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

[icefire]

I really hop purito wins worlds, that would be great.

I must say that nothing would make me LOL more than watching Pat giving the gold to Valverde

 

[cineteq]

So the best stage happens to be the one with the easiest MTF and with an attack from afar, and somehow this is supposed to reinforce Unipublic's trademark stage designs of monster hard MTFs after mostly flat stages?

Stage design is overrated, are you ready to concede?

first post (site1)..spot on

I had a feeling something big it was going to happen.

 

[Publicus]

The one thing I'm not looking forward to is seeing Contador in red with the Saxo Tinkoff kit. Going to be a serious clash of colors.

 

[icefire]

The one thing I'm not looking forward to is seeing Contador in red with the Saxo Tinkoff kit. Going to be a serious clash of colors.

It won't be as hard as Nibali two years ago.

 

[Andre.J]

Flat what.

What is "flat what mean'? What I'm saying is that the mtf where Contador and Rodriguez were punching each other in the mouth for days was much more dramatic and made for better entertainment. Of course I wanted Contador to beat him but from a cycling point of view (for me at least) those stages were very good. I also thought today would be a meaningless stage, and believed Contador would win it at La Bola del Mundo.

BTW: Valverde would be under a minute from Contador right now except for that little incident stages ago, where Sky took off.

 

[Nick C.]

And yet it didn't happen... it happened in a totally different scenario, in an attack on a climb which wasn't the last one, far from the finish and with a brilliant tactical display.

Which is what I and others like me have been asking for for a long time: a variety of stages, including some which favor attacks from far.

Today's stage was certainly not the best, but it was much better than the single-climb stages.

Isn't this the type of stage set up every year the TDF organizers at the presentation talk about: "favors attackers" usually in the Massif Central? Did anyone on here actually get to see it unfold or did the feeds come on after the damage was done (Eurosport).

 

[Descender]

Contador: "Moments before I attacked, I felt like I had a devil on one of my shoulders shouting at me: "go! attack!" and an angel on my other shoulder telling me: "no Alberto, don't do it...""

 

[hrotha]

What is "flat what mean'? What I'm saying is that the mtf where Contador and Rodriguez were punching each other in the mouth for days was much more dramatic and made for better entertainment. Of course I wanted Contador to beat him but from a cycling point of view (for me at least) those stages were very good. I also thought today would be a meaningless stage, and believed Contador would win it at La Bola del Mundo.

BTW: Valverde would be under a minute from Contador right now except for that little incident stages ago, where Sky took off.

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/FlatWhat

OK, I can't understand why you'd like 3 km of racing better than 50, but hey.

 

[Descender]

Stage design is overrated, are you ready to concede?

I had a feeling something big it was going to happen.

If anything I feel reinforced in my opinion. Giving the riders chances to attack from afar will result in more stages like today's.

 

[Andre.J]

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/FlatWhat

OK, I can't understand why you'd like 3 km of racing better than 50, but hey.

Sometimes 3 km looks like 50 and vice versa.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Contador: "Moments before I attacked, I felt like I had a devil on one of my shoulders shouting at me: "go! attack!" and an angel on my other shoulder telling me: "no Alberto, don't do it...""

Bad Alberto, listening to the devil

 

[Descender]

Isn't this the type of stage set up every year the TDF organizers at the presentation talk about: "favors attackers" usually in the Massif Central? Did anyone on here actually get to see it unfold or did the feeds come on after the damage was done (Eurosport).

Sort of.

I am beginning to doubt the Spanish TV even recorded Contador's attack...

 

[UpTheRoad]

Contador: "Moments before I attacked, I felt like I had a devil on one of my shoulders shouting at me: "go! attack!" and an angel on my other shoulder telling me: "no Alberto, don't do it...""

He watched Animal House during the rest day.

 

[bangnz]

I'm very happy for ac, but I feel so bad for purito

Same here i felt Euphoric shivers as AC past the finish line i was that happy.. Feel bad for Purito also after such a strong showing and coupled with his losing of the Giro in the TT..

What a great Vuelta this has been.. well worth staying up until 3-4am each day

 

[casati]

For those of us who never saw Merckx race, this is one of those moments that give a good idea what he was like. Bravo Merckx, Bravo Contador !!!

 

[jens_attacks]

wow just wow.i only caught the last few kms and i couldn't believe my eyes

grande campeon alberto did it it again !_o_
now i await for some videos


how is it possible that two of the most legendary moves in recent cycling(colladiella 2005 and la hoz 2012) weren't broadcasted by nobody?


again,chapeau saxo and alberto! i knew they can do what liberty did back then

 

[ruamruam]

BTW: Valverde would be under a minute from Contador right now except for that little incident stages ago, where Sky took off.

Contador could easily have taken more than a minute more out of Valverde during the earlier stages if he felt he was a threat. How many times did Contador sit up when he couldn't drop Rodriguez letting Valverde get back? If Valverde was his main threat he would have kept going and put time into Valverde on numerous stages.

 

[hrotha]

Sometimes 3 km looks like 50 and vice versa.

I thought we were talking about cycling, not about Einstein's theory of relativity. But OK.

 

[DominicDecoco]

Tactical racing like these is a too rare. Absolutely spot on.

 

[casati]

I've been following the sport for longer...IMO he is the best since Hinault...

Absolutely, you know Hinault and Merckx are grinning just about now

 

[Carols]

Poor Purito...race was his to lose and he lost it IMO the accumulated fatigue of Alberto's attacks for 2 weeks made him weaker and then he just mentally crumbled. Pure Class comments post race! Chapeau Purito your day will come...I hope he wins Worlds.

Alberto well I'm speechless...a Mental Giant who will never be cowed by Anything or Anyone. When his legs can match his mind he is simply the Best On the Bike!

 

[Andre.J]

Contador could easily have taken more than a minute more out of Valverde during the earlier stages if he felt he was a threat. How many times did Contador sit up when he couldn't drop Rodriguez letting Valverde get back? If Valverde was his main threat he would have kept going and put time into Valverde on numerous stages.

Threats always change though. First threat was Valverde when he took the lead. Then it was Froome, then it was Rodriguez....now if there is any Contador will look at Valverde as a possible last threat (although it would be unlikely) Saturday.
Valverde and his team would have also used different tactics had he not lost that minute.

 

[Andre.J]

I thought we were talking about cycling, not about Einstein's theory of relativity. But OK.

hahah...good one Hrotha.

 

[jens_attacks]

Zdenek Stybar ‏@zdenekstybar

Wouw, that was the hardest race ever i think. After 20km flat tire, after 1hr 395w avg!! #vuelta2012 #17thstage


gregory_rast
Looks like all the riders recovered super well at the restday! That's my only explanation why we race like this today! #300wattavg






Es un día triste. Contador ha ganado con dos cojones” purito

gotta admire purito!

 

[sartoris]

Es un día triste. Contador ha ganado con dos cojones” purito

gotta admire purito!

........ Amen