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

[the asian]

Good ride by Talansky too. Didn't think he'd handle this super steep stuff.

 

[LaFlorecita]

well- I think this is it for Contador- there is no way he'll distance Purito at the Bola del mundo with that kind of form. Still pleased to watch him trying & putting a good fight for the GC. He'll be fine next year

It's over Now I'll have to wait 9 months to see him - hopefully - win something big. He'll probably end this year without any wins

 

[Descender]

still fresh wrt

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTn1v5TGK_w

Mother of God.

 

[ferryman]

As expected Purito outsprint Alberto and takes the bonus seconds plus a couple of seconds.

I think 'sprint' is being generous Insane finish. I wanted to reach to my TV and push Cataldo up those last few metres

 

[No_Balls]

Jrod was completely spent, he could only sprint from 50m or something. He only takes two seconds because of a weird ability to put out a big sprint way over the limit. On this kind of climb you only finish together if you're at least 99% equal. If not, Jrod is by far the biggest coward in the sport

He has cutting his crazy sprints from 400-500 meter to 50. Well thats comfortable for Bola.

 

[trevim]

Contador will probably attack on Fuente De just because he can

 

[cineteq]

Once again the vuelta will be won on time bonuses rather than the fastest man on the road. I suspect this year Purito could have taken more time if he had attacked earlier on a few of these MTF's.

Still, the best rider won.

 

[Parrulo]

Contador will probably attack on Fuente De just because he can

mark my words, contador wins the vuelta there

 

[the asian]

It's over Now I'll have to wait 9 months to see him - hopefully - win something big. He'll probably end this year without any wins

Don't bee too pessimistic. There is the World's and Lombardia.

 

[Jelantik]

Very big gaps. Only the top3 together. Purito is on fire, nothing Contador could do. He tried tempo, attacks.... Get it back together and win on the Bola del Mundo.

Stage win should be his objective. Winning GC, with 30 seconds would be hard to claw back from a very strong Purito. Maybe attack and go for broke...

 

[Arnout]

I hope they give a rest to this climb now. Using it too much will kill the drama and the expectation.

I hope they will give it a rest too, it was a bit silly.

 

[LaFlorecita]

I just hope Alberto completely cracks on Saturday. I don't want to see Purito win just by bonus seconds.

 

[ggusta]

Jrod was completely spent, he could only sprint from 50m or something. He only takes two seconds because of a weird ability to put out a big sprint way over the limit. On this kind of climb you only finish together if you're at least 99% equal. If not, Jrod is by far the biggest coward in the sport

I have to agree. Pretty empty, but a win is still a win.

Can you imagine how sad this whole race would be without AC ? We'd really be seeing almost none of this action. Instead we're almost getting spoiled by the fact that every single stage is dramatic.

 

[JimPanzen]

Still, the best rider won.

Not yet!!!!!

 

[No_Balls]

mark my words, contador wins the vuelta there

Wait for Bola i´ll tell you.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Still, the best rider won.

No, they're equal.

 

[ManInFull]

It's over Now I'll have to wait 9 months to see him - hopefully - win something big. He'll probably end this year without any wins

It's been a very exciting Vuelta, even if AC doesn't get the overall victory. He could have used another ITT.

 

[Forunculo]

It's over Now I'll have to wait 9 months to see him - hopefully - win something big. He'll probably end this year without any wins

Worlds and Lombardia??

Don't get Alberto wrong, Purito is at his best ever and the course suits 100% Purito

 

[Amused]

Some pretty crazy hard mountains in the Vuelta. Too hard? Not implying anything, and not trying to go "the clinic" on anyone, but... is it too hard? Too pro doping so too speak?

(Not sure if this is crossing the line... like I said, not implying anything as far as the riders go)

 

[LaFlorecita]

Don't bee too pessimistic. There is the World's and Lombardia.

And he's going to win one of those of course

 

[The Hitch]

That was a proper mtf. The next finisher behind the Contador Rodriguez group was 1 and a half minutes behind.

.

 

[Publicus]

I have to agree. Pretty empty, but a win is still a win.

Can you imagine how sad this whole race would be without AC ? We'd really be seeing almost none of this action. Instead we're almost getting spoiled by the fact that every single stage is dramatic.

Yep. Love the drama.

 

[sartoris]

Was this staged??

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTn1v5TGK_w

 

[trevim]

mark my words, contador wins the vuelta there

Col de Manse style

 

[Frosty]

Interesting to see Froome and Roche both start to drop away after looking fairly good early on (not top form but not far off). They are probably the two top contenders who raced for overall in the tour (ten dam was more of a breaks man, VDB had a rest after the tour).