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

[Red Rick]

Maybe you watched a different Vuelta, in a parallel universe in which Contador whipped Rodríguez's *** on every MTF.

There's supposed to be an infinite number of parallel universes. Because of this, i want to congratulate everyone for winning La Vuelta, in whatever universe that is

 

[Danilot]

Winning stage races is more than being strong.

Agreed. I'm not saying that Contador didn't deserve to win the race, I'm just saying he wasn't the strongest of the main contenders.

 

[The Hitch]

I don't think there were 600000 people up there.

Who said that?

 

[Bala Verde]

Good ride by Sicard, 5th on the stage. Hopefully he's returning back to form.
Froome hangs on to 4th place.

I thought I heard the other day Sicard (?) had 10-15% (?) less muscle mass in one leg and they are having trouble correcting that. It's leading to lots of other problems (like back injuries) because he is compensating and adjusting his position on the bike.

 

[zapata]

Maybe you watched a different Vuelta, in a parallel universe in which Contador whipped Rodríguez's *** on every MTF.

There's also something called timetrialing.

 

[Ildabaoth]

To be fair, had the climb been 120-150 km longer, Contador would have lost La Vuelta here.

Anyways, it is quite impressive. Purito outperformed Contador in this Vuelta's climbing overall (if I'm not mistaken, most time won by Contador at stage 17 was on the valley).

 

[vcampbell]

There's supposed to be an infinite number of parallel universes. Because of this, i want to congratulate everyone for winning La Vuelta, in whatever universe that is

Thank you!

 

[The Hitch]

Yes! the pistol was there

 

[ggusta]

So Bertie wins the Vuelta on the flat.

Yup .
All day long!

 

[Publicus]

Contador did the pistol shot at the finish line

 

[Forunculo]

9 101 RODRIGUEZ, Joaquin KAT + 3' 31''
10 9 VALVERDE, Alejandro MOV + 3' 56''
11 177 MACHADO, Tiago RNT + 4' 08''
12 201 CONTADOR, Alberto STB + 4' 15''


Rodriguez
Valverde +25
Contador +44

 

[Miburo]

That's how champions do it, when they're not at their best they still manage to win the GT.

It would be funny if valverde was within 50 seconds of contador. Would mean that sky has won the vuelta for Contador lol

 

[ggusta]

Contador did the pistol shot at the finish line

He did it on the podium when he went into red as well.

 

[vcampbell]

Who said that?

25 riders ahead

In La Bola, 600.000 people are there according to organization

_______________

 

[Afrank]

Don't know if someone posted this yet.
Stage 20 Results
1 MENCHOV, Denis (KATUSHA) 4:48:48
2 PORTE, Richie (SKY PROCYCLING) + 0:17
3 DE WEERT, Kevin (OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP) + 0:42
4 KESSIAKOFF, Fredrik Carl Wilhelm (ASTANA) + 1:16
5 SICARD, Romain (EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI) + 1:39
6 CAPECCHI, Eros (LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE) + 2:30
7 BOUET, Maxime (AG2R LA MONDIALE) + 2:39
8 GESCHKE, Simon (ARGOS-SHIMANO) + 3:14
9 RODRIGUEZ OLIVER, Joaquin (KATUSHA) + 3:31
10 VALVERDE BELMONTE, Alejandro (MOVISTAR) + 3:56

General Classification after Stage 20
1 CONTADOR VELASCO, Alberto (SAXO BANK-TINKOFF BANK) 82:14:52
2 VALVERDE BELMONTE, Alejandro (MOVISTAR) + 1:16
3 RODRIGUEZ OLIVER, Joaquin (KATUSHA) + 1:37
4 FROOME, Christopher (SKY PROCYCLING) + 10:16
5 MORENO FERNANDEZ, Daniel (KATUSHA) + 11:29
6 GESINK, Robert (RABOBANK) + 12:23
7 TALANSKY, Andrew (GARMIN-SHARP) + 13:28
8 TEN DAM, Laurens (RABOBANK) + 13:41
9 ANTON HERNANDEZ, Igor (EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI) + 14:01
10 INTXAUSTI ELORRIAGA, Benat (MOVISTAR) + 16:13

 

[Parrulo]

didn't he win his first giro with the same fashion too?

he won that giro by being the best time trialist by far, he won around 6 or 7 minutes on ricco on the time trials that year.

 

[The Hitch]

Agreed. I'm not saying that Contador didn't deserve to win the race, I'm just saying he wasn't the strongest of the main contenders.

If you take away the bonus seconds, Contador would have been in red since last tuesday.

 

[The Hitch]

_______________

ok thanks. THough they always exagerate that.

Last time Colombian tv said there were 2 million people on Bola.

 

[hfer07]

Menchov at least has justified his season with this win

very nerve wrecking to see Contador fading in that way-but mission accomplished nonetheless. Purito just proved he was the "strongest in the mountains" Valverde could have gotten real close to win the Vuelta had he not fallen in that echelon incident......

good stage

 

[airstream]

So Contador has won the Vuelta despite not being at his best.

The Fuente De charge has depleted his power

not at his best in the eyes of his fans.

 

[Danilot]

There's also something called timetrialing.

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.

 

[Parrot23]

Thanks! "Fixed" it slightly for clarity.

General Classification after Stage 20
1 CONTADOR VELASCO, Alberto (SAXO BANK-TINKOFF BANK) 82:14:52
2 VALVERDE BELMONTE, Alejandro (MOVISTAR) + 1:16
3 RODRIGUEZ OLIVER, Joaquin (KATUSHA) + 1:37


........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................


4 FROOME, Christopher (SKY PROCYCLING) + 10:16
5 MORENO FERNANDEZ, Daniel (KATUSHA) + 11:29
6 GESINK, Robert (RABOBANK) + 12:23
7 TALANSKY, Andrew (GARMIN-SHARP) + 13:28
8 TEN DAM, Laurens (RABOBANK) + 13:41
9 ANTON HERNANDEZ, Igor (EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI) + 14:01
10 INTXAUSTI ELORRIAGA, Benat (MOVISTAR) + 16:13

 

[CobbleStoner]

thank you Bert, Purito, & Valverde for an amazing Vuelta that will not soon be forgotten, also Sky, Degenkolb, Gilbert, Saxo, and Katusha.
bummed that it is over, but we got the Sagan/Valverde/Gilbert showdown in a couple weeks, bring it on!

 

[jilbiker]

Agreed. I'm not saying that Contador didn't deserve to win the race, I'm just saying he wasn't the strongest of the main contenders.

Great champions (individuals or teams) are able to pull wins when not at their best, thats what differentiates them from the "very good"

 

[Descender]

Well I thought this stage was better than Bola 2010.

Certainly much more significant GC wise.