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

[sir fly]

There has to be a notable casualty of this climb.
Someone who doesn't tolerate the heat well and needs some time to awaken his climbing legs.
I'm not sure about his heat toleration, but Uran looks like a good candidate to me.

 

[peloton]

There has to be a notable casualty of this climb.
Someone who doesn't tolerate the heat well and needs some time to awaken his climbing legs.
I'm not sure about his heat toleration, but Uran looks like a good candidate to me.

Isn't the weather in Colombia pretty hot too?

 

[cineteq]

There has to be a notable casualty of this climb.
Someone who doesn't tolerate the heat well and needs some time to awaken his climbing legs.
I'm not sure about his heat toleration, but Uran looks like a good candidate to me.

Yup, also we get to see which big fave was bluffing.

 

[sir fly]

Isn't the weather in Colombia pretty hot too?

Not sure if it's the same type of heat. Boiling vs. baking, I think.
Anyway, my expectation is that Uran will be the big loser of the day.

 

[peloton]

Not sure if it's the same type of heat. Boiling vs. baking, I think.
Anyway, my expectation is that Uran will be the big loser of the day.

What's the difference between boiling and baking?

 

[ferryman]

Man, these posts are getting me excited already. For all of you lucky guys out there who can watch this stage, remember to keep this thread updated every 10 seconds when the action starts (or before) I can't watch at work but can 'dip in' here now and again

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Froome is pretty eager to show his form. I expect he'll drill it on the last climb.

I think:
1. Captain Badzilla
2. Nairito
3. Contador/Valverde/Aru/Purito group.
4. Uran
5. Keldermerckx
6. Garmin people
7. Winner Anaconda

 

[yespatterns]

What's the difference between boiling and baking?

In a word, humidity. It can make a huge difference. Not sure how that area in Colombia compares to Spain, but I'll take baking any day.

 

[DirtyWorks]

In a word, humidity. It can make a huge difference. Not sure how that area in Colombia compares to Spain, but I'll take baking any day.

Humidity is a bear because the body can't cool itself with evaporation. In dry heat, the body can cool better because evaporation is greater. Dehydration is not too big a risk as there are lots of bottles and some ice being brought up.

 

[bucko007]

Man, these posts are getting me excited already. For all of you lucky guys out there who can watch this stage, remember to keep this thread updated every 10 seconds when the action starts (or before) I can't watch at work but can 'dip in' here now and again

That's unfortunate. This will be a glimpse into what we missed out on at the TDF. Lets hope all the big guns are fit and ready to go. My tip is Froome to beat Purrito with Contador and Quintana five seconds back. Martin to be the fail of this stage.

 

[Kotar_Rhakoz]

Wanna bet on in which order top 20 is going to be dropped?

Winner gets a red jersey avatar. From first dropped to the potential winner.

Matthews
Caruso
Mandory
Gesink (fading early)
Samu (fading early)
Pardilla
Barguil
Chaves (tried from an attack)
Evans
Niemeic
Zubeldia
Martin
Uran
Kelderman
Valverde
Contador
Quintana
Third: Aru
Runner-up: Froome
Winner: Purito

this is not the top 20, you have Aru who is in 21st position and no Nieve who is in 18th place. I will have a go despite the small error.

Mondory
Matthews
Sanchez
Evans (to help Sanchez)
Barguil
Chaves
Uran
Zubeldia
Pardilla
Caruso
Gesink
Valverde (Last one to be dropped)
Quintana (the rest in a group until the very last sprint to the line in the final Km)
Contador
Niemeic
Kelderman
Froome
Aru
Rodriguez
Martin

 

[movingtarget]

Be interesting to see how Contador holds up. First real battle for the GC riders.

 

[ILovecycling]

Colombian show starts ... Today!

 

[Cance > TheRest]

Too short for Quintana and perhaps a bit too steep for Froome. Moreno/JRod are the obvious favourites for this sort of distance, if the favourites are still together with 1 or 2 to go. Had AC been in the same shape as the others, I would have guessed for him.

 

[Helvellyn]

Quintana has a history of starting slowly, i.e. in the Tour and the Giro and even in Burgos. In a CN article today he has also stated that this climb might be too early for him. Therefore, I think it's going to be Froome that will light it up today rather than Quintana. Quintana seems to be more of a slowly-slowly-catchy-monkey sort of rider, whereas Froome seems eager to stamp his mark early on.

 

[ILovecycling]

I didnt mean quintana in my last post,there a lot of other colombian and it suits them better than nairoman.

 

[Helvellyn]

I didnt mean quintana in my last post,there a lot of other colombian and it suits them better than nairoman.

Betancur? I like it, someone willing to put their neck on the line

 

[ILovecycling]

Betancur? I like it, someone willing to put their neck on the line

Anacona,chaves,uran,serpa,arredondo

 

[TommyPlus]

Dawg - Clinic worthy time gap - GC contenders - Small gap - Main bunch - Small gap - Bus - Eternity - Gesink

 

[Kotar_Rhakoz]

Dawg - Clinic worthy time gap - GC contenders - Small gap - Main bunch - Small gap - Bus - Eternity - Gesink

You are predicting a Gesink DNF?

 

[theyoungest]

Dawg - Clinic worthy time gap - GC contenders - Small gap - Main bunch - Small gap - Bus - Eternity - Gesink

I don't know about your perception of the space-time continuum, but are you implying that Gesink will win?

 

[Cimber]

Hoping Purito will take this, and that Bertie wont lose to much time.

However, my expectation is that Froome will trash everyone.

 

[TommyPlus]

You are predicting a Gesink DNF?

Yes but Belkin to successfully appeal the time difference due to the rip in the time space continuum and have him reinstated

 

[TommyPlus]

I don't know about your perception of the space-time continuum, but are you implying that Gesink will win?

Yes but other teams to appeal the fact that Gesink was pushed into the time space continuum during a magic spanner and have him disqualified.

 

[jens_attacks]

i'm actually curious about gesink to be honest. didn't he push 560 watts over 2 minutes in that uphill finish this week? if he keeps 500 for ten minutes today he might have a chance