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

[Libertine Seguros]

I'm sorry, are you expecting the race leader to attack his main rival, who has mysterious form and has beaten him roundly in the past, to attack while in red?

That would be flat out dumb.

What he did today was exactly correct. He took Froome's best shots, responded and rode to victory when he was sure he could. Textbook.

To suggest that Contador is not a rider who "commits to an attack" would suggest extreme bias to the point of delusion or simply someone who only recently (this month) started watching pro cycling.

And this wasn't anything as bad as when he and Leipheimer let Mosquera pull them all the way up Fuentes de Invierno then nipped past him to take the 1-2 with 200m to go back in 2008.

 

[Escarabajo]

6.41 w/kg for Alberto

It does not mean anything without the details. At least the time and distance!

 

[Dazed and Confused]

What a boring stage, a complete waste of time. We probably missed the best part, which was the start.

Its remarkable the peloton can reduce the action on a stage like today to 5km at the business end.

 

[glassmoon]

Marginal. The right word is marginal.

Oh the shame, the shame. That's the word. Thx.

 

[MBotero]

Its remarkable the peloton can reduce the action on a stage like today to 5km at the business end.

And to think i was dreaming of attacks from Alto de la Cobertoria or at least San Lorenzo

 

[Cimber]

Its remarkable the peloton can reduce the action on a stage like today to 5km at the business end.

The ironic part is that this stage would have been epic had Berto not been in red.

 

[Kwibus]

Contador didn't have to work today, but to be honest it was thanks to Froome we got to see something of a spectacle(only the last 5km though) and he kept on trying. He's a weird one, but I like him. I really hope Froome and Contador are completely ready and in top form for next years TdF. Together with Quintana, we can only imagine the pleasure.

Right now I think it's obvious that Froome and Contador as well aren't in the amazing form they were before the TdF.

 

[mihhint]

I'm pretty feverish and I fell asleep after the stage ended and I saw it going on and on. It was literally one of craziest races ever, couldn't even remember half of it. So came to CN to refresh my memory and realized the real race actually ended way back when Contador left Froome behind and crossed the finish line banging his pistols

 

[LaFlorecita]

It does not mean anything without the details. At least the time and distance!

@ammattipyoraily · 1h
#LaVuelta, Stage 16: La Farrapona (last 6.05 km, 9.14 %, 553 m)
Alberto Contador: 17:45, 20.45 Kph, VAM 1869 m/h, 6.41 W/kg [DrF]

 

[Flamin]

Its remarkable the peloton can reduce the action on a stage like today to 5km at the business end.

Gt racing is simply the most overrated thing in cycling. Like many, today's stage could have been ridden in a lab: same result, zero entertainment.

 

[Asturiano]

It was a REALLY hard stage, you only have to watch Contador's face on podium (sunken eyes) y and the faces of some riders when they got the top and more or less high differences between the favourite cyclist. They got really tired.

The problem was Katusha didn't put a very strong pace. Cobertoria is a very hard climb and they didn't approach it. Katusha showed it hadn't enough energy neither had Purito. When Sky started its show, everything changed.

Many riders were in peloton 7 kms left but it was because you make a bigger effort when you are riding in a peloton wheelsucking in order to go as far as you can, even more when you know the porcentage of the climg is not so big at that time.

The problem is when you get the last kms of the climb, you have almost no energy to complete the stage and you get the top much more tired than any other stage.

 

[Jagartrott]

Suspend disbelief I guess.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Gt racing is simply the most overrated thing in cycling. Like many, today's stage could have been ridden in a lab: same result, zero entertainment.

At least today's stage could have been epic, it offered the possibility to be more than a 5km race. That's something that hasn't been the case in any other Vuelta stage thus far.

 

[kingjr]

At least today's stage could have been epic, it offered the possibility to be more than a 5km race. That's something that hasn't been the case in any other Vuelta stage thus far.

It was more than that in the beginning, but it wasn't on TV.

 

[ILovecycling]

It was more than that in the beginning, but it wasn't on TV.

what happened ?

 

[Flamin]

At least today's stage could have been epic, it offered the possibility to be more than a 5km race. That's something that hasn't been the case in any other Vuelta stage thus far.

True of course, but more often than not, it does end up in a disappointment regardless.

 

[Asturiano]

This is for some of you:
http://www.ruedalenticular.com/2013/08/entrevista-laura-meseguer.html

 

[sagard]

I was a little surprised Froome didn't force AC to work a bit. It's a game of chicken. When the gap got to 20-25 seconds AC had plenty motivation to work, but Froome didn't/couldn't force his hand.

I didn't find Froome's ride courageous or impressive, I felt he just gift wrapped the Vuelta to AC.

 

[naviman]

I was a little surprised Froome didn't force AC to work a bit. It's a game of chicken. When the gap got to 20-25 seconds AC had plenty motivation to work, but Froome didn't/couldn't force his hand.

I didn't find Froome's ride courageous or impressive, I felt he just gift wrapped the Vuelta to AC.

Contador was not going to do work. If he had sat up and waited for Contador to do something he would have lost time to Valverde and Purito.

I think Contador is guilty of a little bit of hypocrisy because he complained about not getting any help yesterday. Regardless, he had no obligation to work and he did exactly what he had to do.

Froome wins the moral victory from all of this, for whatever that's worth.

 

[No_Balls]

At least today's stage could have been epic, it offered the possibility to be more than a 5km race. That's something that hasn't been the case in any other Vuelta stage thus far.

There are factors preventing that: A whole lotta guys in questionable form, then another guys in mysterious form, Nairo is out and Alberto in red. This is not a good receipe for legendary stages.

Kudos to Froome though. He dared to step out from the 1-2 km spell and took the fight to Alberto, Andy at Tourmalet-style. I didn't thought that.

 

[SafeBet]

Just watched the stage (well, the final 6km ).
I wasn't expecting this Froome at all. Big mistake by me. I thought this would be stage he cracked big time, but he proved me wrong. Chapeau to him.

Smart riding from Contador. He looked in control the whole climb.

De Marchi hanging on to third place after being caught by the duo 3km from the finish is quite something. At least I can say I called it. I'm very happy to finally have an escape artist from Italy. It's something we've been lacking the past few years. He should get more praise.

Purito and Bala, I guess we should've expect that at some point. Aru put up a good fight, but he's still a notch away from the very best. Wonderful stage by Bobby once again, he deserves unconditional love from the forum, especially from Ryo

What happened to Uran though? Ill? Or simply not good enough for a stage like this? He let me down.

Anybody care to explain the fight between Brambilla and Rovny?

 

[kingjr]

what happened ?

From cn-ticker:


14:42:11 CEST

A remarkable scene near the summit of the day's opening climb. The top three on general classification - Alberto Contador, Alejandro Valverde and Chris Froome - have broken away from the main peloton and have set off in pursuit of the front group.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Anybody care to explain the fight between Brambilla and Rovny?

Brambilla did something with Rovny's shorts/pants/back, not sure what, it's not visible, but you can see him reaching out. Rovny grabs Brambilla by the neck. Brambilla hits Rovny in the face. Then they start fighting.

 

[Energy Starr]

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.

Dude he's trying win a race. Valverde is behind...if you knew racing you would know that means he has to attack. Contador is leading so he doesn't have to attack. Bike racing 101.

 

[Flamin]

Anybody care to explain the fight between Brambilla and Rovny?

My guess is that Brambilla was annoyed with Rovny because he wasn't taking any pulls all day yet he was being a bit of a douch by sitting in 2nd place at that moment.