2015 Vuelta stage 2: Alhaurín de la Torre / Caminito del Rey

[Eagle]

Nieve, Landa and Sicard finish together, those Basques like to stick together

 

[trevim]

Re: Re:

Where's Schleck, anyone saw him?

Someone posted here that he won Vattenfall

Virenque won Paris Tours so...

 

[Gigs_98]

Re: 2015 Vuelta stage 2: Alhaurín de la Torre / Caminito del

Chaves looks like a teenager

 

[Bushman]

Re:

Purito finally the strongest of the favorites, but waits too long

Waited too long? What if he just didn't have the legs to go earlier?

How was he stronger than Quintana btw?

 

[hfer07]

LOL - Chavito is so happy that some curse came out on the interview!!!

 

[DNP-Old]

Grande Chavito! Orgullo Bogotano.

 

[DFA123]

Re:

Not sure why some here are so surprised about how the finale panned out. This is exactly what happened in 2013 in the 2nd stage when Purito and Valverde were not willing to do an effort longer than 500m so a 2nd tier guy took the win.

I think it could be a promising sign re. Valverde. It could show that he is really serious about winning the Vuelta and isn't going to waste any energy competing against stage hunters for individual wins - similar to his performance in the TdF on Mur de Huy, he could be building towards a third weak peak. Sending Quintana up the road took all the pressure off him. Good move by Froome to send Roche up there as well.

Not sure what Katusha were doing though. Perhaps Caruso being out has affected their tactics more than it seemed at first thought. Strange by Astana today as well; I get the feeling they are backing the wrong horse in Aru.

 

[Roude Leiw]

Re: Re:

Where's Schleck, anyone saw him?

Someone posted here that he won Vattenfall

Virenque won Paris Tours so...

Vuelta site has him as 37 with 2 min + behind

 

[Gigs_98]

Re: Re:

Purito finally the strongest of the favorites, but waits too long

Waited too long? What if he just didn't have the legs to go earlier?

How was he stronger than Quintana btw?

Quintana was really weak. If he hadn't attacked he probably would have lost around 10-20 seconds. I mean, he lost over half a minute on dumoulin

 

[DFA123]

Re: Re:

Purito finally the strongest of the favorites, but waits too long

Waited too long? What if he just didn't have the legs to go earlier?

How was he stronger than Quintana btw?

I think Quintana was as surprised as anyone to not be reeled back in. It looked like he was riding for Valverde today, allowing Bala to just sit tight and follow wheels. He got dropped by the front three and was almost crawling by the time he crossed the line. I really wouldn't be happy now if I had placed a bet on him even though he has a few seconds on the other big names.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Quintana the strongest of the favorites today. Valverde will crack big time at some point.

 

[LanLions]

Re: Re:

Where's Schleck, anyone saw him?

Someone posted here that he won Vattenfall

Virenque won Paris Tours so...

Vuelta site has him as 37 with 2 min + behind

Trek posted on twitter that he had a mechanical at the bottom of the climb. 2:07 back with a mechanical is quite respectable on that climb

 

[Eagle]

Nibali at 1:28, so ost about a minute to the big GC names

 

[DFA123]

Re:

Quintana the strongest of the favorites today. Valverde will crack big time at some point.

Amazing how you see it so differently. For me Quintana looked weak. No way that Quintana on top form would have even made that attack, let alone then get dropped and blow up in the last km.

 

[Inquitus]

Re:

Quintana the strongest of the favorites today. Valverde will crack big time at some point.

Quintana gets dropped by Roche and Domoulin? he's not strong.

 

[hrotha]

Re: Re:

Purito finally the strongest of the favorites, but waits too long

Waited too long? What if he just didn't have the legs to go earlier?

After all these years, people still aren't convinced that Purito almost always waits too long and won't move before his patented distance unless it's absolutely necessary?

 

[Gigs_98]

Re: 2015 Vuelta stage 2: Alhaurín de la Torre / Caminito del

Nibali one minute behind Purito/Nairo. Well without the effort he had to make earlier he probably only would be a little bit behind Aru. Now I hope for a crazy attack by him in andorra

 

[Arredondo]

Re: Re:

Quintana the strongest of the favorites today. Valverde will crack big time at some point.

Amazing how you see it so differently. For me Quintana looked weak. No way that Quintana on top form would have even made that attack, let alone then get dropped and blow up in the last km.

Indeed. Quintana was rather weak. The strongest were Purito and Froome (especially him). Landa also good. These 3 guys look the best atm.

If Bala is really good, he will always try to win on a finish like this. He just isn't that good at the moment. And it's illogical to think he will peak in the hardest mountain stages. Likely he will lose more time there to the likes of Froome and Landa. He always loses time in the big mountain stages.

 

[Bye Bye Bicycle]

Seriously, it's a travesty that they let ride 12-year-olds with the pros. And then even give the win to him.

 

[huge]

Has anyone made a voodoo doll in the shape of Nibali, by any chance??
The guy seems to be cursed this year.

Official results say 1'38 from the winner, 58 sec from Froome, 51 sec. from Aru.

I think he cracked on that super steep hairpin, definitely paying for his effort in chasing back the main field.

 

[Gigs_98]

Re: Re:

Quintana the strongest of the favorites today. Valverde will crack big time at some point.

Amazing how you see it so differently. For me Quintana looked weak. No way that Quintana on top form would have even made that attack, let alone then get dropped and blow up in the last km.

Indeed. Quintana was rather weak. The strongest were Purito and Froome (especially him). Landa also good. These 3 guys look the best atm.

If Bala is really good, he will always try to win on a finish like this. He just isn't that good at the moment. And it's illogical to think he will peak in the hardest mountain stages. Likely he will lose more time there to the likes of Froome and Landa. He always loses time in the big mountain stages.

Landa was behind Aru so why did he look better than him?

 

[No_Balls]

Re: Re:

Purito finally the strongest of the favorites, but waits too long

Waited too long? What if he just didn't have the legs to go earlier?

How was he stronger than Quintana btw?

I think Quintana was as surprised as anyone to not be reeled back in. It looked like he was riding for Valverde today, allowing Bala to just sit tight and follow wheels. He got dropped by the front three and was almost crawling by the time he crossed the line. I really wouldn't be happy now if I had placed a bet on him even though he has a few seconds on the other big names.

Yeah this. It was the same exact same thing - but reversed - Bala did for Nairo at Alpe d'Huez but there really wasnt any steam here to show for it. Movistar is weak as hell, Astana doesnt exactly shines either and Sky playing foul could hint a weakness in depth.

This could be highly intresting later.

 

[dacooley]

it's the vuelta and traditional plots of a big gun sticking his attack up to the finish line or hitting his peak already in 1st week often do not work here especially if big rider does already have a gt in the legs. 2nd gt is always a big experiment. so we should just observe. no magistral conclusions from today's race.

 

[Arredondo]

Re: Re:

Purito finally the strongest of the favorites, but waits too long

Waited too long? What if he just didn't have the legs to go earlier?

After all these years, people still aren't convinced that Purito almost always waits too long and won't move before his patented distance unless it's absolutely necessary?

In his prime years, he always won on these kind of finishes with that tactic. It's the only way to do it. He can't attack three times with Froome and Bala on your wheel. That's suicide.

The fact his team isn't that strong, is the reason he loses here. Imagine if a good Caruso is here He always sets up Purito on these kind of climbs. I'ts comparable with a sprint: if you have a good train, it will make things a little bit easier.

 

[BigMac]

I think all the big names are crap atm compared to their best selves, which is a good thing.