Vuelta 2012, Stage 8: Lleida - Andorra, Coll de la Gallina (174.7 kms)

[GroupDK]

god damn...ahh sh_it, but he got the most importen thing today..weakness in froom..but still.. ahh what a shame

contador dont sprint..supprise !

but c`mon seems like contador have the fastest mountain pace...promessing

 

[ferryman]

Chapeau Valverde. Started the action and hung in there to get the stage.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

anyone else loving how the spaniards f*** with teh anglophone tactics? these are real climbers! I'm sure wiggins would be crying by now

 

[maltiv]

This is the best stage race of the year!

No doubt. Close competition, loads of attacks and great climbs.

 

[thehog]

Smart riding from Contador. With that surplace, he just forced Froome to do all the work. He called him out "if you want to be the big boy and you are confident enough to have your team ride for you as if you are in the leader's jersey, here, you do it"

I think that costed Froome time in the last 500m.

What an excellent timing from Valverde. He caught Contador just in time to take the stage.

Beautiful stage, and scenery.

Agreed. 14s is a lot to lose on a such a small climb.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

3 Rabos in the Top 10 GC.

..but with no possibility to move up. Only down. Pretty anonymous.

1 101 RODRIGUEZ, Joaquin KAT 29h 59' 35''
2 181 FROOME, Christopher SKY + 33''
3 201 CONTADOR, Alberto STB + 40''
4 9 VALVERDE, Alejandro MOV + 50''
5 161 GESINK, Robert RAB + 1' 41''
6 107 MORENO, Daniel KAT + 1' 48''
7 19 ROCHE, Nicolas ALM + 2' 14''
8 71 ANTON, Igor EUS + 2' 47''
9 168 TEN DAM, Laurens RAB + 2' 58''
10 166 MOLLEMA, Bauke RAB + 3' 07''

 

[Cimber]

This is so good for the race. COntador shows strength, but not back at 100% and Froome shows he is human. And Valverde looks super. Puti did show a little weakness.

I reckon 3rd week will tip the balance.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Yay well done Alberto.

I'm disappointed in Valverde but then again I don't think Alberto would have wanted a gifted win.

 

[goggalor]

Woah Froome blew up at the end. Contador seemed to fade in the final 250, although Valverde & Rodriguez flew in the final part.

They were just letting Froome bake. Could've easily followed Contador judging by the speed of that sprint.

 

[Lexman]

Contador's attacks still don't bear long...

He really has to get better the coming days...

Froome will have to fight the spanish alliance

 

[issoisso]

The Iberian program is kicking in.

But nah, that's only possible for Anglos, eh, by definition? Latter are just too offensive to some, it seems patently obvious, isn't it.

Trololololololololoolol

 

[luckyboy]

The Iberian program is kicking in.

But nah, that's only possible for Anglos, eh, by definition? Latter are just too offensive to some, it seems patently obvious, isn't it.

bitter ...

 

[Bala Verde]

Mollema not good. Little disappointing. Gesink, if he has good ITTs, he should be able to to top 5. LTD shows again he is one of the best domestiques out there.

I wonder if Froome will be able to keep at this level for the whole 3 weeks. He showed a little sign of weakness, but perhaps it was self-inflicted/tactically unsound riding?

 

[The Hitch]

Much lol at the people proclaiming an obvious Froome victory; time to pop over to other forums and watch hypothesis proving resiliant to new evidence.

Its clear that all those people crying that Froome will win every race from here on out are totaly incapable of seperating emotions from their predictions.

Anyone paying any real attention knew Froome would have difficulties keeping form through 2 gts.

That said, the Sky transformation narrative does not suddenly disapear now that Froome, after podiuming 2 gts with ease, looks like he might have a fight to podium rather than come 4th in a gt he enters with poor prep.

 

[GroupDK]

god damn...ahh sh_it, but he got the most importen thing today..weakness in froom..but still.. ahh what a shame

contador dont sprint..supprise !

but c`mon seems like contador have the fastest mountain pace...promessing

edit: seems like contador couldnt get it in right gear

 

[woodenswan]

anyone else loving how the spaniards f*** with teh anglophone tactics? these are real climbers! I'm sure wiggins would be crying by now

lovin it!
droid tactics finally failing!
ALL!
HAIL!
THE SPANISH ARMADA!

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Gesink now Rabo-bossing TGBM

 

[Arnout]

Yay well done Alberto.

I'm disappointed in Valverde but then again I don't think Alberto would have wanted a gifted win.

Disappointed in Valverde? For winning?

Epic facepalm.

 

[Mellow Velo]

This is so good for the race. COntador shows strength, but not back at 100% and Froome shows he is human. And Valverde looks super. Puti did show a little weakness.

I reckon 3rd week will tip the balance.

Agreed.
A pity that Spanish tv refuses to join in the fun.
Pathetic coverage of this, a major stage, somewhat spoiled it for me.

 

[Miburo]

Anyway Contador is the first guy that cracked Froome.

Still pretty good

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Yay well done Alberto.

I'm disappointed in Valverde but then again I don't think Alberto would have wanted a gifted win.

less nervous now I guess - like us all.

 

[Parrot23]

Trololololololololoolol

Take a lollipop hypo.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Alberto rode super smart and forced Froome to bring back the attacks. Alberto looked really strong even before his attack. I was screaming at the TV but it was logical Purito and Piti could come back in the last few 100 meters.

Positives:

Alberto shows he is still able to drop everyone and he will only become better
Froome showed he's human
3 Spaniards top 3

Negatives
Alberto did not win

 

[Parrot23]

Agreed. 14s is a lot to lose on a such a small climb.

Prima facie case.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Contador as predicted getting stronger every day

1 bad day, and then 1 day where he's back where he was before that bad day does not consistute a trend.