Vuelta 2012, Stage 16: Gijón > Cuitu Nigru (183,5 kms)

[Descender]

Vuelta 2012, Stage 16: Gijon > Cuitu Nigru (183,5 kms)

The hardest stage of this year's Vuelta.

http://unavueltamejor.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/sanlorenzo-w.png?w=550&h=298

 

[roundabout]

So the super hard bit is even less than 3 km?

Hopefully people from 11 or so on GC go on the attack early. Might liven up the procedings before the last 3 km.

 

[Geraint Too Fast]

1. Purito
2. Contador
3. Valverde

Next.

 

[El Pistolero]

Purito again.

 

[jens_attacks]

back in 2005,the roles were the same.

even if some still believe heras was untouchable that tour(especially because of the controversial positive),it wasn't the case.he could not get rid of menchov at all
that's where the tactics of manolo saiz proved decisive.and the strenght of liberty seguros too.

heras attacked on penultimate climb of colladiella but get rid of menchov only on the descent.after that,he was waited by all of the blue guys sent up front.

katusha is of course stronger than what was left of rabobank back then. still i can't see other chance for alberto to drop purito.he has to play some tactics,today they tried nicely even they failed.tomorrow the profile will be better for those.

i fully expect a showdown

rumour is that the ghost of menchov still appears sometimes at night on pajares...

 

[hrotha]

So the super hard bit is even less than 3 km?

Hopefully people from 11 or so on GC go on the attack early. Might liven up the procedings before the last 3 km.

Yep. Just like la Bola. It's another Purito climb.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

I hope quintana, henao and uran are given a free role

 

[hrotha]

I hope quintana, henao and uran are given a free role

That would be silly. Maybe one of Henao and Urán, but not both. And definitely not Quintana. No matter how much of a fan you are, their teams have more important things to fight for.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

That would be silly. Maybe one of Henao and Urán, but not both. And definitely not Quintana. No matter how much of a fan you are, their teams have more important things to fight for.

valverde's 3rd place is save. besides movistar always have to send a rider in front for team gc. henao and uran should both get free role's obviously. they can win a stage. froome can not nor can he even enter the podium

 

[Descender]

back in 2005,the roles were the same.

even if some still believe heras was untouchable that tour(especially because of the controversial positive),it wasn't the case.he could not get rid of menchov at all
that's where the tactics of manolo saiz proved decisive.and the strenght of liberty seguros too.

heras attacked on penultimate climb of colladiella but get rid of menchov only on the descent.after that,he was waited by all of the blue guys sent up front.

katusha is of course stronger than what was left of rabobank back then. still i can't see other chance for alberto to drop purito.he has to play some tactics,today they tried nicely even they failed.tomorrow the profile will be better for those.

i fully expect a showdown

rumour is that the ghost of menchov still appears sometimes at night on pajares...

Exactly.

Navarro, Hernandez and Majka attack on San Lorenzo, Contador goes on Cobertoria, catches them in the flat, they pace him until the last climb then Contador goes for glory.

 

[Miburo]

The big question is "Will Contador attack before the 3km?"

 

[roundabout]

Didn't Heras gap Menchov downhill?

Or so the legend says, as I may have missed that bit or it wasn't on TV.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Purito for his fourth.

 

[LaFlorecita]

The big question is "Will Contador attack before the 3km?"

He won't attack cos purito will attack him

 

[Descender]

Didn't Heras gap Menchov downhill?

Or so the legend says, as I may have missed that bit or it wasn't on TV.

He did.

__________

 

[airstream]

Today Alberto might have played with Purito but Purito had no necessity to go full blast to close the gaps obv. Tomorrow a finish configuration suits Joaquim perfectly so I guess he'll win by 5-10 sec again.

 

[cineteq]

The big question is "Will Contador attack before the 3km?"

All he has to do is have Saxo push the pace until the last 5km, and then do one big attack and sustain it, and he'll win La Vuelta. As simple as that.

 

[luckyboy]

Hope Contador can do it, doubtful though. Will have to attack earlier probably.

 

[LaFlorecita]

All he has to do is have Saxo push the pace until the last 5km, and then do one big attack and sustain it, and he'll win La Vuelta. As simple as that.

But he can't.

(Gee there we go again.)

 

[cineteq]

But he can't.

(Gee there we go again.)

This short he can. In fact, he's been close to winning two stages, only to fade, but he wasted his chances with previous short attacks. He just has to commit to one devastating attack.

 

[Miburo]

All he has to do is have Saxo push the pace until the last 5km, and then do one big attack and sustain it, and he'll win La Vuelta. As simple as that.

Yes, he still has 2 chances to make a gap of 20,30 seconds.

 

[Jason_Mercier]

If Saxo Bank put a superhigh rhytm in San Lorenzo and Cobertoria only saving Majka for the final climb and then Contador attack for a medium distance Purito will crack. Except the three final kilometres Cuitu its a Contador climb, but he needs to tougher the race since San Lorenzo, put Purito in a real effort of more than a half hour.

 

[El Pistolero]

Gilbert's family from Spain.

 

[icefire]

Tail wind tomorrow in the last climb. This will ease any attemp to ride tempo, as Pajares is almost a motorway and is very exposed to wind.

Like Covadonga, Pajares-CuituNigru has two downhill sections, although they are a bit further from the finish. It's either attack with 4kms to the summit of Pajares or wait to the final ramp.

Unlike Bola del Mundo, the tarmac here is new (works finished 10 days ago) and in good condition. But that means nobody has done it on a road bike in reconaissance rides. Let's see if anyone makes a mistake with their gear selection.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Contador needs to start his stinging attacks much earlier, but the climb doesn't lend itself to such a tactic.
Too many lengthy, flatter sections for recuperation.
Anyhow, another session of track stands and sprints, tomorrow.