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

[Publicus]

I'm literally laughing out loud at all the sanctimonious moaning about Contador being a coward/wheelsucking. Grow up people. He rode a tactically smart race. A race that ALL GC riders would ride if they were in his position. He withstood all of Froome's attacks. Rode at Froome's pace. He had no obligation to set pace or give Froome a break. And if he had done so and cracked, you same folks would be talking about how tactically inept he was... I swear, it's always something with folks. Give the man his due. He recovered from a fractured tibia and came back to win the best Grand Tour of the year (from an overall competition stand point). Chapeau Contador!

 

[icefire]

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?

Ask Andy Schleck

 

[bigcog]

Congrats to Contador, good effort Froome. Gifting the stage would just be lame from both's perspective, an insult almost. Wonder how close to top form they both are ? Hopefully we'll find out next year.

 

[arvc40]

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?

Depends on your opinion, but some people have more empathy than others. Personally, I consider 2nd place as first loser.

After all its only a game.

 

[GroupDK]

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

Either way, no more whining about that was not a gift stage from alberto, Contador win fair and square' get on call with that..

If you want something else then racing to the finish, it certainly aint professionel-road racing you should be watching..

 

[sultanofhyd]

Fat Cat is no longer the lanterne rouge.

 

[Richeypen]

Fat Cat is no longer the lanterne rouge.

He couldnt even win that

 

[hrotha]

That was an OK stage. Seeing action among the contenders with 9 km to go is unheard of at the Vuelta.

 

[Afrank]

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?

He could have said f*** it, and wheelsucked everyone else. This way we got some action.

 

[damian13ster]

Fat Cat is no longer the lanterne rouge.

Colombians were just doing a trial run for World Championships. Chaves, Serpa, Betancur same time. Anacona highest placed among them........at 74

Werent there a voices before the race saying 2 Colombians on podium, Chaves to get top 3 and Anacona being a dark horse?.......


Btw, this race truly resembles TdF 2012. Win it on ITT, then just wheelsuck in the mountains.

Still, very entertaining stage. Great job by Purito for attacking from far out, Valverde did some decent pulls as well and turned out to be 3rd best climber in the race. Froome with some nice attempts that started from 7km out, Contador great job emulating his inner Purito.

Deserved win though. One has to wonder though what would happen if not for that crisis in ITT from the Dawg

 

[happychappy]

I can see why Contador wanted to play it safe for the majority of the climb, there's an awful lot at steak when you're leading a grand tour.

 

[sultanofhyd]

I can see why Contador wanted to play it safe for the majority of the climb, there's an awful lot at steak when you're leading a grand tour.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

The climb is very steep, and there was tailwind, drag didn't matter that much.

I bet you it did matter in that part from 4km to 2km where it wasn't so steep.

 

[Red Rick]

I can see why Contador wanted to play it safe for the majority of the climb, there's an awful lot at steak when you're leading a grand tour.

The steaks were high
http://i.imgur.com/ty8Sr.jpg

 

[Kwibus]

Some of you really are far more interested in the childish he-said she-said he-was-mean-to-my-guy ******** than you are in the actual racing.

Maybe watch wrestling instead.

I agree with this. A lot better post than your previous ridiculous post, which wasn't in anyways better or more mature then the posts of people you are complaining about.

 

[peloton]

Had this stage been a little longer, I think Froome would have dropped them all. Contador looked really cooked in the finale.

As for todays stage, I believe Froome will go for it. For stage victory and to get time on Contador, and I think he will. Although I don't think he is in top shape right now, I think he is strong enough to drop them all.

I also expect piti to lose time to J-rod and Aru today. The question is just, how much? I hope to see them get enough to overtake him in the GC.

Not only was this pic from Dauphine, but so funny post too

 

[Ryongsyong]

Not only was this pic from Dauphine, but so funny post too

Spending time digging a message out from a 59 page thread is funnier

 

[Jagartrott]

Urgh, where do these guys learn tactics?
Marginal gains means little if you ride like this.

 

[Poursuivant]

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.

Personally I think the two stages of the Dauphine this year before Froomes crash was when they were both 100%, and I think Froome was stronger. If Froome brings that form to Tour, and avoids crashes and crosswinds etc, I can't see anyone taking time off him.

 

[RedheadDane]

Top5 on the stage = Top5 in the GC.

Just thought it was a rather interesting detail.

 

[Cimber]

I bet you it did matter in that part from 4km to 2km where it wasn't so steep.

That part, yes. But for the rest not so much. Also, the real question is why Froome just kept pushing on that flat part. Not smart really, and its not Contadors fault that the other guy uses sub-par tactics.

Also, its not like Froome just pulled steadily all the way. So many times he accelerated to try to drop Contador. Would have been immensely stupid by Contador to go to the front at pull for no reason and thereby open a flank from a blind-side attack from the behind

 

[Cimber]

Personally I think the two stages of the Dauphine this year before Froomes crash was when they were both 100%, and I think Froome was stronger. If Froome brings that form to Tour, and avoids crashes and crosswinds etc, I can't see anyone taking time off him.

DL was a prep race They should be close to 100%, but not at 100%. If one of them was at 100% in DL the other one (at 98%) would likely be better in the 3rd week in the tour.

 

[BlurryVII]

Personally I think the two stages of the Dauphine this year before Froomes crash was when they were both 100%, and I think Froome was stronger. If Froome brings that form to Tour, and avoids crashes and crosswinds etc, I can't see anyone taking time off him.

First of all, they weren't at 100%, perhaps Froome but certainly not Contador.

Froome had ridden Tour of Romandie when Contador came back from 8 weeks without racing so Froome was more in shape.

 

[JRanton]

Urgh, where do these guys learn tactics?
Marginal gains means little if you ride like this.

How else were they supposed to ride it? Froome made several attacks and Contador was strong enough to respond and then take the win. Simple as that really. Froome was only 13 seconds ahead of Valverde coming into the stage so of course he's going to ride on the front in the final km's to seal second place and with no prospect at that stage of beating Contador.

 

[Roude Leiw]

Top5 on the stage = Top5 in the GC.

Just thought it was a rather interesting detail.

Top 10 of the stage are basically top 10 of GC