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

[blaxland]

I thought that was a great stage. Congrats to Valverde. Froome proved he was human and Contador seems to have recovered from his cramps.

Meyer did a great ride, if he had won though all the hype about him being a GT star of the future would have started again though.

+1 agree greenedge.Lets hope this vuelta is enough for those (meyer)believers to shut up.I like the guy and he rides with his heart on his sleeve,but he wont be a GT rider ever"

 

[hfer07]

https://twitter.com/Phil_Gilbert1/status/239451081464242176



anyone that can decipher this?

The only answer to that riddle is that two years away from the peloton weren't enough for Valverde to let go of the riff with Gilbert - damn they genuinely hate each other- don't they? Hahaha

 

[movingtarget]

+1 agree greenedge.Lets hope this vuelta is enough for those (meyer)believers to shut up.I like the guy and he rides with his heart on his sleeve,but he wont be a GT rider ever"

Little too early to be making that call I think. He may not win one but he could end up being competitive. It seems the latest crop of former Aussie track riders are struggling to make the transition to the next level on the road. Unlike some of the older Aussies in the peloton. They have time on their side but that may not be enough for some of them. I actually though Bobridge would have been the one making big improvements but that has not happened either. For some it just takes longer and others just find it too tough. Good to see Clarke getting his stage win though.

 

[panache]

Actually it's often quoted by coaches and managers that one of the golden rules of a grand tour is that anyone not in great shape going in is going to get worse in the 2nd week, then massively better in the third

Thanks Issoisso. I hadn't ever heard that. Most who come into a GT out of shape aren't a factor after the first few mountain stages. They are instead using that 3rd week fitness to hunt for stage wins.

 

[The Eggman]

Directly after the stage one bookmaker went evs AC and was knocked over,he was 8-11 ten mins ago and the cash is flooding on.I wouldn't bet Froome FTW with your money.Friendless and drifting....

In from $4 yesterday to $2.70 now on Betfair. Clearly he has more than a few friends

 

[Arnout]

I got the distinct feeling that Urán couldn't be bothered. Might be wrong though.

Pretty sure. Henao started pulling with Uran still behind him. Suddenly Uran took over for a little while and then dropped, not looking spent at all.

Can't blame him.

 

[JRanton]

Does anyone know what the temperature was yesterday compared to the rest of the race?

People seem to think Froome struggles in extreme heat but I actually think he benefits the most from it of all the GC contenders, what with growing up in Kenya.

 

[JRanton]

Pretty sure. Henao started pulling with Uran still behind him. Suddenly Uran took over for a little while and then dropped, not looking spent at all.

Can't blame him.

Uran was pulling faces in photos that I've seen. Definitely looked spent.

 

[JRanton]

And what does Uran have to be unhappy about anyway?

 

[Arnout]

Froome pulling on the flat when he had flat tire, is that enough?

 

[JRanton]

Froome pulling on the flat when he had flat tire, is that enough?

So what? Another team (Argos probably) would have pulled on the front in the last few KM anyway. It's not like it cost Uran any time (a second or two at most perhaps).

 

[Arnout]

So what? Another team (Argos probably) would have pulled on the front in the last few KM anyway. It's not like it cost Uran any time (a second or two at most perhaps).

You think? They broke loose from the peloton... if it doesn't matter, why did they do it? Why didn't they do the logical thing and at least make it appear they cared about the number 4 in GC?

But I guess here's the lesson for all other teams: if a teammate crashes or flats, just keep pulling, it doesn't matter anyway and there are probably even marginal gains of some sort.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Uran didn't look good to me at all yesterday. You could see it in his face. I think he really had an off day

 

[nogav1ca]

Froome pulling on the flat when he had flat tire, is that enough?

Has Uran been riding at the front when he punctured? If not, I doubt that Froome could know Uran has punctured. Except if DS told them over the radio.

 

[Arnout]

Has Uran been riding at the front when he punctured? If not, I doubt that Froome could know Uran has punctured. Except if DS told them over the radio.

And they wouldn't do that, of course. Maybe it's not Froome's fault, but Sky DS fault. After all, the flat tire from Froome in an early Tour stage was quite suspicious as well... marginal gains, marginal gains.

 

[hrotha]

Has Uran been riding at the front when he punctured? If not, I doubt that Froome could know Uran has punctured. Except if DS told them over the radio.

Urán, being the direct victim of the move, might have seen things differently, whether right or wrong.

DT is right that he didn't look that good (glorious lead-out for Froome, haha), but we must remember Henao had been drilling it hard that day and Urán still finished pretty high in the stage, so I don't know.

 

[Netserk]

Seeing yesterday's stage, and in general the first week, makes you wonder how well Henao could do, if he was sole leader/co-leader with Uran

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Seeing yesterday's stage, and in general the first week, makes you wonder how well Henao could do, if he was sole leader/co-leader with Uran

He could come in 7'34" behind Rodriguez. See Giro 2012.

 

[Netserk]

He could come in 7'34" behind Rodriguez. See Giro 2012.

1) He seems stronger now than in May

2) In the Giro he was working for Uran for a couple of stages

3) Different race, different route, different riders...

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Uran didn't look good to me at all yesterday. You could see it in his face. I think he really had an off day

I also think he's not motivated at all.

 

[Kwibus]

Slow boring evening so I was browsing some pictures of last stages.

Love these pics. The emotions on their faces.