Stage 16, San Martín del Rey Aurelio - La Farrapona, Lagos de Somiedo

[Pricey_sky]

Froome did not want Contador to work with him. He was trying to drop Contador, he was trying to ride him off his wheel. He was challenging Contador to stay on his wheel. Contador was up to the challenge and much more.

No, Froome looked round several times to see if Alberto was going to work but he didn't come through, I don't blame Alberto for that as it was sensible.The first goal from Froome was to gap Valverde and Purito.

 

[Arredondo]

Quite boring stage.

Alberto decides the Vuelta, dominant perfomance.
Froome is good but not good enough.
Valverde riding on his max in the mountains
Purito not good on a stage which doesn't suit him, and Froome/Contador are better climbers

So some individiual stage wins up for grabs, podium is decided.

 

[burning]

I'm wondering if (Contador fans) Valverde bashers will acknowledge their hypocrisy. Or either admit they're wrong when criticizing Valverde, when he has no reason to work, or criticize Contador for today's performance. I for one would stick with the first. And I do, I think Contador did what he had to do.

Contador is the leader, Valverde is about to lose his 2nd place because he underestimated Froome.

I see no reason to not bash him and Purito, I'm glad that Froome will likely pass both of them

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Class'

Stage

GC

 

[arvc40]

Absolutely great race by Froome. Not in top shape and attacking from 4km out? The man has ball.s. Contador a lot stronger, but I hated how he wheelsucked. Seriously, with having so much power in legs just attack earlier, take pulls, or just increase the tempo to drop Froome. Sitting in his wheel until final km and then attacking? Classless

What would you do mate !. They are paid to win at any cost. Froome has been playing games for 2 weeks

 

[wwabbit]

Froome did not want Contador to work with him. He was trying to drop Contador, he was trying to ride him off his wheel. He was challenging Contador to stay on his wheel. Contador was up to the challenge and much more.

Froome wasn't going to expect Contador to work with him. Contador is perfectly fine where he was whereas Froome still had to put time into Valverde and Purito so he is pretty much forced to do all of the work.

Circumstances would probably have different if Froome had done a better ITT, but such is life in a GT.

 

[T-Nielsen]

Sky really only have one page in their tactic-book don't they?

 

[roundabout]

Viva Meintjes!

 

[Jspear]

Even though I'll never be a fan, I'm getting more respect for Froome.

I'm super happy for Contador that he can fulfill his promise of going for stage wins in the third week though, **** yeah

I think plenty of people look at Froome this way now. I know for me, the reason is because he continues to fight even when he knows he probably won't win. UNLIKE his teammate Wiggins, who once he has lost time, seems to just give up completely and finish with the gruppetto.

 

[indianfanboy]

Contador did not need to attack he is the red jersey....after all he did all the attacking in the past 2 days and Froome was setting a really good tempo to drop Contador

Contador timed his winning attack perfectly

 

[BigMac]

I really think that what makes people dislike Contador are his fans. You would all be crawling up the walls if it was Valverde in the 'wheelsucking' position. I don't mind what Contador did today, I think it was what he had to to, but to bash Valverde and praise Contador for the exact same thing is pure hypocrisy. Again, please acknowledge you were wrong when you claimed Valverde should work (even though it's perfectly understandable he did not) or apply the same reasoning to Alberto.

 

[skidmark]

Sheesh. When did Contador turn into stronger version of Valverde? Sucking wheel for entire climb and sprinting in last km

Yeah, but he was clearly still unsure about himself vs. froome. It's out of character for Contador to sit on so long, but he's done that with Froome after getting schooled last year (remember as early as Oman 2013 when Conti launched an attack and then Froome just countered and left him in the dust?) So it makes sense, especially given his advantage - Froome HAS to work to gain time on others, Contador does not. If Contador sits on like he did, best case scenario is what happened. Worst-case scenario is that he hangs on Froome's wheel for as long as possible and loses the least amount of time. It would be stupid to tamper with that by attacking too early, blowing up, and losing the Vuelta to Froome. So his wheelsucking is more understandable than, say, Purito and Valv yesterday.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Sky really only have one page in their tactic-book don't they?

