Ruta del Sol - Vuelta ciclista a Andalucia 2014 2.1 (19th - 23rd Feb)

[Vino attacks everyone]

how big was the first group? I didn't see it

8ish guys came into the last 400 meters togheter

 

[Marco Pantani]

legendary davide!!! _O_

tomorrow, 3rd in a row for valverde i guess

still it will be close to impossible for him to podium le tour.

Mh,

Andy, Nibali, Froome...........u might be right.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

He was already pretty strong on the climbs in the Dauphiné last year, but then he crashed in the first stage of the Tour, I believe.

Pretty impressive climb by Mollema, who came out of nowhere.

He was too far back when it started, but nice come back. Especially after the horrible prologue. I thought he didn't have the form

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

how big was the first group? I didn't see it

after 1km climb already only 6 left, then Mollema and another rider came back. And in the sprint Valverde just took off like a rocket.

Behind the first group bigger splits..

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

'Attacks' are pointless. No-one will bother to chase. They just wait till they tire and come back

if nobody chases then of course the rider won't fall back

 

[EnacheV]

'Attacks' are pointless. No-one will bother to chase. They just wait till they tire and come back

I think they are thinking that they will drill it over the tomorrows longer final climb.

But i don't think they can drop Valverde so they will have to be happy with Porte's 2nd place.

 

[theyoungest]

I think they are thinking that they will drill it over the tomorrows longer final climb.

But i don't think they can drop Valverde so they will have to be happy with Porte's 2nd place.

Team Sky don't think, they know only one tactic... sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Sky are like the Daleks from Doctor Who. Only have 1 plan, no adaption possible. Exterminate, exterminate... oops fail.

 

[Rollthedice]

Sky are like the Daleks from Doctor Who. Only have 1 plan, no adaption possible. Exterminate, exterminate... oops fail.

Yep, but it's good. With an average tactic mind they could win about all. We don't want that, do we?

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Stage 2:

We had a train controlling stage 1 and whats the likelihood of another one here?

Ignoring the train stuff for a bit, there are some real opportunities to create a bit of chaos from the get go if anybody cares.

Anyway I see 3 for 3 for Valverde.

 

[jens_attacks]

i can see movistar train on the right of the road and the sky one on the left, drag race up to the finish! haha

11,3 km @6% means a pretty serious climb. can't see valverde dropped by sky but i hope richie can test him.

 

[straightjacker]

Stage 2:
We had a train controlling stage 1 and whats the likelihood of another one here?

Ignoring the train stuff for a bit, there are some real opportunities to create a bit of chaos from the get go if anybody cares.

Anyway I see 3 for 3 for Valverde.

Valverde only needs to follow and wait the right moment just like he did today. But it looks to me that he's capable of more than that at the moment.
Whether he'll take another stage depends on opportunists in the peloton.

 

[postmanhat]

Sky are like the Daleks from Doctor Who. Only have 1 plan, no adaption possible. Exterminate, exterminate... oops fail.

Not picking out your comment in particular, just the general 'Sky should have done more' theme.

Should they have done an Astana and send two riders off for absolutely no reason? Sky were the only the ones to animate a stage that had been controlled by the Movistar train

Kennaugh and Porte are still warming up for the GTs, which leaves Thomas who did his best, but never stood a chance against Valverde on this form, and that finish.

Great showing from Mollema! Is he going for the Giro this year?

 

[trevim]

Great showing from Mollema! Is he going for the Giro this year?

I think he'll lead at the Tour.
Valverde for the win tomorrow. Maybe someone like Fugslang can surprise from far out.

 

[willbick]

Valverde will 100% NOT win stage 2

 

[Cyivel]

Valverde will 100% NOT win stage 2

Who are you going for William?

 

[willbick]

I have no idea! I only say Valverde wont win because they never win 2 uphill finishes in a row

 

[Dazed and Confused]

I have no idea! I only say Valverde wont win because they never win 2 uphill finishes in a row

Why not? The only men who can challenge on such a finish are Quintana, J-Rod and Froome and none of them are here.

 

[MatParker117]

Why not? The only men who can challenge on such a finish are Quintana, J-Rod and Froome and none of them are here.

Porte is though and this kind of climb is more to his liking.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Porte is though and this kind of climb is more to his liking.

It's 6%. He can't drop Valverde on such low percentage. So it will come down to a sprint where Valverde obviously wins

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Porte is though and this kind of climb is more to his liking.

Well Portes prologue wasn't great coupled with the fact he was beaten by a 50 yo or whatever today, it hardly screams super form. Anyway lets see what happens.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Well Portes prologue wasn't great coupled with the fact he was beaten by a 50 yo or whatever today, it hardly screams super form. Anyway lets see what happens.

the 50 yr old is just as old as the last gt winner. Age doesnt matter for the super humans

 

[SlimChance]

legendary davide!!! _O_

tomorrow, 3rd in a row for valverde i guess

still it will be close to impossible for him to podium le tour.

Why? He has Contador to beat and Alberto gave up when he couldn't beat Froome last year. I think he's favourite to be 3rd.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Why? He has Contador to beat and Alberto gave up when he couldn't beat Froome last year. I think he's favourite to be 3rd.

Froome, Nibali, AC,Costa, Kwiat (), some american like TJVG or Talansky might take another step this year. Valverde will have problems with podium, but not in any way impossible indeed.

 

[SlimChance]

Froome, Nibali, AC,Costa, Kwiat (), some american like TJVG or Talansky might take another step this year. Valverde will have problems with podium, but not in any way impossible indeed.

Thanks. I just think he's most likely to podium after Froome and Nibs, surprised to see the word impossible mentioned. Think Costa will top 6 without threatening the podium.