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

[Publicus]

For a champion like contador,a podium-backup mentality is unacceptable.

I think he actually said it during the 2011 TdF. There's basically winning and not winning. He'll keep fighting for the win or implode in the process.

 

[LaFlorecita]

What kind of fangirl are you?
Just because he didn´t win the stage you think he can´t win the Vuelta?
It was the first real mountain stage, have some faith.

Sigh ...

 

[cineteq]

He's going to have to make the race much harder and attack from the base of a big climb.

He hasn't shown he can do it, and he's obviously doesn't have 3-week GT racing legs. He has to figure out another way to do it.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Another meh stage Nothing happens until the last 5 km

This.
The only difference today and the Giro, is Contador looks much more purposeful when losing, than Scarponi.

Not sure how watching Rodriguez repeatedly doing what he did in Italy, is somehow completely different, when in Spain.

 

[El Pistolero]

Contador is just slightly better than Giro 08. Good, but not super.

He still has a week left though!

So you're saying a 33 year old Purito is better than Ricardo Ricco on Cera?

Seems legit.

 

[Descender]

It was. 150 kms, no serious climbs before the last one, that had the final 3 kms steeper than the previous. It was an uphill sprint and ended up like that.

And guess what, if that is true of Ancares, it is even more true of Cuitu Negru and Bola.

The definition of variety.

 

[LaFlorecita]

For a champion like contador,a podium-backup mentality is unacceptable.

Given that he has already won a vuelta I dont think the difference between 4th and 2nd is that big for him

I'm quite sure he'd rather end up 2nd than 4th or 5th

 

[Publicus]

the images at the finish showed he was p$ssed, pushed the camera away with quite a bang, should keep the bangs for on his bike

what are you doin' Alberto? even Andy might beat you next year, don't do that to me ...

Relax. He's not competed at this level since the 2011 TdF. He obviously lacks stamina that comes from racing (as opposed to just training). And he's up against a primed Purito, whom I think he's taken quite lightly up until now.

 

[Havetts]

So the Contador fans already giving up? Holy hell, wheres the confidence of the last month where everyone said he'd win the vuelta by 10 minutes. Shiii-, you look like a bunch of nice weather supporters.

 

[Eshnar]

De Gendt and 2011 Alps are anomalies. When organisers design mountain stages to have as much action as possible nothing happens before the final climb anyway.

now you're gonna tell me those stages were design to get as little action as possible
what about Montalcino 2010? Wasn't it clearly design to see something happen before the 3 kms mark?
Or Aprica 2006/2010?

 

[luckyboy]

Contador is just slightly better than Giro 08. Good, but not super.

Yeah probably, competition (JRod) obviously better here though too.

 

[WindLessBreeze]

Purito^Rule$

Go*Katusha!!!!!!!!
PD. Some folks need to be re-arranged

 

[hrotha]

He hasn't shown he can do it, and he's obviously doesn't have 3-week GT racing legs. He has to figure out another way to do it.

How has he shown he can't do it? Nobody has tried that kind of effort yet. From what we know about Contador, he should be better suited for it than Purito and Valverde.

He's not climbing worse than Purito overall. Even if he didn't manage to drop him over a 10-km effort, at least he'd put a dent on his explosiveness.

 

[Fidolix]

Majka top 15. Now i believe in him.

First now? Jesus!

 

[LaFlorecita]

He's Contador. What does a mere podium spot at the Vuelta add to his palmares at this point?

Well it's better than a fourth place

 

[SafeBet]

Normally people can't come back when he attacks.

Neither today people came back.
There was just one rider coming back, one that is actually extremely suited to put a huge effort in the last steep km of the climb.
All of the other riders were actually losing time to Contador. Froome lost half a minute in one km.

It's beyond me how anybody could really believe Contador could lose the podium here.

 

[luckyboy]

now you're gonna tell me those stages were design to get as little action as possible
what about Montalcino 2010? Wasn't it clearly design to see something happen before the 3 kms mark?
Or Aprica 2006/2010?

What has Montalcino got to do with mountain stages?
Sad that Zomegnan has gone, no GT will come near that Giro.

 

[LaFlorecita]

So the Contador fans already giving up? Holy hell, wheres the confidence of the last month where everyone said he'd win the vuelta by 10 minutes. Shiii-, you look like a bunch of nice weather supporters.

I can only speak for myself but I never said he'd win by 10 minutes. I wasn't even sure he'd win. And now he's obviously not good enough, why should I say he's going to win? I am a fan but I'm also a sane person

 

[Fidolix]

Sigh ...

Have no idea what that means? It´s some internet slang?

 

[icefire]

now you're gonna tell me those stages were design to get as little action as possible
what about Montalcino 2010? Wasn't it clearly design to see something happen before the 3 kms mark?
Or Aprica 2006/2010?

Yeah, Nibali's crash and the rain in Montalcino 2012 were Zomegnan's ideas

 

[LaFlorecita]

Have no idea what that means? It´s some internet slang?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigh

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

I'm quite sure he'd rather end up 2nd than 4th or 5th

Pfft, this isn't what makes contador a champion.

Go look at publicus post; his attitude and mentality in cycling more then anything makes him the champion he is, as his fan girl I'm surprised you would think contador would go for anything less.

 

[Descender]

De Gendt and 2011 Alps are anomalies. When organisers design mountain stages to have as much action as possible nothing happens before the final climb anyway.

You are wrong.

Go watch the 2010 Giro, then call back and tell me when organisers design mountain stages to have as much action as possible nothing happens before the final climb.

Again, even if they were anomalies, you will not get them if you don't give the riders the chance to attack from far.

 

[sucotash]

So proud of Polish riders

This the best grand tour I remember for our cycling.

Marczynski is riding the race of his life. Chapeau Tomasz.

 

[webvan]

Bertie needs to go before the last climb if he wants to win!