Vuelta 2012, Stage 11: Cambados > Pontevedra I.T.T. (39,4 kms)

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Yes but this is my point,can he do better in strong fields ?
Next year for example you know he will do the tour are you telling me that with Gesink's climbing ability he can get a podium or win?.

If he gets back to his best level...
This is definitely not his best level. I'm confident he was better than this in Suisse and California.
Ofcourse the competition here is better. But he also finished behind Roche, Anacona etc in mountain stages so far. He wouldn't in Cali/Suisse form.

Don't forget the Vuelta was also a emergency goal after the Tour fall. This is Gesink, after leg break, on a good level, but not his best level of this year. And definitely not his best ever form.
So I wouldn't say much about his climbing ability until next year. Period.

 

[The Hitch]

What a great ride by Purito today this season he has been in the form of his life look,even in the Giro he did a great ITT .

I so hope he wins a GT.

Purito will retire as the greatest rider never to win a gt or monument or worlds/olympics

 

[RVPRVP]

Purito will retire as the greatest rider never to win a gt or monument or worlds/olympics

How you so sure he is clearly in form of his life right now he could win this if he does the Giro tactic and he hold's Contador's wheel .
Its just a shame with Froome the guy is cooked he will only get worse now.

 

[cineteq]

Purito will retire as the greatest rider never to win a gt or monument or worlds/olympics

this could be my next sig, if it proves wrong as it's likely to happen.

 

[alberto.legstrong]

You should be Ecstatic. Contaodor is basically leading (when has any stage race let alone gt ever been decided by 1 second), without the pressures of leading - red jersey.

And his terrain, is still to come.

That's about how I look at it. AC couldn't be any closer to leading without the burden of leading. But that may only be a 1 day 'reprieve'. Can't think of a time I actually wanted to download a TT. I HATE WORK!

 

[El Pistolero]

Purito will retire as the greatest rider never to win a gt or monument or worlds/olympics

http://www.bicycling.com/video/race...a-espana-2010-gilbert-wins-stage-3#/video/all

Why on earth would people find that more fun to watch than one of Cav's sprints.

 

[Descender]

I think I'm missing something with the 'insult to cycling' stuff?

Me also...I enjoyed the Giro especially Rabottini's epic ride. The Tour was ok; just barely.

But 4 GC guys going at it every non-sprint stage sure is a lot more exciting to watch, at least for me!!!

What icefire said.

But again, I'll expand my views when all is said as done.

 

[will10]

Purito is top favourite now IMO.

 

[RVPRVP]

Ifhe gets back to his best level... This is definitely not his best level. I'm confidenthe was better than this in Suisse and California. Ofcourse the competitionhere is better. Buthe also finished behind Roche, Anacona etc in mountain stages so far.He wouldn't in Cali/Suisse form. Don't forget the Vuelta was also a emergency goal after the Tour fall. This is Gesink, after leg break, on a good level, but not his best level of this year. And definitely not his best ever form. So I wouldn't say much about his climbing ability until next year. Period.

I give up i got my views you got your's even at his best level he wouldn't live with Froome or Contador,the reason i have not mentioned Valverde or Purito is because all the stages suited them more than gesink.No doubt ill be called a troll or something im not hating just my view's you cant use the Tour fall as an excuse he was brilliant in the olympics,its not like Froome and Valverde had good prep isit.They both completed the Tour,Gesink after his fall was coming in mins down and then left .So im pretty sure they had worse preperation.

 

[Descender]

I can't believe people are still talking about Gesink as a legit GT threat... what the hell has Gesink ever done to deserve that consideration??

He's a second-tier climber, that's what he is. Period.

 

[afpm90]

I don't know if this was posted already, but Mollema had to switch bikes during the climb and then fell in the descent.

 

[icefire]

I can't believe people are still talking about Gesink as a legit GT threat... what the hell has Gesink ever done to deserve that consideration??

He's a second-tier climber, that's what he is. Period.

I can understand the frustration of his fans. He wasn't a second-tier climber in the Vuelta 2009, and with Valverde, Samu and Evans, he wasn't racing against a list of second-tier GT riders.

 

[RVPRVP]

this could be my next sig, if it proves wrong as it's likely to happen.

Do you really think it could happen Surely he can win a lombardia or world's this year.

