Vuelta a Andalucia (Ruta Del Sol) 2.HC // 18.2 - 22.2

[jens_attacks]

i hope ivan gets the green light for attacking early. definitely has the form.
alberto needs to make some gifts!

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Are you serious?

Agreed. AC looks awful, Basso is their only hope atm.

 

[Suspicious]

Contador fans, or to say better, Froome's detractors, if Contador looses the Tour will say Froome was a coward for not racing the Giro

This is Froomedawg stupidity at its finest.

Actually it's not stupidity, it's the truth. The Froome/Sky detractors have already begun their bile, from your own mouth:

I think its pretty cowardly [for Froome] not to challenge Contador at the Giro and Tour. Sky has only reinforced the hyper-commercialized spectacle that the Tour has become, and to the detriment of racing.

If Froome wins the Tour over Contador, I guarantee that the Froome/Sky detractors (such as you) will dismiss his victory due to Contador already having a Grand Tour in his legs.

 

[Lupetto]

Best times on Alto de Hazallanas so far..

Horner 23:25
Nibali 24:13
Valverde, Basso, Purito, Pinot 24:27
Roche 24:35
Anton, Pozzovivo 24:50
Majka 25:17

 

[LaFlorecita]

i hope ivan gets the green light for attacking early. definitely has the form.
alberto needs to make some gifts!

No, Ivan stated he is here to help Alberto. First the jersey needs to be secure, then Ivan can (maybe) attack on stage 4.

 

[Ivan_Basso_77]

i hope ivan gets the green light for attacking early. definitely has the form.
alberto needs to make some gifts!

I hope so too. A stage win on such a nasty SF will definitely be a morale boost for my favourite rider after these 3-4 hard years for him.

 

[Angliru]

Contador should be banned for trolling.

You being an expert at that fine art.

 

[rhubroma]

Actually it's not stupidity, it's the truth. The Froome/Sky detractors have already begun their bile, from your own mouth:



If Froome wins the Tour over Contador, I guarantee that the Froome/Sky detractors (such as you) will dismiss his victory due to Contador already having a Grand Tour in his legs.

Your meager cognitive skills seem unable to grasp appreciation for daring to go against conventional wisdom in contemporary cycling. The concept, yes, does work in the reverse in being less enthusiastic about the ones embracing a conservative and, let's face it, "safer" program; though not as an excuse for the former failing.

This is where the stupidity of the analysis resides.

But if he does succeed, I shall be merciless with your lot.

 

[Suspicious]

Your meager cognitive skills seem unable to grasp appreciation for daring to go against conventional wisdom in contemporary cycling. The concept, yes, does work in the reverse in being less enthusiastic about the ones embracing a conservative and, let's face it, "safer" program; though not as an excuse for the former failing.

This is where the stupidity of the analysis resides.

But if he does succeed, I shall be merciless with your lot.

I applaud Contador for going for the Giro-Tour double. I am not criticising him for going "against conventional wisdom in contemporary cycling". That was neither said or implied by me, anywhere.

However you already seem to be lining up excuses for Contador should he fail to win the Tour by labelling Froome a coward for not following Contadors program.

Should Contador win the double I will be full of praise for him and he will confirm himself as one of cyclings all-time greats. You can spout your ungracious Froome detractor bile all you want.

 

[rhubroma]

I applaud Contador for going for the Giro-Tour double. I am not criticising him for going "against conventional wisdom in contemporary cycling". That was neither said or implied by me, anywhere.

However you already seem to be lining up excuses for Contador should he fail to win the Tour by labelling Froome a coward for not following Contadors program.

Should Contador win the double I will be full of praise for him and he will confirm himself as one of cyclings all-time greats. You can spout your ungracious Froome detractor bile all you want.

I don't think Froome is a coward, but how can I praise him when Contador is attempting the double, and they are touted as being on equal terms? When the fact that the Spaniard is playing the risk (and it certainly isn't for lack of confidence, if anything over confidence), means they are not. Unless you believe the Spaniard is concerned about not winning on equal terms. I don't.

