Vuelta 2018 stage 17: Getxo - Balcón de Bizkaia 157 km

[HelloDolly]

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Jaasus ....who rattled your cage

Movistar should have started to ride for Valverde since a few days ago when Quintana SAID he had no legs

Was that around the same time that you were slating him for not attacking and putting minutes into everyone, like some kind of computer game?

Sure I wanted him to attack about 3 stages ago and then he said he didnt have the legs so fair enough

If you want to be nasty go ahead...its your modus operandi on here all the time anyway

Right. So when you said 'Movistar should have started to ride for Valverde since a few days ago when Quintana SAID he had no legs', you meant since the rest day.

Since then there has only been a time trial and and today's stage. Sounds like you're making up a bit of a narrative as you go along.

Since Sunday's stage
I made a comment that Quintana should attack when he didn't
I said before today that Maovistar should ride for Valverde
And today I said Movistar should have controlled the break for Valverde

But you are determined to try and undermine my comments and me ..esp using

Your attacks are always personal .....you are determined to riducle posters
You cant even accept others view points or legitimate right to post alternative take on the racing ...you just want to make others look stupid

I mean who died and made you the God of cycling commentary....Do you get it right every time
Bet you know it all !!! How pathetic

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I knew before the stage this would be the worst for Kruijswijk. But the damage was even bigger than I expected. Probably blew himself

 

[tobydawq]

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Woods and his wife lost what?

They had a still-born son two months ago.

 

[Blanco]

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Mas/Valverde looked pretty sharp. I suspect Yates didn't want to go too deep and felt OK about losing a bit in the final 100 meters. I wouldn't say he bonked but he wasn't the strongest today.

Overall, I'm not sure I liked the stage. the finish climb was more of a gimmick than what I'd consider an MTF. I know these guys are all 100x stronger than I'll ever be, but realistically any sustained gradient over 15-16 percent is barely rideable . Sure, they can do it, but what's the point?

Yeah, sure Race leader often likes to lose time to direct opponent, just because he don't want to go too deep in the last 300m :lol:

 

[Blanco]

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FFS why did Movistar not control this stage for a Valverde win !!!!

He could have done with bonus seconds

And who the hell would predict that he would win or took bonus after that TT yesterday? Easy to be smart after the race...

Jaasus ....who rattled your cage

Movistar should have started to ride for Valverde since a few days ago when Quintana SAID he had no legs

When did he said that?

 

[bambino]

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Mas/Valverde looked pretty sharp. I suspect Yates didn't want to go too deep and felt OK about losing a bit in the final 100 meters. I wouldn't say he bonked but he wasn't the strongest today.

Overall, I'm not sure I liked the stage. the finish climb was more of a gimmick than what I'd consider an MTF. I know these guys are all 100x stronger than I'll ever be, but realistically any sustained gradient over 15-16 percent is barely rideable . Sure, they can do it, but what's the point?

Yeah, sure Race leader often likes to lose time to direct opponent, just because he don't want to go too deep in the last 300m :lol:

Plus he was absolutely 100% spent. I think he went really extremelt deep today. And we know what happens to Simon Yates when he does that... time (next 3 days) will tell.

If Movistar, I would make 7 guys drilling as hard as possible since the beginning tomorrow.

 

[movingtarget]

Great atmosphere on the climb and better still no incidents with fans.

Poor Aru it only gets worse for him.

 

[Gigs_98]

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Great atmosphere on the climb and better still no incidents with fans.

Poor Aru it only gets worse for him.

I really think there should be more basque country stages in the vuelta. Those cycling crazy crowds on those super steep roads probably make for the best atmosphere in cycling.

 

[DFA123]

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Great atmosphere on the climb and better still no incidents with fans.

Poor Aru it only gets worse for him.

I really think there should be more basque country stages in the vuelta. Those cycling crazy crowds on those super steep roads probably make for the best atmosphere in cycling.

Agree, it looked incredible. A real lack of over-zealous police getting involved as well, like there are in too many Vuelta stages. Just trusted the fans to not cross the line.

Its a great place to ride in general as well, car drivers so respectful and patient towards cyclists.

 

[Flamin]

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Teuns has been in 5 breaks and finished 3rd - 5th - 4th - 3rd - 2nd. I think you could say he deserves a win now

I think he could've won today, if he let Woods attack first in that final km.

Woods did attack first. Teuns went with him and immediately attacked himself but he shouldn't have done that with still 600m to go and the great punch he has. Woods was still a bit stronger in the end though so it would have been difficult regardless.

It must have been the heat that knackered him in the first week, because he's been great since temperatures went down.

 

[movingtarget]

Re: Re:

Great atmosphere on the climb and better still no incidents with fans.

Poor Aru it only gets worse for him.

I really think there should be more basque country stages in the vuelta. Those cycling crazy crowds on those super steep roads probably make for the best atmosphere in cycling.

Yes and I think the police on the race do a great job. Much more vigilant than the Tour and Giro.

 

[Anderis]

It's 8th stage of this Vuelta that was won by a team that hadn't had a WT win in 2018 before the start of the race.

 

[DanielSong39]

Yates vs Valverde for the red jersey!

 

[Son of Amsterhammer]

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Yates vs Valverde for the red jersey!

Looking that way, but those last two mountain stages are rough. You never know if one of the mountain guys behind catches fire.

 

[Bolder]

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Mas/Valverde looked pretty sharp. I suspect Yates didn't want to go too deep and felt OK about losing a bit in the final 100 meters. I wouldn't say he bonked but he wasn't the strongest today.

