Vuelta 2012, Stage 17: Santander > Fuente Dé (187 km)

[Descender]

Looked a brilliant stage today the little bit (30km) the spanish TV let us watch. Why did they not produce pictures before 3pm U.K time? Very annoying!

Great riding from Bertie and Valverde. Thought Valverde would catch him with a few k's to go. Feel for Purito after the 3 MTF's over the weekend.

I'm thinking it was rather the organisers' fault for miscalculating the average speed again. The stage was over almost one hour earlier than it should have been.

That being said, who could have predicted this...

 

[SiAp1984]

What a pity for Rodriguez: Clearly the strongest climber in the race, and then losing it on a stage like today... Seems like he just can't do three weeks without at least one weak day.

Still brillant racing by Contador, great tactics, first well-timed attack in this race etc. Things will become really interesing at next year's TdF... this race has shown on several occasions that AC isn't untouchable anymore (even if he eventually manages to win it).

 

[Antianti]

Had Rodriguez been at his usual form, he could have caught Contador the way Valverde did it. Just one of those days where everything came together. What a stage!

 

[Descender]

Not that time cuts in the Vuelta usually matter, but here it appears to be at 43 minutes, five seconds...one nobody in the grupetto is going to lose sleep over, in all likelyhood.

Three years ago, in the Sierra Nevada stage, the entire grupetto missed the cut (something like 60 riders), but were still allowed to stay in the race of course.

 

[The Sheep]

Funny and sad but true, KAT didn't take responsibility in controlling the race. However, Purito may have not felt good today anyway.

Glad it bites them in the *** for once, they never take responsibility.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyy!!!!!!

 

[vcampbell]

Actually this day showed what happens when there is no wheel in front of Purito!

 

[Poursuivant]

I don't get it... How was this less believable than Wiggins and Froome beating a relatively poor field at TDF? All July every stage I read clinic related references at every stage, and mentions of Wiggins swimming coach. Contador comes back from suspension and no one bats an eyelid on here! Lol, as long as your boy is winning I suppose...

you cannot fault Contadors will, he has the heart of a champion, chapeau to him.

 

[Pricey_sky]

I'm thinking it was rather the organisers' fault for miscalculating the average speed again. The stage was over almost one hour earlier than it should have been.

That being said, who could have predicted this...

Very true however even in the flat Giro and Tour stages Eurosport get live feeds from around 1:30pm not at 3. Are the Spanish T.V companies all having their Siesta's first?

 

[meat puppet]

the minute we had pictures, I think it was quite clear rodriguez was not going to be up for the task. the gap went out pretty fast and at 1minute it was too late, sadly enough.

it's obvious, really. heck, the best proof is that Jrod let berto go in the first place. one wheel to follow, and he could not do it. but before, it was as though he was glued into AC.

katusha as a team was also really not up to it. well played.

hope bola will be a battleground nonetheless. Jrod must try. a steal, after this, would be so cool

 

[JimPanzen]

What a pity for Rodriguez: Clearly the strongest climber in the race, and then losing it on a stage like today... Seems like he just can't do three weeks without at least one weak day.

Hmmm, I wouldn't say clearly. But anyway...a GT is not only about climbing. Plus there are still 3 stages left.

 

[airstream]

Fabulous win by Contador. Congrats to fans. Looks like Alberto wasn't stronger than Alex today so simply Purito is to blame himself. One more day of exciting racing.

 

[hrotha]

It's no secret I strongly dislike Contador, but he's clearly the best GT rider by such a large margin the others can hardly compare. And his physical potential is not even the biggest factor in that.

This, folks, was true cycling.

 

[LaFlorecita]

LaFlo, congrats as well!

i imagine you are dancing about now

Yes

 

[The Sheep]

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyy!!!!!!

Finally recovered?

 

[The Hitch]

Froome is simply dead tired. I can see him losing 10 minutes on Bola del Mundo

you already overrated bola once

 

[Descender]

 

[gregod]

Actually this day showed what happens when there is no wheel in front of Purito!

i think any leader who is isolated could get in trouble like he did.

that said, when salvodelli won his last giro, he was isolated on one big stage, kept his cool and pulled back his attackers to keep the pink.

 

[pablo0642]

Wow. Great to see Bertie going for it - in his interview he said he's not one who cares for second and that fighting attitude made today. Would be nice to see others adopt a similar approach (here's looking at you Nibbles.. although perhaps without ACs talent). A well deserved stage victory and good as Vuelta. Shame for JRod who seems a good guy who's done the hard yards as a domestique and has made the most of his (relatively) much more limited talent and this season has kicked on with two nearlies in GTs now and may not get another chance to win one. I think JRod would still be in with a sniff if he wasn't clearly under the weather today - failing to stick with Valverde sealed the deal.

Not surprised that Wiggins has started looking away from the Tour next year! Surprised Cadel (even further down the contender pecking order) hasn't done the same.

 

[Parrulo]

Had Rodriguez been at his usual form, he could have caught Contador the way Valverde did it. Just one of those days where everything came together. What a stage!

exactly, purito simply had an awful day otherwise i don't think this would have worked

 

[Pricey_sky]

I don't get it... How was this less believable than Wiggins and Froome beating a relatively poor field at TDF? All July every stage I read clinic related references at every stage, and mentions of Wiggins swimming coach. Contador comes back from suspension and no one bats an eyelid on here! Lol, as long as your boy is winning I suppose...
Even though I am sure he is doped, you cannot fault Contadors will, he has the heart of a champion, chapeau to him.

This is very true my friend. Everyone has their favourite and if they are winning then its great, if not then excuses are allways made.

Great racing today though.

 

[LaFlorecita]

And Jesus eeee he was so happy!! And also Faustino Muñoz, almost like a proud father!!

 

[Descender]

Very true however even in the flat Giro and Tour stages Eurosport get live feeds from around 1:30pm not at 3. Are the Spanish T.V companies all having their Siesta's first?

They've started coverage at 3CET (2 for you) in the stages that seemed to be the decisive ones. Didn't bother doing it here, I bet they're regretting it now.

I hope what I read is true and we get the entire stage tonight on the Spanish TV's website.

 

[cineteq]

It's no secret I strongly dislike Contador, but he's clearly the best GT rider by such a large margin the others can hardly compare. And his physical potential is not even the biggest factor in that.

This, folks, was true cycling.

Riis and the team are the real hero here, Saxo Bank Tinkoff Bank. And Contador executed the tactics to perfection, bravo!

 

[JimPanzen]

exactly, purito simply had an awful day otherwise i don't think this would have worked

Purito lost most of his time on the flatter parts. I think it mainly was his lack of TT-ability plus the rest day.