera]

Hubert DUPONT
Luis León SÁNCHEZ
Johan LE BON

That's it unfortunately.

 

[l.Harm]

That will be it. Above three minutes already.

 

[cineteq]

Lol! I'd imagine Cancellara doing whatever he can to neutralise the stage because of this!

FYI: Cancellara is gone.

 

[Akuryo]

FYI: Cancellara is gone.

He was afraid!

 

[Hugo Koblet]

FYI: Cancellara is gone.

Thank god. But to be honest, I wouldn't be surprised if he tried to neutralise the stage anyway

 

[jens_attacks]

they will be caught on the first ascent i think

movistar chases now doing sky work lol

 

[del1962]

they will be caught on the first ascent i think

movistar chases now doing sky work lol

Valverde must be feeling good

 

[the sceptic]

Valverde will get dropped like a stone by Froomes alien attack

 

[cineteq]

45.8 kph after 2 hours of racing!

 

[Walkman]

45.8 kph after 2 hours of racing!

Still less than when Gilbert tried like crazy to get in a break during the 2011 Tour. Over 50 kph for two hours due to the HTC train!

 

[icefire]

Valverde must be feeling good

Yep, Tourmalet form

 

[Netserk]

IIRC from 2012, the descent is fairly technical, right?

 

[Carols]

Bala FTW

Alberto loses ~5 seconds.

 

[icefire]

IIRC from 2012, the descent is fairly technical, right?

I don't think the descent the Delgado and Pereiro showed in the stage preview is that technical. It must be a different road.

 

[Netserk]

I don't think the descent the Delgado and Pereiro showed in the stage preview is that technical. It must be a different road.

From the profile it looks like it's the same (descent) as in 2012. Wasn't that one fairly technical, or is my memory failing me?

 

[Arredondo]

From the profile it looks like it's the same (descent) as in 2012. Wasn't that one fairly technical, or is my memory failing me?

The descent they did back in 2012 was technical indeed, especially in the first part. There was it Froome who lost quite a lot of time to Contador and Purito. Small roads and technical, sharp corners.

 

[Netserk]

The descent they did back in 2012 was technical indeed, especially in the first part. There was it Froome who lost quite a lot of time to Contador and Purito. Small roads and technical, sharp corners.

If this map is correct, then it was a different descent in 2012.

 

[Dr. Juice]

Sky puts the race asleep. Maybe Froome doesn't feel confident against Valverde today. That doesn't mean he is not good enough though. Just his mindset.

 

[Lexman]

quite strong climbing from Lulu...

 

[Arredondo]

I really can't see anyone beat Valverde here.

 

[icefire]

Many thought the same in AGR 2013

 

[Arredondo]

Many thought the same in AGR 2013

I didn't saw him as the big favorite then, not bigger then Gilbert for example.

 

[roundabout]

Dumb Froome

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Froome sprinting for bonifications again

Stupid, but how can you not love him? He's awesome!

 

[Red Rick]

Froome not looking at his stem during the intermediate sprint