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

[LaFlorecita]

Similar career growth as Bertie then.

No. Berto's climbing skills were what caught the eye (he even got nicknamed Pantani) it's just that he joined ONCE in 2002 as a time trialist cos he won the U23 national tt.

 

[ggusta]

If Rodriguez finishes the job and really wins the Vuelta, I think you'd have to be a completely partisan Contador fan or an idiot to dispute that he deserved it.

If Rodriguez beats Contador, I hope you don't mind if I totally hate Rodriguez forever.

 

[maltiv]

Still makes me wonder how/why Rodriguez lost to Hesjedal in the Giro and now can match/beat Contador. Dafuq?

That is quite baffling indeed. But looking at the numbers, it would seem that Hesjedal was producing numbers in the Giro which seem to be at least as good as those Purito is producing this Vuelta (of course, such numbers are hard to compare due to differences in weather etc).

I think that just shows that it's not only Rodriguez who's in good form, but mainly a case of Contador being far below his top level (naturally). Or perhaps Hesjedal truly is the best climber and will crush them all in the TDF next year

 

[Lexman]

Recanati - Rocca di Cambio Distance:202 km

Sulmona - Lago Laceno Distance: 229 km

Cherasco - Cervinia Distance: 205 km

Busto Arsizio - Lecco/Pian dei Resinelli Distance: 172 km

Falzes/Pfalzen - Cortina d'Ampezzo Distance: 187 km

Treviso - Alpe di Pampeago Distance: 197 km

Caldes/Val di Sole - Passo dello Stelvio Distance: 218 km

apart from the stages in the first week all are multi-mountain stages

compare those to the stages in this Vuelta which are 150-180 kms in length with only two real multi-mountain stages.

And what JV and co has been spouting for years? That Ryder has amazing endurance and recovery. Almost completely forgoing his spring campaign to focus on the Giro which suited him and .... won. The same is happening with Jrod now.

thanks for the info...

 

[RedFury]

In case anyone didn't get a chance to watch the stage, or simply wants to watch it over, RTVE has it up on their website from the start of their coverage:

Vuelta ciclista a España 2012 - 16ª etapa: Gijón-Valgrande-Pajares.Cuitu Negrus

---

Personally, after watching it again with a cooler head, still don't quite understand Alberto's "move" at Cobertoria -- i.e. falling back to take a 'look' at Purito who was at the bottom of pack at the moment.

I thought then, and still think now that it would have been a great moment for SB to attack full bore. For even if they/he didn't break away, a good gap was certainly possible and it was clearly going to take quite an effort for Purito to catch-up. And that might have just softened him up enough to make a difference in the last 3K @Cuitunigru. Just didn't (doesn't) make any sense -- and yes, Alberto says in the link above he went back to "have a look." Still, WTF?

Just a thought.

 

[Pulpstar]

From what I can work out from Purito's facebook page he dropped back so he could be more sheltered from the headwind. In hindsight Saxobank should have probably buried it on the front and REALLY tried to snap the elastic with AC on the front.

But hindsight is a wonderful thing (With hindsight Froome & Contador would not have played silly ******s with each other when they had the gap over J-Rod and Valverde in the earlier stage, AC would not have chosen that ridiculous gear when he got pipped.. )
Purito has made made 1 mistake this Vuelta that cost him 4 seconds, but Contador and Froome have made far more. Valverde was unlucky to be in the crash, but hasn't really made any errors as far as I can see.

 

[RedFury]

From what I can work out from Purito's facebook page he dropped back so he could be more sheltered from the headwind. In hindsight Saxobank should have probably buried it on the front and REALLY tried to snap the elastic with AC on the front.

He says as much in the presser after the stage. To be more precise he said he "was hiding behind two towers" to protect himself from the wind. You'd think that there'd be more 'towers' further ahead.

As for 'burying it,' I hardly think it's hindsight if a cycling-twit like me saw the chance right away.

But hindsight is a wonderful thing (With hindsight Froome & Contador would not have played silly ******s with each other when they had the gap over J-Rod and Valverde in the earlier stage, AC would not have chosen that ridiculous gear when he got pipped.. )
Purito has made made 1 mistake this Vuelta that cost him 4 seconds, but Contador and Froome have made far more. Valverde was unlucky to be in the crash, but hasn't really made any errors as far as I can see.

