2014 Vuelta Stage 3: Cadiz - Arcos de la Frontera

[Waterloo Sunrise]

The final climb is 1.5km at 5.5% according to bikeandhikeroute.

And tops out basically at the finish, give or take 350m. So quicker puncheurs are just as in this as sprinters - an attack could stick if those numbers are right.

 

[roundabout]

The road looks narrow. Maybe the guy with your profile name could to well.

Fabian as well. He's a good downhill.

But it's not narrow. You even have a car for scale in the picture.

 

[ExtraSpoke]

He is ready to start the stage.

I don't think so. No way he can persuade the electronics of that plane to switch engines on. He is not heavy enough.

 

[tomorrow]

also, if the position of the finish line is marked correcte on the vuelta page, than there is no downhil, on the contrary, 11% sections precedes the short final false flat, which is like maybe 100m according to strava.

http://www.strava.com/segments/5317633

 

[Geraint Too Fast]

also, if the position of the finish line is marked correcte on the vuelta page, than there is no downhil, on the contrary, 11% sections precedes the short final false flat, which is like maybe 100m according to strava.

http://www.strava.com/segments/5317633

Quick, put some money on Keizer!

 

[Fzotrlool]

You mean the downhill after the Puerto de Boyar? Or the downhill in the last km? The last one is only 300 meters and not steep. The guy who's got a advantage over the top, looks certain to win this.

Alright.

The final climb is 1.5km at 5.5% according to bikeandhikeroute.

Then it's similar to Cauberg in both steepness and length.

Tailored to Gilbert. Murito should try to take some time back, even if it's only couple of seconds. Same with Dan Martin.

I am 100% sure that Degelkolb will not win if that's the case.

 

[Fzotrlool]

As far as I can see the last 300 meter are around 10%.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

As far as I can see the last 300 meter are around 10%.

Do you mean of the climb, last 300m of the stage is weakly downhill.

 

[Fzotrlool]

Do you mean of the climb, last 300m of the stage is weakly downhill.

Yep the final top of the climb.

 

[Jerkovin]

Going to be interesting to see how many stages Sagan really goes all out on. He has constantly said since the end of TDF that he's only in this for fitness and both eyes are on world championships. Apparently Gatto said he's the main man after yesterday's stage, and he happily rode for Gatto yesterday. Considering this is obviously well suited to him, I guess we'll see today...

 

[Red Rick]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ixdXqxrCAI

Be afraid, be very afraid

 

[Fzotrlool]

Here is the final mini-hill. Perfect for a Sagan-in-shape or a Gilbert-in-shape.

 

[Arredondo]

Nieves Moya ‏@NievesMoya 15 min.
la orgniz v a españa informa que Alberto Contador da muestras de sufrimiento y se duda que pueda terminar la carrera

 

[Arredondo]

And some information by Alberto himself:

Día importante para Alberto CONTADOR (201), en el que se verá su verdadera condición física: "Me sorprendió lo bien que me sentí en la crono por equipos, un esfuerzo corto y muy agresivo, pero ayer noté algo de dolor en la rodilla. No fue muy fuerte, puede que pagara el esfuerzo de la CRE. Hoy es el primer test serio. Es una etapa complicada, particularmente los tres últimos kilómetros con la entrada a Arcos".

He felt really good in the TTT, but yesterday he felt that the pain in his knee came back. Today is the first serious test, and he hopes that he can survive.

Some sources on twitter do say he's doubting himself he can finish even the stage, because the pain in his knee is really serious.

 

[Fzotrlool]

Nieves Moya ‏@NievesMoya 15 min.
la orgniz v a españa informa que Alberto Contador da muestras de sufrimiento y se duda que pueda terminar la carrera

!!?

 

[roundabout]

And some information by Alberto himself:

Día importante para Alberto CONTADOR (201), en el que se verá su verdadera condición física: "Me sorprendió lo bien que me sentí en la crono por equipos, un esfuerzo corto y muy agresivo, pero ayer noté algo de dolor en la rodilla. No fue muy fuerte, puede que pagara el esfuerzo de la CRE. Hoy es el primer test serio. Es una etapa complicada, particularmente los tres últimos kilómetros con la entrada a Arcos".

He felt really good in the TTT, but yesterday he felt that the pain in his knee came back. Today is the first serious test, and he hopes that he can survive.

Some sources on twitter do say he's doubting himself he can finish even the stage, because the pain in his knee is really serious.

Hmm

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bv4X0DhIAAAkyRN.jpg:large

Feels familiar

He will have better days and worse days as far as pain goes. That's only normal

 

[tomorrow]

well, if nothing else, sagan, if he really has it in him currently, should at least check the others, cause I don't think Gatto is in shape enough, but we'll see. Sagan just shouldn't repeat Nibali incident from Chietti

 

[Fzotrlool]

Hopefully, Alberto will not do "a Hamilton".

 

[Red Rick]

Contador rode a cat 1 climb with a broken leg, pain is not that big of an issue

 

[cineteq]

Contador can't hurry health. Taking these kind of shortcuts can only hurt you more.

 

[BigMac]

Contador rode a cat 1 climb with a broken leg, pain is not that big of an issue

It would not be surprising if he is feeling more pain now than he felt the first hour after the incident. Let us hope he is not compromising his participation in Ponferrada next month.

 

[Dr. Juice]

Sagan dropping !

 

[wirral]

I am sure he is here at least partly because of sponsor (or owner) pressure.

Did anyone else think that opening section with Piti and Nairo sitting on the little toy train pretending they were best mates was just freaky?

The opening sentence refers to Contador.

 

[Petiso]

It's seems that the information about Contador have no real sources (fake, Hoax, ...).

 

[No_Balls]

Lets not work us up too much here. There are informations all over the place. Sure, he did felt "discomfort" and "aching" yesterday but did stressed it was not that serious and on the bike he felt nothing.

What we have is a guy on twitter who says that it is actually worse. Sure, it might be that but until that happens i´ll wait. He was supposed to not even ride the Vuelta.