Volta a Catalunya 2013 - Stage 7: El Vendrell → Barcelona (122km)

[Dazed and Confused]

I'll be happy with something like T-A stage 6 where Nibali and Rodriguez finished ahead of everybody on GC.

yea great, alas this one isn't in the same league, but it can be raced.

Sky will set a ridiculous pace when hitting the loop. Then riders will slowly be shredded as we move along.

 

[Carols]

Hoping that Martin hangs on; he deserves the overall. But it should be very intense racing; JRod for the stage win.

 

[Inquitus]

Go on Dan!

 

[cineteq]

Go on Dan!

Purito is ready for the kill.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Very nice picture! Really hope Martin can get his win.

 

[will10]

I don't get all the "Martin deserves to win" talk. Don't get me wrong, Martin's move was brilliant the other day, but if Purito wins GC it won't be undeserved (barring crashes/mechanicals). If Martin is good enough to win, he will. If Purito is good enough to take the time he needs today, then he deserves to win. I understand people wanting Martin to win but that's not the same of him being entitled or deserving to win, IMO.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

I don't get all the "Martin deserves to win" talk. Don't get me wrong, Martin's move was brilliant the other day, but if Purito wins GC it won't be undeserved (barring crashes/mechanicals). If Martin is good enough to win, he will. If Purito is good enough to take the time he needs today, then he deserves to win. I understand people wanting Martin to win but that's not the same of him being entitled or deserving to win, IMO.

No, I agree. Even though I originally said he "deserved" to win, I actually just mean that I hope he wins. Of course if Purito wins, then he's the best and deserves to win.

I usually hate people saying "Oh, Manchester United deserved to win, they were just unlucky" or something like that.

 

[the asian]

Good to see the famous Montjuic climb being used. Martin can do quite well on this stage, I don't think he'll lose it. Ascending the climb 8 times should be too hard for the likes of Gerrans. Winner will come from the GC contenders.

 

[Carols]

I don't get all the "Martin deserves to win" talk. Don't get me wrong, Martin's move was brilliant the other day, but if Purito wins GC it won't be undeserved (barring crashes/mechanicals). If Martin is good enough to win, he will. If Purito is good enough to take the time he needs today, then he deserves to win. I understand people wanting Martin to win but that's not the same of him being entitled or deserving to win, IMO.

Very true.....I want him to win because he had the B*lls to go from the bottom of the climb and has grabbed every second he can since then.

But if he loses due to not being good enough today, whoever wins deserves the win and Chapeau to them!

 

[cineteq]

Good to see the famous Montjuic climb being used. Martin can do quite well on this stage, I don't think he'll lose it. Ascending the climb 8 times should be too hard for the likes of Gerrans. Winner will come from the GC contenders.

Based on which historical data?

 

[will10]

Based on which historical data?

He's done well on similar hard circuit parcours in Poland and Italian semi-classics. Also he probably knows the climb pretty well. Wouldn't rule him out, should be a good battle.

 

[wirral]

Approaching the first bonus sprint about now.

 

[Ferminal]

He's done well on similar hard circuit parcours in Poland and Italian semi-classics. Also he probably knows the climb pretty well. Wouldn't rule him out, should be a good battle.

Winning TVV doesn't count apparently

 

[wirral]

I see Eurosport have gone with Gent (3 people left because it will be too cold and windy) (and shortened) Wevelgem. That is not what I was hoping for.

If you are in Asia, you will get Catalunya as a recorded programme after Gent - Bubble Gum.

 

[the asian]

He's done well on similar hard circuit parcours in Poland and Italian semi-classics. Also he probably knows the climb pretty well. Wouldn't rule him out, should be a good battle.

This. He won the Tour of Poland a couple of years back. It's his allergic problems which have been holding him back during the spring. He usually has a good autumn classics campaign.

 

[jens_attacks]

that's it. this is kash's stage win

 

[wirral]

195 DOMAGALSKI, Karol (POL/Caja Rural)
174 KROON, Karsten (NED/Saxo)
125 GOLAS, Michal (POL/Omega)
No effect on the GC from the first sprinto.

 

[wirral]

2nd sprint will also have no effect on the GC as the break will take it.

 

[happytramp]

3.30 to break. Katusha on the front.

 

[Telmisartan new]

Anyone know who's in the break?

 

[Escarabajo]

That's pretty steep, I actually rode up with my bike a long time ago! Hopefully we won't have to wait for the 8th ascent to see some action...I think that in the 95 Vuelta the had climbed 4 times and there weren't many riders left for the win.

Based on what you said this is what I found:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUZvkbogQMI

The speed at which they ride in 1995 is astonishing!

Different times, hard to compare.

 

[wirral]

Anyone know who's in the break?

13 KASHECHKIN, Andrey (KAZ/Astana)
38 WARBASSE, Lawrence (USA/BMC)
44 DALL'ANTONIA, Tiziano (ITA/Cannondale)
57 OROZ, Juan Jose (ESP/Euskaltel Euskadi)
101 VAN DE WALLE, Jurgen (BEL(Lotto Belisol)
125 GOLAS, Michal (POL/Omega)
163 DAMUSEAU, Thomas (FRA/Argos Shimano)
174 KROON, Karsten (NED/Saxo)
187 KEIZER, Martijn (NED/Vacansoleil)
195 DOMAGALSKI, Karol (POL/Caja Rural)

 

[Telmisartan new]

Thanks Wirral.

So looking forward to this,should be an exciting finale.

 

[The Hitch]

Wonder what the crowds will belike. nice criterium with a hill on a Sunday afternoon in 1 of europe biggest cities. Hopefully its a nice warmup for next Sunday

 

[wirral]

Wonder what the crowds will belike. nice criterium with a hill on a Sunday afternoon in 1 of europe biggest cities. Hopefully its a nice warmup for next Sunday

Only about 40 km left. I will be going incommunicado soon, leaving [virtual] Catalonia and going to Flanders, trying to avoid the result of this race so I can watch the recording on Eurosport at 5pm (CET). I wish it was live. Streams on the net are rarely worth it.