Vuelta 2012, Stage 14: Palas de Rei > Puerto de Ancares (149,2 kms)

[Lexman]

Yeah.
Time for Dave Moncoutie and Jurgen Van Den Broke to swap ends of the peloton.

Moncoutie time tomorrow, hope for VDB to pick up a win the coming days, otherwise it has no sense to stay in the race

 

[Miburo]

Moncoutie time tomorrow, hope for VDB to pick up a win the coming days, otherwise it has no sense to stay in the race

he's never been a winner and don't know if he'll get away. Don't think many riders want to ride with him in a mountain stage, then again he's obviously not as good as in the tour.

Anyway don't think any break will last.

 

[rantanplan]

Unipublic say there's no space at the top (which is bs) so they're finishing at a crossroads 3kms from the top.

There plenty of space at the top, more than in the crossroad

Anayway they don't dare to use the best option, the Spanish Mortirolo /Ancares by Pan do Zarco/

http://www.revistadesdelacuneta.com/tengopagina.php?page=archivo0217

 

[LaFlorecita]

Alberto!!!

 

[No_Balls]

Contador will no doubt try and he should take the stage but i have this restless feeling that it wont be easy to shake Purito off. He look strong as a beast and very confident.

I still see Rod in red after Ancares (but hope i am wrong of course).

 

[will10]

Froome to do something outrageous on the last climb. Clinic explodes. Contador takes jersey.

 

[The Hitch]

This will be the first time we actually see Froome tackle a proper mountain. TDF had none, not really, and even if you are generous with some of them, he was doming.

Last year he was doming until 75% up Angliru and by then he had been setting tempo for half an hour anyway. Only Pena Cabarga which is shorter, came after that.

And this Vuelta we have had none yet.

So is Froome going to join Al and Andy, and become the 3rd of the elite group of climbers. We might well could find out tomorrow.

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

It was about goddam time.
Berto with his first win of the season. A memorable one.

Amen, and Amen.

 

[The Hitch]

Don't be fooled, this is not a big mountains stage. None of the climbs is particularly hard, not even Ancares, which isn't climbed through its hardest side and is capped.

To top it off, it's not even 150km long.

My prediction, and I hope I'm wrong: any significant action will remain within the holy "last 5kms" boundary.

Or, precisely because there are no actual mountain stages to wait for, all those top climbers who want a stage win, but know they wont be able to actually outclimb the fantasticos mano a mano, as well as people looking to maybe have a go on kom, or just to take part in a break, will be using what mountains they can and make racing hard.

I mean VDB for example, is still in the race no? I mean he isnt going to be doing a 21 day stage race for no reason. De Gendt likes his break.Movi will want cobo or quintana up the road maybe. Caja with De la fuente. Moncoutie will choose some break at some point

And who will chase for 12 bonus seconds. I doubt Katusha will since Purito will want bonuses hoovered up.Sky will want to save the train for the climb.

 

[ferryman]

This will be the first time we actually see Froome tackle a proper mountain. TDF had none, not really, and even if you are generous with some of them, he was doming.

Last year he was doming until 75% up Angliru and by then he had been setting tempo for half an hour anyway. Only Pena Cabarga which is shorter, came after that.

And this Vuelta we have had none yet.

So is Froome going to join Al and Andy, and become the 3rd of the elite group of climbers. We might well could find out tomorrow.

??

But yes, agree, tomorrow should be interesting to see how he goes. No way though can I see him joining Al and Andy's A team.

 

[roundabout]

He had a whip in his hand and was making Wiggins go faster.

 

[CasperVg]

If Contador doesn't go from fairly far out (10km), I can't see anyone else than Rodriguez winning. His high-mountain climbing has definitely improved. Heck, he was 4th (and first of the contenders) on the Stelvio (against a less strong field, true) and is obviously in extremely good shape + winning mood, even finishing 7th in an ITT, not to mention he has the best domestique in the Vuelta.

Would like to see Moncoutie finally go for it tomorrow as well (my Velogames team will thank him!) and perhaps a few of the failing GC men (VDB, De Gendt, Menchov, Cobo)

 

[The Cobra]

Froome to get dropped.

I'm going to be different and say Valverde to take another stage. His climbing has been exceptional so far. Obviously Contador will attack, can Purito hang with him in the big mountains... we will see, probably not.

 

[ferryman]

]Froome to get dropped[/B].

I'm going to be different and say Valverde to take another stage. His climbing has been exceptional so far. Obviously Contador will attack, can Purito hang with him in the big mountains... we will see, probably not.

Maybe, possibly, probably. But I bet Sky still set up a train with who ever is left up the last climb. If Froome has it in him good for him, otherwise playing an easy card for Bertie and his boys and for when when Bertie decides to let them loose and then go himself...

 

[manafana]

may see a nice break, moncoutie will try something.

 

[iZnoGouD]

this will be the beggining of a nightmare for Purito

 

[Jason_Mercier]

De Gendt should be in the break.

And Quintana, who will demonstrate why is the best colombian climber. I bet for something like this: Quintana, Geniez, one Andalucia or Caja Rural, Sarmiento, Moncoutié and Valls.

 

[Jason_Mercier]

this will be the beggining of a nightmare for Purito

For sure. If i were Purito i wouldnt respond to Contador attacks at the moment.

 

[Jelantik]

No way a break will survive, Contador wants to win so badly. His team will ride. Sky probably aswell, Froome needs to do something back.

+1
Bertie is inching to win. He came soo close several times and I'm sure he can taste it... so close yet it's still few seconds far... Froomey has no choice. He has to make a move. He can't just rely on riding hard constantly with high watts to get ride off Bertie and Purito. Unfortunately, Bertie and Purito is NO wiggin!

 

[Publicus]

weather and wind for tomorrow:

 

[No_Balls]

+1
Bertie is inching to win. He came soo close several times and I'm sure he can taste it... so close yet it's still few seconds far... Froomey has no choice. He has to make a move. He can't just rely on riding hard constantly with high watts to get ride off Bertie and Purito. Unfortunately, Bertie and Purito is NO wiggin!

This is my main concern with Froome. Although he is good to really good in the mountains he seems like a hybride between a climber and a powerrider like Ullrich. He can pull his watts but seems to be lacking that extreme punch of a true climber. His god awful style on a bike going uphill doesnt seem to serve him any favour in this department either.

Nothing against him. Really nice character off the bike and has shown he is human too. It would also be fun with a third in the mix currently vacated by Alberto and Andy.

 

[The Hitch]

I thought on pena cabarga he was quite punchy

 

[No_Balls]

I thought on pena cabarga he was quite punchy

True. But i dont rate Cobo that high and he was closing on him.

But i dont want to build from what i see here since he might feel Le Tour in his legs. Froome could be up there but he have yet to prove it on a more regular basis.

 

[luckyboy]

Would be good to see Contador take control. Break with Moncoutie to Covadonga then?

 

[dgodave]

Froome will look like Contador did the last time he rode 2 GTs back to back.... if hes lucky.
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