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

[burning]

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.

He/Movistar made no effort to distance Froome when he looked like in trouble, I think that they underestimated him and concentrated about disturbing/wheelsucking Contador like yesterday.

 

[roundabout]

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.

Both rode to get the most possible time out of a person they considered to be their immediate GC rival.

But let's bash Valverde for believing in his chance and not riding for second early

 

[DirtyWorks]

Same here. Froome's clearly miles from top form, but is still trying his best to limit his losses on bad stages, and attack when he has the chance. Now he will finish above Valverde and Rodriguez on the podium.

Not sure how one gets to 'miles from top form' as he dropped everyone but Contador.

That four seconds is going to eat away at him. But, chances are very good he'll be second on the GC podium. The way 2nd and 3rd rode yesterday, they are going to knock themselves off the podium.

 

[arvc40]

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

Alien no match for Predator today. Predator with a bandage on his knee

 

[DFA123]

Not sure how one gets to 'miles from top form' as he dropped everyone but Contador.

That four seconds is going to eat away at him. But, chances are very good he'll be second on the GC podium. The way 2nd and 3rd rode yesterday, they are going to knock themselves off the podium.

If we consider 2013 TdF to be his top form, then he undoubtedly has been miles from that all Vuelta. Today was his best performance but he still lost 15 seconds to Contador - who has also appeared to be slightly below his best for much of the race.

 

[Piz Buin]

Wait a minute? Are people really thinking contador should have taken pulls for froome?

lol?

 

[T-Nielsen]

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

Not really. Mind you I don't think another tactic would have given better results, but this way they just gave Contador a train until 1 km from the line.

 

[TheGreenMonkey]

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.

Rodriguez did not wheel suck yesterday, he attacked he just was not strong enough to drop anyone.
Valverde simply is not strong enough to be able to attack and not lose time. He has to wheelsuck and sprint or lose time so he made the choice which suited him best.

Contador is simply the better rider and there is nothing they could have done to change that.

Today Froome rode his best but was unable to drop the stronger rider, who was able to win the stage.

Contador did what was needed today, Valverde did was needed yesterday, to be in the best position possible in the overall standings.

 

[Red Rick]

One sentence

and a foot note, which says they should never take Froome and Wiggins to the same race again

 

[GreasyMonkey]

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.

Simple - Contador's in the leaders jersey and has no reason to attack or take pulls, whereas Valverde sitting on wheel and not prepared to work with other riders when it is to his advantage to should be condemned as stupid and selfish tactics - look whree it got him today?

Had he and Rodriguez worked with Contador yesterday instead of playing silly games, he would have had the time on Froome to save his skin today, instead of only having 3 seconds on him GC, with an ITT to go.

 

[PirazziAttacksVino]

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.

Well, he didn't know how much Froome had left in the tank. Froome's form is still a mystery this Vuelta. Plus he was trying to conserve as much energy as possible. There are still 2 MTF's to come.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

This is what AC was expecting to have to do since that day in Dauphine when Froome died on the bike. He passed his own test - now let's see how that makes him ride

 

[No_Balls]

Not sure how one gets to 'miles from top form' as he dropped everyone but Contador.

That four seconds is going to eat away at him. But, chances are very good he'll be second on the GC podium. The way 2nd and 3rd rode yesterday, they are going to knock themselves off the podium.

The bots are looking with a bit wet eye at a past which well never arise again. Thats whats happening. With this also the sudden pride of what a rival rider thinks about their losing man.

 

[arvc40]

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.

Yes yes, probably just a bruise. Lol. Contador in Red. Nearly 8 GT's in the bag. Ox

 

[damian13ster]

I think 'miles away' is from his TT result. Usually he does great at those, and now the race was decided by TT and he lost it (unless something happens in stage 20)

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Nice last 5km, but so many wasted opportunities to race this along the way.

Contador did the right thing, wheelsucking Froome and sprinting at the end for bonus secs and a little gap.

Contador is a step above everybody here, but his team is rather weak so hopefully this will be explored moving forward.

 

[LaFlorecita]

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.

