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

[Afrank]

Isn't too early to take such a big risk? I think it would be pretty foolish surely unless Contador feels he's way stronger than the rest.

It might be too early but if Contador is feeling good I wouldn't be surprised if he did attack before the final climb. But unless Contador has some teammates come with him it would be pretty hard to hold off Froome who would likely rely on Uran and Henao to bring him back.

 

[Cimber]

Oh my the weather looks crap. Will be hard to go from 40 degrees to 20 and rain.

 

[icefire]

Can anyone translate this in detail please?Purito says something about tomorrows stage and the contenders,pero yo hablo espanol solamente un poco

La etapa de mañana la conozco bien porque he subido muchas veces y vivo en Andorra. El principio de la subida es sencillo, la carretera es ancha incluso hay alguna bajada. Lo complicado son los últimos kilómetros, que son más estrechos y con rampas del 15-20%. Va a ser bonito para verlo. Quiero mantener el maillot rojo pero no tengo la misma mentalidad que en 2010 cuando vine a luchar por etapas y tenía la desesperación de llegar a casa con el rojo de líder. Esta vez vengo con la ilusión de luchar por la general. Mis tres rivales son muy diferentes unos de otros. Contador es el que te ahoga con cambios de ritmo, Valverde el que más se parece a mi porque se guarda para el final y luego ataca y Froome es el machacante desde abajo con su ritmo y te va dejando”.

He knows tomorrow's stage very well cause he's done the climb many times and he lives in Andorra (Actually, Unipublic got to know this climb from Purito through the mediation of a journalist who is friend of him). The beginning is easy with a wide road and some descending sections. The end is harder with a narrower road and ramps of 15%-20%. He wants to keep the red jersey but is not obsessed with stage wins as in 2010. He sees his three rivals as different riders. Contador kills his opponents changing the pace. Valverde is more like Purito, keeping his energies for a final kick and Froome is hammering from the start of the climb with a high constant pace.

 

[LaFlorecita]

I wonder if you legit believe this. Stop reverse jinxing him lol

I am trying to make sure I won't end up disappointed.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Oh my the weather looks crap. Will be hard to go from 40 degrees to 20 and rain.

Poor Berto's little body can't take it In 2010 on Tourmalet it was the same, and that night he barely slept because he was ill.

 

[roundabout]

Looks like a difficult little climb. Remains to be seen how far up Henao and Uran can take the group before attacks start.

 

[Cimber]

Contador wont be on his max tomorrow. He would be best of riding defensively till the 3rd week. But thats no his style. Also that cramp might still be felt 2 days after.

Froome will try to attack again. He knows now is the time to gap Contador and demoralize him before the 3rd week.

And Purito. He has been up and down. If he can avoid bad days he can win this race.

 

[TomekA]

As a Contador fan I fear the worst - he will be dominated by Froome. I think Alberto lacks endurance. Situation will be probably better in third week but I'm afraid it will be too late. Froome is like a robot. There is only one positive thing, temperatures will be lower (espiecially at the end of the stage) so with the current state of power this definitely suits Alberto more than Froome.

 

[Miburo]

I am trying to make sure I won't end up disappointed.

But you know you're fooling yourself, you'll be disappointed anyways when he'll lose time so yeah

 

[ILovecycling]

Thank you guys for the translation.So its almost Purito's climb,interesting...It's really nice that 4 guys have completely different style,but all of these can follow each other more or less.So key to win the stage and drop opponents could by ride your "style".So what "style" the group is going to use?Froome one,Alberto one or Piti and Purito ones?I bet on Alberto

 

[trevim]

Poor Berto's little body can't take it In 2010 on Tourmalet it was the same, and that night he barely slept because he was ill.

Come on he can stand any sort of weather. It wasn't exactly sunny on Val di Fassa, Grossslockner, Gap, Zoncolan, Angliru....
I would like him to win, but I've my doubts. Specially after his last comments:

“I’d give myself a pass. I was very pleased with Ezcaray, and if I lost a bit of time yesterday it was maybe partly because of dehydration and partly because it was such a steep, explosive finish. I’m a bit a ring-rusty, so I can be pleased.”
“I haven’t reached my best form yet. I’ve no idea if those cramps I had are a sign of worse times to come, I’ll just have to stay focused.”

Doesn't sound optimistic.

 

[Miburo]

Come on he can stand any sort of weather. It wasn't exactly sunny on Val di Fassa, Grossslockner, Gap, Zoncolan, Angliru....
I would like him to win, but I've my doubts. Specially after his last comments:

“I’d give myself a pass. I was very pleased with Ezcaray, and if I lost a bit of time yesterday it was maybe partly because of dehydration and partly because it was such a steep, explosive finish. I’m a bit a ring-rusty, so I can be pleased.”
“I haven’t reached my best form yet. I’ve no idea if those cramps I had are a sign of worse times to come, I’ll just have to stay focused.”

Doesn't sound optimistic.

He's never really that optimistic in his interviews. He always does that.

 

[TomekA]

I have Galibier 2011 right before my eyes now and for tomorrow I just hope that he...won't lose minutes there...

 

[Carols]

He's never really that optimistic in his interviews. He always does that.

I believe him He doesn't have it yet and he Knows it.....better to ride defensively until he feels better IMO.

 

[LaFlorecita]

But you know you're fooling yourself, you'll be disappointed anyways when he'll lose time so yeah

I know

 

[LaFlorecita]

I believe him He doesn't have it yet and he Knows it.....better to ride defensively until he feels better IMO.

Yes I'm afraid you're right

 

[trevim]

He's never really that optimistic in his interviews. He always does that.

I don't know about that: he's almost never talks himself up but he usually sounds more confident. Anyway, maybe I'm reading too much into this but as a fan I will be very happy if he doesn't loose any time to contenders tomorrow.

 

[iZnoGouD]

Purito has no chance on this type of climb

 

[cineteq]

Purito has no chance on this type of climb

Purito leaves in Andorra, and knows the climb very well. If anything, Froome might have a lot of trouble here because of the irregularities of the climb and the possibility of multiple attacks. I don't think the train is going to work very well here. I won't be surprised if Henao and Uran decide to have a day off tomorrow

http://www.rtve.es/alacarta/videos/vuelta-ciclista-a-espana/pericopuertos-collada-gallina/1513247/

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Still a bit on the short side, 7km.

 

[ggusta]

~~~~ fan alert ~~~~

I am taking my winnings on the arbitration bet and doubling down here:

AC ftw

happy to be a fan, and maybe happy i didn't see the end of yesterday's stage or else I wouldn't be quite so eager.

Take that Flo!

 

[Afrank]

Poor Berto's little body can't take it In 2010 on Tourmalet it was the same, and that night he barely slept because he was ill.

If you keep talking like this sooner or later we won't be able to call you a Contador fan.

 

[manafana]

looks likely to suit j rod, he just needs to follow wheels till end and not waste too much energy, i can see contador losing some time again, a bit of rain should see a few suprises been thrown into the mix

 

[veganrob]

Yes I'm afraid you're right

Cheer up sweetheart, it is still early. Gotta believe.

 

[hfer07]

This stage is crucial!!!- this one will unveils all weakness & strengths of the GC favorites!!!
I'm saving my opinion-so I can enjoy the stage without preconceptions