Vuelta 2012, stage 13:Santiage de Compostela > Ferrol (172,8km)

[Kwibus]

*flat* stage, but in reality the road will never be really flat and the last 100km could be affected by the wind as they ride along the Galician coast.
I have no idea about the wind tomorrow though, but if there is a decent wind there will be trouble.

From the Vuelta website:

The Vuelta returns to Santiago de Compostela after almost three decades of absence. The departure will take place from Santiago de Compostela itself, and the finish line will be located in Ferrol, which has not taken part in the national tour for the past 20 years. It will be the last day in which the riders will cover only Galician ground. Only one climbing challenge will take place and this will happen in the first few kilometres. The sprinters or the really brave riders will both have the opportunity to taste victory just before they face the most decisive stages of the Vuelta 2012. They will have 172 kilometres in which to bid Galicia farewell. Miguel Indurain emerged as leader from the Compostela capital back in 1985 and Abdoujaparoy was first to cross the finish line in Ferrol in 1993.

 

[Afrank]

Another Degenkolb stage, really hope we get some big crosswinds. Anyone know the chances of crosswinds?

 

[icefire]

Wind blows tomorrow from Northeast, so it's mostly head wind. Bad luck again. The last kilometres include many urban areas, so they would be protected anyway.

 

[togo95]

Wind should blow from north-east with speed from 21 to 25 km/h

 

[taiwan]

Degenkolb, Bouhanni, Viviani

 

[SafeBet]

I so badly want a break to stay away. Any information on that last bump some 10 kms from the finish?

 

[Geraint Too Fast]

If there was another flattish stage in the coming days I'd say the break has a chance of succeeding here. But seeing as the next non-MTF is almost a week away, surely the sprinters teams will find the energy to bring it back together. I hope the wind has some effect, otherwise the winner is obvious.

 

[l.Harm]

All the work for Argos?

 

[jens_attacks]

obvious swifty win

 

[nogav1ca]

This might be interesting with intermediate sprint with 5 kms to go. Although I'm giving a breakaway better chances to succeed.

 

[neineinei]

obvious swifty win

Full throttle for Swift when Henao is caught unaware at the back. He is only ten minutes behind, and he was a bit fresh at the start of the climb today.

 

[search]

I so badly want a break to stay away. Any information on that last bump some 10 kms from the finish?

Monte de Vilela, 2km at ~6%

 

[will10]

Sky will setup Swift for him to fail miserably once again.

I'd like to see Bouhanni get one but suspect it will be a fifth for Degankolb.

 

[Museeuw]

What do you think guys how that stage 12 crash will affect Bouhanni performance today?

 

[Fidolix]

I have Gilbert for this stage.

 

[Jelantik]

Maybe Froomey still feels invincible and drives in front of the pack for the last 5km for his team mate before the big mountains Saturday.

 

[Cimber]

Just wanna fastforward to tomorrow really

 

[Lexman]

looking forward to this weekends stages already

hope Argos fails big time

5 time the same winner on the podium is not much fun (gives me a TDF Cav look)

Hope breakaway stays away with Sijmens as the winner

 

[Leonardus]

Really hope a big break stays clear. Can't imagine anyone helping Argos for another bunchsprint with Degenkolb and there are a lot of teams without stage win and not that much opportunities left to try something.

 

[manafana]

yeah bouhanni took quiet a fall, did well thou on the medium stage managing to get involed in finish with the more classic type riders.

Great chance for break, only argos will want chase anything now its become degenkolb show and hes more than capable of getting over the hills too

 

[greenedge]

I think a breakaway can stay ahead for the win. If not Degenkolb, Bouhanni, Davis.

 

[search]

Davis was dropped on the flat yesterday and lost half an hour, I doubt he has the condition it needs to win a stage like today's at the moment

 

[ILovecycling]

I have Gilbert for this stage.

I have a bet on him too.With Bwin at 21.00...please Phil attack on last hill

 

[DominicDecoco]

Today is the day, Matti.

 

[Eyeballs Out]

Strong break

Stephen CUMMINGS (044) (BMC)
Elia VIVIANI (129) (LIQ)
Simon CLARKE (152) and Cameron MEYER (155) (OGE)
Linus GERDEMANN (175) (RNT)
Juan Antonio FLECHA GIANNONI (182) (SKY)
Thomas DE GENDT (211) (VCD)

Argos-Shimano and Lotto-Bellisol trying to manage the gap