2015 Vuelta stage 20: San Lorenzo de El Escorial>Cercedilla

[Escarabajo]

Great racing today!!

Epic win by Ruben Plaza.

Excellent team work by Astana. Great win by Aru. Deserving winner.

Feel a bit sorry for Dumoulin that did not have a team at all, but let's face it, we knew that was the biggest weakness coming into this stage.

Happy for Chaves. He kept it consistent for 3 weeks.

 

[Escarabajo]

Re: Re:

Aru will win this Vuelta because of his Astana team, with any other team he wouldn't win I believe.

"Estas respirando por la herida"
That is one silly comment. You need a good leader and a good team as well. We all know that.

Yes true, I also know. I never said Aru isn't a good leader. He is and also a very good rider. I didn't say he is not.

Still I believe that when Aru had have the Tinkoff or Katyusha team for example, he would not have won. So hats of for the Astana squad and their tactics.

Aru could have won with either of those teams today. Dumoulin was bad today.

 

[huge]

Re: Re:

Aru will win this Vuelta because of his Astana team, with any other team he wouldn't win I believe.

"Estas respirando por la herida"
That is one silly comment. You need a good leader and a good team as well. We all know that.

Yes true, I also know. I never said Aru isn't a good leader. He is and also a very good rider. I didn't say he is not.

Still I believe that when Aru had have the Tinkoff or Katyusha team for example, he would not have won. So hats of for the Astana squad and their tactics.

I really don't get your point.
Nowadays it's almost impossible to win a GT without a team able to support you. And that's true for every single rider. Sometimes there are exceptions, but that exactly what it is, an exception.

 

[Andy262]

Congrats to Aru, always thought he would get it back today. However didn't expect Tom D to crack as badly as he did and gutted he hasn't got the podium place he really deserved. Surely Giant could have had some sort of plan for today.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Nice words of solace from Purito to Dumoulin
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/rodriguez-defends-second-place-overall-in-vuelta-a-espana/

“It’s very hard, losing the jersey so late on, I remember what happened with Alberto at Fuente De, but at least [Dumoulin ]'s lost it when he’s much younger than I was. “

“He has to be very proud of what he’s done. He was lacking a bit of team support at the end, with one more rider in the mountains he might have come through. But in any case he has to think about what he can do in the future.”

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Re:

Congrats to Aru, always thought he would get it back today. However didn't expect Tom D to crack as badly as he did and gutted he hasn't got the podium place he really deserved. Surely Giant could have had some sort of plan for today.

Break action would have consumed most of the Giant team's energy today methinks.
Plus accumulated tiredness from supporting Dumoulin since the ITT also took effect as it should.

 

[Miburo]

I would never take advice from purito though. Still waiting for his attack.

 

[trevim]

Hats off to Aru and Astana, textbook ride today. A good team is worth zero if they don't know how to use it. Aru's consistency will probably make for a good future in GT's.

Regarding the portuguese (sorry for the patriotic bias) I'm really happy for Gonçalves, he can be a decent stage hunter in the future if he can keep away from the big WT teams where he won't be given freedom to ride like this. André Cardoso was kind of a disappointment: we all know he can ride top20 in GT's but what's the point if that means being invisible and not fighting for a prestigious stage win? He should look up to Oliveira who was in countless breaks, won a stage and still finished close to 20th place! Oliveira really turned into a really solid all rounder, I always thought someone like Sergent was more talented but Oliveira really grew outside his TT focus and he should now have plenty of teams trying to have him. All in all, great Vuelta for Portugal

 

[ice&fire]

Re:

Nice words of solace from Purito to Dumoulin
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/rodriguez-defends-second-place-overall-in-vuelta-a-espana/

“It’s very hard, losing the jersey so late on, I remember what happened with Alberto at Fuente De, but at least [Dumoulin ]'s lost it when he’s much younger than I was. “

“He has to be very proud of what he’s done. He was lacking a bit of team support at the end, with one more rider in the mountains he might have come through. But in any case he has to think about what he can do in the future.”

