Best mountain stages of the past 15 years

[Maaaaaaaarten]

Giro 2016, Corvara
Giro 2016, Andalo
Giro 2016, Risoul

All of them had favourites attacking from far out, a lot of drama and unexpected results.

 

[Red Rick]

Tomorrow may be total carnage

 

[togo95]

Who of the favourites attacked from far out in the Corvara stage? I cannot recall anybody atm.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

Who of the favourites attacked from far out in the Corvara stage? I cannot recall anybody atm.

Nobody did, but the sheer amount of vertical gain made it a really good stage nonetheless IMO.

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

Re:

Who of the favourites attacked from far out in the Corvara stage? I cannot recall anybody atm.

Hmmm, yeah, my memory seems to be messing with me, the finale was quite long and it was quite dramatic and exciting, but they only attacked on the last climb. My bad.

 

[Gigs_98]

Tomorrows stage will surely be good but nothing too special. Only Valverde really needs a lot of time so I doubt anyone will attack before the Lombarde. As I said it will definitely be exciting but I doubt it will be as good as today.

 

[Pantani Attacks]

Today's stage is memorable for the crash and suffering of Kruijswijk, not something to go down as "best" stage.

 

[hrotha]

Re:

Today's stage is memorable for the crash and suffering of Kruijswijk, not something to go down as "best" stage.

Perhaps you're forgetting that the race was on long before the descent started.

 

[jsem94]

This was easily the best stage this edition. Best GT stage since Fuente De form a viewer's perspective. SK taking the risk to try follow Nibali ended up costing, Zaka's crash causing me to worry. It's drama at its finest. Mortirolo 2015, Cercedilla 2015, even 2014 Gavia/Stelvio had nothing on this in my opinion.

Today's stage is memorable for the crash and suffering of Kruijswijk, not something to go down as "best" stage.

Actually, being able to stay on your bike is crucial to winning races. He took a risk trying to follow Nibali and Chaves on the descent and it ended up costing him with his momentary lapse of concentration. He could have afforded to leave a small gap even. He was 3 minutes ahead.

 

[Pantani Attacks]

Mortirolo 15 is one of the all time great Giro races, today's stage isn't even the best stage of this Giro. It's sad that people think crashes makes a stage exciting.

 

[Cance > TheRest]

Re:

This was easily the best stage this edition. Best GT stage since Fuente De form a viewer's perspective. SK taking the risk to try follow Nibali ended up costing, Zaka's crash causing me to worry. It's drama at its finest. Mortirolo 2015, Cercedilla 2015, even 2014 Gavia/Stelvio had nothing on this in my opinion.

Today's stage is memorable for the crash and suffering of Kruijswijk, not something to go down as "best" stage.

Actually, being able to stay on your bike is crucial to winning races. He took a risk trying to follow Nibali and Chaves on the descent and it ended up costing him with his momentary lapse of concentration. He could have afforded to leave a small gap even. He was 3 minutes ahead.

Still think the Mortirolo stage last year was godlike. That Mortirolo ascent was the best cycling minutes on TV all of last year. However, I agree, that the stage as a whole was slightly less dramatic than today in the sense that it didn't turn the race around like it happened today.

 

[ice&fire]

Re: Re:

Today's stage is memorable for the crash and suffering of Kruijswijk, not something to go down as "best" stage.

Perhaps you're forgetting that the race was on long before the descent started.

With Kruijswijk at the front we would have had the same incredible race to drop Valv from the podium

 

[Alexandre B.]

Re:

Mortirolo 15 is one of the all time great Giro races, today's stage isn't even the best stage of this Giro. It's sad that people think crashes makes a stage exciting.

Well it's part of the race.

Beloki's crash and suffering in 2003 was probably the moment when I caught with the sport.

 

[Gigs_98]

Re:

Mortirolo 15 is one of the all time great Giro races, today's stage isn't even the best stage of this Giro. It's sad that people think crashes makes a stage exciting.

