Rubén Fernández thread

[CheckMyPecs]

Ladies and gentlemen, the heir to Valverde! The winner of the 2013 Tour de l'Avenir, Rubén Fernández, claimed the red jersey today after dropping Froome, Contador, Valverde, Quintana and other big names. What can he achieve in this Vuelta a España? Could he end up as Movistar's designated leader if, as expected, Valverde and Quintana fade?

 

[Red Rick]

How specifically did he prep the Vuelta? Anyway, Valverde can't be expected to lead, so I'd say let Valverde do the heavy lifting for Quintana and let Fernandez sit on Quintana's wheel until real action happens.

 

[CheckMyPecs]

Re:

How specifically did he prep the Vuelta?

He finished sixth in both Poland and Burgos.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

How specifically did he prep the Vuelta? Anyway, Valverde can't be expected to lead, so I'd say let Valverde do the heavy lifting for Quintana and let Fernandez sit on Quintana's wheel until real action happens.

It was in the cards the whole year since he wasn't scheduled for Giro + Tour and after a season with sickness etc., he has somehow hit it just about right despite being clearly worse than Contador in Burgos. Dno how specifically, but he was expected to perform here and so he FINALLY did.

 

[robin440]

he won the tour d lavenir in 2013 not 2014

 

[CheckMyPecs]

Re:

he won the tour d lavenir in 2013 not 2014

Thanks, buddy, now corrected.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Definitely the new Miguel Angel Lopez.

 

[KyoGrey]

Its been so long since he won Avenir 2013, I thought he wasn't going to make it.

At the Paris-Nice 2015, if I remember correctly, there was a glimpse of greatness, but it was cut by a crash.

He is Murcian like Valverde, and trains with him. But he is more of a pure climber and obviously is less talented overall (who isnt?).

If his progression is confirmed over the days, we can expect a solid Spanish climber fighting for top-10s in GTs in the future, which is not a lesser feat in itself.

 

[robin440]

Re: Re:

he won the tour d lavenir in 2013 not 2014

Thanks, buddy, now corrected.

No worries!

 

[Moviestar]

Fernandez was actually scheduled for the Giro, but he was left out at the last moment. Since then he took some rest and followed the classical Vuelta schedule. Contrary to his opponents he should be one of the freshest. Could be the co-leader with Quintana, as i think Valverde might crack in the last week.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

Fernandez was actually scheduled for the Giro, but he was left out at the last moment. Since then he took some rest and followed the classical Vuelta schedule. Contrary to his opponents he should be one of the freshest. Could be the co-leader with Quintana, as i think Valverde might crack in the last week.

Oh, was he really, I didnt remember.. good thing, I guess.

 

[yaco]

Don't get too excited - Movie Star knew Froome would allow Fernandez to attack in the last 100 metres - Different story if it was Valverde or Contador - Movie Star played a tactical card.

 

[Moviestar]

Re: Re:

Fernandez was actually scheduled for the Giro, but he was left out at the last moment. Since then he took some rest and followed the classical Vuelta schedule. Contrary to his opponents he should be one of the freshest. Could be the co-leader with Quintana, as i think Valverde might crack in the last week.

Oh, was he really, I didnt remember.. good thing, I guess.

http://www.brujulabike.com/ruben-fernandez-correre-giro-italia-entrevista-exclusiva/

 

[Mr.White]

Re:

Don't get too excited - Movie Star knew Froome would allow Fernandez to attack in the last 100 metres - Different story if it was Valverde or Contador - Movie Star played a tactical card.

Maybe, but guy was a beast the whole climb. He was pacing Quintana and Valverde first and dropped everybody bar those two and Chaves in the process. Then he stepped aside, Valverde was dropped couple of meters and Quintana hesitate to attack. Froome was coming back and he sized the moment and attacked himself. And he ended up in red. Might have been a stage win as well, if Castro and Erviti were send to work 10km earlier

 

[RattaKuningas]

Depending how strong he is he could hang on to red jersey for quite some time in this Vuelta. Definitely exciting rider to watch and was really impressed today and I was asking myself "Who is this guy".

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re: Re:

Don't get too excited - Movie Star knew Froome would allow Fernandez to attack in the last 100 metres - Different story if it was Valverde or Contador - Movie Star played a tactical card.

Maybe, but guy was a beast the whole climb. He was pacing Quintana and Valverde first and dropped everybody bar those two and Chaves in the process. Then he stepped aside, Valverde was dropped couple of meters and Quintana hesitate to attack. Froome was coming back and he sized the moment and attacked himself. And he ended up in red. Might have been a stage win as well, if Castro and Erviti were send to work 10km earlier

Its really no surprise given how conservative their approach is, but, it was also evident all of the other teams had the same approach (Saxo, Astana, Orica). In hindsight, they should have done more and its one of the things that bothers me about this team. Too conservative, unfortunately, but they usually pick a few days if their leader(s) feel well.

 

[PremierAndrew]

Re:

Definitely the new Miguel Angel Lopez.

Except three years older and no WT wins

 

[Billie]

Re:

Don't get too excited - Movie Star knew Froome would allow Fernandez to attack in the last 100 metres - Different story if it was Valverde or Contador - Movie Star played a tactical card.

What has Froome to do with how strong he was. Froome wasn't even back yet when he attacked anyway.

It was Fernandez himself who completely shred the peloton to pieces from the bottom of the climb.

What he showed today had nothing to do with being 'allowed' or being a 'tactical card'

 

[CheckMyPecs]

Let's see what he can do today.

 

[DJ Sprtsch]

Re:

Its been so long since he won Avenir 2013, I thought he wasn't going to make it.
At the Paris-Nice 2015, if I remember correctly, there was a glimpse of greatness, but it was cut by a crash.

Yes, I remember that one, he looked the strongest but was taken out by a ridiculous crash, where he could only blame himself!!!
Hope he learned his lesson there once and for all.

 

[deValtos]

I hope he's the new Froome/Horner/Dumoulin vuelta GC contender.

He's obviously ludicrously strong, will be interesting to see if he can hold it for 3 weeks though.

 

[CheckMyPecs]

That's what happens when you burn the race leader for a guy with over 60 race days in his legs already.

 

[BigMac]

Re:

That's what happens when you burn the race leader for a guy with over 60 race days in his legs already.

It's not like Valverde has blown yet or anything. Still some time to go before knowing if it was the right decision.

 

[CheckMyPecs]

Re: Re:

That's what happens when you burn the race leader for a guy with over 60 race days in his legs already.

It's not like Valverde has blown yet or anything. Still some time to go before knowing if it was the right decision.

With so many race days in his legs, the default approach should be to treat him like a ticking time bomb, especially at age 36.

 

[SeriousSam]

Re:

That's what happens when you burn the race leader for a guy with over 60 race days in his legs already.

Those with a real chance to win can survive the domestique treatment and still do brilliant (Froome, Landa)