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

[Califootman]

I think Contador might have worked with Froome if he already had a stage win in this Vuelta. Today was his opportunity to get that win, and he rode accordingly.

 

[damian13ster]

Btw. No Colombians in top 15. Is that why Ryo has been so quiet?
Wasnt Quintana, Chaves and Uran have the podium with Arredondo ending up with KOM?

 

[cineteq]

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, I doubt 2nd, 3rd, or 4th is a huge difference to him.

Now he's racing for 3rd. Those posts would have made more sense if Valverde had a real chance of winning. Especially after having ridden the Tour full gas, and Quintana's DNF.

 

[LaFlorecita]

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

Your calculator must be broken

 

[BigMac]

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.

I am not generalizing. Read it again. I wrote 'some' Contador fans. If you're not among them, fine. But no one said you were. And to the rest, I think I've ansered it in the previous pages. Cheers.

 

[Sasquatch]

http://makeagif.com/i/D3cXwR

 

[LaFlorecita]

I think Contador might have worked with Froome if he already had a stage win in this Vuelta. Today was his opportunity to get that win, and he rode accordingly.

Yeah, agreed. Though I would have liked it if Alberto had taken a few turns, which is also what crossed my mind a few times during the climb.

 

[ILovecycling]

Btw. No Colombians in top 15. Is that why Ryo has been so quiet?
Wasnt Quintana, Chaves and Uran have the podium with Arredondo ending up with KOM?

Injured...Immature...Ill...Inconsistent

 

[LaFlorecita]

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].

Andy broke his heart though best bromance of the peloton in shatters

 

[Miburo]

I am not generalizing. Read it again. I wrote 'some' Contador fans. If you're not among them, fine. But no one said you were. And to the rest, I think I've ansered it in the previous pages. Cheers.

So you're running away and not answering to the actual topic of my post, nuff said.

 

[icefire]

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

Marginal. The right word is marginal.

 

[RedFury]

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.

BIG tactical differences between Lagos yesterday and La Farrapona 2day. It was to both Purito & Balaverde's advantage to work with Alberto yesterday, as they'd likely could have created a large enough gap where they could have secured their podium standings vis-a-vis Froome. They let Alberto carry the load perhaps in hopes he'd pay for it today...thing is what were they thinking? Or rather not thinking. Contador's made no bones about the fact that he considered Froome his main rival, which needless to say made him both Purito's and Valverde's biggest podium threat. Which is exactly what happened today!

Now, why in the world would Alberto need to pull today? Again, as freely stated by The Man himself his main concern was Froome. Just by staying with him was more than enough -- and I'll note that he did so quite well, responding to both of Froome's attacks after the breakaway with not much effort. His goal was crystal clear: win the Queen stage and secure his overall victory, which is exactly what he did today what with bolting at the exact right time and leaving Froome in his dust. Put time on everyone and basically leave them riding for second barring any unforeseen mishap.

Couldn't have scripted his strategy any better. Which is why he remains the best GT rider in the world. And then some.

Vamos Alberto! Bring the Red home!

 

[Miburo]

Only reason AC would love andy is cause he's an idiot

 

[ggusta]

big tactical differences between lagos yesterday and la farrapona 2day. It was to both purito & balaverde's advantage to work with alberto yesterday, as they'd likely could have created a large enough gap where they could have secured their podium standings vis-a-vis froome. They let alberto carry the load perhaps in hopes he'd pay for it today...thing is what were they thinking? Or rather not thinking. Contador's made no bones about the fact that he considered froome his main rival, which needless to say made him both purito's and valverde's biggest podium threat. Which is exactly what happened today!

Now, why in the world would alberto need to pull today? Again, as freely stated by the man himself his main concern was froome. Just by staying with him was more than enough -- and i'll note that he did so quite well, responding to both of froome's attacks after the breakaway with not much effort. His goal was crystal clear: Win the queen stage and secure his overall victory, which is exactly what he did today what with bolting at the exact right time and leaving froome in his dust. Put time on everyone and basically leave them riding for second barring any unforeseen mishap.

Couldn't have scripted his strategy any better. Which is why he remains the best gt rider in the world. And then some.

Vamos alberto! Bring the red home!

+1 .

 

[webbie146]

Yeah, agreed. Though I would have liked it if Alberto had taken a few turns, which is also what crossed my mind a few times during the climb.

Nah let Froome do the work. How's the coffee Froome?

 

[Escarabajo]

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

Why did he have to work????

 

[BigMac]

So you're running away and not answering to the actual topic of my post, nuff said.

Running away? You're clearly confused. I wrote that I've answered it in between my original post and your response. http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showpost.php?p=1570571&postcount=661

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.

Things are different on the road. Rider's perception is different and they are aware of things we don't even care, they have to measure theyr decisions. Valverde's explanation is logical, it was his reason and it was a legitimate one. It's easy to talk from the outside. At that moment, while Contador looked at Froome as his biggest rival, Valverde and Purito were focused on Alberto. You will find plenty of people here who think he also played it to perfection. Those people are capable of looking at the big picture and see the motivations in both Contador and Valverde, and agree that they did what they had to do. To try and dig such a big difference between the two situations is just moving the goal posts so it fits your narrative. Both had their motivations, both were legitimate at the time.

 

[Escarabajo]

Congrat to alberto, froome is better, still long way from 2013 form.

It is the same for Contador 2009, 2011.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Sad

https://es.eurosport.yahoo.com/noti...otorista-de-guardia-civil-164122367--spt.html

Guardia Civil motor agent passed away after a crash during the stage today

 

[SeriousSam]

Couldn't have scripted his strategy any better. Which is why he remains the best GT rider in the world. And then some.

No, that ability is a distant second to being able to do that climb with 6.5w/kg. That's why he's (probably.. what about NIBALI?!?!?!?!!) the best GT rider in the world.

 

[Piz Buin]

Sad

https://es.eurosport.yahoo.com/noti...otorista-de-guardia-civil-164122367--spt.html

Guardia Civil motor agent passed away after a crash during the stage today

Explains the ambulance/police rushing past the riders.

 

[red_flanders]

Hardly epic. Contador doing no work and jumping away for the stage.

Credit to Froome who actually commits to an attack.

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.

 

[T-Nielsen]

Explains the ambulance/police rushing past the riders.

Yeah I was about to mention the ambulance

 

[myrideissteelerthanyours]

Not helping Froome with pulls is not a strategy AC was just afraid that he needed to conserve 100% of the energy possible to suck the wheel of king borg to the finish

It was not a strategy for him to assist Valverde they arent even on the same team

 

[Flamin]

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