It's not the crash, it's what happens before and especially after it. And because you mention it, you do know that Mortirolo 15 was only epic because of a mechanical, which makes it quite similar to todays stage.

 

[Valv.Piti]

I think Mortirolo in 2015 was better, definitely.

 

[Miburo]

Re:

I think Mortirolo in 2015 was better, definitely.

Would have been better if AC won it, i'm not saying this as a fan. It just would be

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re: Re:

I think Mortirolo in 2015 was better, definitely.

Would have been better if AC won it, i'm not saying this as a fan. It just would be

Sounds like a bit of a fan
Landa was the right winner and clearly the strongest. But in terms of him getting a stage win, yes, a GT-win without a stage is somewhat not right for me.

 

[Pantani Attacks]

Re: Re:

Mortirolo 15 is one of the all time great Giro races, today's stage isn't even the best stage of this Giro. It's sad that people think crashes makes a stage exciting.

It's not the crash, it's what happens before and especially after it. And because you mention it, you do know that Mortirolo 15 was only epic because of a mechanical, which makes it quite similar to todays stage.

The Mortirolo stage was made epic by Contador's magnificent solo climb catching and passing two other top 2 riders in the Giro on a monumental climb in Cycling. Today's stage saw the other three competitors take advantage (within their right) of an injured leader. Far from exciting, it was tragic. Had S.K. made it back then we have a good stage, but even then it's a way off Mortirolo.

Also a mechanical does not injure the rider usually, a crash does. Kruijswijk was clearly hurting from the fall. I don't see how that makes a stage epic at all.

 

[jsem94]

A mechanical is not your own fault usually. This was totally 100% his own fault, and he paid the price for it. It made me jump up from my seat and I was screaming at the computer. That's drama, excitement. I don't wish any harm on riders, but this is cycling.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Mortirolo '15 had nothing on Mortirolo '10 anyway.

 

[Brullnux]

Re: Re:

Mortirolo 15 is one of the all time great Giro races, today's stage isn't even the best stage of this Giro. It's sad that people think crashes makes a stage exciting.

It's not the crash, it's what happens before and especially after it. And because you mention it, you do know that Mortirolo 15 was only epic because of a mechanical, which makes it quite similar to todays stage.

The Mortirolo stage was made epic by Contador's magnificent solo climb catching and passing two other top 2 riders in the Giro on a monumental climb in Cycling. Today's stage saw the other three competitors take advantage (within their right) of an injured leader. Far from exciting, it was tragic. Had S.K. made it back then we have a good stage, but even then it's a way off Mortirolo.

Also a mechanical does not injure the rider usually, a crash does. Kruijswijk was clearly hurting from the fall. I don't see how that makes a stage epic at all.

Context is importaant too. Contador didn't look like losing the pink; the ride, while very good, isn't as good as you are making it out to be. Here, we have the guy who seemingly had no chance ride himself into 2nd from 4th; the Maglia Rosa crashing after misjudging a corner then expending all his energy on the bit before Risoul; and Chavez holding on, just, to set up a great finale. Not to mention Valverde blowing up, again.

 

[Red Rick]

In terms of pure *** hitting fans. This was way bigger. The excitement for the overall was over pretty soon. What we enjoyed there was Contador going at it on one of the most awesome climbs in the Giro's history, and flying by all those guys who had dropped from the peloton, before he wrecked Aru, well, mostly because he could.

 

[Ataraxus]

Fog, snow, tactics.
Leader isolated with 57 to go.
Attacks starting with 57 to go.
2 of the first 5 in GC crash out.
The potential winner of the stage ordered to drop back for support.
GC opened
Full interest in the gaps till the finish line.
leaders jersey changes hands.

Tough task to find any GT stage more intense than this in the last fifteen years.

 

[Squire]

Today was definitely up there among the iconic GT stages. Sporting entertainment at its best. However, the feeling I had at the end, although quite blown away, doesn't compare with the feeling of having watched something absolutely legendary which I had after Morzine 2006.