CN missed the best part of the interview:
Q: Have you thought about attacking yourself to drop Aru and win the race?
A: Yes, every evening during the massage. But then in the morning I put my bib number on and the race turns out to be completely different

 

[Andy262]

Re:

Hats off to Aru and Astana, textbook ride today. A good team is worth zero if they don't know how to use it. Aru's consistency will probably make for a good future in GT's.

Regarding the portuguese (sorry for the patriotic bias) I'm really happy for Gonçalves, he can be a decent stage hunter in the future if he can keep away from the big WT teams where he won't be given freedom to ride like this. André Cardoso was kind of a disappointment: we all know he can ride top20 in GT's but what's the point if that means being invisible and not fighting for a prestigious stage win? He should look up to Oliveira who was in countless breaks, won a stage and still finished close to 20th place! Oliveira really turned into a really solid all rounder, I always thought someone like Sergent was more talented but Oliveira really grew outside his TT focus and he should now have plenty of teams trying to have him. All in all, great Vuelta for Portugal

Yeah, Goncalves has been an entertaining rider to watch; shame he never quite got a win. You'd have thought sonewhere like Lampre or AG2R might be a good move? He could be a good replacement for Oliveira if he moves on? Always enjoy the Caja Rural team and good that they won KoM.

 

[Ruby United]

Cyclingnews mistake?

# Rider Name (Country) Team Result
1 Fabio Aru (Ita) Astana Pro Team 83:01:40
2 Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Team Katusha 0:01:17
3 Rafal Majka (Pol) Tinkoff-Saxo 0:01:18
4 Nairo Alexander Quintana Rojas (Col) Movistar Team 0:01:19
5 Jhoan Esteban Chaves Rubio (Col) Orica GreenEdge 0:01:20
6 Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Team Giant-Alpecin 0:01:21
7 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Movistar Team 0:01:22
8 Mikel Nieve Ituralde (Spa) Team Sky 0:01:23
9 Daniel Moreno Fernandez (Spa) Team Katusha 0:01:24

 

[trevim]

Re: Re:

Hats off to Aru and Astana, textbook ride today. A good team is worth zero if they don't know how to use it. Aru's consistency will probably make for a good future in GT's.

Regarding the portuguese (sorry for the patriotic bias) I'm really happy for Gonçalves, he can be a decent stage hunter in the future if he can keep away from the big WT teams where he won't be given freedom to ride like this. André Cardoso was kind of a disappointment: we all know he can ride top20 in GT's but what's the point if that means being invisible and not fighting for a prestigious stage win? He should look up to Oliveira who was in countless breaks, won a stage and still finished close to 20th place! Oliveira really turned into a really solid all rounder, I always thought someone like Sergent was more talented but Oliveira really grew outside his TT focus and he should now have plenty of teams trying to have him. All in all, great Vuelta for Portugal

Yeah, Goncalves has been an entertaining rider to watch; shame he never quite got a win. You'd have thought sonewhere like Lampre or AG2R might be a good move? He could be a good replacement for Oliveira if he moves on? Always enjoy the Caja Rural team and good that they won KoM.

Caja Rural has been great for portuguese riders that can't make the jump straight to WT. It's great if Gonçalves can stay around as they've a good calendar.
I'm not sure about Ag2R, they're a GC team in most races with Vuillermoz, Peraud, Pozzo and Bardet; Lampre may be a better fit and they have lots of riders worse than Gonçalves.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Goncalves surely has been a pleasure. I was surprised by him basically outclimbing the whole break besides an stupidly strong Plaza, thought he was more of a puncheur/rouleur type - then again, these mountains arent super hard, but still enough to crack the red jersey. Like Gougeard, perfectly for stagehunting and a rider who we hopefully will see in the GT's in the many breaks that the peloton wont bother to chase.

