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

[Andre.J]

It didn't really help.

Contador still has 3 more stages to put some hurt into Rodriguez. The most consistent and hard-headed will come out on top. Rodriguez just has great timing towards the end...but is clearly outclassed when Contador attacks. Once Contador sits back down on his bike then I know he's tired. He used to stay up much longer...but it might take some time. He seems to be getting just a bit stronger though.

Andre

 

[Miburo]

I don't know, I wanted to see if Majka would be the last guy. He could drop purito and then put up a pace during 1 km. Would have been different then. Majka was really awesome today.

And Moreno is so important for purito. Contador needs to get purito in a situation where he's all alone in the last 6 km.

Then it's going to be interesting.

 

[icefire]

You might be right, but we'll never know, because as Safe Bet said, if you don't give the riders the chance, you are stuck with the late attacks no matter what.

There are other aspects to this by the way, such as the fact that this might end up being the first GT where descending skills matter exactly nothing.

Don't forget there are two downhill sections in the climb to Covadonga. I recall Nibali was very close to crashing in one of them two years ago

 

[RedFury]

Contador is at 100%. But he's not the same rider of yesteryears, as he already started to show signs of it in 2011's TdF. He clearly can't sustain long attacks for now, but I think he can win La Vuelta if he plays it smart. I'm not going to tell you how, because I don't want my rider, the red jersey, to lose.

Respectfully disagree. Alberto is close to his peak in as much a prolonged lay-off will allow you to be. Now, I don't buy any of the "Berti is only at 90/95% of his form" posts; clearly that is not the case when he is fairly comfortably in second place vs arguably the best field in all the GTs this year. But -- and this is a big one -- whatever % he is missing from being at the top of his form (be that 2/3%) is exactly the reason he hasn't been able to break Purito, or, for that matter, Valverde, in the way he has gotten many of his fans accustomed to doing. No way anyone catches Alberto on his two major attacks in the mountains if he was at a full 100% -- just wouldn't happen.

Heck, a 1% difference in form if often the difference between winning and losing a GT. Froome case in point -- even if you argue for the same 2/3% drop in form as Alberto -- albeit for exactly different reasons -- the latter is, taking them both in full form and to this day, the better cyclist of the two...till proven different

That said, I am not quite ready to either give-up on the man, nor I am ready to pronounce him a de-facto winner. There are three tough mountains stages left, and it'll all depend which Bertie & Purito show-up in each of them. With an outside shot for Froome & Valverde.

Still, Alberto for the win.

 

[No_Balls]

I don't know, I wanted to see if Majka would be the last guy. He could drop purito and then put up a pace during 1 km. Would have been different then. Majka was really awesome today.

And Moreno is so important for purito. Contador needs to get purito in a situation where he's all alone in the last 6 km.
Then it's going to be interesting.

Totally forgot about Moreno. What an amazing help for Purito right there.

 

[3wheeler]

When Contador Blows though he Blows Good.. He might get a bit Frustrated and overcook it . Who Knows.

 

[trevim]

Well it's better than a fourth place

As a fan of Contador I'm surprised you don't remember what he said after Galibier/Alpe 2011. Something along the lines of: "It's the same for me being 4th or 34th. It's all about winning"

 

[Jason_Mercier]

This Contador is the one of the Giro 2008. He isnt at 100%. Purito is not his problem, Bertie ****ed him in the Giro 2011. The problem is his shape after a year out.

 

[iZnoGouD]

Apparently Machado isn't even good enough to get into the break.

he is not juiced like other people

 

[Arnout]

Yeah, he works for the team with trademark clean DS Bruyneel.

Stop it already.

 

[spalco]

Oh boy

I mistook him for Ten Dam.

 

[LaFlorecita]

As a fan of Contador I'm surprised you don't remember what he said after Galibier/Alpe 2011. Something along the lines of: "It's the same for me being 4th or 34th. It's all about winning"

My point is is that he's doomed to fail. There is nothing to win.