By the way sorry for my rant at you earlier dude

 

[Miburo]

Purito will retire as the greatest rider never to win a gt or monument or worlds/olympics

I don't know about worlds. This year and the next 2 years are completely suited for people like him.

Can't wait to see the spanish team on the cauberg riding behind each other.

Anton, Luis Leon Sanchez, Moreno, Purito, Valverde And Contador.

If that doesn't make you excited then I don't know what anymore...lol

 

[The Hitch]

How you so sure he is clearly in form of his life right now he could win this if he does the Giro tactic and he hold's Contador's wheel .
Its just a shame with Froome the guy is cooked he will only get worse now.

i dont know this, but i fear it will come true as he has already podiumed Liege, podiumed Lombardia, podiumed worlds podiumed Giro and podiumed Vuelta (if we take out Mosquera), and not managed to pull off a win.

I would love for him to do it, he has been such a great rider, especially after his move to team leadership at Katusha.

And if he does it at the Vuelta he would surpass wiggins in both uci and cq, but i dont think he will hold off Contador.

 

[theyoungest]

I can't believe people are still talking about Gesink as a legit GT threat... what the hell has Gesink ever done to deserve that consideration??

Outclimb two of the four "big ones" currently leading GC, in other grand tours?

I understand two or three years is ages ago for some, but not for everyone.

 

[The Hitch]

I don't know about worlds. This year and the next 2 years are completely suited for people like him.

Can't wait to see the spanish team on the cauberg riding behind each other.

Anton, Luis Leon Sanchez, Moreno, Purito, Valverde And Contador.

If that doesn't make you excited then I don't know what anymore...lol

Samuel Sanchez is not going to worlds

 

[icefire]

I don't know about worlds. This year and the next 2 years are completely suited for people like him.

Can't wait to see the spanish team on the cauberg riding behind each other.

Anton, Luis Leon Sanchez, Moreno, Purito, Valverde And Contador.

If that doesn't make you excited then I don't know what anymore...lol

You forget that Freire tested his legs in those same roads back in April

 

[H2OUUP2]

What icefire said.

But again, I'll expand my views when all is said as done.

C'mon! It has to be the Tarmac.....

 

[Froome19]

Yes but this is my point,can he do better in strong fields ?
Next year for example you know he will do the tour are you telling me that with Gesink's climbing ability he can get a podium or win?.

Maybe, but there are other options, the Giro for example, focusing on the Ardennes, maybe on Stage wins....

Tbh maybe some of those are not very realistic are suitable for Gesink, but I get the feeling he isnt currently maximising his current potential.

 

[cineteq]

Tbh maybe some of those are not very realistic are suitable for Gesink, but I get the feeling he isnt currently maximising his current potential.

The weekend stages suit him better, I wouldn't be surprised if he gains enough to contend for a podium spot vs. the big four. Mt. Baldy comes to mind.

 

[Pentacycle]

Maybe, but there are other options, the Giro for example, focusing on the Ardennes, maybe on Stage wins....

Tbh maybe some of those are not very realistic are suitable for Gesink, but I get the feeling he isnt currently maximising his current potential.

His potential shouldn't be wasted in the Classics, he just has to target Paris-Nice type stage races.
He'd at least have a Worldtour GC victory going into the Tour, like the one he missed twice in Suisse.

If he's finally processed all the crashes and injuries next year, he could have some big results. I hate to say this,
but he should ride a season like Wiggins has done this year.
Picking out a few stage races, carefully building up towards the Tour,
and going to France with lots of confidence and a reason to be in front when the bad things happen...

 

[Miburo]

Well Samuel Sanchez didn't break anything when he fell a week ago but I doubt he'll be there.

And yeah I forgot about Freire but i don't know. It's freire you never know but Spain should just dynamite the race and if it goes wrong hold valverde as their ace. No way that sprinters will survive when Spain goes crazy.

I can't wait to see the spectacle there. If Spain doesn't win it's pretty much a fail. It's time they finish it again in a WC.

 

[gregrowlerson]

Great ride from Rodriguez, continuing on his marvellous season. I would say this Vuelta is between he and Contador now, since Froome's form will go backwards in the third week. Contador if anything, will only get better.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Ok, I was wrong and happily so.

PURITO!!!!!!