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

[LaFlorecita]

If this is your view, you should be honest and admit that your problem with other riders' tactics is that they aren't good for Contador's prospects, as opposed to lacking in "courage".

Yesterday's "Valverde is a coward!" should have been "Valverde's tactics prevent Contador from putting his Dawg paranoia to rest, what a *******!"

Eh? I was replying to 18-Valve. (pithy)'s post.

And yes, I thought it was obvious I only give a damn about what's good for Contador. That does not mean Valverde isn't a stupid boring wheelsucker who doesn't dare to attack because he cracks if he does.

 

[Dr. Juice]

I would like 1 or 2 protagonists to attack in San Lorenzo (maybe Aru or Rodriguez or Froome). There are 2 options : either there are attacks on the super hard San Lorenzo or it all happens in the last 5 k .

A third option: Someone risks it on the (perhaps wet) descent and bridges over to teammates in the break.

 

[grizzlee]

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/oth...a-ravine-is-not-good-for-the-nerves-1.1921036
Dan Martins Vuelta Diary for anyone who is interested.
Really showed some guts comming back from that fall, maybe even could have won yesterday i dare say.

 

[Asturiano]

The climb Vuelta didn't want to include on this stage.

Trobaniello was a climb the race could have taken into account between Cobertoria and San Lorenzo. It has a part with sterrato and it would have been amazing if it was included.

 

[mortand]

Monfort and Zubeldia in the break together, the forum would go bananas.

I predict a two-man sprint between Monfort and Zubeldia - unfortunately noone sees it, as the camera turns away when they cross the finish line.

 

[Piz Buin]

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/oth...a-ravine-is-not-good-for-the-nerves-1.1921036
Dan Martins Vuelta Diary for anyone who is interested.
Really showed some guts comming back from that fall, maybe even could have won yesterday i dare say.

Good read. thanks

 

[TommyPlus]

Hoping for something ridiculous to happen at the start and the group of favourites to be whittled down to around 40 after the first mountain

 

[Asturiano]

Good video from Movistar:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=7JyUmDz_Das&app=desktop

 

[Rollthedice]

The fact that Valverde, who was destroyed in the Tour, has real chances to win and even take all the jerseys in the process proves that the level of competition is far from being the best. God knows what Horner would've done here.

That being said and based on what we saw until now, it's hard to imagine anybody who's still in contention is capable of doing a devastating attack far enough from the finish to put real time into others. I might be wrong, of course.

 

[Asturiano]

The fact that Valverde, who was destroyed in the Tour, has real chances to win and even take all the jerseys in the process proves that the level of competition is far from being the best.

Yes but you have to take into account IT is more important in the Tour than in Vuelta.

 

[Jagartrott]

No, no, not this breakaway, we need one with more 'names'.

 

[DJ Sprtsch]

Popovych is in the race?

 

[cineteq]

Many people agree this is the hardest of the 4 cat-1 climbs today. Alto de la Cobertoria.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Break looks more defensive then the real deal.
Perhaps Kennaug for Froome, but I doubt he can do it.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Not enough budget. Vuelta doesn't have as much money as Tour.

it has nothing to do with the budget. buyt with low viewing rates at earlier times on spanish tv. that's always been tradition in spain. they ride late and finish late and broadcast late.

 

[The Barb]

No, no, not this breakaway, we need one with more 'names'.

Agreed. Very disappointing group if this sticks.

 

[DenisMenchov]

Pity there are no live footage from the start.

 

[BeagRigh]

Kennaugh, Rovny, Luis Leon Sanchez, Malori and Stef Clement with 12 seconds. High pace...

Kennaugh is interesting, he has been a key part of the sky train for Froome which suggests they are trying something different tactically today.

 

[TommyPlus]

All back together, need a bigger group

 

[Flamin]

Furious pace from the start, as expected. Escapees caught and already a lot of riders dropped.

 

[TommyPlus]

Furious pace from the start, as expected. Escapees caught and already a lot of riders dropped.

Promising!!!

 

[Jagartrott]

Perhaps the escape could be formed in the downhill (don't know if it's technical or not)?

 

[TommyPlus]

Bertie in a lead group of 12 with 25 seconds advantage lolz

 

[DenisMenchov]

2011 Tour all over again???

 

[BeagRigh]

From CN ticker:

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.

Interesting!!!