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

[AICA ribonucleotide]

Can see a small group going off the front and no one chasing behind as the sprinters dont have their teams with them.

 

[Roude Leiw]

KOM points.

And Txurruka complaining about lack of respect to KOM

Comments on french ES were hilarious around this

 

[No_Balls]

I don't think that Hesjedal getting dropped is relevant to Contadir though - if Contador needs a minute on him, he's going to be fighting for sixth or seventh. And Contador doesn't see a difference between fourth and twentieth. When you have his palmares there are only two results, win or don't.

Hesjedal, Talansky and Evans. These are strong names. Double GT-winners and might do well regardless of what their said ambitions in the race are.

Besides. TS might not know how well Contadors legs responds during this GT and putting the hammer down today might pay off in the GC of tomorrow.

 

[May0maniac]

Talansky is not here for GC?

Another GC rider not riding for GC.

WTF is Valverde doing?

I guess he badly wants to become the new Jens

 

[icefire]

Talansky is not here for GC?

Another GC rider not riding for GC.

WTF is Valverde doing?

He hasn't got that wind around climbs is either headwind or tailwind.

 

[Rollthedice]

Talansky is not here for GC?

Another GC rider not riding for GC.

WTF is Valverde doing?

It's hot over there, real hot.

 

[l.Harm]

What was Valverde doing?

 

[happytramp]

Disagreed here. He has a decent uphill sprint and still will place high on stages if not win one. Let Talansky or Hesjedal get into brakes and try for a stage win.
I think Dan Martin is a dark horse for this Vuelta

would you prefer a top 5 finish, or a stage win and top 10?

 

[sultanofhyd]

What was Valverde doing?

Doing his best Andy Schleck impersonation

 

[Geraint Too Fast]

I smell a late attack from Lulu.

 

[Afrank]

Bouhanni still in there?

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

I think I just saw Froome NOT looking at his stem.

Strange times, these.

 

[BeagRigh]

I smell a late attack from Lulu.

Think you might be right. 3km is the time to go, exploit any confusion when the GC teams come off the front.

 

[Arredondo]

Bouhanni still in there?

He is, together with Le Bon

 

[DFA123]

Bouhanni still in there?

Yes, in the middle of the leading group - a couple of team mates near the back of the front group as well.

 

[Afrank]

He is, together with Le Bon

Yes, in the middle of the leading group - a couple of team mates near the back of the front group as well.

Thanks. 10char

 

[Jspear]

Bouhanni, Matthews, and Degenkolb are all here, but they don't have their usual team support. Could make things interesting.

 

[icefire]

Sky has set the sprint train for Froome

 

[Afrank]

Bouhanni, Matthews, and Degenkolb are all here, but they don't have their usual team support. Could make things interesting.

Chaos sprint time!

Or maybe Froome will take it.

edit: Auh, Froomes team is no good at sprint leadouts.

 

[Rollthedice]

Sky is prepairing the train for Froome.

 

[BeagRigh]

Think you might be right. 3km is the time to go, exploit any confusion when the GC teams come off the front.

I was assuming they would get off the front. WTF are Sky Edit: now BMC doing??

 

[damian13ster]

would you prefer a top 5 finish, or a stage win and top 10?

Do you think a rider like him is going to be allowed in a breakaway if his losses are so small that he can get back into top 10 in GC?
And that would be a tough choice. Top 5 in GC is a great feat

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

1 Degenkolb
2/3 Hofland or Bouhanni

 

[Afrank]

Hofland takes it.

 

[Jspear]

Degenkolb takes the win.