Vuelta 2017 stage 11 Lorca - Calar Alto 187,5 km

[The Barb]

Alaphilippe again?

Surely the final climbs are too tough for him?

Mas and maybe Jungels are much better Quickstep prospects i would think. I see Jungels tried hard to make the break yesterday but missed it.

 

[hfer07]

Either Nieve, Moscon or Poels to escort Froomie within the 1k mark, so he could gain another cool 40 secs on Chaves & Co.

 

[Escarabajo]

I just hope for nice racing. I hope this is not one of those GT's killed by the ITT.

At least they should have had the TT early so people know what to expect from very early (not that they don't know).

Didn't know where else to put my whining!

 

[Jungle Cycle]

Atapuma from the break...

 

[The Barb]

Re:

Atapuma from the break...

God I would so love this. I don't think there's anyone who deserves a GT stage win more.

 

[gregrowlerson]

Profile appears epic enough to me. I am sure that we will see PLENTY of GC action!

If Contador can gain half a minute on Froome (and lo and behold win the stage) then some of us will get very excited indeed.

If Alberto wins a stage then I might make it my prerogative to travel to that finish line destination (let's cool it a pilgrimage), if I ever make it to Spanish soil.

That's a lot of if's

 

[movingtarget]

The last climb could be deadly, but recent history shows that nothing happens early. Guys will drop from the back, some will not come back, we'll peel off the artichoke, no more. Big picture, nothing...maybe the day that TJ is the casualty though.

Yes some organizers have already woken up to the fact that the steepest ascents don't always mean great racing and sometimes unfortunately it makes it easier for the road runners to run beside them which must be irritating for the riders. You rarely see someone dominating on such climbs. TJ has done well so far, he just has to avoid cracking completely which he should be able to do.

 

[Pirazziattacks]

I doubt we'll see many serious attacks on Velefique, the second half of the last climb will just get anyone who tries reeled in by the sky train.

 

[Lil_Tommy_V]

Whats up with Badret? Has he hit the post tour wall or is he dropping time to chase breaks/stages?

 

[Tank Engine]

Re: Re:

Majka or Bardet from break

Not this one, or at least very unlikely...the final kilometers are not suited for them, make a come back possible for lesser climbers. If the BOD doesn't take it, I could see Nibali outsprinting Froome ftw.

Alberto Contador will not win this bike race.

I think riders like Mas, Majka and Bardet would have left normal BOD fodder a long way behind before getting to the false flat. I'm going for a break to win. Allez Bardet.

 

[Valv.Piti]

It has the potential to be a great stage and a horrible one. If the favourite doesn't make moves in the bottom of Alto its gonna be a waiting game for the last kilometres, so I suspect those who prepare an attack would want to meet up with a teammate at that false flat. Thats why Im pretty certain a break also will stick and there are so many names at this point its literally impossible to predict, but Pozzovivo could be a great option.

 

[Laplaz]

Astana should send Superman Lopez in the break in order to kill the Sky train and to attack with Aru in the final.

 

[klintE]

TJ, Roche, Wooods, De La Cruz to drop down in GC.
Zakarin, Kelderman, Yates shall improve their GC position

Break should survive again; Majka, De Gent and Mas should be in play. Maybe Carapaz form Movistar.
Too hard stage for Alafpolak

 

[Kafviar]

Re:

TJ, Roche, Wooods, De La Cruz to drop down in GC.
Zakarin, Kelderman, Yates shall improve their GC position

Break should survive again; Majka, De Gent and Mas should be in play. Maybe Carapaz form Movistar.
Too hard stage for Alafpolak

Carapaz really "relaxed" yesterday. Think he will be in the break today.

 

[Bot. Sky_Bot]

Neither Froome nor Contador will win this bike race.
Chris doesn't have to and must take into account other stages, Alberto is too weak.

Successful break. Majka could win but would be so afraid about his legs that will wait for others. Pozzovivo FTW.

Finally Poels will wake up and Skyborgs train will crush most of GC contenders.
Battle between Chaves and Nibali for 2nd overall.

 

[starlord]

Any chance for crosswinds between Aguilas and Mojacar?

 

[Krokro]

Re:

Neither Froome nor Contador will win this bike race.
Chris doesn't have to and must take into account other stages, Alberto is too weak.