Have to say it worked didn't it? He could now finish 2nd after looking in massive trouble a few days ago.

 

[ILovecycling]

Bravooooooo Froome Bravo The Great One

 

[ggusta]

Contador is the leader, Valverde is about to lose his 2nd place because he underestimated Froome.

I see no reason to not bash him and Purito, I'm glad that Froome will likely pass both of them

Ac should have waited after he crossed the finish to tell Valverde and rodriguez 'wtf did I tell you knuckleheads about getting rid of froome when we had the chance?'

nice try by froome to crack AC. It was his best shot.

 

[Eyeballs Out]

Sky really only have one page in their tactic-book don't they?

One sentence

 

[damian13ster]

Please stop the fanboyism. Contador had no reason to take some pulls. Plus he was undoubtedly stronger than Froome.

You are kidding, right? I prefer Alberto over Froome and Vuelta isnt going to change it. But lots of posters here criticize Valverde and Contador did exactly the same thing and now they are voices that it was sensible thing?
That;'s the very definition of fanboyism.

Of course he had reason to take pulls since he was that strong. It was to put more time into his rivals/drop Froome earlier/show that he is by far the strongest. Take your pick. Sucking wheels when you clearly have legs to take turns lacks class.

 

[BigMac]

Contador is the leader, Valverde is about to lose his 2nd place because he underestimated Froome.

I see no reason to not bash him and Purito, I'm glad that Froome will likely pass both of them

What makes you think he underestimated Froome? And please, you know the hate against Valverde is inherent and he would still be bashed if he was in red.

 

[the sceptic]

Contador was obviously worried that Dawg would have more alien attacks.

 

[DFA123]

I really think that what makes people dislike Contador are his fans. You would all be crawling up the walls if it was Valverde in the 'wheelsucking' position. I don't mind what Contador did today, I think it was what he had to to, but to bash Valverde and praise Contador for the exact same thing is pure hypocrisy. Again, please acknowledge you were wrong when you claimed Valverde should work (even though it's perfectly understandable he did not) or apply the same reasoning to Alberto.

I'm not especially a fan of Contador, although I don't dislike him either. But there are clear differences between the two situations. Contador is in red with a healthy advantage and was following a rider that was already putting a lot of time into other rivals.

Valverde refused to work to further distance a rival who is now going to take second place from him.

Contador's tactics appear to have worked. Valverde's have failed and probably will cost him 2nd place.

 

[T-Nielsen]

I really think that what makes people dislike Contador are his fans. You would all be crawling up the walls if it was Valverde in the 'wheelsucking' position. I don't mind what Contador did today, I think it was what he had to to, but to bash Valverde and praise Contador for the exact same thing is pure hypocrisy. Again, please acknowledge you were wrong when you claimed Valverde should work (even though it's perfectly understandable he did not) or apply the same reasoning to Alberto.

1. Valverde should have worked to win the stage. Contador did not have to.

2. Valverde should have worked to take time on Froome. Contador did not need to take much time on Valverde today.

 

[Beacon Hill]

LOL "Bramibila should be awarded most combative rider of the day". Hilarious!

Errr that was me

 

[Miburo]

@Bigmac, you're not a wheelsucker for wheelsucking once bro.

If you do something stupid, that doesn't make you an idiot cause you did once a stupid thing.

Contador rode the entire season very agressively and now he wheelsucks once and he's a wheelsucker? Cool story.

 

[SeriousSam]

Contador was obviously worried that Dawg would have more alien attacks.

This. Contador will never, ever do what Froome did today. He is eternally fearful of blowing up and having Froome spin past him even when he is obviously stronger.

What happened to Contador's confidence is sad to witness.

 

[Netbalp]

Don't worry. Contador back to 2009 level for Tour 2015

Absolutely agree because cycling world circles around Contador. All the others can win only if he's out of shape. And if anyone's disagree, he doesn't know anything about cycling!

Actually, what Contador had in the Tour? Seemingly the most plausible version is a very strong bruise that made him stop training sessions for 1-2 weeks.