2014 Vuelta a Espana, Stage 6: Benalmádena → La Zubia

[damian13ster]

They didnt predict the pace to be so high/ thought their riders are stronger.
It is easy to judge afterwards

 

[yespatterns]

It does not make sense that he lost 12 seconds on purpose to Froome/Contador no.

No, I just mean Quintana felt bad form for the climb, and the decision was made for Piti to take it. More favorable terrain is ahead for Quintana, and Piti won't hold form for another three weeks. Seems like an easy decision for Movistar all the way around.

 

[shalgo]

Losing a minute on a 4km climb is not really impressive, not when Chaves finished so far up the road

Chaves is 2 1/2 years older than Yates. Yates's ride was an excellent result for a first-year pro. It was also, of course, a fantastic ride from Chaves.

 

[Jagartrott]

They didnt predict the pace to be so high/ thought their riders are stronger.
It is easy to judge afterwards

That way no DS can ever make a mistake. And why the hell did Talansky empty himself completely setting a very high pace on the final climb? Surely by then Martin had felt he was not that strong?

Brainless action from Garmin today, and it's not the first time.

 

[damian13ster]

No, I just mean Quintana felt bad form for the climb, and the decision was made for Piti to take it. More favorable terrain is ahead for Quintana, and Piti won't hold form for another three weeks. Seems like an easy decision for Movistar all the way around.

Not sure what the decision was. Valverded didnt attack, he just followed and thought Quintana will be on his wheel. When he wasnt what was Valverde to do? Come back and babysit Nairo? (especially since at that stage he was still with Contador and Froome).

If Piti was allowed to increase the pace earlier or attack (something he was clearly able to do), Quintana would crack with 2km to go instead of 400m.

 

[icefire]

How ridiculous are the Garmin DS?
After the fiasco with 'setting up' Slagter in the Tour, they have their team as the only team chase down the break, then their best man ends 25th or so.

Consider it a punishment on the riders for being caught yesterday in the echelons

 

[dduff442]

How ridiculous are the Garmin DS?
After the fiasco with 'setting up' Slagter in the Tour, they have their team as the only team chase down the break, then their best man ends 25th or so.

Clearly they thought they could get a high placing and the course was close to perfect for Martin. The team did as well as could be hoped for but Martin will be bitterly disappointed with his showing. I don't see how the DS is to blame.

 

[dduff442]

From Dan Martin's twitter: "Boys were incredible today, believing in me and riding all day. Sad to not be able to pay them back. Body just stopped 2km togo. #tryagain" and "Feels like my brain has either been boiled or poached. Cant quite tell. #hotterthanhot".

Poorly managed hydration can have a severe impact so he may bounce back into form.

 

[Energy Starr]

Clearly they thought they could get a high placing and the course was close to perfect for Martin. The team did as well as could be hoped for but Martin will be bitterly disappointed with his showing. I don't see how the DS is to blame.

Yes, but did Martin really think he could climb with the top 5 today? Why would he ever think that and surely those thoughts are put to rest now.

 

[Arredondo]

Meanwhile, Moreno continues his disappointing season. In the spring, he had the excuse of his allergies. Curious to see what it was today.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

as expected pretty predictable and minimal race action. Lots of wheelsucking.
The heat took out quite a few today luckily.

Without Castro's fucc up with the musette and a bit more cooperation when Bala attacked on the descent the other day, the leader would be 30-40s ahead already.

Anyway congrats to Valverde.

Looks like we might have to concentrate on the three Spaniards, Froome and one or two others.

 

[theyoungest]

From Dan Martin's twitter: "Boys were incredible today, believing in me and riding all day. Sad to not be able to pay them back. Body just stopped 2km togo. #tryagain" and "Feels like my brain has either been boiled or poached. Cant quite tell. #hotterthanhot".

Poorly managed hydration can have a severe impact so he may bounce back into form.

Dan Martin can't hang with the big boys on a climb like this. Never could.

Garmin shifted focus to GC in grand tours, but more than likely they'll end up with a 9th place in the Giro this year and that's it. Maybe time to re-think the strategy?

 

[Escarabajo]

Meanwhile, Moreno continues his disappointing season. In the spring, he had the excuse of his allergies. Curious to see what it was today.

Age, tired, etc.

 

[dduff442]

Yes, but did Martin really think he could climb with the top 5 today? Why would he ever think that and surely those thoughts are put to rest now.

