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

[icefire]

definitely i was expecting more from this one.let's not forget though that we have three in a row,they have to be careful to keep energy for tomorrow and monday too

purito right now is the strongest,he's clever enough though to know that this can change,especially at alberto's home,on bola del mundo.better grab all those seconds you can take.
alberto still has a chance to take the win,he has a strong team it looks like,majka was incredible today.

both valverde and froome can come back in the game if on cuitu negru,purito or alberto will suffer a "pajara".that will be the decisive stage i guess

still an interesting vuelta.
let's hope tomorrow will be better although recently, lagos didn't make big gaps

At least it was better than the first mountain stage this same weekend in 2009. I'm afraid that there isn't much of a difference in strength between Purito and Alberto. Purito is in a better position and Moreno seems more capable and has an easier job than Majka.

Lagos will not be better. The stepped characteristics of the climb with three downhill sections in the last 7 kms do not help creating and maintaining a gap as it was the case 20 years ago.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Who says anything of fans? Posting Alberto-pictures during rest days doesnt count. I think we have to live with some bordeline-writers spamming all over the place when he doesnt win and get the crowds sympathy because it is "charming".

That's right, I am not a fan. I am a fangirl and as a fangirl I will be sad when he doesn't win.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Seriously, it's always the same...as soon as Contador doesn't crush the competition, some people start doubting him in general.

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.

 

[No_Balls]

That's right, I am not a fan. I am a fangirl and as a fangirl I will be sad when he doesn't win.

Its different of being sad and completly throw in the towel as you did already after Arrate.

 

[casati]

Welcome!!!

What an honor to met the Badger

Re: Today

Froome fried
Talansky Wow Go Kid!!!!
Valverde poised for podium
Alberto doesn't have the stamina yet
Purito looking STRONG

Still 3 high mountain stages to go...either Alberto will find the form or he won't. If he doesn't Purito is the Man!!!

My preferred podium:

Alberto
Purito
Valverde

But if Purito wins I will be smiling also. He's come a long way in the last year; learned to ITT, good tactics.

Berti will go down Fighting if he goes down....it will be epic

Thank you
This race is not over, contador will make a difference, he is frustrated but maybe that's good, still 3 mountain stages.
don't like purito, even though my wife is Catalan
This race looks like a clasico right now, Madrid vs Barca

 

[Carols]

Thank you
This race is not over, contador will make a difference, he is frustrated but maybe that's good, still 3 mountain stages.
don't like purito, even though my wife is Catalan
This race looks like a clasico right now, Madrid vs Barca

It's not over by any means....

How could anyone not like Purito? Such a little ball of dynamite LOL!!!

It's going to be epic

 

[LaFlorecita]

Its different of being sad and completly throw in the towel as you did already after Arrate.

Well that's my way of being sad... it's depressing really. I'd love to keep faith but I can't. I'm sorry.

 

[LaFlorecita]

It's not over by any means....

How could anyone not like Purito? Such a little ball of dynamite LOL!!!

It's going to be epic

I like Purito, hell, he's one of my favourites even. But now, at this point, in this race, I hate him. Temporarily. I hate everyone who beats Alberto. Temporarily.

 

[airstream]

Please stop your baiting...

You think Andy's gonna come back after 2 months off and win a race? Any race, much less 3 week race? I sure don't!

Yet you think Alberto should be 100% after not riding since January in 2 weeks???? It's obvious Alberto is riding himself into shape; not there yet....

Get Real

Baiting? Honestly, sometimes I considered the stance (alleged overwhelming contador's superiority over anyone else which is a large distortion of actual balance of forces) baiting. Really enjoyable race. Very dense rivarly and intrigue is what I so expected. Haha... Alberto couldn't drop Purito, so he's out of shape...

 

[No_Balls]

I adore the argument "Contador is not at 100%". Apparently, time when Contador's 100% gets equal to someone's 100% can't come in this life.

I adore the argument that his antagonists always are assuming that he IS and when not showing signs of that take it fast as signs that he is declining. Looks like wishful thinking at best. The fact that he is not making any long-range assaults as Etna or Verbier is all you need to know from this stage.

 

[jilbiker]

Not sure AC has the confidence in his stamina to attack from further out. AC would normally attack at 4-6km out if he is feeling good and confident. If he is still with Purito at 3km I think we can safely rule out a significant win. Purito has the confidence from the wins, he is in the "zone". Not sure wha it would take to burst that bubble, or shake that confidence.

 

[Carols]

Baiting? Honestly, sometimes I considered the stance (alleged overwhelming contador's superiority over anyone else which is a large distortion of actual balance of forces) baiting. Really enjoyable race. Very dense rivarly and intrigue is what I so expected. Haha... Alberto couldn't drop Purito, so he's out of shape...

Better have your excuses lined up for when Andy gets dropped every day and never EVEN makes an attack

 

[airstream]

I adore the argument that his antagonists always are assuming that he IS and when not showing signs of that take it fast as signs that he is declining. Looks like wishful thinking at best. The fact that he is not making any long-range assaults as Etna or Verbier is all you need to know from this stage.

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.

 

[rzombie1988]

As someone who just started watching cycling 4 years ago, it is expected to see Contador crush the competition. Is it realistic? No, but I expect it, only because sans the TDF 2011, I've never seen him do anything different. I don't know if he's at 100% or not, but this is not the Contador I'm used to seeing. On the other hand, JRod usually has a breaking day where he blows everything and we still haven't seen that yet.

