2014 Vuelta a Espana, Stage 5: Priego de Córdoba › Ronda (180km)

[Dr. Juice]

Penultimate km 5.9 % and last one at 6.9 % average. Only 15 km to the finish. If Orica sets a high pace for Matthews, Bouhanni may drop by some seconds. Will probably come back, but in this case it's a big effort done.

 

[vcampbell]

Ronda is beautiful

Ronda means ugly in my language. It was funny for me

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Penultimate km 5.9 % and last one at 6.9 % average. Only 15 km to the finish. If Orica sets a high pace for Matthews, Bouhanni may drop by some seconds. Will probably come back, but in this case it's a big effort done.

They will have to hit that little bump like it's the end of an Ardennes classic if they are going to make any impact on Bouhanni.

 

[willbick]

Bouhanni probably took it easy on the last climb yesterday to keep his energies for getting over the easier climb today. Degenkolb had a hard day yesterday as he knew if he got over the climb he would have a great chance to take the sprint without Bouhanni but he will probably be a bit tired today

 

[TommyPlus]

Ligthart - Lotto
Martin - OPQS

Up the road

Panzer special?

 

[Geraint Too Fast]

Sprinters teams are keeping Tony on a short leash this year. He can still do it though.

 

[TommyPlus]

Martin probably laughing at how hard he got FDJ to chase after about 30km

 

[Arredondo]

The red jersey Michael MATTHEWS (186) was surprised to see how much rivals challenged him in the sprint yester day : "I was ripped apart from everywhere. I thought the red jersey would create respect but there isn't much respect left in the peloton."

 

[Kotar_Rhakoz]

So in essence the climb is 2km at 6.4%.

If Degenkolb and Bouhanni start near the from the peloton then they will lose some ground but should stay in the peloton over the top. Then they will have to work hard to get back to the front but they should be able to do it.

Unless a real climber decides to launch a stinging attack which really blows things open, and I think that is highly unlikely to happen, it will be a sprint finish.

 

[LittleJo]

The red jersey Michael MATTHEWS (186) was surprised to see how much rivals challenged him in the sprint yester day : "I was ripped apart from everywhere. I thought the red jersey would create respect but there isn't much respect left in the peloton."

I thought you must have made that quote up, but apparently not....I guess everyone else should have just let him win

 

[hrotha]

I doubt they'll even drop any positions in the peloton. That climb is nothing.

 

[Arredondo]

I thought you must have made that quote up, but apparently not....I guess everyone else should have just let him win

I would never even imagine such a quote by myself

 

[TommyPlus]

How far did Bouhanni last up the climb yesterday?
Obviously Degenkolb is never going to be dropped, Giant surely to put the hammer down on the climb.

 

[BeagRigh]

How far did Bouhanni last up the climb yesterday?
Obviously Degenkolb is never going to be dropped, Giant surely to put the hammer down on the climb.

Only dropped in the last and steepest part I think. I don't see him getting dropped today - he showed in the Giro he can get over some climbs.

He was very impressive in the stage where sky put the hammer down on the last climb then Farrar crash in the final - can't remember which stage that was...

EDIT: Stage 10

 

[TommyPlus]

Stage 10 this year? Certainly no climbing in that stage.
3km at about 2% ish?

 

[Flamin]

Only dropped in the last and steepest part I think. I don't see him getting dropped today - he showed in the Giro he can get over some climbs.

He was very impressive in the stage where sky put the hammer down on the last climb then Farrar crash in the final - can't remember which stage that was...

EDIT: Stage 10

That 'climb' was nothing more than a speed bump..

 

[BeagRigh]

Stage 10 this year? Certainly no climbing in that stage.
3km at about 2% ish?

Sorry, may be I am mixing stages up! Stage 7 possibly...

 

[Eyeballs Out]

The theory that Degenkolb climbs better than Bouhanni didn't hold up too well 2 days ago on that final ramp when the former exploded and the latter finished 8th

 

[TommyPlus]

The theory that Degenkolb climbs better than Bouhanni didn't hold up too well 2 days ago on that final ramp when the former exploded and the latter finished 8th

Possible that Degenkolb simply played it smart and realised the next day was his best chance from the two for a win and maybe Bouhanni jeopardised his chances yesterday for that 8th place finish?

 

[No_Balls]

The red jersey Michael MATTHEWS (186) was surprised to see how much rivals challenged him in the sprint yester day : "I was ripped apart from everywhere. I thought the red jersey would create respect but there isn't much respect left in the peloton."

Canc has a serious competitor

 

[cineteq]

Which GC rider is a good rider in the heat? Temp. 40C+.

 

[Kotar_Rhakoz]

So being in a two man break means a lot of work but when it is with Tony Martin it is a little better. That is until he has a mechanical and leaves you all alone.

Poor Pim.

 

[Kotar_Rhakoz]

Which GC rider is a good rider in the heat? Temp. 40C+.

Evans possibly, but he is not really a GC rider in this race.

 

[Tashkent Terror]

Scorched earth, blistering heat, desolate roads, unbearable suffering, doomed solo breakaway.

It's so Vuelta, absolutely hypnotic

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Lol Froome going for bonifications He got 2 seconds! Gotta love him!