Vuelta 2012, Stage 20: La Faisanera Golf-Bola del Mundo (170,7 km)

[Danilot]

Edit: Stop that domestique crap, Rodriguez completely blew up on Fuente De and he had Losada on the flat too

Funny how Purito "blew up" on Fuente Dé yet lost only 15-25 seconds to Contador on the climb itself.

 

[Enantiomer]

the best all-arounder won, even though he is clearly not back at his best, yet.

 

[webvan]

How the hell menchov find that power to completely blow Porte in the end, he sorf of saved his Vuelta.

And, congrats to Rodriguez but he could have tried earlier to steal 2nd place though

Edit: Stop that domestique crap, Rodriguez completely blew up on Fuente De and he had Losada on the flat too

He didn't blow up compared to Bertie, lost what, 15" ?

I'm positive Menchov's help on the flat would have...made Valverde win the Vuelta!

 

[burning]

Funny how Purito "blew up" on Fuente Dé yet lost only 15-25 seconds to Contador on the climb itself.

He lost seconds when they were not going all out and Contador was going full gas, he definitely cracked on the climb

 

[El Pistolero]

Neither Valverde or Jrod deserved to win this. This race was created with only them in mind and they still lost. I hope Contador skips the Vuelta next year.

 

[burning]

If Menchov wins a road stage, it's in a sprint. And people always forget he has that ability.

I knew he can win sprints in climber groups but considering that he was completely horrible this season, I thought Porte will win the stage but he pulled out a good sprint in the end

 

[icefire]

Funny how Purito "blew up" on Fuente Dé yet lost only 15-25 seconds to Contador on the climb itself.

That was the flat ITT that most people missed in the parcourse.

 

[Ildabaoth]

I'm positive Menchov's help on the flat would have...made Valverde win the Vuelta!

Where would have Valverde won the 2:15 or so seconds needed for him over Rodríguez to win the Vuelta instead?

 

[Descender]

How? Neither changed the GC at all, but last time it at least felt like it could.

Mosquera never really got close to surpassing Nibali, while Purito did threaten Valverde's second place and the leader of the race was dropped by the 2nd and 3rd.

Plus we saw a nice fight for the stage.

I liked this finish better than the 2010 one.

 

[icefire]

Neither Valverde or Jrod deserved to win this. This race was created with only them in mind and they still lost. I hope Contador skips the Vuelta next year.

Valverde did not have this race in his plans at the beginning of the season. The race was taylor made for Purito. He is the only high profile rider who has commited to the race in recent years from the start of the season.

 

[cineteq]

He didn't blow up compared to Bertie, lost what, 15" ?

I'm positive Menchov's help on the flat would have...made Valverde win the Vuelta!

Purito didn't blow up, that's correct, he rather screwed up. If Menchov would've helped in the flat the way he rode today, Purito would've been the winner, definitely not Alejandro.

 

[Ildabaoth]

That was the flat ITT that most people missed in the parcourse.

I can't quite remember, but I'm under the impression a nice chunk of the time won by Contador wasn't on the 1 on 1 battle on the flat against Rodríguez, but when Tiralongo killed himself for Contador.

 

[profff]

The fact remains that Contador's time trialling was not enough to compensate for his losses on the MTF.

The race was won by the domestiques who pulled him on the flat just before Fuente Dé. Hey, it doesn't detract from Contador's win, but it's the truth.

contador won the vuelta
that' s all

that is what it will be written in the palmares and it is all what it really means.

poupou poulidor outclimbed jacques anquetil many times but their palmares is still different.
anquetil is remembered as one of the greatest, poupou is a french icon.
.

 

[El Pistolero]

Valverde did not have this race in his plans at the beginning of the season. The race was taylor made for Purito. He is the only high profile rider who has commited to the race in recent years from the start of the season.

Valverde and Rodriguez are very similar riders. The only difference is Valverde has a better time trial(pre ban at least) and a better sprint when it's flat or not very steep. Rodriguez on the other hand is better when things are really steep, but not that much. Overall, similar riders.

 

[Carols]

Wow Chapeau Menchov; life in those old legs yet!!!!

Purito you just have to love him, great attempt and nice ride!

Valverde hangs on. One has to wonder what would have happened if he hadn't crashed.....

Alberto gets it the Hard Way; obviously not at top form yet but a GT win is a GT win He will only get better

 

[The Sheep]

Gesink only has tomorrow left to crash.

 

[Descender]

So what if Purito had attacked on the first ramps of the Bola part? Would the overall have been in danger?

 

[Pulpstar]

Great ride by Machado to beat Bertie today

 

[mb2612]

Mosquera never really got close to surpassing Nibali, while Purito did threaten Valverde's second place and the leader of the race was dropped by the 2nd and 3rd.

Plus we saw a nice fight for the stage.

I liked this finish better than the 2010 one.

I don't know, Contador cracking was a bit meh for me, given that he had won the race anyway, whereas Mosquera got a 20 second gap quickly, and it felt like he could have taken another 20.

We had a better fight for the stage last time arguably as well, with Nibali almost catching Mosquera on the line.

 

[Carols]

I don't know those.

But I certainly have never seen anybody as bad as Harmon.

That is only because you've never heard Phil, Paul and Bobke. Harmon s*cks but he beats them!!!

 

[Afrank]

So what if Purito had attacked on the first ramps of the Bola part? Would the overall have been in danger?

Depends if he had been able to maintain it all the way to the end. Contador had 2 domestiques (that I know of at that point) so they would have been able to help him.

 

[icefire]

So what if Purito had attacked on the first ramps of the Bola part? Would the overall have been in danger?

He would have blown up

 

[luckyboy]

That is only because you've never heard Phil, Paul and Bobke. Harmon s*cks but he beats them!!!

Harmon and Kelly (and Backstedt) are the only English-language commentators I can listen to.

 

[jilbiker]

contador won the vuelta
that' s all

that is what it will be written in the palmares and it is all what it really means.

poupou poulidor outclimbed jacques anquetil many times but their palmares is still different.
anquetil is remembered as one of the greatest, poupou is a french icon.
.

I like what Tiger Woods says, a "W" is all that counts, no one checks scorecards for how the W was achieved. Tiger's 14 majors, Jacks 18 majors, at least half was won with less than an A game. Tiger even won one with a broken leg!

 

[etymology]

The race was won by the domestiques who pulled him on the flat just before Fuente Dé. Hey, it doesn't detract from Contador's win, but it's the truth.

but...but...but...every *true* cycling fan knows "there is no "I" in "team."

2009 tdf excepted, of course.