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

[Fidolix]

Today we gonna see Saxo take control, making it hard as possible, I don´t think AC can wait as Bjarne suggested, to pick out 1 stage and make the move there, if Purito can follow him then it´s to late, so I expect an epic battle today.
AC have to attack, like the Rabo boys have to, I hope to see some fireworks.

AC to take this, the guy is hungry.

 

[meat puppet]

wait, what - froome fatigued? haven't you lot got the memo from airstream establishing that fatigue from, say, riding a GT a month back does not affect riders significantly?

anyway, I hope AC cannot shake Jrod, Valv or Froome today.

Since I seem to be the optimist in the Gesink camp, let's just say he's gonna go early and then some. It's make or break time.

Stage moncoutie.

 

[iZnoGouD]

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

He will be on the limit most of the time, and he will get really tired and eventually he will collapse totally
Bye Bye Vuelta podium

 

[iZnoGouD]

Would like to see Machado on a break, he has good chance of winning

 

[TourOfSardinia]

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

My thoughts too.

 

[airstream]

wait, what - froome fatigued? haven't you lot got the memo from airstream establishing that fatigue from, say, riding a GT a month back does not affect riders significantly?

anyway, I hope AC cannot shake Jrod, Valv or Froome today.

Since I seem to be the optimist in the Gesink camp, let's just say he's gonna go early and then some. It's make or break time.

Stage moncoutie.

Well, I just think GT doubles are still possible. It's the matter of a super rider who can always reveal himself in theory. And I accept Froomy has a potential to become such a rider. That's it.

 

[meat puppet]

Well, I just think GT doubles are still possible. It's the matter of a super rider who can always reveal himself in theory. And I accept Froomy has a potential to become such a rider. That's it.

I know, and actually I agree re: 2 GTs. Just could not help myself. You did push the point rather forcefully after all.

I dont agree with the point about froome, though, but there's a place out on the edge of town where that can be discussed. Neath abrams bridge, you know.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Would like to see Machado on a break, he has good chance of winning

Seriously, it's getting really old and annoying now.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Seriously, it's getting really old and annoying now.

?
If Machado gets in the breakaway he do have a good chance at winning?

 

[Kazistuta]

Would like to see Machado on a break, he has good chance of winning

No he haven't. Who is this Machado, some new kind of Macchiato?

 

[Descender]

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.

Let's hope your words prove themselves true.

The Rabo boys should play their cards and let one of their "big three" attack from afar.

Or maybe they're just content with securing their coveted top 10 placements.

 

[SetonHallPirate]

Let's hope your words prove themselves true.

The Rabo boys should play their cards and let one of their "big three" attack from afar.

Or maybe they're just content with securing their coveted top 10 placements.

Rabobank does lead the teams classification...they could always shoot for that!

 

[Miburo]

Let's hope your words prove themselves true.

The Rabo boys should play their cards and let one of their "big three" attack from afar.

Or maybe they're just content with securing their coveted top 10 placements.

Indeed sadly enough they could really explode the race. The big 4 could be looking at each other, it's unlikely but if you don't try it you'll never know.

And whos care if Mollema will be 9th in GC? he shouldn't care. A man of his standards should try and go for more. Look at De Gendt.

 

[LaFlorecita]

when does coverage start today, I read somewhere it starts earlier ??

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

when does coverage start today, I read somewhere it starts earlier ??

1 hour earlier i thibk

 

[SetonHallPirate]

1 hour earlier i thibk

That would be news to the webmasters of the Eurosport website.

 

[icefire]

when does coverage start today, I read somewhere it starts earlier ??

15:00 CET. That should be starting just before the cat 2 climb with 90kms to the finish.

 

[iZnoGouD]

Seriously, it's getting really old and annoying now.

He will shut up all of you haters soon

 

[manafana]

surely igor anton tries something maybe moreno to be up road for j.rod. I agree rabobak need play some sort of card, mollema already has his good vuelta from last year why not take a risk to podium in 2012.

The UCI pts dont help matters either placing in top20 in a GT gets you some good pts

 

[Descender]

No he haven't. Who is this Machado, some new kind of Macchiato?

T. MacHado, the new Scottish hope.

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

Let's hope your words prove themselves true.

The Rabo boys should play their cards and let one of their "big three" attack from afar.

Or maybe they're just content with securing their coveted top 10 placements.

When Gesink did well on the wall the day before yesterday, the rabobank site talked about their goal being to podium when they started and that that's still the goal with Gesink doing well like that. I'm hoping they'll really ry something and not just hope Froome and Valverde get tired from the TDF.

From rabosport.nl after the stage on the wall:
“We hebben vandaag veel vertrouwen opgedaan. We zijn niet gekomen met het idee dat we deze Vuelta gingen winnen, maar wel met een blik op het podium en daar gaan we nog steeds voor.”
"We've gained a lot of confidence today. We didn't come with the idea that we would win this Vuelta, but we did come looking at the poddium and we're still going for it."

 

[iZnoGouD]

if he Machado is in the break there's like 80%+ chance he wins
but maybe they want him to help monfort in the mountains

 

[Jason_Mercier]

80%? Is Machado the new Agostinho? Machado isnt bad rider, but climbs like Rui Costa, Kessiakoff, Cataldo... not much.

 

[will10]

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

Whatever the UCI might say, this still happened:

 

[Netserk]

Whatever the UCI might say, this still happened:

+1

I hope he will get his 3rd victory of the season tomorrow