Geox on the flats

[Eyeballs Out]

C'mon guys. When was the last time when you saw a GT leader lose his position in the third week on flat/hilly parts? Be realistic.

2005 in this race. Heras was about 45 seconds behind Menchov but dropped him on a descent I think, at least 40km from the finish. It was bad weather, Menchov got isolated and probably forgot to eat or something. Although there was a mountain finish Heras was comfortably in the virtual lead by the time they started the final climb

 

[roundabout]

Yeah, but Heras had about 3 or even more team mates to ride for him before the last climb.

Doubt Geox will let the same thing happen.

 

[Swede1]

My way of looking at it is. You attack a Guys Weakness not his Strengths..Cobo just don't look like hes built for some nasty play on the Flats...

Haha really? Cobo is much better on the flats than your average climber. BTW Froome is pretty big, big enough for Cobo to sit in is slipstream.

Do you remember his nickname el bisonte. I reckon he is going to be pretty tough to fight with for positioning. He has always been at the front this Vuelta, and it won't change now.

 

[More Strides than Rides]

2005 in this race. Heras was about 45 seconds behind Menchov but dropped him on a descent I think, at least 40km from the finish. It was bad weather, Menchov got isolated and probably forgot to eat or something. Although there was a mountain finish Heras was comfortably in the virtual lead by the time they started the final climb

I also remember Di Luca and Pettachi vs Menchov in intermediate sprints the day before the final TT in the 2009 Giro. Fruitless, but they tried. Not to mention Nibali's nab of a few earlier this tour

Crazy stuff can happen, but isn't characteristic of Sky to be creative though (like ligui-descent a few stages ago). It does raise the tension for this last week though, and these stages need all the help they can get to be engaging.

 

[3wheeler]

Not a Comfortable Buffer 20 secs with 6 stages to go... Its not 2 minutes ...
If guys start firing off up the road its all to play for..

 

[Scirea]

Not a Comfortable Buffer 20 secs with 6 stages to go... Its not 2 minutes ...
If guys start firing off up the road its all to play for..

You are still in Wonderland, Alice.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

So while Geox can easily prevent Froome launching off on the Pena Cabarga with the likes Menchov, Sastre, Duarte and de la Fuente, how strong are they on the flats to prevent Sky from taking the intermediate sprint bonuses and even the final stage bonuses if they get desperate?

Menchov is quite strong on the flats too but obviously he won't work unless its absolutely needed. Others like Brandle and Kozontchuk will ride tempo daily as Cobo has the red jersey, but how strong are they when the situation arises where they have to reel in an escape attempt by Sky who are considerably stronger on the flat?

The Liquigas coup last week will give a lot of confidence to Sky to try something as well, they have nothing to lose.

cobo is faster than both wiggins and froome, by a lot

guys like de la fuente and blanco are also strong in flat. cobo especially btw

 

[Swede1]

cobo is faster than both wiggins and froome, by a lot

guys like de la fuente and blanco are also strong in flat. cobo especially btw

Yes! Someone who knows whats right!

If anything happens in the intermediate sprints, Cobo will be able to beat froome in a sprint. Although sagan may take all of them.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

My way of looking at it is. You attack a Guys Weakness not his Strengths..Cobo just don't look like hes built for some nasty play on the Flats...

are you f'n serious? the guys is 176 and 71 kg. he's build like a bodybuilder on the bike. the flat is actually his strenght. my god...

 

[Tank Engine]

C'mon guys. When was the last time when you saw a GT leader lose his position in the third week on flat/hilly parts? Be realistic.

Only time I remember anything like that was in the 1988 Vuelta (so not recently) when Cubino lost his jersey in a flat stage with 5-6 days to go when Sean Yates let a gap appear in front of him since Malcom Elliott (they were both then in Fagor) was up front. Cubino lost the jersey to his teammate Fuerte, who then lost it in a time trial to Sean Kelly (who probably would have won anyway). So I don't hold out to much hope for anything like that to happen. However, out of all the GTs, the Spanish plateau is the best place for something similar.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

2005 in this race. Heras was about 45 seconds behind Menchov but dropped him on a descent I think, at least 40km from the finish. It was bad weather, Menchov got isolated and probably forgot to eat or something. Although there was a mountain finish Heras was comfortably in the virtual lead by the time they started the final climb

That was on stage 15, the same stage as Cobo just took red, and it was a mountaintop finish, not a flat, hilly stage.