Successful break. Majka could win but would be so afraid about his legs that will wait for others. Pozzovivo FTW.

Finally Poels will wake up and Skyborgs train will crush most of GC contenders.
Battle between Chaves and Nibali for 2nd overall.

I'm wondering how one can feels sort of excitment when seing Choochoo in action. USP damaged cycling back in old days. Sky is doing the same, without the d*ping factor until now. To me, Sky is killing modern cycling, mainly in GTs. Not because they are simply better and androids, but the way they lock a GT to annihilate the competition to avoid any sort of show. Pretty disappointing, but as usual time will tell.

Hope Orica starts to act like a team. Still wondering how are the Yates bros useful. This Vuelta started pretty good for the first 4 or 5 stages. Now, Im wondering if it's not gonna be a boring race for the following 2 weeks...

Usual whining, feels better now. You can ignore me!

 

[MrTea1976]

Lots of complaining already I see! Weirdly some people don't like having lots of contenders for GC. Grand Tours need to have more TT kms and classics stages so that all-rounders win. A bigger variety of GC contenders can't be a bad thing.

Anyway, if the weather is bad, I think Zakarin and Kruiswijk will have good days.

 

[Robert5091]

Webcams at the finish to check out the weather & view at
http://www.caha.es/guindos/WEBCAM/EXTERNAS/ALL/all.html

Forecast is for showers and possible thunderstorms - fun at 2000 m!

Edit - could be a tricky start too with a little climb & descent in the wet.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Nah, I do not think Kruijswijk will have it. He started the Vuelta with a cold and will probably be undercooked for the rest of the Vuelta. History with Kruijswijk learns that if he doesn't start a GT 100%, he won't have his usual 2nd/3rd week improvement either.
If he was in the top 15 in the short steep stages, I would have hope. But he even finished behind the top 20 on some occasions, so he doesn't have it.

 

[dacooley]

obvious breakway win coming up.as to gc contenders, most likely that will be another draw between froome, chaves, contador and nibali.

 

[Climbing]

If GC contenders don't test Froome at altitude, well I don't where else.
I expect and want full carnage or I'm calling them names! :lol:

 

[Tigerion]

Re:

Atapuma from the break...

My CQ team would certainly appreciate it

Hope Orica starts to act like a team. Still wondering how are the Yates bros useful. This Vuelta started pretty good for the first 4 or 5 stages. Now, Im wondering if it's not gonna be a boring race for the following 2 weeks...

Usual whining, feels better now. You can ignore me!

This could be a good stage for Adam to do something. If he has the legs he should attack from the bottom of Alto and either force sky to use their doms early or be there for Chaves to try and bridge to for the flatter section. Might as well use him while he is still a GC threat

 

[Bot. Sky_Bot]

Re: Re:

Neither Froome nor Contador will win this bike race.
Chris doesn't have to and must take into account other stages, Alberto is too weak.

Successful break. Majka could win but would be so afraid about his legs that will wait for others. Pozzovivo FTW.

Finally Poels will wake up and Skyborgs train will crush most of GC contenders.
Battle between Chaves and Nibali for 2nd overall.

I'm wondering how one can feels sort of excitment when seing Choochoo in action. USP damaged cycling back in old days. Sky is doing the same, without the d*ping factor until now. To me, Sky is killing modern cycling, mainly in GTs. Not because they are simply better and androids, but the way they lock a GT to annihilate the competition to avoid any sort of show. Pretty disappointing, but as usual time will tell.

Hope Orica starts to act like a team. Still wondering how are the Yates bros useful. This Vuelta started pretty good for the first 4 or 5 stages. Now, Im wondering if it's not gonna be a boring race for the following 2 weeks...

Usual whining, feels better now. You can ignore me!

The main problem is radio communication between riders and DS and maybe watts computers.
But Sky doesn't lock the GT competition: nobody forbids other team to try to control the pace!
I hope Orica will try - that would be really interesting.Today probably would be wonderful opportunity at first climb when everybody would wait for the second one.
Yesterday's stage: Bahrain had their target (Nibali's attack on descent) and controlled the pace, wonderful, why not?

 

[classicomano]

Breakaway all the way.