Yet even this is besides the point from a programatic point of view, as anyone is free to select what he regards as the best program for his goals. On the other hand, especially in today's cycling, having the luxury to become a legend is for a very select few.

If that makes me an "ungracious Froome detractor," and all the "bile" that comes with it, so be it.

 

[Poursuivant]

Very animated and fun to watch final 5km.

Great win by Lobato, showed them a very clean set of wheels!!! MoviStar just keeps on rocking on .

Sky Fail.....

Was Contadors attack a "fail?"

 

[Publicus]

Was Contadors attack a "fail?"

No it achieved his goal of keeping him clear of any crashes in the finale and he retained the overall lead.

 

[ILovecycling]

I think they can try something with Ivan,training for corsa rosa

 

[Poursuivant]

No it achieved his goal of keeping him clear of any crashes in the finale and he retained the overall lead.

Ah. I see. Thank you.

 

[ferryman]

Anyone got an ETA for the stage finish today? The website is not the best..

 

[ILovecycling]

Anyone got an ETA for the stage finish today? The website is not the best..

As for me,I wouldnt want to have anything in common with ETA

 

[search]

15:26 cet, at the highest estimated average speed

http://www.vueltaandalucia.com/index.php/es/rutometro-etapa3

 

[ferryman]

As for me,I wouldnt want to have anything in common with ETA

Tsk I do miss the boys in Orange though

 

[ferryman]

15:26 cet, at the highest estimated average speed

http://www.vueltaandalucia.com/index.php/es/rutometro-etapa3

Thanks for that. I missed the finish yesterday because of the early finish. Looks like the same today. Won't make the same mistake

 

[Taxus4a]

I applaud Contador for going for the Giro-Tour double. I am not criticising him for going "against conventional wisdom in contemporary cycling". That was neither said or implied by me, anywhere.

However you already seem to be lining up excuses for Contador should he fail to win the Tour by labelling Froome a coward for not following Contadors program.

Should Contador win the double I will be full of praise for him and he will confirm himself as one of cyclings all-time greats. You can spout your ungracious Froome detractor bile all you want.

I think that Contador look always for excuses, or somthing similar. froome had a mistake in the ITT and that way Contador could win the Vuelta, nothing to say, but I consider he was lucky, that way he wans at the wheel of Froome on the mountains.

He has chosen Giro becouse without Quintana, he can put enouth time in the ITT to dont worry of the climbers in the mountains. I dont know if finally Nibali will be there, Wiggins wont be, but with Porte, Aru and the unexpected Uran wont be the easy he though.

And after that if he lose the Tour he could always say that he did Giro.

Contador said once he wanted to do Giro Tour Vuelta, but he knew he will never do that. At least he must try two to be enought honest.

And if he is not so strong in 2016 he will say he quite tired fisically and mentally after lot of years riding in the best level, forgeting people as Valverde or Evans (or Rebellin but he is wanst in the big GC)

Froome need to win the Tour and it is the most important race. With that parcours, people as Quintana or Nibali are really dangerous and he must to focus just on the Tour, he will have years to come forgoing the Giro. If Alberto get the podium will be good, but to do the Giro it is not escuse to be in a good shape in July.

Uran will do both of them as well, we will seee becouse luck is important in the first week of the Tour, and Rigo go just to help or get stages, but I think Rigo can do both of them at a hight level.

Majka wanst thinking in that and althogh he wanst in GC in the Tour he got really good results and he was strong almost all the days, and just later he won Tour of Poland, a WT race.

 

[Jspear]

I think that Contador look always for excuses, or somthing similar. froome had a mistake in the ITT and that way Contador could win the Vuelta, nothing to say, but I consider he was lucky, that way he wans at the wheel of Froome on the mountains.

He has chosen Giro becouse without Quintana, he can put enouth time in the ITT to dont worry of the climbers in the mountains. I dont know if finally Nibali will be there, Wiggins wont be, but with Porte, Aru and the unexpected Uran wont be the easy he though.

