2016 Vuelta a España, stage 15: Sabiñánigo > Aramón Formigal

[Põhja Konn]

[*]We have been spoiled this year. Today, Olympics RR and P-R have all been such kind of races, that one would be excused to think are once-in-a-lifetime spectacles.

Big, big thank you for Contador and Quintana for todays stage. They made it a one for the ages.

 

[El Pistolero]

You can tell Contador just wanted to make sure Froome lost the Vuelta today, lol.

 

[Miburo]

Re:

You can tell Contador just wanted to make sure Froome lost the Vuelta today, lol.

He wants to be the last one to win 2 GT's in one year

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

Contador for combativity I imagine?

Time limit?

Sporza said he would get combativity, so yeah I think so

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Re:

You can tell Contador just wanted to make sure Froome lost the Vuelta today, lol.

You're right, this is pretty lol

 

[hfer07]

Re: Re:

I am not sure if agree with the other members here. This looks a little dangerous to me. Because:

1- It is short
2- After the queen stage everyone is tired.
3- Tactics with Oricagreenedge giving a fight could turn crucial.
4- This long lame climbs sometimes turn into disasters for the riders.

Indeed. the stage appears to be easy but if it's ridden hard, some of the Top 10 riders can either gain time or tumble. A breakaway is likely to take it, depending on how ambitions & committed the top GC teams are to play their options....

don't ever say folks that @Escarabajo and I didn't warn you about today's stage
probably the best stage of the year on all the GT

 

[Alexandre B.]

What a great stage, Gigs.

 

[SafeBet]

Excellent racing today. Everyone in the lead group deserves respect but I was especially amazed by Felline's performance. He really needs a stage win next week.

 

[Poursuivant]

Re:

1. QUINTANA Nairo 7 MOVISTAR TEAM 61h 36' 07''
2. FROOME Christopher 21 TEAM SKY 61h 39' 44'' + 03' 37''
3. CHAVES Johan Esteban 51 ORICA BIKEEXCHANGE 61h 40' 04'' + 03' 57

Contador should be at around 4' 05.

That's game over

 

[Red Rick]

Re: 2016 Vuelta a España, stage 15: Sabiñánigo > Aramón Form

I AM NOT WATCHING

Still *** underrated

 

[DFA123]

Re: 2016 Vuelta a España, stage 15: Sabiñánigo > Aramón Form

Good racing.Quintana super strong.It looks like Froome will have to settle for a podium place.

Based on today's form, he might struggle even to do that. Chaves and Contador should be improving into the third week, while Froome should be getting worse. TT might still be enough to save him though.

There isn't much climbing left, though, is there? And I don't expect Contador to improve his form. Chaves surely will, but not enough to beat Froome for second place.

Probably not. But I don't recall seeing Froome so weak by this point in a GC, on such an easy stage (obv. post 2011!). If Contador and Orica are prepared to take risks - which judging by what we have seen so far, they are - I think he could crack completely even on easyish stages.

 

[Sky train]

Re:

Contador took Froome with him Balrog style... I can't win the Vuelta anymore ? Well at least you'll know I made you lose it too. Awesome.

It would be suicidal move from Contador had Movistar not supported this.

 

[Rollthedice]

Contador handed the Vuelta to Quintana and showed Froome what racing is all about. Too bad he couldn't help himself. Huge respect for a true champion.

 

[Arredondo]

Re: Re:

Chaves as strong as Quintana today

Will be the best in the third week

Not sure about that. Quintana was in the break all day, then rode on the front for the entire last 8km on a pretty flat climb - riding nearly everyone off his wheel without attacking. And Chaves still only gained about 10 seconds on him on the final climb.

Quintana's on a level way above everyone else I think - Chaves and Contador included.

Yeah, you're right. My head did run a little bit away from me

But he really is getting better and better. For sure he's the strongest rider in this race apart from Quintana.

 

[Gigs_98]

Re:

What a great stage, Gigs.

I watched the last six kilometers.

 

[hrotha]

I'm sure the whole Gigs thing is just confirmation bias, but damn it's hilarious.

 

[BetOrLose]

The whole grupetto will be outside of the time limit because nobody wanted to help the 5 sky riders.

 

[laurensde+]

Re:

What a great stage, Gigs.

Ouch. I'd seen maybe fifteen minutes of this race before this weekend.

 

[Red Rick]

I'm thinking that Quintana could've dropped Froome today without all the craziness, even though the climb was so 'easy'. Fuente de relived almost to the second in difference between the moral victor and loser.

 

[Lexman]

Contador at 4:02 only 5 seconds after Chaves, 3rd podium spot still possible...

would make a great podium

 

[Pantani Attacks]

Someone hmu when this is uploaded to YT or similar. I cannot wait to rewatch this stage

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Lets not forget the Castros, Trofimoms and Rovnys today. Some excellent support rider performances.

Now I like to see Sky going all in on one of the remaining stages please......

 

[Jungle Cycle]

Astana..!?...

 

[BigMac]

Can't believe I traded this for the beach. Only tuned in with 7k to go.

Few questions: Who started the move? When did it happen? Was Froome dropped due to bad legs or caught helpless in team tactics? What did Contador do?

Thanks. And we should stop complaining about stage lenght. Some of the best stages we've gotten recently (in memory) were short, it encourages moves from far out. When was the last time a leg-shredder wth more than 200kms actually delivered? Honest question, might have even been just months ago, I just don't remember.

 

[SafeBet]

Re:

Lets not forget the Castros, Trofimoms and Rovnys today. Some excellent support rider performances.

Now I like to see Sky going all in on one of the remaining stages please......

What Sky? None of them is making the time limit