2014 Vuelta a Espana, Stage 4: Mairena del Alcor → Córdoba (164.7 Km)

[Panda Claws]

I said it earlier on Sagan is not going to be this once in a generation rider we thought he would. His sprinting is pathetic which you would think make him a beast on cobbles/hills? But it hasn't. Sagan will just keep winning green the odd G-W i cant see him being what i hoped he would be.

Youngest cyclists to gain 5.000 CQ points
Peter Sagan: 23 years 1 month 21 days
Edvald Boasson Hagen: 24 years 2 months 28 days
Robert Gesink: 24 years 9 months 15 days
Damiano Cunego: 24 years 10 months 4 days
Tom Boonen: 25 years 4 months 11 days

Youngest cyclists to gain 10.000 CQ points
Alejandro Valverde: 28 years 1 month 17 days
Tom Boonen: 28 years 3 months 20 days
Vincenzo Nibali: 28 years 6 months 12 days
Damiano Cunego: 28 years 8 months 11 days
Philippe Gilbert: 28 years 11 months 14 days

Peter Sagan has 8.767 points at the moment and is 24 years 7 months 0 days old.

 

[cesko_jr]

I think I saw Nairo raising his hand at the descent...maybe he switch the bike with one of the teammates and that's the reason why he isn't there.

 

[TANK91]

Give him a rest, he's here to train for the Worlds. He has great potential. All he needs is a mentor like Riis to bring him to glory.

I want him to win monuments i thought he could be one of the very best ever. Im not so sure though. His sprint is terrible now he could even beat Cav oncd in a while in flat sprints. Why if his sprint is bad as he not improved elsewhere? We all use to say he needs to decide on one strong point yet i dont see any progression this year do you?

 

[TANK91]

Youngest cyclists to gain 5.000 CQ points
Peter Sagan: 23 years 1 month 21 days
Edvald Boasson Hagen: 24 years 2 months 28 days
Robert Gesink: 24 years 9 months 15 days
Damiano Cunego: 24 years 10 months 4 days
Tom Boonen: 25 years 4 months 11 days

Youngest cyclists to gain 10.000 CQ points
Alejandro Valverde: 28 years 1 month 17 days
Tom Boonen: 28 years 3 months 20 days
Vincenzo Nibali: 28 years 6 months 12 days
Damiano Cunego: 28 years 8 months 11 days
Philippe Gilbert: 28 years 11 months 14 days

Peter Sagan has 8.767 points at the moment and is 24 years 7 months 0 days old.

Dude im not saying he is not a great rider but he as not improved this year. Just because he was a beast early does not mean he will dominate. I can assure you i though he would by now. Im not hating just his sprint is so bad these days. He always finds way to lose.

 

[Kotar_Rhakoz]

I think I saw Nairo raising his hand at the descent...maybe he switch the bike with one of the teammates and that's the reason why he isn't there.

That would make sense. That might mean one of the Movistar riders listed as finishing actually was Quintana.

 

[Panda Claws]

Dude im not saying he is not a great rider but he as not improved this year. Just because he was a beast early does not mean he will dominate. I can assure you i though he would by now. Im not hating just his sprint is so bad these days. He always finds way to lose.

Yeah, just wanted to share that. You have a point though, but I'll still give him next year.

Boonen began winning monuments in the year he turned 25 (which'll be 2015 for Sagan).

I still think this is just a 'bad' season.

 

[willbick]

Have riders ever switched to a super heavy bike before a descent to the finish?!

 

[TANK91]

Yeah, just wanted to share that. You have a point though, but I'll still give him next year.

Boonen began winning monuments in the year he turned 25 (which'll be 2015 for Sagan).

I still think this is just a 'bad' season.

Hopefully when you look at the 10,000 points list that is staggering he is certainly probably most well rounded rider we have seen. I just want him to take the next step i mean me being silly thought he could win all 5 mouments lol. I still think he could, Bjarne will sort him out.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

I want him to win monuments i thought he could be one of the very best ever. Im not so sure though. His sprint is terrible now he could even beat Cav oncd in a while in flat sprints. Why if his sprint is bad as he not improved elsewhere? We all use to say he needs to decide on one strong point yet i dont see any progression this year do you?

he lost a lot of weight which was the stupidets decision he could ever make

 

[Kotar_Rhakoz]

Hopefully when you look at the 10,000 points list that is staggering he is certainly probably most well rounded rider we have seen. I just want him to take the next step i mean me being silly thought he could win all 5 mouments lol. I still think he could, Bjarne will sort him out.

He could win 3, the other 2, if they are within the bounds of his abilities then it will be right on the edge of them. Not sure he is quite a good enough climber but I might be wrong.

 

[cineteq]

GC:
2. QUINTANA, Nairo Alexander Movistar Team + 8''
3. VALVERDE, Alejandro Movistar Team + 15''
4. URAN, Rigoberto Omega Pharma - Quick-Step + 19''
6. CHAVES RUBIO, Esteban Orica GreenEdge + 21''
8. ZUBELDIA, Haimar Trek Factory Racing + 24''
9. CONTADOR, Alberto Tinkoff - Saxo + 27''
10. KELDERMAN, Wilco Belkin Pro Cycling Team + 27''
11. GESINK, Robert Belkin Pro Cycling Team + 27''
12. SÁNCHEZ, Samuel BMC Racing Team + 29''
13. EVANS, Cadel BMC Racing Team + 29''
14. BARGUIL, Warren Team Giant - Shimano + 34''
15. FROOME, Christopher Team SKY + 35''
16. NIEMIEC, Przemyslaw Lampre Merida + 40''
18. RODRIGUEZ, Joaquin Team Katusha + 42''
19. NIEVE, Mikel Team SKY + 42''
20. MARTIN, Daniel Garmin Sharp + 43''
22. ARU, Fabio Astana Pro Team + 45''
30. TALANSKY, Andrew Garmin Sharp + 56'
32. HESJEDAL, Ryder Garmin Sharp + 56''

