Stage 20: Santa Estebo de Ribas do Sil-Puerto de Ancares (185.7 km)

[Arredondo]

It's DO or DIE for many people in this Vuelta.

The last mountain stage in this Vuelta, and what a stage!

Last chance for Froome to dethrone Alberto or gain time for the TT.
Last chance for Purito to get a stage win this Vuelta.
Last chance for Alberto to confirm his class

 

[Arredondo]

The last time the peloton finished on Ancares (and the only one to date), it was Purito who won after a thrilling fight with Contador. However, in 2012 they did Ancares from the other (and slightly easier) side.

 

[icefire]

This is the profile of the stage presented in January. Note the wall at the start of the first cat 3 climb and compare with the profile in the OP:

Were it not for the final ITT we'd probably see something like this

 

[SeriousSam]

 

[hfer07]

One thing is certain:













..........The Alien will be flying

 

[LaFlorecita]

Alberto for the win

 

[roundabout]

Were it not for the final ITT we'd probably see something like this

[/IMG]

The guy gave away 18 seconds already, what's another 4 to him

 

[Arredondo]

Something like this

1. Contador
2. Froome + 15 sec
3. Purito + 45 sec
4. Aru + 55 sec
5. Valverde + 1.05

 

[yespatterns]

Contie, Froome and Aru in that order. Those other two around 30 seconds back.

 

[icefire]

The guy gave away 18 seconds already, what's another 4 to him

If I were him in that situation I wouldn't lift my arms

 

[SeriousSam]

Bold prediction time: More than a minute gap between 1st and 3rd GC contender to cross the line.

 

[hfer07]

Hardcore climb according to Perico:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pnc-9kgTdZs

 

[BigMac]

Degenkolb for the win.

 

[the sceptic]

Surely they will destroy the time from 2012

 

[Sasquatch]

Evans from the break.

 

[Arredondo]

Surely they will destroy the time from 2012

It's from the other side, so difficult to compare

 

[hfer07]

Surely they will destroy the time from 2012

they're climbing it from the opposite side, which is much more harder & longer so...

 

[cineteq]

Something like this

1. Contador
2. Froome + 15 sec
3. Purito + 45 sec
4. Aru + 55 sec
5. Valverde + 1.05

Kind of like it. Hoping Aru gets time on Valverde.

GC
1 CONTADOR, Alberto (TINKOFF-SAXO)
2 FROOME, Christopher (SKY) + 1:19
3 VALVERDE, Alejandro (MOVISTAR) + 1:32
4 RODRIGUEZ, Joaquin (KATUSHA) + 2:29
5 ARU, Fabio (ASTANA) + 3:15
6 MARTIN, Daniel (GARMIN) + 6:52
7 SANCHEZ, Samuel (BMC RACING) + 6:59
8 BARGUIL, Warren (GIANT) + 9:12
9 NAVARRO, Daniel (COFIDIS) + 9:44
10 CARUSO, Damiano (CANNONDALE) + 9:45

Weather Forecast

 

[jens_attacks]

1.contador
2.froome +1;05
3. aru +1;20
4. valverde +2:30
5. purito +2;30

called it!

 

[the sceptic]

expecting huge gaps too but Dawg wont be dropped by Contador

 

[jens_attacks]

also wow, samu will finish 6th zubeldia style!

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Predictions jens style:

1. Froome
2. Contador +'51
3. Aru +1'28
4. Rodriguez +1'56
5. Valverde +2'14

 

[Ryongsyong]

Weather Forecast

LOL, Oh it's going to rain tomorrow is it??? Just like the last eight days!

 

[LaFlorecita]

1.contador
2.froome +1;05
3. aru +1;20
4. valverde +2:30
5. purito +2;30

called it!

_O_

For me

1 Albertito
2 Froome +0'38"
3 Aru +1'02"
4 Valverde +1'37"
5 Purito +1'39"

 

[Red Rick]

Profile of the penultimate climb.

Cataldo crashing could hurt Froome's chances tomorrow