Also funny to think about, just as a comment to the above poster, that Ag2R hasnt been in the top-10 this year in a GT. Super different from their fantastic year last year. They have, at least this year, evolved into much more of a stagehunting team and its not like Pozzo needs more than a few dedicated helpers at this point. Peraud is way past his prime, Betancur his leaving and Vuillermoz definetely ISNT a GC-rider in GT's. Lots of space so stagehunting and he wont be caught up in domestique hell on that team, thats for sure.

 

[Kwibus]

Re:

Nice words of solace from Purito to Dumoulin
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/rodriguez-defends-second-place-overall-in-vuelta-a-espana/

“It’s very hard, losing the jersey so late on, I remember what happened with Alberto at Fuente De, but at least [Dumoulin ]'s lost it when he’s much younger than I was. “

“He has to be very proud of what he’s done. He was lacking a bit of team support at the end, with one more rider in the mountains he might have come through. But in any case he has to think about what he can do in the future.”

Purito is one of the most likeable guys in the peloton.

Whatever people think of his riding.

 

[Teddy Boom]

Re: Re:

Cyclingnews mistake?

# Rider Name (Country) Team Result
1 Fabio Aru (Ita) Astana Pro Team 83:01:40
2 Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Team Katusha 0:01:17
3 Rafal Majka (Pol) Tinkoff-Saxo 0:01:18
4 Nairo Alexander Quintana Rojas (Col) Movistar Team 0:01:19
5 Jhoan Esteban Chaves Rubio (Col) Orica GreenEdge 0:01:20
6 Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Team Giant-Alpecin 0:01:21
7 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Movistar Team 0:01:22
8 Mikel Nieve Ituralde (Spa) Team Sky 0:01:23
9 Daniel Moreno Fernandez (Spa) Team Katusha 0:01:24

I came here wondering that too Here are the real times (from La Vuelta site):
1. ARU Fabio 83h 01' 40''
2. RODRIGUEZ OLIVER Joaquin + 01' 17''
3. POLMAJKA Rafal + 01' 29''
4. QUINTANA ROJAS Nairo Alexander + 02' 02''
5. CHAVES RUBIO Johan Esteban + 03' 30''
6. DUMOULIN Tom + 03' 46''
7. VALVERDE BELMONTE Alejandro + 07' 10''
8. NIEVE ITURRALDE Mikel + 07' 26''
9. MORENO FERNANDEZ Daniel + 07' 32''
10. MEINTJES Louis + 10' 46''

EDIT: and I cleaned it up a little.

 

[Kwibus]

Re: Re:

Nice words of solace from Purito to Dumoulin
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/rodriguez-defends-second-place-overall-in-vuelta-a-espana/

“It’s very hard, losing the jersey so late on, I remember what happened with Alberto at Fuente De, but at least [Dumoulin ]'s lost it when he’s much younger than I was. “

“He has to be very proud of what he’s done. He was lacking a bit of team support at the end, with one more rider in the mountains he might have come through. But in any case he has to think about what he can do in the future.”

CN missed the best part of the interview:
Q: Have you thought about attacking yourself to drop Aru and win the race?
A: Yes, every evening during the massage. But then in the morning I put my bib number on and the race turns out to be completely different

Simple as that. He gets flamed and burned non stop here by people that think cycling is a computer game. The guy simply couldn't. Like plenty of riders can't when people shout at them to attack. It's just not that simple.

 

[Escarabajo]

Re: Re:

Nice words of solace from Purito to Dumoulin
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/rodriguez-defends-second-place-overall-in-vuelta-a-espana/

“It’s very hard, losing the jersey so late on, I remember what happened with Alberto at Fuente De, but at least [Dumoulin ]'s lost it when he’s much younger than I was. “

“He has to be very proud of what he’s done. He was lacking a bit of team support at the end, with one more rider in the mountains he might have come through. But in any case he has to think about what he can do in the future.”

