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

[LaFlorecita]

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.

Long range attacks aren't gonna bring him the win. He'd only end up losing time to the others.

 

[Big Doopie]

talansky fails to move up on gc, but he's closed the gap.

gutsy, gutsy ride.

without garmin's TTT disaster, he might already be in 6th.

too bad there isn't a flat ITT...

 

[LaFlorecita]

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

 

[Descender]

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

The dirt roads was Zomegnan's idea.

Are you telling me Nibali would have crashed and the stage would have developed as it did if it had been a standard flat stage?

 

[icefire]

The dirt roads was Zomegnan's idea.

Are you telling me Nibali would have crashed and the stage would have developed as it did if it had been a standard flat stage?

He crashed on a wet road. Did Zomegnan pour the water?

 

[Fidolix]

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

Oh, you trying to be emotional. Well, you are hun!

 

[Big Doopie]

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

i don't think so. he can still win. i hope not. but he can still win.

but it requires rod to have a bad day.

if conti goes earlier, rod will just let him dangle out there longer. and he will have fantastic support from moreno.

so if form stays the same and rod continues with the same brilliant tactics, he will win.

if rod has a bad day, conti can step in.

 

[Descender]

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

This is his only chance to do that:

He just needs to drop Purito on this climb, then stay away for 13 flat kms before the start of the final climb, then hold it until the finish.

 

[Sem Travões]

Still many mountain stages to come, let's see what Bola del mundo stage will show

 

[El Pistolero]

Rain in Italy during the Giro? No way.

Anyway, this Vuelta route sucks. Made for Rodriguez in mind, not balanced at all. The action is decent though, mostly thanks to the riders, not the course.

 

[Descender]

He crashed on a wet road. Did Zomegnan pour the water?

No he didn't. Would the stage have unfolded the way it did had there not been dirt roads?

PS:

 

[luckyboy]

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.

Zomegnan's gone, nobody designs races like him.


De Gendt on the Stelvio this year... That stage isn't a whole lot different in profile to Cuitu Negru.

If De Gendt can attack on Mortirolo and hang on then someone can surely attack on Cobertoria..
Possible on the Bola Del Mundo stage too, however crazy that would be

 

[Jelantik]

I think we have to give credit to what Alberto has been able to do up to this point. Expecting him to decimate the field after his 6 months non racing is just not possible. The fact that he is still sitting 2nd place in 22 seconds on week 2, to me, is still an amazing effort, a testament of how he is still a talented rider. His last attack opened up somewhat huge gap. But no racing for 6 months hurts his leg to sustain his attack. Alberto knows that. He could have created more damage if he attacks 5km ahead, but he knows that his form can't back him up. It'll be interesting to see how his tactic now. Risky it or play it safe while waiting to reach his up most possible form? We'll know in the next two days. But knowing his style... he'll attack some where...

He's been close 4 times,.. eventually he'll due to win a stage *I hope*. But will it be enough to disloge Purito???....Hmmmm...let the battle continue… .

 

[SafeBet]

This is his only chance to do that:

He just needs to drop Purito on this climb, then stay away for 13 flat kms before the start of the final climb, then hold it until the finish.

Fair enough, he can't do it on his own.
But he can make his team work harder than today and see what happens.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Oh, you trying to be emotional. Well, you are hun!

No, actually it was more like "Sigh, you are impossible"

 

[casati]

There are still 3 mountain stages to go, dont panic, there is still time for contador to drop them, he is getting stronger

 

[icefire]

No he didn't. Would the stage have unfolded the way it did had there not been dirt roads?

PS:

Look at the impact on GC of dirt roads 2011

 

[Pulpstar]

Lurker posting !

Think this is Purito's to lose now. He has ridden such a smart race here. Valverde will get the final podium spot I think, Froome very tired.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Long range attacks aren't gonna bring him the win. He'd only end up losing time to the others.

Clearly contador agrees with you, btw I think I'm gonna go rematch the alpe d'heuz stage from 11' tour.

The point is, contador has the mentality to go for it, regardless of the possible bad outcomes.

 

[Moviefan1203]

Contador does show a lot of heart and determination, but being without racing for an extended period of time can't make his attacks stick. Froome is losing form by the day. I would love to see these two go man to man both in top form. I guess I'll have to wait until the Tour next year to see that.

 

[roundabout]

Look at the impact on GC of dirt roads 2011

2010 sterrato ended with what, 3km to go?

And had a steep climb.

Can't recall how far from the finish it was in 2011. 20km?

 

[SafeBet]

Look at the impact on GC of dirt roads 2011

Again with this.
Give them the chance to entertain you.
If they take it, enjoy.
If they don't, at least you did your best.

 

[icefire]

Zomegnan's gone, nobody designs races like him.


De Gendt on the Stelvio this year... That stage isn't a whole lot different in profile to Cuitu Negru.

If De Gendt can attack on Mortirolo and hang on then someone can surely attack on Cobertoria..
Possible on the Bola Del Mundo stage too, however crazy that would be

Mikel Nieve has done it twice. Can you see that no GC contender cared about Nieve or De Gent in any of these occasions?

 

[Miburo]

It's really hard for Contador.

He doesn't have it to go a few km earlier or at least he doesn't dare trying it but if he goes at 2 km from the finish purito takes him back in the last km.

Majka was real impressive today. I don't think i'm going too far by saying that he will be VERY important for Contador in winning the vuelta.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Clearly contador agrees with you, btw I think I'm gonna go rematch the alpe d'heuz stage from 11' tour.

The point is, contador has the mentality to go for it, regardless of the possible bad outcomes.

Yeah, I know...?