Stage 9, Sunday August 31 | Carboneras de Guadazaón - Aramón Valdelinares, 185km

[Poursuivant]

Breakaway to take this

 

[VeloHuman]

Gesink to show the brats aka; Aru, Kelderman, Chaves and the Yates brothers how it's done!

He has an underrated finishing kick too.

 

[sir fly]

For the sake of the race, I hope Contador will finish ahead of Froome. I don't care about the rest of the outcome. Contador needs to start behind Froome in the TT.

If Froome has all the temporary results (Contador's included), he's going to destroy all of them, even Tony Martin.

I hope that tt starting order should create the excitement.
Froome certainly has it on his mind.

 

[Fzotrlool]

I hope that tt starting order should create the excitement.
Froome certainly has it on his mind.

It's best for Contador to have Froome's provisional TT time as a reminder, so it's important that he finish in front of him tommorow.

The other way around would be terrible.

 

[manafana]

I think Chavez can do well here, less heat and easier gradient and we know he can kick. Expect Keldermann to be active too.

But Aru is not been talked about enough.

 

[Old&slow]

Does anyone have any information on Barguil's health and prospects tomorrow after his crash on stage 7?

I favor Valverde for the win over Froome tomorrow but I would not be surprised to see both Purito and Martin rebound tomorrow. But mainly I am interested in the performance of the young riders in Chaves, Pardilla, Barguil and Kelderman and in rooting for a strong performance from Sanchez and Gesink.

 

[blaxland]

Maybe Esteban Chaves can do something special here and get Orica a stage win.

 

[Forunculo]

I think Froome will fight to take time on Contador to start the ITT after him. So I expect Contador marking Froome

 

[Fzotrlool]

I think Froome will fight to take time on Contador to start the ITT after him. So I expect Contador marking Froome

That was exactly was I was thinking. Contador needs to finish in front of him if he wants to win the overall.

He doesn't need take seconds, just finish ahead of him.

 

[Beech Mtn]

Where's the 'no poll, thanks' option?

+1
(10 chars)

 

[cineteq]

Poll = The fish memory effect. Rodriguez FTW.

 

[Sasquatch]

Moreno will do it for Katusha

 

[Helvellyn]

Seems the climb is not severe enough to cause huge damage, but if someone wants to attack it will probably be on the 8.5% section between 3-1k to go.

I think it's too early for a Contador attack who will probably just mark Froome. Quintana doesn't look good at the moment. The flat finish isn't well suited to Purito. Froome and Valverde seem the favourites from the GC contenders.

Considering Froome will be keen on bonus seconds, I can't see a break being allowed to survive by Team Sky. Also, the gaps at the top of the GC seem too small for one of the dark horses to be allowed away towards the end. For example, I could see Kelderman liking the stage, but he's too close on GC and could go well in the TT. Although he hasn't shown much this year, I think I'll go with Sammy Sanchez to spring an attack with about 2k to go and hold it to the end - he's sufficiently down on GC and a sufficiently poor TTer to be given some latitude.

 

[Miburo]

It's best for Contador to have Froome's provisional TT time as a reminder, so it's important that he finish in front of him tommorow.

The other way around would be terrible.

That doesn't matter that much at all, it especially doesn't justify the word terrible.

 

[Helvellyn]

That doesn't matter that much at all, it especially doesn't justify the word terrible.

It seems to be something that matters much more to Froome than it does to Contador.

 

[DirtyWorks]

I hope that tt starting order should create the excitement.
Froome certainly has it on his mind.

Froome should not be planning that far in advance.

If the weather is half as bad as posted, I think we'll see some unfortunate crashes that will shake things up.

 

[Pricey_sky]

I hope that tt starting order should create the excitement.
Froome certainly has it on his mind.

Has Froome said that? I've not read anything. I think he's just being opportunist and looking to take any time that's available when the others are sleeping.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

I think Chavez can do well here, less heat and easier gradient and we know he can kick. Expect Keldermann to be active too.

But Aru is not been talked about enough.

chaves wants the heat more than anything. it cooling off isn't an advantage for him and also he;s good at steep gradients. the guy is 55 kg

 

[yespatterns]

Valverde out of red, either Froome or Contie will lead. Hopefully Aru stakes a claim as well. Quintana should hold on, but I think it's still too early for him to shine.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

So you would say Valverde > Purito > Froome > Contador > Quintana in a pure sprint?

If Dan Martin is still there, he is pretty quick too

 

[LaFlorecita]

That doesn't matter that much at all, it especially doesn't justify the word terrible.

Err, yes, it would be terrible if Froome got to start behind Contador.

 

[Walkman]

Err, yes, it would be terrible if Froome got to start behind Contador.

Of course it's better to start behind but Froome is going to drill it no matter what. Don't see how it would make such a dramatic difference.

 

[TommyPlus]

Of course it's better to start behind but Froome is going to drill it no matter what. Don't see how it would make such a dramatic difference.

This^^

Jeez it barely makes any difference whatsoever who starts first.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Of course it's better to start behind but Froome is going to drill it no matter what. Don't see how it would make such a dramatic difference.

I remember Porte, Contador and Froome fighting for positions at the 2013 Dauphiné just so they could start behind their respective rival in the TT. I doubt they'd do that if it doesn't make a big difference.

This^^

Jeez it barely makes any difference whatsoever who starts first.

I guess you know it better than the riders themselves.

 

[Rollthedice]

This could get interesting if Quintana tries an attack from far out.