CN missed the best part of the interview:
Q: Have you thought about attacking yourself to drop Aru and win the race?
A: Yes, every evening during the massage. But then in the morning I put my bib number on and the race turns out to be completely different

Simple as that. He gets flamed and burned non stop here by people that think cycling is a computer game. The guy simply couldn't. Like plenty of riders can't when people shout at them to attack. It's just not that simple.

+1111111
I am tired of the same thing.

 

[Angliru]

Re: Re:

Nice words of solace from Purito to Dumoulin
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/rodriguez-defends-second-place-overall-in-vuelta-a-espana/

“It’s very hard, losing the jersey so late on, I remember what happened with Alberto at Fuente De, but at least [Dumoulin ]'s lost it when he’s much younger than I was. “

“He has to be very proud of what he’s done. He was lacking a bit of team support at the end, with one more rider in the mountains he might have come through. But in any case he has to think about what he can do in the future.”

Purito is one of the most likeable guys in the peloton.

Whatever people think of his riding.

Yup. One of my favorite riders and personalities. A good humble guy.

 

[Eagle]

Re: 2015 Vuelta stage 20: San Lorenzo de El Escorial>Cercedi

Controversial opinion: Aru won it in the wind tunnel.

Not so controversial, and to a certain extent it's something we can all agree to.
Yet he won it by being constant. He was always in the mix, always up there with the best in every situation.
And he won, sort of a Sastre kind of win? Like when you're not the absolute best anywhere, but you're still the second or third best everywhere.

He was the best in the mountains

 

[BigMac]

Likely already mentioned, but big shout out to the immense Louis Meintjes, first ever African rider riding with an African flag to finish in the top ten of a Grand Tour.

 

[elfed68]

First things first, Purito deserves to win a GT, as well as Valverde who's crazy strong, and secondly, Aru beat Dumoulin because he had the stronger team, no other reason!!

 

[The Hitch]

Re:

I guess the members of the clinic will be in joy that the super cleans Aru wins this Vuelta instead...

Was reading through the thread to get a feel for the stage (didn't watch it) but just felt I had to hilight this above post as the dumbest one I saw. Also how comes it didn't get taken down for breaking rules?

 

[Pierrot le Fou]

Re:

Goncalves surely has been a pleasure. I was surprised by him basically outclimbing the whole break besides an stupidly strong Plaza, thought he was more of a puncheur/rouleur type - then again, these mountains arent super hard, but still enough to crack the red jersey. Like Gougeard, perfectly for stagehunting and a rider who we hopefully will see in the GT's in the many breaks that the peloton wont bother to chase.

Also funny to think about, just as a comment to the above poster, that Ag2R hasnt been in the top-10 this year in a GT. Super different from their fantastic year last year. They have, at least this year, evolved into much more of a stagehunting team and its not like Pozzo needs more than a few dedicated helpers at this point. Peraud is way past his prime, Betancur his leaving and Vuillermoz definetely ISNT a GC-rider in GT's. Lots of space so stagehunting and he wont be caught up in domestique hell on that team, thats for sure.

Bardet would beg to differ!

 

[Kwibus]

Re:

Likely already mentioned, but big shout out to the immense Louis Meintjes, first ever African rider riding with an African flag to finish in the top ten of a Grand Tour.

Indeed well done. I bet on a tdf top 10 from him, but he was dissapointing there and eventually dropped out ill.
Here he was doing better and a nice 10th place to go home with.

I'm very dissapointed he went to Lampre though.

 

[Gigs_98]

Re:

First things first, Purito deserves to win a GT, as well as Valverde who's crazy strong, and secondly, Aru beat Dumoulin because he had the stronger team, no other reason!!

So you think, yesterday Dumoulin was actually as good as aru and with a good team, he wouldnt have lost time? Because honestly, yesterday was probably the only day on which astana used its teammates well, on the other days they just made an Astana train up the mountains so we never had real "long range action" which really would have hurt Major Tom. Dumoulin was just worse, and even if he got into Aru's group again, he would have lost contact on Cotos again.