And after that if he lose the Tour he could always say that he did Giro.

Contador said once he wanted to do Giro Tour Vuelta, but he knew he will never do that. At least he must try two to be enought honest.

And if he is not so strong in 2016 he will say he quite tired fisically and mentally after lot of years riding in the best level, forgeting people as Valverde or Evans (or Rebellin but he is wanst in the big GC)

Froome need to win the Tour and it is the most important race. With that parcours, people as Quintana or Nibali are really dangerous and he must to focus just on the Tour, he will have years to come forgoing the Giro. If Alberto get the podium will be good, but to do the Giro it is not escuse to be in a good shape in July.

Uran will do both of them as well, we will seee becouse luck is important in the first week of the Tour, and Rigo go just to help or get stages, but I think Rigo can do both of them at a hight level.

Majka wanst thinking in that and althogh he wanst in GC in the Tour he got really good results and he was strong almost all the days, and just later he won Tour of Poland, a WT race.

I would have to go back and actually count to be sure, but last year on mountain stages I'm pretty sure AC beat Froome more often. Through the year he wasn't struggling to follow Froome.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Oh for the love of god Taxus get a grip on yourself. what a load of crap

 

[rhubroma]

I think that Contador look always for excuses, or somthing similar. froome had a mistake in the ITT and that way Contador could win the Vuelta, nothing to say, but I consider he was lucky, that way he wans at the wheel of Froome on the mountains.

He has chosen Giro becouse without Quintana, he can put enouth time in the ITT to dont worry of the climbers in the mountains. I dont know if finally Nibali will be there, Wiggins wont be, but with Porte, Aru and the unexpected Uran wont be the easy he though.

And after that if he lose the Tour he could always say that he did Giro.

Contador said once he wanted to do Giro Tour Vuelta, but he knew he will never do that. At least he must try two to be enought honest.

And if he is not so strong in 2016 he will say he quite tired fisically and mentally after lot of years riding in the best level, forgeting people as Valverde or Evans (or Rebellin but he is wanst in the big GC)

Froome need to win the Tour and it is the most important race. With that parcours, people as Quintana or Nibali are really dangerous and he must to focus just on the Tour, he will have years to come forgoing the Giro. If Alberto get the podium will be good, but to do the Giro it is not escuse to be in a good shape in July.

Uran will do both of them as well, we will seee becouse luck is important in the first week of the Tour, and Rigo go just to help or get stages, but I think Rigo can do both of them at a hight level.

Majka wanst thinking in that and althogh he wanst in GC in the Tour he got really good results and he was strong almost all the days, and just later he won Tour of Poland, a WT race.

That's cycling commentary at its finest.

For the 100,000th time Contador didn't have to attack Froome in the mountains at the Vuelta, having an advantage after the TT mind you, and so had the tactical luxury of not having to set pace during the attacks, but make Froome work to finish him off in the end. This is just cycling 101 chap.

At Romandie, and not only because Froome crashed, Contador went on the attack when he needed to make up time.

At Tirreno last year we clearly saw who was better between Contador and Quintana, do you thus seriously think Contador is only doing the Giro for the reason stated?!?.

I don't know how good the Spaniard will be this year, but if last year is any indication (and his entire career except 2013), then we can understand why he is going for the double (but not the others).

If there is one cyclist in the world, today, and against everything the pundits say, that can do it, it is Alberto Contador.

If he is not successful, at least the modern sport has a champion that is willing to throw the script out the window (and one that has had the signiture trademark of a certain LA on it), turn off the computer of scientific management and think t-r-a-n-s-c-e-n-d-e-n-t-a-l.

 

[sir fly]

So, any predictions and expectations for today?
Anything but Vuelta plot would surprise me.

 

[Dr. Juice]

I think there is a reason Taxus is banned on a particular Spanish cycling forum.

Today Froome wants to get his revenge. He will give everything he has and attack 4-5 km from the finish because he wants to win this race.
Let's see how far Contador is into his preparation and how good both are compared to the others which would be an indicator how the form is at this point of the year.