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

[Cimber]

Tried and cracked.. lol, had to laugh. Have you ever ridden a bike?

Not really that hard to outride someone after you can follow him for 8km and ride outside of the wind

Wind counts for a lot less on steep climbs. Also, while brave, it is quite stupid to ride like Froome did. It seems as if SKY tactics is just to try to ride everyone off from front wheel and thats their only trick. For a moment I thought they had learned the other day when he chose the right moment to bridge to Aru. Today was just the usual power-tactics

 

[DirtyWorks]

I'm a little annoyed personally apart from maybe two days crashes have robbed us of seeing perhaps two of maybe the GT riders ever going at it both in peak condition. I mean the TDF would have been epic

What was the Vuelta then?

 

[arvc40]

When its all said and done, there can only be one !. Alberto. 8 GT's baby !.

I'm glad he pasted Froome. In 2013 Sky did everything they could to suppress Contador.

Froome should have been miles ahead in his prep, that's why I put money on him. Makes Contadors performance even greater.

2015 TDF, Contador for the win !!!!

 

[DirtyWorks]

I can't believe people are giving out about Contador's tactics. This is a race. You do everything to win.

At the end of the day very few people would have thought contadorwould be in this position three weeks ago. We're witnessing the best cyclist of the last fifteen years defy odds and win a GT with such a quality field of opponents whilst slightly injured. This is one of the greatest displays of all time

Get thee to the clinic!

Really though, Contador's injury wasn't terrible. It wasn't broken like they put a rod in his leg. Something like 15 days off, then riding.

 

[Fatclimber]

Alberto's cunning Fellow-Spaniard-Shaming tactics laid the groundwork for this victory a couple days ago, perfect execution.

Froome fighting for 2 seconds bonus and constant attacks on the climb make Alberto a bad guy for not gifting? Sheesh. Bertie's current boss would never allow for him to gift anything.

Froome will have his chance for a stage tomorrow, I think he'll get it.

 

[paperbackwriter]

If after his acceleration Contador hadn't been able to drop Froome - he probably wouldn't have contested the sprint. On Tourmalet he also tried to attack Andy but he didn't succeed so he gave up the stage.

 

[Arredondo]

When its all said and done, there can only be one !. Alberto. 8 GT's baby !.

I'm glad he pasted Froome. In 2013 Sky did everything they could to suppress Contador.

Froome should have been miles ahead in his prep, that's why I put money on him. Makes Contadors performance even greater.

2015 TDF, Contador for the win !!!!

Perhaps Froome's hand and wrist injuries were more complicated then the leg injury of Contador.

Froome lost the race in the first two weeks, especially the TT. On Farrapona and Ancares, he came quite close to Alberto.

I still think it's 50-50% between the two in 100% form. I really hope to see that fight next year!

 

[SeriousSam]

What trophy? All I see are the podium girls.

The Vuelta never disappoints in that department. Gorgeous.

 

[T-Nielsen]

Is Kirby grieving?

He is busy wondering is Froome can make it up on the time trial.

Thats when he is not being philosophical about Contador being the darkness and Froome being the light.

 

[yespatterns]

I've gained a lot of respect for Froome this season. Pretty sure the the wheel suck then domination is just a psychological down payment for next season on Contie's part. Too bad Aru could hang a little tighter.

 

[classicomano]

Barguil takes over the green jersey from Dynamite John.

 

[roundabout]

Barguil takes over the green jersey from Dynamite John.

Greatest pic ever?

Greatest pic ever.

 

[yespatterns]

The Vuelta never disappoints in that department. Gorgeous.

Agreed, vuelta never disappoints.

 

[arvc40]

Perhaps Froome's hand and wrist injuries were more complicated then the leg injury of Contador.

Froome lost the race in the first two weeks, especially the TT. On Farrapona and Ancares, he came quite close to Alberto.

I still think it's 50-50% between the two in 100% form. I really hope to see that fight next year!

Nah, nothing wrong with Froome. He rode great on the days he had too. He just got beat by the best GT rider on earth. His legs should have been mes ahead.

 

[Arredondo]

Nah, nothing wrong with Froome. He rode great on the days he had too. He just got beat by the best GT rider on earth. His legs should have been mes ahead.

You still don't know really who is the better GT-rider. Could be Contador. But i still don't think we have seen the Froome of the Tour last year.

 

[burning]

Barguil takes over the green jersey from Dynamite John.

lmao

 

[sultanofhyd]

You still don't know really who is the better GT-rider. Could be Contador. But i still don't think we have seen the Froome of the Tour last year.

Nor the Contador of the Tour this year

 

[No_Balls]

Well, Froome's relative fail is being mocked he is said to be placed at his place. Do you find it mature?

No. But falling into the same trap is what makes threads declines sadly. We'll all have to be bigger persons at times.

Not saying that you did.

 

[DirtyWorks]

Wind counts for a lot less on steep climbs.

Gravity is an inescapable b!tch on steep climbs like today.

Also, while brave, it is quite stupid to ride like Froome did. It seems as if SKY tactics is just to try to ride everyone off from front wheel and thats their only trick. For a moment I thought they had learned the other day when he chose the right moment to bridge to Aru. Today was just the usual power-tactics

They don't seem to know any other tactics. At all. Very, very reminiscent of "We May as Well Win" Bruyneel.

But, I don't know that Froome had another choice today.

 

[Richeypen]

Perhaps Froome's hand and wrist injuries were more complicated then the leg injury of Contador.

Froome lost the race in the first two weeks, especially the TT. On Farrapona and Ancares, he came quite close to Alberto.

I still think it's 50-50% between the two in 100% form. I really hope to see that fight next year!

In top form Froome is the better TTer IMO. Hopefully the Tour next year will see Froome, Contador, Nibali and Quintana all at 100%.No crashes and no stupid time bonuses to muddy the waters.

 

[HappyLoser]

and im pretty sure, that Froome wouldnt like it if Contador had made a mokery of him and giving him his win..

This could be an insult. It sounds like: "Ok bro, you're too weak to beat me but don't cry little boy - this time I'll give you a gift." That's really offensive for TdF winner.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Congratulations to Alberto Contador on this stage and whole race (probably)! Albo congrats to Chris Fromme for fighting to the end. Today he could've won the stage with better tactics applied. We had Alien vs Predator battle at the Vuelta (instead of Tour) Ancares proved to be one of the hardest vuelta ascents and could become another spanish iconic climb (besides Angliru, Lagos de Covadonga, Cuitu Negru and Bola del Mundo). I only regret that Nairo Quintana crashed - he could've fought for victory with Alberto and Chris.

 

[kingjr]

Just out of curiosity, what's so special about "fighting to the end" that it needs to be congratulated? He gets paid for that. What's he supposed to do?

 

[DirtyWorks]

In top form Froome is the better TTer IMO. Hopefully the Tour next year will see Froome, Contador, Nibali and Quintana all at 100%.No crashes and no stupid time bonuses to muddy the waters.

Second in a grand tour isn't top form?

Crashes are an unfortunate part of bike racing. Riders have to stay on their bikes though.

Froome wasn't winning today's power test with some kind of clever strategy. It's a power test.

 

[Arredondo]

Nor the Contador of the Tour this year

True, but even in Tirreno and Pais Vasco, we didn't get the reference because Froome wasn't there. Too bad.

I'm really curious who's better: The Froome of the Tour '13, or the Contador of spring '14.