2016 Vuelta a España, stage 14: Urdax > Col d'Aubisque 196km

[Gigs_98]

Re: Re:

Also wasn't Aru instantly with Rolland, Quintana and Hesjedal on the descent of the Stelvio pass, but took it easy after the neutralization was mentioned (they later re-claimed that and said it was never told)? I think he was at least in the hunt and about to close the gap. So yes, for me Quintana build up a significant lead of his one and only gt win by shameless ignoring instructions from the race organization which where later recalled to prevent controvery!

We will never know if Quintana really cheated but he would have won that giro anyway. I mean, how many minutes did he gain on uran only the final climb of that stage? He simply was two classes above him.

He was 50" ahead when everyone realised the Stelvio descent wasn't neutralised, 2'20" at the end of the descent, started the final climb with around 2' advantage, and finished 3'30" ahead of Kerlderman and Aru and 4'10" ahead of Urán.

Spot on. It would've been a close call with Aru. Which is why I always keep on claiming that Quintana ain't as massive as he's hyped up so far and Aru arguably has stagnated in terms of development in the last 2 years nevertheless his Vuelta win!

Close call with aru? What do you mean?
Anyway Quintana gained 2 minutes on Uran although he rode the whole climb on his own and couldn't just ride behind his teammates. And if he wouldn't have gained any time on that stage he would have on the remaining mountain stages. I understand that people say Quintana behaved unfairly but he would have won the giro anyway.

 

[Flamin]

So looking forward to this.

Little weather update:

At the start and in the valleys, temperatures rise to 30°C. Weather at the Aubisque when the riders arrive, is 22°C and very cloudy but dry. Weak wind (8km/h) from the NW.

 

[PremierAndrew]

Such a ridiculous stage. As if over 4500m of climbing wasn't enough, it's also over 190km in length

 

[Brullnux]

Re:

Such a ridiculous stage. As if over 4500m of climbing wasn't enough, it's also over 190km in length

The giro stage was both longer and had more metres of climbing. And it was quite bit higher.

 

[Red Rick]

Re:

Such a ridiculous stage. As if over 4500m of climbing wasn't enough, it's also over 190km in length

Totally unacceptable. Inhumane. Why put men through that torture when you can just send them up to a 25% once every stage.

 

[Kwibus]

Re:

Such a ridiculous stage. As if over 4500m of climbing wasn't enough, it's also over 190km in length

Would've been better when it was 220km long. After all these flat MTF stages a real grueling mountain stage where climbing and exhaustion play a big role is much needed in this Vuelta. Allthough I'm not going to complain about the stage.

Remember the mountain stage in the Giro? The one Chaves won with Kruijswijk 2nd. The one where they caught Atapuma in the final 2km. The one where Nibali attacked and Kruijswijk countered and minutes were thrown all over the place.

That was an epic stage and imo stages like that should be used more often. I have absolutely no problem with 130km mountain stages or even less. Aslong as we also keep the 220km mountain stages.

 

[PremierAndrew]

Re: Re:

Though I kind of agree with you that Quintana will never win the Tour because frankly, he shouldn't, if the routes were properly balanced. I'm not ready to anoint Nairo a better climber than Lucho, and back in Lucho's day a rider like him had no chance of winning the Tour.

Yep, there used to be 150km of ITT plus another 50k+ TTT back in the 80s.

Meanwhile, Quintana can't even win the Tour when the last two editions have had 16km and 37km of TTing (plus a MTT but that hardly counts) and a lot of climbing

 

[Isaak-Gabriel]

Re: Re:

Though I kind of agree with you that Quintana will never win the Tour because frankly, he shouldn't, if the routes were properly balanced. I'm not ready to anoint Nairo a better climber than Lucho, and back in Lucho's day a rider like him had no chance of winning the Tour.

Yep, there used to be 150km of ITT plus another 50k+ TTT back in the 80s.

Meanwhile, Quintana can't even win the Tour when the last two editions have had 16km and 37km of TTing (plus a MTT but that hardly counts) and a lot of climbing

In the future, archives will tell Froome was the best rider of 2010s, so Quintana can be relatively happy "concerning" his career. Finish several times 2nd behind this guy isn't bad for a pure, really pure climber.

 

[Samamba]

Weren't they going to televise the whole stage?

 

[RattaKuningas]

Re:

Weren't they going to televise the whole stage?

My Eurosport already shows it so it should be televised if I can watch it.

 

[Miburo]

Come on Contador, channel your inner Landis

If piti follows Contador's long range attack it might actually work

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

Weren't they going to televise the whole stage?

Not sure where you're from but Eurosport Benelux will only show the final hour live.

 

[Flamin]

So, I can watch Brussels Cycling Classic and Tour des Fjords live on tv, but not the queen stage of the Vuelta. Fair enough.

 

[Bardamu]

From what time will there be some livestreams?

 

[Andro]

Already lots of riders wanting to go in the break, currently 14-15 riders with a small gap.

 

[RattaKuningas]

At least my Eurosport shows it right now. No idea why they don't show it everywhere.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

So, I can watch Brussels Cycling Classic and Tour des Fjords live on tv, but not the queen stage of the Vuelta. Fair enough.

Yep. I am extremely annoyed.

 

[staubsauger]

Eurosport International / Germany had the Vuelta scheduled for 11.45 !

The SD version is still unlocked on Astra. Only the English commentary feed from the old analog version is gone! But if you understand German, Migels & Leclercq are likable pals!

 

[Lexman]

any webstream ?

 

[Andro]

Danish TV2 Sport and Danish Eurosport are both showing it as well. Weird that Eurosport aren't showing it everywhere.

 

[movingtarget]

Re: Re:

Such a ridiculous stage. As if over 4500m of climbing wasn't enough, it's also over 190km in length

Would've been better when it was 220km long. After all these flat MTF stages a real grueling mountain stage where climbing and exhaustion play a big role is much needed in this Vuelta. Allthough I'm not going to complain about the stage.

Remember the mountain stage in the Giro? The one Chaves won with Kruijswijk 2nd. The one where they caught Atapuma in the final 2km. The one where Nibali attacked and Kruijswijk countered and minutes were thrown all over the place.

That was an epic stage and imo stages like that should be used more often. I have absolutely no problem with 130km mountain stages or even less. Aslong as we also keep the 220km mountain stages.

I agree. I don't like what they are doing with the distances of stages now especially in the Tour. There is no need to have one short mountain stage in every GT let alone two like they did in the Tour. Ever since the short one in 2011 when Contador attacked from the start they seem to want them. This one is not very short but still.

 

[spalco]

Re:

So, I can watch Brussels Cycling Classic and Tour des Fjords live on tv, but not the queen stage of the Vuelta. Fair enough.

http://slipstreaming.tv/

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

Re: Re:

So, I can watch Brussels Cycling Classic and Tour des Fjords live on tv, but not the queen stage of the Vuelta. Fair enough.

Yep. I am extremely annoyed.

I ain't mad
One-day race > GT stages

 

[staubsauger]

Re: Re:

So, I can watch Brussels Cycling Classic and Tour des Fjords live on tv, but not the queen stage of the Vuelta. Fair enough.

Yep. I am extremely annoyed.

I ain't mad
One-day race > GT stages

Bike Tours -> Giro d' Italia -> Classics -> gt mountain stages -> gt stages

 

[Jungle Cycle]

http://www.shadow-net.org/channels/British-Eurosport-2.html