 

[nogav1ca]

Rafa Majka is a unpolished diamond.

For those who know him better, what type of climbs does suit him the best?

And nicely summed up.

 

[iZnoGouD]

Yeah, he works for the team with trademark clean DS Bruyneel.

Stop it already.

And that necessarily implies that he dopes?...
He hasn't doped and i don't know why, maybe not enough confidence betwen Bruyneel and him, maybe Azevedo wants to see how strong can he get while clean

My theory is that Bruyneel wants Machado to get frustrated with poor results and then he will introduce the juice to him, and that's when Machado wins a GT.

 

[jilbiker]

Originally Posted by cineteq View Post
Contador is at 100%. But he's not the same rider of yesteryears, as he already started to show signs of it in 2011's TdF. He clearly can't sustain long attacks for now, but I think he can win La Vuelta if he plays it smart. I'm not going to tell you how, because I don't want my rider, the red jersey, to lose. [/QUOTE]

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

It is baffling, these conclusions. 2011 TDF Alberto after that leg breaking Giro? And the current Vuelta after 6 months of no competition? Meanwhile Purito is coming off second at the Giro. People made the same statements about Alberto before the Giro 2011, and then he did his thing and ran away.

 

[RedFury]

@jilbiker.

Might be a good idea to quote the right posts -- or break them apart, because we, View Post & myself are hardly saying the same thing.

Many thanks.

 

[greenedge]

That was an amazing stage, i still think Contador can win but he has to shake JROD. Henao, Uran, Moreno and all the Tinkoff boys were great.

 

[Viking]

My point is is that he's doomed to fail. There is nothing to win.

That's pretty pessimistic. If anyone doubted you were Dutch, the doubts should be gone now. Contador is only 22 seconds down with 3 big mountain stages to go. That's nothing. I still expect Contador to win, but I'll be happy if Purito hangs on

 

[hrotha]

29. [BEL] EIJSSEN Yannick BMC 03'38"

 

[SafeBet]

There are other aspects to this by the way, such as the fact that this might end up being the first GT where descending skills matter exactly nothing.

That's an interesting point.

Would you say Contador could use one?

 

[Angliru]

It's fairly logical though. He used to be so much better than everyone else. Now he even loses time. I don't think that's just because of his ban.

I can't think of any other rider that can be away from competition for 6 months and upon their return be able to be in reach of winning a grand tour.

 

[Angliru]

you still don't want to acknowledge that morning sun never lasts a day and rivals are able to progress drastically. You see, you remind Etna and Verbier, kind of hinting that equal climber has no chance to come in sight. It's delusion. I don't say about declining. I just admit some factors can make competition tighter and these factors don't depend only on Contador. He is not untouchable.

I see many here saying Purito has improved in all areas and become a more well rounded gt rider. Of course that has bearing on what we're seeing in the results. You simply refuse to accept what is logical reasoning when it is said that Contador is not at his best because of his being away from competition for 6 months.

 

[Angliru]

And that necessarily implies that he dopes?...
He hasn't doped and i don't know why, maybe not enough confidence betwen Bruyneel and him, maybe Azevedo wants to see how strong can he get while clean

My theory is that Bruyneel wants Machado to get frustrated with poor results and then he will introduce the juice to him, and that's when Machado wins a GT.

Wouldn't all of this be better and more appropriately discussed in the clinic?

 

[ggusta]

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.

Which contador fans are giving up?

 

[2 Square Wheels]

A good last 5k to this stage(seems like i've said that before more than once this Vuelta). I cant believe how many riders there were heading into the last climb, i even noticed Stannard in the group so the pace must of been really slow over the previous climb.
Hope Bertie hasn't killed his team for his 2nd place on the stage. Froome looks cooked now even tho he showed great courage and probably gave the drive for Rodrigeuz to go again (how dare this Brit attack me in my mountains) and amazingly catch Bertie again.
Not sure what happened to Rabbo and were the hell were the Moviestar boys, apart from Valverde i failed too spot any of his team mates, also a good ride by Talanski