 

[Walkman]

GC:
2. QUINTANA, Nairo Alexander Movistar Team + 8''
3. VALVERDE, Alejandro Movistar Team + 15''
4. URAN, Rigoberto Omega Pharma - Quick-Step + 19''
6. CHAVES RUBIO, Esteban Orica GreenEdge + 21''
8. ZUBELDIA, Haimar Trek Factory Racing + 24''
9. CONTADOR, Alberto Tinkoff - Saxo + 27''
10. KELDERMAN, Wilco Belkin Pro Cycling Team + 27''
11. GESINK, Robert Belkin Pro Cycling Team + 27''
12. SÁNCHEZ, Samuel BMC Racing Team + 29''
13. EVANS, Cadel BMC Racing Team + 29''
14. BARGUIL, Warren Team Giant - Shimano + 34''
15. FROOME, Christopher Team SKY + 35''
16. NIEMIEC, Przemyslaw Lampre Merida + 40''
18. RODRIGUEZ, Joaquin Team Katusha + 42''
19. NIEVE, Mikel Team SKY + 42''
20. MARTIN, Daniel Garmin Sharp + 43''
22. ARU, Fabio Astana Pro Team + 45''
30. TALANSKY, Andrew Garmin Sharp + 56'
32. HESJEDAL, Ryder Garmin Sharp + 56''

Thanks!

10char

 

[jens_attacks]

Have riders ever switched to a super heavy bike before a descent to the finish?!

mythical jean robic used all kind of tricks


nice attack by bala, i think he will go hard on cumbres verdes, first one to attack there!

 

[jens_attacks]

holy shiit at the top 20, strongest i have ever seen in a grand tour wow

 

[Walkman]

holy shiit at the top 20, strongest i have ever seen in a grand tour wow

Indeed. Thats some sick depth!

 

[BigMac]

mythical jean robic used all kind of tricks


nice attack by bala, i think he will go hard on cumbres verdes, first one to attack there!

A man his size had to do everything he could to win.

 

[WildspokeJoe]

Dude im not saying he is not a great rider but he as not improved this year.

Really? He absolutely CRUSHED all-comers in the TDF green jersey competition. He was the most heavily marked rider in the peloton. He scored 150 MORE points than the second place rider Kristoff.

The only mistake he made was he didn't win a stage. Tactically he needs to improve but his team didn't help him very much.

To say he didn't he didn't improve, belies the facts.

 

[JRanton]

Deignan had a mechanical..

Yes, but Kennaugh was dropped early on the final climb without doing any work. So much for him deserving a TdF spot.

6 Movistar, 5 Tinkoff and 5 Katusha in the front group. Just 2 from Sky.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Have riders ever switched to a super heavy bike before a descent to the finish?!

To elaborate on jens_attacks comment: Jean Robic once (perhaps he did it more times?) got his soigneur to hand him a bottle filled with flakes of lead at the top of a mountain. I think he actually crashed because of the extra weight.

 

[veji11]

Yeah, just wanted to share that. You have a point though, but I'll still give him next year.

Boonen began winning monuments in the year he turned 25 (which'll be 2015 for Sagan).

I still think this is just a 'bad' season.

I think the issue is more calendar planning / amount of race days / race targeting.... AND team weakness. This will change next year. Sagan suffered tremendously this year from the weakness of Cannondale. at Saxo he will get a much stronger group to support him and will sometimes be able to hide himself behind Contador.

 

[bigcog]

Yes, but Kennaugh was dropped early on the final climb without doing any work. So much for him deserving a TdF spot.

6 Movistar, 5 Tinkoff and 5 Katusha in the front group. Just 2 from Sky.

Wondered where he'd gone. Think Nieve and Deignan will stay with Froome though, and possibly Sitsou on some occasions. Sky tactics seem to be to save some riders on some stages but I could be imaging that

 

[yespatterns]

To elaborate on jens_attacks comment: Jean Robic once (perhaps he did it more times?) got his soigneur to hand him a bottle filled with flakes of lead at the top of a mountain. I think he actually crashed because of the extra weight.

To those unfamiliar with him, check out Robic's wiki page, it makes for some pretty fascinating reading.

 

[cineteq]

99. VAN DEN BROECK, Jurgen Lotto Belisol +8'31''

I didn't know he was on a tourist assignment. Can't wait for his Tapas review. The only question remaining is if Betancur will join him in Discovering Spain.

 

[Roude Leiw]

99. VAN DEN BROECK, Jurgen Lotto Belisol +8'31''

I didn't know he was on a tourist assignment. Can't wait for his Tapas review. The only question remaining is if Betancur will join him in Discovering Spain.

Between Carlos, Jurgen and Thibaut, I should make a funny read.... Spanish Revolutions - Or how to travel Spain in 3 weeks on a bike

 

[May0maniac]

99. VAN DEN BROECK, Jurgen Lotto Belisol +8'31''

I didn't know he was on a tourist assignment. Can't wait for his Tapas review. The only question remaining is if Betancur will join him in Discovering Spain.

That would be great, it's a shame that Andy isn't already healed up, those 3 partying together in Spain would be legendary