Agreed. Purito has been near impeccable as far as tactics go. But still, don't get why so many rather obvious mistakes -- as the track-stand BS you mention -- were made by such a seasoned Pro as Contador.

That said, it is clear to me Alberto is lacking in form, for in a climb like today's coming in barely 17 seconds ahead of Valverde is certainly not Contador-like. Which also explains why Purito can stick to him like glue.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Still, I can't help but think that Ryder Hesjedal would not have been one of the big three in this Vuelta. Rather, he'd have been in that group that always comes in about a minute behind.

I agree. I don't see Ryder on the podium in this Vuelta at all.

 

[The Hitch]

They will be ready, they are all in top shape, I´m not worried.
Hell, even Noval impress me, something I would swear would never happen
I predict Majka will be the best climber on the team next year, and actually he rides a fairly good TT when he needs to, in his junior days it was his TT skills that catches the eye at first.

Majka will get tougher after this Vuelta, question is if Riis will spare him for the tour instead of letting him ride the Giro, I think he will.
I´m convinced Saxo will start the tour with an awesome team.

Kreuziger for Giro, Contador for Tour, Roche for Vuelta (doing domestiquing at the tour wont tire him out as much)

Roche Paris Nice, Contador TA, Catalunya, Pais Vasco Fleche wallone.

Cancellara cobbles

 

[Jelantik]

is it just me, or it looked like valverde sorta gank up with purito to get ride off contador on the last climb? Plus purito comment yesterday to valverde before the start: "let's get some win today" Hm… you and moi? like in the first week?? b/c Valverde has been the one that campaigning to say contador is nervous, contador is attacking at the wrong place etc. etc. Wonder if he doesn't want contador to win GT right after a ban. Otherwise, that would be spectacular!! If, it took him all year long to get his rhythm back, maybe he is hoping that AC should pay his due first…

 

[Fidolix]

Kreuziger for Giro, Contador for Tour, Roche for Vuelta (doing domestiquing at the tour wont tire him out as much)

Roche Paris Nice, Contador TA, Catalunya, Pais Vasco Fleche wallone.

Cancellara cobbles

Yeah, wouldn´t that be awesome, but I´m afraid, not very likely. In 2014 maybe, but for some reason I don´t think Canc will ever ride for Riis again.

 

[movingtarget]

I agree. I don't see Ryder on the podium in this Vuelta at all.

Hard to say. He still would have been fresher than Froome and Valverde and he showed in the Giro that he is a gutsy rider. His TT would have been solid. Maybe the accumulation of climbing stages would have been too much for him. But what a contrast this race has been to the Tour. Has been great viewing and rarely dull unless you are sick of seeing Contador being outsprinted on MTFs !

 

[LaFlorecita]

is it just me, or it looked like valverde sorta gank up with purito to get ride off contador on the last climb? Plus purito comment yesterday to valverde before the start: "let's get some win today" Hm… you and moi? like in the first week?? b/c Valverde has been the one that campaigning to say contador is nervous, contador is attacking at the wrong place etc. etc. Wonder if he doesn't want contador to win GT right after a ban. Otherwise, that would be spectacular!! If, it took him all year long to get his rhythm back, maybe he is hoping that AC should pay his due first…

Huh

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

is it just me, or it looked like valverde sorta gank up with purito to get ride off contador on the last climb? Plus purito comment yesterday to valverde before the start: "let's get some win today" Hm… you and moi? like in the first week?? b/c Valverde has been the one that campaigning to say contador is nervous, contador is attacking at the wrong place etc. etc. Wonder if he doesn't want contador to win GT right after a ban.

Purito and Valverde are just close friends like that. Contador, on the other hand, attacked when Valverde was behind because of a crash.

 

[webvan]

Hard to say. He still would have been fresher than Froome and Valverde and he showed in the Giro that he is a gutsy rider. His TT would have been solid. Maybe the accumulation of climbing stages would have been too much for him. But what a contrast this race has been to the Tour. Has been great viewing and rarely dull unless you are sick of seeing Contador being outsprinted on MTFs !

Hesjedal seemed out of it at the olympics already...

As for the Tour being dull, dunno, there was a lot of tension right until Peyagudes, even the climb up Balès with Liquigas leading had something to it. In the end not much happened, but the Vuelta's been very predictable too really with not that much excitement during these three mountain stages, Bertie attacks, Purito and Valvpithy bridge and they finish together, more or less. Sure all these MTF are more fun on paper than bunch sprints but when you have them almost each stage the fun wears out.

