Vuelta 2012, Stage 15: La Robla > Lagos de Covadonga (186,5 kms)

[Descender]

Fine, I'll open the thread again. You lazy *******s...

 

[El Pistolero]

Another "flat" stage with a MTF! Haven't seen one of those lately.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

To be fair to Unipublic this time, this is about as good as they could do as a lead-in to Lagos in terms of the immediate lead-in with Mirador del Fito. But really, Covadonga is overdue a layoff. Plenty of good climbs they could do in Asturias that could be connected to other climbs far better than this one, iconic though it may be.

 

[Miburo]

Well we know Contador will attack but I don't know.

I don't expect that much from this. Monday is way more important.

 

[gilbertador]

What sort of time gaps does Lagos de Covadonga usually create? I think all the action will happen in la Huesera, Contador must attack here and just once and simply keep pushing without looking back, if JRod is still there sit up!

 

[icefire]

This is the previous climb. But as LS points out, there's nothing better closer to Covadonga.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

AC to got crazy and for the first time beat JRod

 

[airstream]

I think Alberto should try to do something otherwise Joaquim again fires from 300 meters to go, take up to 10 sec by pure time and bonus. Though, very likely everyone will save oneself for Pajares tomorrow.

 

[hfer07]

this stage could be won from a breakaway.

The GC teams will be busy watching each other, but we know Saxo will whip the pace at the last 20k to soften some legs, for Alberto to try once more...
I do believe "Froome might surprise" in this stage because Lagos is actually suitable for him even better than yesterday's stage..

I think Sky should send Henao in the breakaway to either go for the stage or help Froome to bridge in Lagos...

 

[Geraint Too Fast]

De Gendt ftw. Cam Meyer to finish in the top 5...

 

[LaFlorecita]

I wonder where Alberto is gonna attack..

 

[Mellow Velo]

I wonder where Alberto is gonna attack..

After the stage; maybe one of the interviewers?

Really do not like Covadonga; it's a bit like the poor man's Angliru.
Hard to see Bertie cracking Purito or Piti here.
Froome, on the other hand, will continue to suffer and drop off the podium.

 

[icefire]

I wonder where Alberto is gonna attack..

He'd better pray as he rides past the Basilica de Covadonga

 

[luckyboy]

Obviously we'll see lots of attacks on Mirador del Fito eh Descender

 

[The Hitch]

Well we know Contador will attack but I don't know.

I don't expect that much from this. Monday is way more important.

He said he attacked today not just for today but to make future stages hard too

 

[jens_attacks]

well i actually love the lagos,its cycling history is special.gradients for modern cycling?not so much.probably as in the last years,a breakaway will take the win.... that if saxo bank won't go ballistic again
hopefully froome will come back to life tomorrow

 

[Miburo]

He said he attacked today not just for today but to make future stages hard too

He doesn't need to do that if he has one superday but I doubt he'll get that day in this vuelta, maybe on bola delo mondo.

Anyway a break might survive tomorrow although once again contador will be eager to win a stage so yeah it's an old story but it is what it is.

 

[icefire]

well i actually love the lagos,its cycling history is special.gradients for modern cycling?not so much.probably as in the last years,a breakaway will take the win.... that if saxo bank won't go ballistic again
hopefully froome will come back to life tomorrow

It has the gradients in the wrong place for modern cycling. The first half is hard, but the second half is spoiled by the short flat section after la Huesera and the two downhills.

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

Gesink to keep up his completely incoherent performance and finish top 3 on this one, but lose major time again next stage.

 

[Arnout]

It has the gradients in the wrong place for modern cycling. The first half is hard, but the second half is spoiled by the short flat section after la Huesera and the two downhills.

That's not too bad actually, as long as it is not 2-3% for a few km's like it was in that early mountainstage. It might mean earlier attacks than the last 2km, like we will see again the day after, because of the steep gradients.

I think we need normal climbs. An Angliru type of climb is fine, for one stage. But climbs with a percentage of 7-10% are the most interesting, in my opinion, as long as there is no headwind.

 

[roundabout]

Apart from Heras spanking the rest in 2000, I can't recall a single occasion where nr 1 beat nr 2 by over 30 seconds.

Probably yet another scrap for seconds or even a group sprint of about 3.

 

[Asturiano]

The beginning of the Spanish history as a country started on this beautiful place:

 

[Asturiano]

But this place is well known too because of this:

 

[icefire]

Apart from Heras spanking the rest in 2000, I can't recall a single occasion where nr 1 beat nr 2 by over 30 seconds.

Probably yet another scrap for seconds or even a group sprint of about 3.

Yep. If we want to see more than that we need to go back to the 80's. Lejarreta took more than 1 minute on Hinault, but we won't see anything like that again.

 

[iZnoGouD]

I think Alberto should try to do something otherwise Joaquim again fires from 300 meters to go, take up to 10 sec by pure time and bonus. Though, very likely everyone will save oneself for Pajares tomorrow.

if he keeps hanging in there and sprinting in the end i guess i will spend a lot of time in the clinic...
amazing how can he improve so much in suitained efforts and still be as explosive as before...

is lacking cancellara becaming as good a sprinter as cavendish and still being able to push 500 watts for 1 hour -.-