Best stage of the year (2015)

[GP Blanco]

Eneco, one day racing in a stage race format.

 

[jsem94]

Oops, only put in one vote. Ugh. Contador Mortirolo ride.

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

My choice would be: Cummings is persona non grata nr.1 for one day in France after beating Pinot and Bardet in the TdF

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

For me:
1. Wellens at the Eneco Tour
2. Giro Stage 16
3. Vuelta stage 20

I already complained about it during the race, so I'm not gonna go a-rantin' here, but it's beyond me why anybody would think Andalucía should be up here.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

For me:
1. Wellens at the Eneco Tour
2. Giro Stage 16
3. Vuelta stage 20

I already complained about it during the race, so I'm not gonna go a-rantin' here, but it's beyond me why anybody would think Andalucía should be up here.

Well I think its due to the most anticipated Froome v Contador after the Tour-chrash and the Vuelta showdown, and it was the first duel of the year (some would argue the last of the year as well). I mean, it was definitely a good stage, but I agree in terms of just pure racing, it shouldnt be there, but in terms of it being a relatively indifferent race like Andalucia, it was definetely a very good stage and good race overall.

 

[Scarponi]

While the result was not that ground breaking, the Tour stage where the 2nd last mountain for once instead of the last had Froome isolated for a bit against Quintana and Valverde. I think Woet Poels was the only domestique left in the race. Just for the fact its so rare to see GC riders one on one not on the MTF

Who can forget Contador passing riders in the top 20 of the Giro (Mort) like they were children on training wheels

 

[Jspear]

Re:

While the result was not that ground breaking, the Tour stage where the 2nd last mountain for once instead of the last had Froome isolated for a bit against Quintana and Valverde. I think Woet Poels was the only domestique left in the race. Just for the fact its so rare to see GC riders one on one not on the MTF

Who can forget Contador passing riders in the top 20 of the Giro (Mort) like they were children on training wheels

29% of the votes.

 

[Scarponi]

Re: Re:

While the result was not that ground breaking, the Tour stage where the 2nd last mountain for once instead of the last had Froome isolated for a bit against Quintana and Valverde. I think Woet Poels was the only domestique left in the race. Just for the fact its so rare to see GC riders one on one not on the MTF

Who can forget Contador passing riders in the top 20 of the Giro (Mort) like they were children on training wheels

29% of the votes.

I still think his 45km solo ride in the 2014 Tirreno was as good, but you can watch the Morti over and over

 

[damian13ster]

Re: Re:

While the result was not that ground breaking, the Tour stage where the 2nd last mountain for once instead of the last had Froome isolated for a bit against Quintana and Valverde. I think Woet Poels was the only domestique left in the race. Just for the fact its so rare to see GC riders one on one not on the MTF

Who can forget Contador passing riders in the top 20 of the Giro (Mort) like they were children on training wheels

29% of the votes.

I still think his 45km solo ride in the 2014 Tirreno was as good, but you can watch the Morti over and over

I liked 2014 Tirreno way more, found it more impressive. Don't find Mortirolo impressive at all. Only good part of that was when he attacked main group before the top. People seem to forget the frame of reference here. And that means looking at the riders he passed and the tempo entire climb was ridden (painfully slow because Aru had horrible day). And then being dropped like a sandbag at 5% gradient....

 

[Gigs_98]

Re: Re:

While the result was not that ground breaking, the Tour stage where the 2nd last mountain for once instead of the last had Froome isolated for a bit against Quintana and Valverde. I think Woet Poels was the only domestique left in the race. Just for the fact its so rare to see GC riders one on one not on the MTF

Who can forget Contador passing riders in the top 20 of the Giro (Mort) like they were children on training wheels

29% of the votes.

I still think his 45km solo ride in the 2014 Tirreno was as good, but you can watch the Morti over and over

I liked 2014 Tirreno way more, found it more impressive. Don't find Mortirolo impressive at all. Only good part of that was when he attacked main group before the top. People seem to forget the frame of reference here. And that means looking at the riders he passed and the tempo entire climb was ridden (painfully slow because Aru had horrible day). And then being dropped like a sandbag at 5% gradient....

I think the tempo was actually pretty high. Aru maybe didnt have his best day but still he and Krujswijk were the only ones who could stay with Landa and moreover the whole bunch exploded on the first km of the climb because Landa's pace was so brutal.

 

[damian13ster]

Tempo was not high. The wattage wasn't very impressive at all.
Yes, Landa exploded the peleton in first km, but then held back badly for Aru and lots of people came back. Kruijswijk is good, but not among best climbers in the world, far from it. Not being able to get rid of him on such stage, even with 2min deficit because of mechanical is not a feat that deserves a stage of the year in my mind.

Aru's implosion and Astana's DS took the excitement out of it. Would be something to behold if Astana train could go full gas because then it would be pretty much all man for himself 5km into Mortirolo instead of things getting back together and then an attack that Kruijswijk can match with ease

 

[Eric10]

Stage 16 Giro
Vuelta stage 20
Eneco stage 6