Vuelta 2017 stage 9: Orihuela - Cumbres del Sol, 174 km

[Red Rick]

La Vuelta arrives at the last day before the first rest day. For the 2nd time in 3 years, it is Cumbres del Sol where our heroes do battle. The first time the Vuelta finished at the Summit of the Sun, a young star shone brightly during one of their first great rides. Tomorrow, an old star will shine brightly for one of his last legendary rides. For the universe is symmetry, and symmetry is the universe, so shall it be. Alberto Contador will win this bike race, or I will have to reassess my metaphysical beliefs.

 

[Alexandre B.]

Not the most inspiring week-end stage design, it seems.

 

[GraftPunk]

Contador all day long!

 

[Lexman]

This stage lacks a mountain earlier on. Break will have no chance it seems. Bunch with high speed to the finish...

 

[Bot. Sky_Bot]

Alberto Contador will not win this bike race.

 

[PremierAndrew]

Froome to take his second win not only of the season, but also atop Cumbre del S.. wait whaddya mean Dumoulin came back?

One of my favourite five minute periods of cycling

 

[Brullnux]

Not sure that 3.75km at 10.3%, no matter how irregular and having 20% pitches, deserves to be Cat. 1. Not a great stage to bookend the first week, but oh well. Either breakaway or Froome to be outsprinted by Contador on the last 100m. Nibali and Chaves to lose 20 seconds.

 

[Gigs_98]

Boring stage design for a weekend stage but then again 2015 the last 4 k's were the most entertaining 4 km's of the season.

 

[hazaran]

They are really overdoing it with those childs play 3k climbs. Thank god next week has some actual mountains.

 

[rick james]

the CAT 2 an attack point?

 

[deValtos]

I could see trek chasing this one actually. I think the GC boys might have a go rather than the break.

 

[Rollthedice]

How come the first time the climb is cat. 2 and when it's at the finish is cat. 1?

 

[Brullnux]

Re:

the CAT 2 an attack point?

God no. Only for really desperate people.

 

[rick james]

Re: Re:

the CAT 2 an attack point?

God no. Only for really desperate people.

mighty see bertie try then

 

[Chrispol]

Re:

How come the first time the climb is cat. 2 and when it's at the finish is cat. 1?

They don't go to the top the first time, the climb is shorter and therefore easier.

 

[jsem94]

This is where the mighty Tom Dumoulin announced himself on the world stage and I laughed for about 10 minutes straight. Froome will win this bike race.

 

[bob.a.feet]

Last time they went up this climb: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uXd1j8yLXo Froome and Aru did pretty well on that climb, whereas Chaves cracked. Roche also rode well. If Majka feels like getting in the break again he could win, having finished 5th in 2015.

Looking at current form, however, this is probably between Froome and Contador and either could win it.

 

[Lequack]

Re:

They are really overdoing it with those childs play 3k climbs. Thank god next week has some actual mountains.

They climbs are only as difficult as the riders make it. We've seen time again these big hyped up mountain stages in the Tour and elsewhere promising big action but in the end it's all about the final few kilometers, if even that. So these short steep climbs provide the same entertainment in the end and probably even bigger gaps.

 

[Lequack]

83 Big Photos from Stage 8 (descriptions to come) — sirotti/flockton/aso/smith
http://www.steephill.tv/2017/vuelta-a-espana/photos/stage-08/

 

[bob.a.feet]

Re:

83 Big Photos from Stage 8 (descriptions to come) — sirotti/flockton/aso/smith
http://www.steephill.tv/2017/vuelta-a-espana/photos/stage-08/

Some pain face by Roche :lol:

 

[Tonton]

Re:

Alberto Contador will not win this bike race.

I hope that you are wrong...

Will TJVG's wheels come off? It's bound to happen at some point. Yes, Bertie or Chaves, or Nibali (doubtful). We need the drama on rest day...LaFlo to post 5000 posts...that's a safe bet .

Zakarin or Bardet will lit it up.

I'm betting on everybody here .

 

[Asturiano]

Re:

How come the first time the climb is cat. 2 and when it's at the finish is cat. 1?

Because you ad one more kilometre at the end on the final climb to get the top of the mountain, it doesn't happen the first time they climb the mountain because they don't get the top of it.

It is explained here:
http://www.rtve.es/alacarta/videos/vuelta-ciclista-a-espana/perico-puertos/4184079/

 

[movingtarget]

Re: Re:

Alberto Contador will not win this bike race.

I hope that you are wrong...

Will TJVG's wheels come off? It's bound to happen at some point. Yes, Bertie or Chaves, or Nibali (doubtful). We need the drama on rest day...LaFlo to post 5000 posts...that's a safe bet .

Zakarin or Bardet will lit it up.

I'm betting on everybody here .

C'mon you want Tejay's wheels to fall off ? He already had his hands fall off........the handlebars that is. Bardet ? No. Zakarin ? No. I hope Tejay can tough it out and keep his losses down. Hard to say who will win this one but if Red Rick says Contador enough times the mantra may materialize ! Froome of course will be up their beating eggs as usual.

 

[Tank Engine]

A pretty similar finishing climb to yesterday's. The difference today is that I think the break will be caught. Contador and Froome will go head to head and both will double the number of their wins this season.

 

[miguelindurain111]

Re:

A pretty similar finishing climb to yesterday's. The difference today is that I think the break will be caught. Contador and Froome will go head to head and both will double the number of their wins this season.

:lol: But yeah, I hope you are right.