La Vuelta '17 stage 3:Prades Conflent>Andorra la Vella 158km

[Krokro]

That's why I love Nibbles haha, he has such a tactical sense of racing. Really amazed by Chavito as well, I wasn't sure he would be at his best after such a difficult season for him. He might have that advantage of having less fatigue tho.

 

[Baldinger]

Re: Re:

I learnt two things from today's stage.

The two strongest riders in the stage didn't get full value for their form - These downhill finishes - Froome can't drop the whole peleton in the mountains as there is also one or two riders who can keep his pace.

Well, they weren't strongest downhill, otherwise they would've won

The gap was already getting smaller before the top.

 

[Brullnux]

Re: Re:

Chaves is good, can win the whole thing.

Considering the ITT, he will need to gain more than 3 minutes on Froome and 2 minutes on Nibali.

I think 3 minutes is generous, he could ship 5 mins over 40km+ to Froome

Last year he lost 3:13 to Froome over 37km. I don't think 1:50 will be found over 3km

 

[ontheroad]

If it wasn't for the ITT I think this race would be wide open. That is where Froome has the big advantage and because of that he is a strong favourite. It looks like he can no longer sustain a pace when attacking like he could 2-3 years ago to get a big gap on the climbs.

 

[Forever The Best]

Re: Re:

Chaves is good, can win the whole thing.

Considering the ITT, he will need to gain more than 3 minutes on Froome and 2 minutes on Nibali.

I think 3 minutes is generous, he could ship 5 mins over 40km+ to Froome

He lost 3:13 in the 37 km TT last year. Granted, the first part of that one was a little bit hilly, and this one is flat but the distance is almost the same. (37 vs 40)

 

[yaco]

Re: Re:

I learnt two things from today's stage.

The two strongest riders in the stage didn't get full value for their form - These downhill finishes - Froome can't drop the whole peleton in the mountains as there is also one or two riders who can keep his pace.

Well, they weren't strongest downhill, otherwise they would've won

Downhill finishes are rubbish in a multi-mountain stage - It doesn't reward the strongest rider.

 

[portugal11]

Movistar is completely dead...
Chaves has to be better than last year to beat froome.

 

[can3478]

Re:

Alaphilippe dropping was no surprise tbh. I don't think he expected otherwise.

Mas lost about 9minutes on that last climb it seems.

Alaphilippe was at the back of the peloton even before the climb, you can easily identify him as he's wearing the young rider red bib. Either he's not feeling well or still not on form, to get dropped so early.

 

[Krokro]

Re: Re:

Chaves is good, can win the whole thing.

Considering the ITT, he will need to gain more than 3 minutes on Froome and 2 minutes on Nibali.

I think 3 minutes is generous, he could ship 5 mins over 40km+ to Froome

To me, it's hard to see past Froome if he maintains this level of form... 40km ITT is tailor made for him. I can only see Nibali to worry him given his quite honnest TT skills. Chavito is not likely to win this edition, unfortunately.

 

[Finn84]

Re:

Just remembered that Keldermerckx was hyped around here as a potential candidate. He vanished at some point. Where did he finish?

1'14" down. Same group with Barguil, Costa, LLS, Betancur, Kruijswijk, Pardilla and Lopez.

Btw, Contador lost 2'33".

 

[Inquitus]

Massive gaps on such a short climb

 

[HelloDolly]

Re: Re:

Chaves is good, can win the whole thing.

Considering the ITT, he will need to gain more than 3 minutes on Froome and 2 minutes on Nibali.

I think 3 minutes is generous, he could ship 5 mins over 40km+ to Froome

To me, it's hard to see past Froome if he maintains this level of form... 40km ITT is tailor made for him. I can only see Nibali to worry him given his quite honnest TT skills. Chavito is not likely to win this edition, unfortunately.

Long way to go yet ...there will be lots of twists yet...some even caused by Contador

 

[Blanco]

Re: Re:

I learnt two things from today's stage.

The two strongest riders in the stage didn't get full value for their form - These downhill finishes - Froome can't drop the whole peleton in the mountains as there is also one or two riders who can keep his pace.

Well, they weren't strongest downhill, otherwise they would've won

Downhill finishes are rubbish in a multi-mountain stage - It doesn't reward the strongest rider.

But rewards a real racers! Strongest will have their chances...

 

[Forever The Best]

Re: Re:

I learnt two things from today's stage.

The two strongest riders in the stage didn't get full value for their form - These downhill finishes - Froome can't drop the whole peleton in the mountains as there is also one or two riders who can keep his pace.

Well, they weren't strongest downhill, otherwise they would've won

Downhill finishes are rubbish in a multi-mountain stage - It doesn't reward the strongest rider.

 

[HelloDolly]

So all those hyping Kelderman, Allaphillipe, Soler, Fernandez, Betencur...have a serious talk with yourself please ...

 

[Escarabajo]

Re:

So all those hyping Kelderman, Allaphillipe, Soler, Fernandez, Betencur...have a serious talk with yourself please ...

I wasn't hyping any of them, but I think Betancur arrived where expected IMHO.

 

[Red Rick]

Nibali got green?

 

[Geraint Too Fast]

Re:

So all those hyping Kelderman, Allaphillipe, Soler, Fernandez, Betencur...have a serious talk with yourself please ...

Look out everybody, the fun police is here.

 

[Red Rick]

Re:

So all those hyping Kelderman, Allaphillipe, Soler, Fernandez, Betencur...have a serious talk with yourself please ...

Contador gunna win la Vuelta

Seriously

Hype is love. Hype is life.

 

[Anderis]

Re:

So all those hyping Kelderman, Allaphillipe, Soler, Fernandez, Betencur...have a serious talk with yourself please ...

What about all those hyping Contador?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Well didn't expect that. Froome looks already to be the strongest. Much difference than his previous Tour/Vuelta combo's were he seemed to be going in slowly.

 

[Max Rockatansky]

Re:

Movistar is completely dead...

Only riders left are Moreno and Bananito. Young guys like Soler, Fernandez and Carapaz already completely gone after three days. They desperately need a stage win here. Quick sign Alarcon and let him ride as Arcas. :redface:

And they are having an awful transfer period, too. Losing all their firepower. Really bad.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Re: Re:

So all those hyping Kelderman, Allaphillipe, Soler, Fernandez, Betencur...have a serious talk with yourself please ...

Look out everybody, the fun police is here.

Heh.

But in all honoustly, I expected Kelderman to be lower end top 10. Or at least to hang with the group at +30s from the heads of state. This was seriously bad from him. In fact, all the Tour of Poland guys sucked except for Nibali.

Where was Majka?

 

[shalgo]

Re: Re:

Where was Majka?

He came in two seconds behind Contador.

 

[GraftPunk]

Re: Re:

So all those hyping Kelderman, Allaphillipe, Soler, Fernandez, Betencur...have a serious talk with yourself please ...

Look out everybody, the fun police is here.

Heh.

But in all honoustly, I expected Kelderman to be lower end top 10. Or at least to hang with the group at +30s from the heads of state. This was seriously bad from him. In fact, all the Tour of Poland guys sucked except for Nibali.

Where was Majka?

With Contie. Bad day for both.