It reminded me of stage 7 of the Dauphiné. Put all his energy in one big attack.

I would have liked him to take a few turns, but alas, he didn't.

 

[BigMac]

@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.

Missing the point, are you? Valverde gets bashed for the wheelsucking in particular stages or races sometimes even when he has no reason to do so. If he does it in the past more often than Contador is irrelevant, the point is that both did at a particular time and one is criticized for wheelsucking on a stage, while the other is not. It's not the wheelsucker here, but the act of wheelsucking. You can't have both. And if you had read carefully you would have seen that I do not consider Contador a wheelsucker nor am I against what he did today. I think it was the logical think to do. I was pointing out the inconsistency in some people's reasoning. I can acknowledge that what Alberto did is what he should have done, however, most Contador fans can't apply the same logic to Valverde. See?

 

[DirtyWorks]

He/Movistar made no effort to distance Froome when he looked like in trouble, I think that they underestimated him and concentrated about disturbing/wheelsucking Contador like yesterday.

Or, maybe this climb doesn't suit them? An alternate possibility is they are riding thinking about being on the podium on the last day and carefully using their reserves.

Yesterday's racing between 2nd/3rd definitely gifted Froome and if they continue to race like that, one or both will fall off the final podium.

 

[roundabout]

Nice last 5km, but so many wasted opportunities to race this along the way.

Contador did the right thing, wheelsucking Froome and sprinting at the end for bonus secs and a little gap.

Contador is a step above everybody here, but his team is rather weak so hopefully this will be explored moving forward.

Zaugg got dropped too early, but Hernandez finished 17th.

 

[LaFlorecita]

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.

Minor (5cm) vertical fracture in the center of the tibial plateau. Non-load-bearing area. Advised rest period 15 days.

Wonder how many times I'll have to repeat that.

 

[trevim]

I hate Froome, but at least he isn't afraid to put his nose in the wind and commit to an attack

I love Alberto but common.......so much wheelsucking. Why not just help build the gap over rest of the contenders?

So looks like Contador was right to fear Froome more than Valverde or Rodriguez.

Contador is right fearing Froome. Fact is Froome is the only who will ride to win regardless of anything else. Purito and Valverde are too cautious at times.

Contador puritod him. Intelligent, but not exactly admirable.

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

Yeah not admirable indeed. I give him a pass for being in the red jersey though.

Form is temporary, class is permanent and Alberto is all class.

Well said

...........................

First MTF with some good climbs beforehand and without stupid percentages on the last km and the mountain sprinters get beaten. It makes me wonder how the Vuelta will look like in a couple of years when Bala and Purito retire. Will they take out some of the last km ultra steep MTF?

...........................

As a fan, I'm extremely happy that Contador won. It will be hard too hold on to the jersey although I guess that if we discount crashes/crosswinds (Coruna stage!)/mechanicals, the stage to Ancares is the one where the jersey may be lost. Also some tactics to Monte Castrove might be dangerous too.
Anyway, I hope Contador takes GC. It would be amazing.......to me at least

 

[SeriousSam]

Wait a minute? Are people really thinking contador should have taken pulls for froome?

lol?

Letting Froome have the stage, a bit like Schleck Tourmalet 2010, would have been a nice though unwise gesture. But with bonus seconds, Froome not being too far back and Contador's extreme fear of the Dawg's abilities, it's perfectly understandable why he didn't

 

[DFA123]

Both rode to get the most possible time out of a person they considered to be their immediate GC rival.

But let's bash Valverde for believing in his chance and not riding for second early

Agree with the first bit, but ultimately Valverde was misguided. Valverde could have worked together more than he did and still won the sprint - but he thought he would get dropped by Contador if he did that.

If Valverde thought he would get dropped by Contador on Lagos de Covadonga if he worked, then he must have known he would have lost more time today on a much tougher stage. In which case he surely didn't believe he could win the GC.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Valverde should be commended for not working with Contador yesterday. By doing so he raced to win the Vuelta. Working with Contador to put time into Froome would have been racing to protect second. It didn't work out for him today, but at least he was riding to win.

I'd like him more if he was always so minded.