The way today's stage will be remembered depends on tomorrow. Today's legacy will be greater if either Nibali or Kruijswijk wins overall. The latter is extremely unlikely to happen, though. If Chaves wins, it will just be remembered as a great stage, and the stage where Kruijswijk lost it and Nibali took a redeeming win, but not as a defining moment in modern Giro history.

 

[Carl0880]

Starting out with the Tour since this has been the centre of my cycling interest in the early years.. and still is. So here are some stages that I think would be worthy of consideration, not necessarily as the best mountain stages, but deserving of lower spots and someone that I personally will remember:


Luz Ardiden 2003 - after Ullrich attacked on Tourmalet and Armstrong was somewhat in trouble, LA showed who was boss. One of the most memorable stages from my childhood.
Alpe d Huez 2003 - Mayo incredible
Ax-3-Domaines 2005 - Vino kamikaze and strange T-mobile tactics
La Toussuire 2006 - Rasmussen epic, Landis crack
Morzine 2006 - Landis *** move, one of the best, definitely.
Aubisque 2007 was a proper queen stage, Tignes deserves a mention due to Rasmussen
Hautacam 2008 - good racing
Le Grand Bornand 2009 - great stage
Saint Jean de Maurienne 2010 - Contador and Schleck tandemn, epicness.
Galiber 2011- Masterfull victory by Schleck over Agnel (or Izoard) and win at Galibier
Alpe d Huez 2011 - Altho the following stage was better imo, this one was also rather crazy.
Annecy Semnoz 2013 - great duel, high tempo.
PSM 2015 - much anticipated showdown

Giro:
I haven't watched nearly as much Giro apart from the past 5-6 years or so, but here are the stages I enjoyed.

Sestriere 2005 - A stage which has been talked about on this forum, so had to watch it
Aprica 2006 - Robobasso, pure domination
Tre Cime 2007 - Saunier Duval domination, I miss the days with Piepoli, Simoni and Ricco
Briancon 2007 - something tells me that stage was good, can't really remember
Aprica 2010 - one of the best stages, clearly
Zoncolan 2010 - Robo
Gardeccia 2011 - one of the best, if not the best i have watched
Val Martello 2014 - this stage will always be remembered, but not because of Quintana's win
Aprica 2015 - again this stage delivered some amazing racing

Vuelta:
Same as the Giro, but I have probably watched even less Vuelta from 2005-2010.

Valgrande Pajeres 2005 - Heras and Liberty dominating the lone russian
Angliru 2008 - Contador dominating Purito and Bala
Fuente Dé 2012 - oldschool racing
Cuitu Negru 2012 - for some reasons, I really enjoyed this stage
Angliru 2013 - Honer full Froome ***
Ancares 2014 - the Tour-showdown which all had waited for
Cercedilla 2015 - really good stage
(Els Cortals) 2015 - one of the only good stages along with Cercedilla last year, but those 2 delivered, especially the above

Just fire away, I think it should be possible to create a poll after we have found the best candidates!

In recent terms, a stage I am surprise wasn't mentioned was the 2011 Peña Cabarga in the Vuelta. Cobo and Froome seperated by about 20 secs on GC. Froome with 2 km or so left had the gap needed, then Cobo came from no where to pass Froome, then Froome in the last 300 or so meters came back around to take the stage victory. THis was the first signs of Froome able to win a GT.



Also the 06 Vuelta, stage into Granada, the one stage in recent memory that wass truly won on a downhill. Kasechkin/Vino constantly attack Valverde on the uphill trying to get the Leaders jersey off his shoulder. Valverde had closed within 100 metes of the duo, where you clearly see Kasechkin signal to Vino that Valv. was coming back, then a couple of seconds later Vino attacks and connects with Danielson rom the break and they put in the time needed win the Vuelta for Vino.