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

[Volderke]

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.

Comparing an apples-to-pears situation again, sigh.
Yesterday, Valv. had the stage win literally in reach and still refused to work except for what, 100mtrs? They liked to yo-yo all the time instead of setting a pace to reel in Niemec and get those extra bonus seconds.

Today, Froome set the pace very high for his own good (to distance Valverde! just like Valverde should have distanced him more the day before!). Totally no need for Contador to take any risks other than following. He showed his class by not simply outsprinting Froome on the line (which would be a bit opportunistic), but he finished it in a decent way.

Valverde always had difficulties in real mountain stages with longer mountains back-to-back. To realistically think he would still be able to follow Contador is something that hardly ever has occurred, bar some stages in the Vuelta 2012.

 

[fauniera]

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.

That's why Contador attacked with 32 km to go at Tirreno this year? Of course that can't match Froome's attack with astonishing 4 km to go, right?

 

[T-Nielsen]

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

Waste of energy. When you are dropped stop cycling... almost...

 

[Red Rick]

As of now I am also a fan of Alessandro de Marchi. He's awesome

 

[ILovecycling]

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

thats true, nobody know what expect from Froome

 

[the sceptic]

6.41 w/kg for Alberto

 

[roundabout]

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.

Who knows how he and Contador felt today compared to yesterday. Maybe it's the form on the day that made the difference and not the stage difficulty.

 

[sir fly]

Everything's clicking in.
The couple of Spanish shills will fight for the lowest podium place since they've missed the chance(s) to eliminate Froome. Contador is completing the "miraculous recovery" and Froome is peaking according to plan.
Fingers crossed for a healthy, crash-free, 2015..

 

[Dazed and Confused]

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

Hernandez can't perform in the wind. He will quickly go away imo.
If Froome or the other Spaniards wants to win this race, they must attack Contador's team early and risk all.

Otherwise we have the podium more or less settled.

 

[trevim]

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

Froome was to close on GC and is too dangerous to be given any bonus seconds. Besides Contador probably doesn't love him as much as he loved Andy
Anyway, hats off to Froome, great ride [still don't like him].

 

[hfer07]

this is what is called fighting for the cause!!

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2...ur-leur-velo-lors-de-la-vuelta_sport?start=59

 

[Netserk]

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.

Obvious signature material is obvious

 

[SeriousSam]

6.41 w/kg for Alberto

According to my calculations, that's >6w/kg.

 

[BigMac]

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.

Valverde gave a reason for that. He simply did not trust neither of them. Nor did Purito did the same way. Why would he? I choose to believe them because they know each other. And if you'd seen yesterday's climb more carefull you would notice that Valverde often stood at the front looking at the others and setting pace, however, it did not last much because everyone there was worried about each other and eventually they (including Contador) often rode side-by-side looking at each other. The way I see it, there was no cooperation not because Purito or Valverde did not want to, but because it was impossible. Ultimately they ended up attacking each other.

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.

Excuse me, but Valverde has been far from not colaborative. He actually rode plenty of time near the front pulling, so did Purito. Anyway, read my paragraph above. And let me remember you that Valverde has been far from passive so far.

 

[trevim]

6.41 w/kg for Alberto

Only 6.4? I want 7!

 

[MBotero]

That's why Contador attacked with 32 km to go at Tirreno this year? Of course that can't match Froome's attack with astonishing 4 km to go, right?

Froome attacked in Dauphine this year with 80+km if i remember right ?

Anyway,good stage but not that great for a queen stage.Contador and Froome were very good,but i was surprised by Valverde and Purito getting dropped so hard,too bad for the spectacle in the next stages.I think Contador and Froome are in pole position for 1-2,looks like Valverde and Purito are fading already.

 

[Rollthedice]

6.41 w/kg for Alberto

6.41W/kg after minor (5cm) vertical fracture in the center of the tibial plateau. Non-load-bearing area. Advised rest period 15 days. Not bad.

 

[damian13ster]

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

All true, but still. Even when Valverde is fighting for something (classics, 1 week stages, etc.) he is always considered a wheelsucker.

Or an example from Tour de France.
Majka follows Konig. Only reason to do so for him is to get KOM points so he does it and then sprints to the finish. Lable? Wheelsucker.
It was actually enough to have some people say he was wheelsucking in last MTF after attacking form 7.5km before the finish by himself and waiting for others with 2km to go just to hang on to the.

Now Contador sits 4km on a wheel of a rider who has less power in his legs and sprints with 1km to go? Suddenly it is smart?

In all of those situations (or most) it is smart yet posters still call out the riders, except Contador of course.
Its just those double standards that annoy me.

 

[arvc40]

6.41W/kg after minor (5cm) vertical fracture in the center of the tibial plateau. Non-load-bearing area. Advised rest period 15 days. Not bad.

Ox power ...................

 

[glassmoon]

According to my calculations, that's >6w/kg.

yeah but only by 6,6% so... minor gains

 

[jens_attacks]

insane stuff by froome and alberto.
i think chris will still attack him all the way to santiago de compostela. so be afraid!

so intense finale, just wow !

 

[jaylew]

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

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.

Great posts. It's funny how people think he should have just raced for 2nd. Sure you want to do the best you can, but at this point in his career, I doubt 2nd, 3rd, or 4th is a huge difference to him. Of course he'll likely have to readjust and go for the podium now.

 

[SeriousSam]

All true, but still. Even when Valverde is fighting for something (classics, 1 week stages, etc.) he is always considered a wheelsucker.

Yes, many Contador fans here have revealed themselves to be hypocrites. Once Contador has won the Vuelta they might come around to admitting to it but I doubt it.

 

[ILovecycling]

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

Very impressive by Jesus

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.

bump lol

Obvious signature material is obvious

This.

Only 6.4? I want 7!

wait for 7/13/2015 monster battle of 7 watts with top form NQ,AC,CF

 

[Miburo]

Don't generalize bigmac. I always said that piti his only way of winning was to wheelsuck and get boni's. I hate it but it was the smart thing to do.

But yesterday when it was clear they couldn't ride away from each other why not work together and eliminate froome? The strongest GC rider of the last 3 years.

At the end they'll still sprint away from contador and they could have went for the stage win. That's the point, at least my point.