Well my guess is because Valverde beat him on Mur du Huy by just 3 secs this April even though Martin lost his lead to the base of the climb when Rodriguez fell and was obstructed on the way up.

 

[cineteq]

How ridiculous are the Garmin DS?
After the fiasco with 'setting up' Slagter in the Tour, they have their team as the only team chase down the break, then their best man ends 25th or so.

Summary: Fail after fail after fail.

 

[DFA123]

Well my guess is because Valverde beat him on Mur du Huy by just 3 secs this April even though Martin lost his lead to the base of the climb when Rodriguez fell and was obstructed on the way up.

You may be right, but the climb to Zubia was 4x longer than Mur de Huy though. It was definitely one for proper climbers not for puncheurs. Also the GC guys were always going to put in some kind of an attack to test Contador and go for the bonificaciones.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Froome will still take red.

Oh yeah sure, but that wasn't the question. The question was for how long Valverde will be the leader for Movistar now, and one suggested that he might be until he loses time in the ITT, which indicates that he should lose time to Quintana which won't be the case.

.................

 

[Angliru]

It does not make sense that he lost 12 seconds on purpose to Froome/Contador no.

Would it have been better that they both lose 12 seconds to Froome and Contador? Contador or Froome likely would've attacked at some point if Valverde was there or not and Quintana would not have been able to follow just as he wasn't in real life. Valverde has to have some degree of freedom to race his race otherwise his talents are wasted. I doubt that Movistar is chastising Valverde for leaving Quintana to take the stage win.

This is just the first mtf. There will be yo-yoing of some riders results over the course of the next 2 weeks. Some will perform better than today and some won't. I reckon Quintana will, based on his pre-race statement that this stage came too early, improve on today's performance.

 

[yespatterns]

Not sure what the decision was. Valverded didnt attack, he just followed and thought Quintana will be on his wheel. When he wasnt what was Valverde to do? Come back and babysit Nairo? (especially since at that stage he was still with Contador and Froome).

If Piti was allowed to increase the pace earlier or attack (something he was clearly able to do), Quintana would crack with 2km to go instead of 400m.

I just mean it was a good team decision that Piti and Nairo discussed on the ride up. Piti gets his rojos while Quintana is still riding into form and will be supported by Piti later on in the race. It's a no biggie given their TTT. When it happened we have to consider Dawg and Contie's forms were still in question, so it seems legit. A good race for all the armchair analysts for sure. The big loser seems to be purito and any garmin-sharp riders people want to point to. So far this race is going well.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Dan Martin can't hang with the big boys on a climb like this. Never could.

Given his palmarès in hilly to mountainous classics like LBL, Lombardia, Tre Valli Varesine, Flèche and so on, and his mountain reputation, I thought "that can't be right", but damned if you aren't spot on. Apart from 4th on Peña Cabarga in the 2011 Vuelta, there isn't really anything on his palmarès to show for mid-length or super steep climbs; it's all either punchy stuff, or longer but more gradual climbs like La Covatilla and his annual performances at Catalunya. Color me surprised.

 

[icefire]

Given his palmarès in hilly to mountainous classics like LBL, Lombardia, Tre Valli Varesine, Flèche and so on, and his mountain reputation, I thought "that can't be right", but damned if you aren't spot on. Apart from 4th on Peña Cabarga in the 2011 Vuelta, there isn't really anything on his palmarès to show for mid-length or super steep climbs; it's all either punchy stuff, or longer but more gradual climbs like La Covatilla and his annual performances at Catalunya. Color me surprised.

La Covatilla has a central section of 4kms @ >10%

 

[No_Balls]

No, I just mean Quintana felt bad form for the climb, and the decision was made for Piti to take it. More favorable terrain is ahead for Quintana, and Piti won't hold form for another three weeks. Seems like an easy decision for Movistar all the way around.

Dunno what they discussed (or what decision was made) but it sure as hell looked like Piti was acting like a workinghorse for Nairo/himself to test and try to get rid of Froome/Contador, something that had to be done. Then he followed Purito to challenge for a stage win but that was just after Puritos attack so it looked like the decision was to continue the strong pacing.

 

[Miburo]

Summary: Fail after fail after fail.

Damn froome and Contador really were bluffing...

 

[cineteq]

Damn Froome and Contador really were bluffing...

That what we needed to find out. Both still under the magnifier.

 

[ILovecycling]

damian13ster can you please stop with your quintana moaning,everybody here know you dont like him,no need to emphasize that...