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

[ggusta]

not at his best in the eyes of his fans.

This fan says that's one more GT trophy on his trophy Mantle.

 

[LaFlorecita]

This fan says that's one more GT trophy on his trophy Mantle.

Yeah. 7 GTs already.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

This fan says that's one more GT trophy on his trophy Mantle.

Yea, he got 1 more Vuelta than Vino now

 

[casati]

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.

Really, you are going there, so every other team who works with domestics didn't deserve it? he was the strongest in the race plain and simple. He still has a over minute on these guys, he made the race, he created the big gaps from 4th on, just because he did not dominate this stage, this is a 3 week race and a team sport. If you look at the stage a few days ago, he made that happen. I would say that valverde spent more time being protected in that stage. Piti and purito had to do this today.
Sour grapes

 

[the asian]

Well I thought this stage was better than Bola 2010.

Certainly much more significant GC wise.

Well the dual bw Mosquera and Nibali was more exciting for me, and it was significant GC wise. Mosquera was climbing his way to a Vuelta victory untill Nibali managed to grind back and eventually get on Eze's wheel.

 

[casati]

He would have blown up

That's speculative, we would never know

 

[ggusta]

Really, you are going there, so every other team who works with domestics didn't deserve it? he was the strongest in the race plain and simple. He still has a over minute on these guys, he made the race, he created the big gaps from 4th on, just because he did not dominate this stage, this is a 3 week race and a team sport. If you look at the stage a few days ago, he made that happen. I would say that valverde spent more time being protected in that stage. Piti and purito had to do this today.
Sour grapes

The haters are awesome today. Fact of the matter is without him the race would have been dull as sh$t and he won it to boot. They'd rather watch cr@ppy cycling without him than legendary cycling with him.

Some cycling fans.

They can't post enough today to suit me. I love their foolishness. Talk about showing your @$$.

 

[Danilot]

Really, you are going there, so every other team who works with domestics didn't deserve it? he was the strongest in the race plain and simple.

Contador is the fair winner of the Vuelta. I've never said he wasn't, and I never even implied as much.

But come on, "the strongest in the race, plain and simple"? You've also been watching a different Vuelta a España in a parallel universe. I really should tell the Doctor to stop taking cycling fans in trips on the TARDIS.

 

[casati]

Not that story again

Totally agree, he is human. Appreciate what he has been able to do.

 

[Pulpstar]

Maybe some people would just like to watch a race where one rider is totally dominant at all parts of the Tour/Vuelta/Giro - strongest team, strongest on climbs and strongest in the time trial. I for one find those races pretty boring...

 

[casati]

Contador is the fair winner of the Vuelta. I've never said he wasn't, and I never even implied as much.

But come on, "the strongest in the race, plain and simple"? You've also been watching a different Vuelta a España in a parallel universe. I really should tell the Doctor to stop taking cycling fans in trips on the TARDIS.

Then perhaps we should not allow domestics in a race, no teams. And yes, plain and simple, it is a three week race, over 3 weeks he was the strongest.

 

[Danilot]

Funny how some people whined in July because the winner of the race wasn't the strongest rider, and now they're euphoric because the winner of the race wasn't the strongest rider.

Go figure.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Totally agree, he is human. Appreciate what he has been able to do.

No it's actually about the fact that airstream's constantly telling us Alberto is at his best and everyone else just got better

 

[LaFlorecita]

Funny how some people whined in July because the winner of the race wasn't the strongest rider, and now they're euphoric because the winner of the race wasn't the strongest rider.

Go figure.

This winner attacked though

 

[wirral]

There's a 4 point difference in the points competition.
I am sure Valverde could take that if he wanted. But as they are friends and both Spanish riders, I am sure they will come to an agreement beforehand. Maybe Valverde lets Purito keep the green jersey for an IOU to be collected in the future. I don't think Valverde will take the jersey off him any way even though he could.

 

[Pulpstar]

In July the strongest TTer had the strongest climber hauling him up the slopes. Add to the mix the fact that the 3rd place man was content to protect his 3rd place and never believed he could overhaul the other 2 and the dominance of the 1st and 2nd place rider's team made it a bit of a snoozefest at times even if it was brilliant for British cycling.

 

[Danilot]

This winner attacked though

Yep, watching Contador attack non-stop beats Wiggins dragging himself up a climb hands down.

 

[Forunculo]

Funny how some people whined in July because the winner of the race wasn't the strongest rider, and now they're euphoric because the winner of the race wasn't the strongest rider.

Go figure.

Perhaps a 50km flat ITT could help against Purito and Valverde

 

[silverrocket]

Well, now it's 100% clear that Contador didn't win the Vuelta a España. Paulinho and Tiralongo did. Alberto was the smartest rider in the race, but certainly not the strongest one.

Agree. 100% clear Tiralongo won the Vuelta.

 

[Danilot]

Agree. 100% clear Tiralongo won the Vuelta.

Yes, Tiralongo won the Vuelta for Contador, together with Paulinho and the other domestiques who opened up the 2'30 gap on the flat.

 

[casati]

Funny how some people whined in July because the winner of the race wasn't the strongest rider, and now they're euphoric because the winner of the race wasn't the strongest rider.

Go figure.

I was not whining, for one i believe wiggins deserves his win, he did everything right, just because there were certain parties who were not in the race, is not his fault. If you are referring to the wiggins/ froome dynamic, in the past there have been domestics who may have been stronger, but teams have hierarchies , sometimes controversaly, they stick with their plan for the most part and have been successful, i.e. lemond/hinault, Riis/Ullrich, wiggins/ froome, etc. the fact is Contador was probably not his strongest, but the fact is he has won the race over 3 weeks, it is not won on one day, not even the other day.
Who was stronger during this 3 weeks?

 

[Afrank]

Yes, Tiralongo won the Vuelta for Contador, together with Paulinho and the other domestiques who opened up the 2'30 gap on the flat.

 

[killswitch]

Danilot is right. If the domestiques weren't THAT strong that day, maybe Contador would still have won but the race would have gone down to the wire.

 

[Danilot]

Who was stronger during this 3 weeks?

Rodríguez > Contador > Valverde.

Here's a question for you: Do you think Contador would have still won the Vuelta if Purito had had as many teammates as him on the flat section between Collado de la Hoz and Fuente Dé?

 

[casati]

This winner attacked though

Absolutely agree, which would say there is no argument that contador was the strongest, and with out a doubt deserved this win, he animated the race, like he always does