Overall, I'm not sure I liked the stage. the finish climb was more of a gimmick than what I'd consider an MTF. I know these guys are all 100x stronger than I'll ever be, but realistically any sustained gradient over 15-16 percent is barely rideable . Sure, they can do it, but what's the point?

Yeah, sure Race leader often likes to lose time to direct opponent, just because he don't want to go too deep in the last 300m :lol:

Plus he was absolutely 100% spent. I think he went really extremelt deep today. And we know what happens to Simon Yates when he does that... time (next 3 days) will tell.

If Movistar, I would make 7 guys drilling as hard as possible since the beginning tomorrow.

That was my impression just after the stage ended in the fog. I couldn't quite tell but he didn't look as if he couldn't follow Valv/Mas until the very last 100 meters or so. But, yes, Movistar has to turn the screws tomorrow to see if Yates has already peaked and is losing his form a bit.

 

[Escarabajo]

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Yates vs Valverde for the red jersey!

Looking that way, but those last two mountain stages are rough. You never know if one of the mountain guys behind catches fire.

Today's climb was better fit for Yates and Valverde than the next two mountain stages. It should be interesting.

 

[Valv.Piti]

The thing that annoys me about cycling is that broadcasters focus on the break while I much rather would watch the favourites even if nothing really happens. We didnt see Quintana, Kruijswijk, Pinot etc. drop which is really important to the bike race. Honestly, I couldn't give a rats ass if Woods, Teuns or whoever won from the break. Thats not why I am tuning in.

Anyways, this was a beastly climb, I really hope they use in the the future and also Pais Vasco.

 

[Red Rick]

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The thing that annoys me about cycling is that broadcasters focus on the break while I much rather would watch the favourites even if nothing really happens. We didnt see Quintana, Kruijswijk, Pinot etc. drop which is really important to the bike race. Honestly, I couldn't give a rats *** if Woods, Teuns or whoever won from the break. Thats not why I am tuning in.

Anyways, this was a beastly climb, I really hope they use in the the future and also Pais Vasco.

I would have really preferred a typical PV stage with the short garage ramps over this one. Would've added a lot more variety.

With how silly some of these climbs get, I am surprised every year that Cuitu Negru isn't back.

 

[Valv.Piti]

I liked the climb since it had 4-5 km with decent gradients beforehand and the whole field was strung out at that point. What sucks is that Spanish TV apparently cares more about the stage win than the red jersey. I think Monte Oiz is a nice alternative to the shorter garage ramps and the pseudo MTF at Arrate which is kinda meh.

 

[Red Rick]

It really depends on when you get through the Basque Country in the race. Arrate is absolutely perfect in the first 5 stages. And I really think there's a big lack of variety this Vuelta. Every stage is a waiting game til the last 1km, and the GC is so close that it's tactically viable.

 

[The Barb]

If a breakaway - Michael Woods
If a GC day - Nairo Quintana.

I suspect it's a GC day for two reasons: (a) Bonus seconds are important and (b) Movistar and Astana have to make it tough early to have any chance of cracking Yates. No chance Yates cracks if they coast until the final climb.

I hate to self congratulate but with $50 at 50-1 I’m going to anyway. Hell yeah!

 

[Inquitus]

Today was Valverde's best opportunity to take time from Yates, the last 2 major challenges look likely to favour Yates over Valverde more so that today's finish. If Yates is not going to collapse and I don't think it likely, it is going to take something very special from Valverde to win this Vuelta, especially with Adam back, and able, to support Yates if he does get into some trouble. It is now incumbent on QS, Movistar and Astana to keep the bonuses in play on Stages 19 and 20 to help reduce the current 25 second gap further if the opportunity presents itself. Personally I think we can rule it down to Yates, Valverde, Mas and MAL at this point. A Vueltan transistion / Sprinters day tomorrow, so perhaps a day off for the GC for some recovery ahead of the 2 deciding stages 19 and 20 on Friday and Saturday before the procession to Madrid on Sunday!

The New Bookies Predictions for the race

Simon Yates 8/13
Alejandro Valverde 3
Enric Mas 7
Miguel Angel Lopez 11
Nairo Quintana 18
Mikel Landa 30
Steven Kruijswijk 50

 

[Cookster15]

Wow Valverde amazing. But so much for the Kruijswijk threat. It came and it went. Too bad I was hoping he could podium to help make amends for the 2016 Giro.

 

[Koronin]

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Wow Valverde amazing. But so much for the Kruijswijk threat. It came and it went. Too bad I was hoping he could podium to help make amends for the 2016 Giro.

I kind of was thinking that myself.

 

[bambino]

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Today was Valverde's best opportunity to take time from Yates, the last 2 major challenges look likely to favour Yates over Valverde more so that today's finish. If Yates is not going to collapse and I don't think it likely, it is going to take something very special from Valverde to win this Vuelta, especially with Adam back, and able, to support Yates if he does get into some trouble. It is now incumbent on QS, Movistar and Astana to keep the bonuses in play on Stages 19 and 20 to help reduce the current 25 second gap further if the opportunity presents itself. Personally I think we can rule it down to Yates, Valverde, Mas and MAL at this point. A Vueltan transistion / Sprinters day tomorrow, so perhaps a day off for the GC for some recovery ahead of the 2 deciding stages 19 and 20 on Friday and Saturday before the procession to Madrid on Sunday!

The New Bookies Predictions for the race

Simon Yates 8/13
Alejandro Valverde 3
Enric Mas 7
Miguel Angel Lopez 11
Nairo Quintana 18
Mikel Landa 30
Steven Kruijswijk 50

Where do I get those odds? Will bet big money to Landa right now!