 

[Red Rick]

- Saxo need to change the order of riders to pull at the front. Majka was amazing today, but cause of Navarro too many riders came back and the pace dropped, which favours Rodriguez. Hernandez was neutralized for a big part due to Contador's flat tire at the penultimate climb. In the coming day's Hernandez can do more for

- I don't think Rodriguez was stronger today. Contador wasted a lot of energy in attacks that didn't stick before he lauched his final attack at 2km from the finish. Rodriguez on the other hand didn't make one acceleration before he started to pull Contador back. Rodriguez can't drop Contador, he even had to suck his wheel because he wanted to sprint even though he might have taken more time if he would've went straight over Contador. Note that Contador didn't measure his effort well, as he had like 10 second with 1km to go and a dropped Valverde managed to come back a little.

- Rodriguez had a lot of luck today with other riders helping him. Froome's moronic suicide attack was an ideal leadout, if that wouldn't have happened Rodriguez should've had to rely on Moreno and he might not have taken Contador back. I don't expect Froome to pull for Rodriguez anymore, and Valverde (who did a little pacing) will only look out for Froome. Moreno can also have a bad day, which means that Rodriguez will have to do it all on his own.

- Because of small flat easier parts on Ancares, the attacking didn't start until 4 km from the finish. Lagos de Covadonga is a climb where it is needed to attack from further out, because the last km's are up and down, meaning big time can't be won or lost. Cuitu Negru has a couple of very hard km's before the last 3 km's, so attacking from there is possible, I don't think there will be attacks on the Cobertoria. Bola del Mundo is a week from now, and they will be doing a harder side of the Navacerrada before that. Fuente dé will do nothing for the GC

- Contador has still room to improve. The chance he is good enough to drop Rodriguez will increase every mountain stage. He only needs to drop Rodriguez once. If Rodriguez (or Contador) has a bad day, it will be over. Today Rodriguez didn't have to react to Contador's initial attacks, which only increased his chances.

- What i do think is that Saxo should let the breakaway go

-I don't think this means anything for the Tour, except that Froome's weakness was showed again today. He can crack miserably after an accelleration. I still think Contador will come back at his own level (or even better as he said). Apart from a week in San luis, he hasn't raced a race in over 13 months.

Long story short: Cheer up fleur

 

[No_Balls]

Not sure AC has the confidence in his stamina to attack from further out. AC would normally attack at 4-6km out if he is feeling good and confident. If he is still with Purito at 3km I think we can safely rule out a significant win. Purito has the confidence from the wins, he is in the "zone". Not sure wha it would take to burst that bubble, or shake that confidence.

To be honest it doesnt look as he as any confidence in his stamina at all. This Saxotrain á la Sky leading him as far up the mountain as possible is a totally new approach. A good AC has little to nothing in support from his own team.

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 factor don't depend only on Contador. He is not untouchable.

You must have missed my previous love song to Purito. Its clearly a reformed Purito we see this season and that he will be hard to beat. Whats clear is that he is in his shape of life and that is the sole thing which stands in ACs way (cut short of TTs). Having followed the later during a number of years i am in a very good position to judge if he is looking good or not. Had he looked good and still be dragged in then we could talk.

 

[Carols]

As someone who just started watching cycling 4 years ago, it is expected to see Contador crush the competition. Is it realistic? No, but I expect it, only because sans the TDF 2011, I've never seen him do anything different. I don't know if he's at 100% or not, but this is not the Contador I'm used to seeing.

Guess you didn't see the 2008 Giro? He was very vunerable being called in at the last minute to ride, was dropped more than once. Even though he had race miles in his legs that year he wasn't near his best. He won, but the hard way.

This year he has Very Limited race miles in his legs and is playing catchup. Meanwhile Purito has Grown in ability and is Very Strong!!! If he wins it will be the hard way....if he doesn't he's got a good GT in his legs for the rest of the season and as a base for next season.

Some people's expectations were to high coming in; I never thought he'd win by more than 1:00-1:30.

 

[jilbiker]

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… .

I totally agree. I wonder how many in these forums are physically active or even take part in some amateur competitions. I know from experience that there is a difference between when i practice, train, even play with friends and when i take part in competition and the difference blows up when it is a tough competition with highly skilled folks. AC has done a terrific job. Its hard to explain but coordination of recovery, attack, reading your opponent comes as you compete more.

I will not say 2nd is good. 1st is always the only option, thats how winners think. My advice to AC is to go back to basics, whatever that means, it is never late for that.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Long story short: Cheer up fleur

It didn't really help.

 

[Red Rick]

It didn't really help.

Too bad, too bad. It was a very deep analysis though, which you normally shouldn't expect from me

 

[LaFlorecita]

Too bad, too bad. It was a very deep analysis though, which you normally shouldn't expect from me

Ok that's true

 

[Descender]

I know we can find many examples of that, but these kind of attacks only succeed unders two circumstances. Either the attacker is allowed to go and then the chasers miscalculate or the attacker is significantly stronger than the chasers. Well, there's also the Vino option, L'Aquila 2010.

I agree that the Vuelta parcourse has a lot of things that can be improved. But Purito will not let Contador go (or will keep it under distance with the priceless help of Dani Moreno). And Contador doesn't look stronger than Purito. So we are doomed for late attacks no matter the parcourse.

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.

 

[Netserk]

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.

There was the ITT

 

[Descender]

There was the ITT

Haha I guess you're right.

Well, you know what I mean...

 

[ferryman]

Some notion:


Who says anything of fans? Posting Alberto-pictures during rest days doesnt count. I think we have to live with some bordeline-writers spamming all over the place when he doesnt win and get the crowds sympathy because it is "charming".

Chill man. A difference in language is the problem here I guess. My 'fans' reference was maybe lazy but the easiest way to describe it as I see it for all of his followers on here. Don't take it any other way