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

[Parrot23]

Give credit to Valverde too, with his early attack

Superb ride by him in every respect. Faultless. Brawn AND brains by him.

 

[meat puppet]

Instead of banning race-radios they should ban SRM and heart rate monitors.

Yes. I'd say ban both though, and heart rate monitors too while we're at it.

Gathering data to be analysed afterwards is fine by me, but real time devices ought to go.

I'm quite surprised by Valverde's riding, nice going.

 

[Miburo]

I thought Froome rode pretty badly. All those pointless accelerations, halting and then going again for like 3 seconds. Killing his own legs for nothing. Thinking he should automatically take responsibility despite being the strongest time-trialist on paper.

Overconfident?

Especially dumb cause if there's one thing Contador loves it's this.

 

[cesko_jr]

Valverde is such a terrific finisher. Reminded me of when he surprised Heras on the Angliru.

what about this steal from Alejandro? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgrX7D0mRqo (3:00 forward) Vino Jugo vs Alejandro Ferrari!

 

[Descender]

Here are the profiles of all the major climbs left in the Vuelta. Credit to the people that took the effort to make them!

Stage 14

http://www.lavuelta.com/12/imgrecorrido/14_perfil.png

Alto de Folgueiras de Aigas + Alto de Ancares (except that last 3 kms)

http://www.altimetrias.net/Lugo/Ancares.gif


Stage 15

http://www.lavuelta.com/12/imgrecorrido/15_perfil.png

Lagos de Covadonga

http://www.altimetrias.net/Asturias/Lagos.gif



Stage 16

http://www.lavuelta.com/12/imgrecorrido/16_perfil.png

Puerto de San Lorenzo

http://unavueltamejor.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/sanlorenzo-w.png?w=550&h=298

Alto de la Cobertoria

http://www.altimetrias.net/Asturias/Cobertoria2.gif

Cuitu Negru

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.ne...4939_100000461388634_1191849_1110561155_n.jpg



Stage 17

http://www.lavuelta.com/12/imgrecorrido/17_perfil.png

Fuente Dé

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5b6DsnTUV1s/TxiEXU4CsRI/AAAAAAAABhc/bpaiIO9t32Y/s1600/fuente+de.jpg



Stage 20

http://www.lavuelta.com/12/imgrecorrido/20_perfil.png

Bola del Mundo

http://www.altimetrias.net/Madrid/ColladoBola.gif

 

[Bala Verde]

Lovely how wheelsucking is now tactical wisdom, but other people who ride to their strengths are not smart

I think it's becoming the new norm in cycling for GC riders; It doesn't seem possible for anyone anymore to stay out in front of a smallish group of other contenders. You just have to sit tight for as long as possible with other guys who ride at about exactly your threshold, and then save it/give it a final, all out effort in the last 1k. If you go (too) early, you eat into your reserves and might end up losing precious time at the end.

Good call by Arnout, who, in his race analysis thread, predicted that this could become a very entertaining stage.

 

[Parrot23]

Thinking he should automatically take responsibility despite being the strongest time-trialist on paper.

Overconfident?

The Sky approach is a little too linear/predictable/square: a fast train and blowing everybody off their wheels ain't gonna work here, I think.

 

[User Guide]

No, this was not the case this time. He started the climb well but Sky rode a hard pace and you saw Gesink losing places. So this time, positioning is not to blame. Not strong enough yet. He's riding like JvdB last year. Good, but not superb.

He'll probably finish 5th though because the guys behind him are much weaker in ITT and don't really gain much time uphill. Moreno is a domestique on top of that. Anton is too irregular.

I disagree he was sat on the wheel of a movistar and Carrot the gap opened infront of them I was watching closely as I had a sneaky bet on Gesink for the overall(weep) lol
agreed not the same as other days but still a few riders between him and the "big 4"
May of only cost him 5-10 seconds but why not ride right on Berties shoulder?

 

[the asian]

No has mentioned how decent this mountain was or am I just blind?

It's certainly better than Andorra arcalis. Deserves a return.

 

[bigcog]

According to Dutch commentators, Valverde was waving at Sky riders and staff after the finish. Nice touch

What a classless act he is.

 

[airstream]

great ride by contador! does anyone have versions on why froome adores to be on the front that much? The guy doesnt save himself whatsoever. and bravissimo, grande alex!

 

[roundabout]

I thought Froome rode pretty badly. All those pointless accelerations, making a track stand and then going again for like 3 seconds. Killing his own legs for nothing. Thinking he should automatically take responsibility despite being the strongest time-trialist on paper.

Overconfident?

Perhaps he should have been smarter, but I also think that he wasn't that good today.

 

[dlwssonic]

great ride by contador! does anyone have versions on why froome adores to be on the front that much? The guy doesnt save himself whatsoever. and bravissimo, grande alex!

did you just say great ride by contador??

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

what about this steal from Alejandro? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgrX7D0mRqo (3:00 forward) Vino Jugo vs Alejandro Ferrari!

yea, Thanks for reminding me, I hate Valverde now

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Sky only have plan A. Proven again, just like Olympics (which was GB, but still I call them Sky).

Uran blew too fast. Henao did well tho

 

[woodenswan]

According to Dutch commentators, Valverde was waving at Sky riders and staff after the finish. Nice touch

awesome

 

[Kwibus]

I disagree he was sat on the wheel of a movistar and Carrot the gap opened infront of them I was watching closely as I had a sneaky bet on Gesink for the overall(weep) lol
agreed not the same as other days but still a few riders between him and the "big 4"
May of only cost him 5-10 seconds but why not ride right on Berties shoulder?

That's not what D_T said. Before the gap opened up Gesink was allready losing places because of the high Sky pace. He was really near the front when they hit the climb.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Please tell me there is a 12 +km steep mountain comming up at some point.

Btw I wonder when Froome will try and take the time he needs before the TT.

He doesn't need to.
Only two, none too hilly stages until the ITT.

After that, he should have a minimum of 2 minutes on Rodriguez, 2 and a half on Piti and around a minute on Bertie...............
.............assuming it's still the Froome of the Tour/Olympics.

I think Gesink will probably jump ahead of the first two, as well.

 

[The Hitch]

Funny *not*

Christ flo. You know by now - report it, dont respond.

 

[airstream]

did you just say great ride by contador??

hm, dont you know me? objectivity is above all

 

[LaFlorecita]

According to Dutch commentators, Valverde was waving at Sky riders and staff after the finish. Nice touch

Hilarious! I love him If only he hadn't stolen Alberto's win...

Especially dumb cause if there's one thing Contador loves it's this.

Yeah he also said after stage 6 that he'd like Froome to keep on attacking because that's "good for the race". Lol, Alberto we all know the real reason why you want it.

 

[Shardi]

Looked like froome got abit overconfident in his last attack. Pretty cool of rodriguez/valverde not to go with froome/contador the first time. That probably enabled their 1st/2nd place.

How big of a lead does froome need to have after the time-trial?

 

[LaFlorecita]

Christ flo. You know by now - report it, dont respond.

You're right

 

[luckyboy]

According to Dutch commentators, Valverde was waving at Sky riders and staff after the finish. Nice touch

I don't like him but that's pretty funny

 

[Miburo]

He doesn't need to.
Only two, none too hilly stages until the ITT.

After that, he should have a minimum of 2 minutes on Rodriguez, 2 and a half on Piti and around a minute on Bertie...............
.............assuming it's still the Froome of the Tour/Olympics.

I think Gesink will probably jump ahead of the first two, as well.

1 minute on Bertie? We're still 4 days away from that and Contador will only get better.