 

[icefire]

I have been off-line the weekend but I manage to watch both stages. Somethink that called my attention was:
Sky unable to hold the break climbing to Ancares and Team Radiopard leading the chase on the way to Ponferrada.
Cancellara leading the pack up to San Lorenzo on Saturday (maybe he was doing interval training for the worlds?) and then Rabobank and Euskaltel chasing in the flat leading to La Farrapona.
Vacansoleil chasing on Sunday before getting to Alto del Cordal.

So, for once, if Sky wants to win this race they'll have to work hard for the bonuses or find a team of retards to chase for them following silly instructions from their DS for whatever minor classification.

 

[El Pistolero]

Stop with these unrealistic scenarios. When did you ever see such thing happen in a GT last week?

Contador attacking at 16km line is pretty unrealistic if you ask me.

 

[Scirea]

Contador attacking at 16km line is pretty unrealistic if you ask me.

Yes it is, only thing is he didn't have a chance to succeed unfortunately. It was a kamikaze attack. I'd let Wiggins go at the 16km line on any stage, he could try his luck.

 

[ultimobici]

C'mon guys. When was the last time when you saw a GT leader lose his position in the third week on flat/hilly parts? Be realistic.

No necessarily the last time, but that was exactly what happened in the Stolen Vuelta of 1985.

Robert Millar was mugged by the Spanish peloton & Delgado won the overall.

 

[greenedge]

I don't think we can say Menchov is climbing better than Froome. Froome had to do all the work and they still finished together on Angrilu.
The only way Mollema can get on the podium is to attack. Sky sandwich will otherwise not be broken up. And little hills should suit him and be perfect for it. Mollema has only been sprinting for bonus seconds that's how he has risen so high up, he has never really put in a sizeable attack that has suggested he is going to get more than 15 or so seconds. And he shall have to do that or get bonus seconds to distance Wiggins and Froome.

 

[greenedge]

Sky have got nothing to lose, it's not as if Cobo can push the pace and then drop them straight after catching them on the flats. He might get isolated as well. It would be naive to think they won't try. Remember Dowsett in that race that Jesse Sergeant just recently won. He time-trialled his way to 3rd, then got a stage, gap on the peleton and 2nd. That is some good inspiration.

 

[karlboss]

I just can't believe with 6 stages to go noone would try. I don't expect them to be successful, but I expect them to try especially in stages 18,19, and 20. If attacks keep going who knows what might happen. I'd almost say someone placed from 10-20 could be more dangerous than someone 2-5.

 

[Scirea]

No necessarily the last time, but that was exactly what happened in the Stolen Vuelta of 1985.

Robert Millar was mugged by the Spanish peloton & Delgado won the overall.

Well, that wasn't exactly what happened. Do you think if Cobo punctures nobody will tell him on radio that some guys attacked him in the meantime?

 

[Scirea]

Sky have got nothing to lose, it's not as if Cobo can push the pace and then drop them straight after catching them on the flats. He might get isolated as well. It would be naive to think they won't try. Remember Dowsett in that race that Jesse Sergeant just recently won. He time-trialled his way to 3rd, then got a stage, gap on the peleton and 2nd. That is some good inspiration.

I'm sure Sky will try something, i just don't expect them to succeed.

 

[ultimobici]

Well, that wasn't exactly what happened. Do you think if Cobo punctures nobody will tell him on radio that some guys attacked him in the meantime?

Think mr Millar might disagree.

 

[Scirea]

Think mr Millar might disagree.

With what?

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

I just can't believe with 6 stages to go noone would try. I don't expect them to be successful, but I expect them to try especially in stages 18,19, and 20. If attacks keep going who knows what might happen. I'd almost say someone placed from 10-20 could be more dangerous than someone 2-5.

my god, you guys are seriously overrating what flat can do for damage in a race. basically nothing without wind or super rider and there is no wind. also froome is no vino, as we saw in 2005 champs elysees. only super men like cancellara can do damage in flat without wind

 

[sultanofhyd]

my god, you guys are seriously overrating what flat can do for damage in a race. basically nothing without wind or super rider and there is no wind. also froome is no vino, as we saw in 2005 champs elysees. only super men like cancellara can do damage in flat without wind

They don't need to go on a stage long break to win 20 minutes, just somehow sneak up at the sprints and pick up the bonuses.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Cobo 10th...

Yeah that Cobo is really awful at the flat. I see opportunities here.