 

[Antianti]

Hesjedal seemed out of it at the olympics already...

As for the Tour being dull, dunno, there was a lot of tension right until Peyagudes, even the climb up Balès with Liquigas leading had something to it. In the end not much happened, but the Vuelta's been very predictable too really with not that much excitement during these three mountain stages, Bertie attacks, Purito and Valvpithy bridge and they finish together, more or less. Sure all these MTF are more fun on paper than bunch sprints but when you have them almost each stage the fun wears out.

Yeah, it's like, the same riders are the strongest every day. What's up with that? Boring!

 

[El Pistolero]

Purito and Valverde are just close friends like that. Contador, on the other hand, attacked when Valverde was behind because of a crash.

Yeah, but Contador will have the final laugh at the WC when he totally screws over the Spanish.

He should **** them off even worse than Michele Bartoli did with Paolo Bettini. Too bad Contador is too kind for that. His attacking style reminds me of Eddy Merckx, but Eddy Merckx would have taken his revenge like he did with Freddy Maertens at the WC in 1974. Although that's not a very legal way to deal with things.

 

[webvan]

Not sure what your point is, that's what "*some* people didn't like about the TDF, hence mine.

Clearly the TDF is THE race that matters though and you don't get that tension anywhere else, Col de Romme stage in 2009, Tourmalet in 2010, Balès/Peyragudes in 2012, etc...that's epic stuff, nothing's come close in other GTs even the crazy climbs like Zoncolan or Angliru or that one yesterday, it's just more "relaxed". I was surprised when I read Froome's interview the other day where he said just that, but I see his point now.

 

[movingtarget]

Not sure what your point is, that's what "*some* people didn't like about the TDF, hence mine.

Clearly the TDF is THE race that matters though and you don't get that tension anywhere else, Col de Romme stage in 2009, Tourmalet in 2010, Balès/Peyragudes in 2012, etc...that's epic stuff, nothing's come close in other GTs even the crazy climbs like Zoncolan or Angliru or that one yesterday, it's just more "relaxed". I was surprised when I read Froome's interview the other day where he said just that, but I see his point now.

Well the Tour is the iconic grand tour and gets all of the media attention but I don't agree that the racing is always better. Even the Tour routes of late have not been that interesting. I do agree that there always seems to be more tension on each stage. Yesterday's Vuelta stage was a bit of a novelty but great entertainment and I can't remember feeling like that in many of the Tour stages this year.

 

[webvan]

I'm not saying the racing is better at the Tour I'm just saying the stages I mentioned had that tension that I haven't seen anywhere else even on monster climbs like Mortirolo, Angliru, Zoncolan or Cuitu Nigru yesterday.

I don't think it has anything to do with the media attention, I for one couldn't care less and I watch the GTs on Eurosport and they give them the same treatment. On the other hand it's likely that due to that media attention the teams and riders clearly give it their best. Can you imagine a TDF where Cunego or VDG2 do absolutely zilch ?

 

[The Hitch]

Yeah, but Contador will have the final laugh at the WC when he totally screws over the Spanish.

He should **** them off even worse than Michele Bartoli did with Paolo Bettini. Too bad Contador is too kind for that. His attacking style reminds me of Eddy Merckx, but Eddy Merckx would have taken his revenge like he did with Freddy Maertens at the WC in 1974. Although that's not a very legal way to deal with things.

A guy whose entire mo is making allies is going to screw all his friends over for a race he doesn't even care much about and probably wont win even if he does screw them over for it?

 

[Carols]

Purito and Valverde are just close friends like that. Contador, on the other hand, attacked when Valverde was behind because of a crash.

????? when did Contador attack when Valverde was down? Katusha did until Purito heard Valverde was on the floor, then they came off the front. Saxo never went to the front. It was Sky and Katusha.

 

[airstream]

????? When did contador attack when valverde was down? Katusha did until purito heard valverde was on the floor, then they came off the front. Saxo never went to the front. It was sky and katusha.

2008.
_____

 

[Carols]

2008.
_____

Vuelta? I have it...do you know the stage? It's a rest day will have a look.

Thanks!

 

[roundabout]

????? when did Contador attack when Valverde was down? Katusha did until Purito heard Valverde was on the floor, then they came off the front. Saxo never went to the front. It was Sky and Katusha.

On Valdezcaray when Valverde was very close to catching back the group.