Vuelta a España - Stage 12 Andorra la Vella - Lleida 172.5km

[DAOTEC]

Teams !

GENERAL:

1º Caisse D'Epargne GCE 154:21:22
^
2º Team Katusha KAT a 6:46
3º Euskaltel - Euskadi EUS a 8:49
4º Cervelo Test Team CTT a 10:46
5º Omega Pharma - Lotto OLO a 12:50
6º AG2R - La Mondiale ALM a 13:51
7º Xacobeo Galicia XAC a 15:06
8º Liquigas - Doimo LIQ a 25:27
9º Astana AST a 29:16
10º Lampre - Farese Vini LAM a 31:52

 

[icefire]

Do anyone know where I can find highlights (i.e. the sprint) of today's stage?

Try here:

http://www.steephill.tv/vuelta-a-espana/

 

[Mambo95]

The points competition is going to be close. There are three finishes left where Cav and/or Farrar can take big points, but four mountain finishes and a time trial as well. It could come down to which day a break stays away and steals points.

I reckon there's four more possible stages for the sprinters - 13,18,19 and 21

 

[El Pistolero]

The points competition is going to be close. There are three finishes left where Cav and/or Farrar can take big points, but four mountain finishes and a time trial as well. It could come down to which day a break stays away and steals points.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brDkDp25vh4

Or this can happen

 

[Jamsque]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brDkDp25vh4

Or this can happen

1 Mark Cavendish 85
2 Tyler Farrar 76
3 Igor Anton 75
4 Philippe Gilbert 67

Gilbert isn't out of the picture, but I think 19 and maaaaaybe 14 are the only stages left that really suit him more than the other three guys there.

I hadn't noticed stage 19 for some reason, Mambo, but you're absolutely right. Hard to tell how tough that little climb in the finale actually is, it could be enough to disrupt Cav.

 

[El Pistolero]

1 Mark Cavendish 85
2 Tyler Farrar 76
3 Igor Anton 75
4 Philippe Gilbert 67

Gilbert isn't out of the picture, but I think 19 and maaaaaybe 14 are the only stages left that really suit him more than the other three guys there.

I hadn't noticed stage 19 for some reason, Mambo, but you're absolutely right. Hard to tell how tough that little climb in the finale actually is, it could be enough to disrupt Cav.

I wasn't really referring to Gilbert specifically(I just love using his victories as an example because they're all so epic), but that was a flat stage and everyone was expecting a bunch sprint.

 

[The Hitch]

As Mark Twain said - he who has a reputation as an early riser, that man can sleep all day.

Cav has a reputation as a chav. So when he gives a pleasant interview like that people give him praise. And some good tactical knowlege there as well.

I still dont understand how htc got that big gap but congratulations to them.

I hope that other htc rider isnt regreting that he didnt go for the stage win seeing as cav offered it to him.

 

[Jamsque]

As Mark Twain said - he who has a reputation as an early riser, that man can sleep all day.

Cav has a reputation as a chav. So when he gives a pleasant interview like that people give him praise. And some good tactical knowlege there as well.

I still dont understand how htc got that big gap but congratulations to them.

I hope that other htc rider isnt regreting that he didnt go for the stage win seeing as cav offered it to him.

I'm gonna get eaten alive for this, but if Cav was really the horrible person that some posters here seem to think he is, would Matt Goss really be turning down a stage win from him and celebrating as he did it?

He may not always come across great on camera, but it seems like most of his team-mates love riding for him.

 

[Dedelou]

I'm gonna get eaten alive for this, but if Cav was really the horrible person that some posters here seem to think he is, would Matt Goss really be turning down a stage win from him and celebrating as he did it?

He may not always come across great on camera, but it seems like most of his team-mates love riding for him.

Nahhh! I will stay hungry and not bite you for that . You probably closer to the truth than those who assume the worse about Cav.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I'm gonna get eaten alive for this, but if Cav was really the horrible person that some posters here seem to think he is, would Matt Goss really be turning down a stage win from him and celebrating as he did it?

He may not always come across great on camera, but it seems like most of his team-mates love riding for him.

You can ask Jonny Bellis about what a good guy Cav can be.

The problem is, he's very highly-strung. When he gets into a race situation, he can't keep emotions in check. When things are going well, he'll cry, cheer, slag off his opponents and talk himself up. When things are going badly he'll throw a tantrum, flip off the crowd, and get ultra-defensive.

What he's like when there's a camera in his face and what he's like when there isn't a camera in his face are quite clearly two different things, otherwise the guy would alienate people far more readily than he actually does.

Personally, I find his quotes and comments annoying and he certainly hasn't endeared himself to many fans with his behaviour, but the main reason I don't like the guy is more to do with the type of racer that he is and how he and his team act in races than to do with Mark Cavendish the person.

 

[Jamsque]

One thing I think has to be universally held in Cav's favour is that the guy is a racer. He loves to race, and he races to win. Winning is in his bones, and second place really doesn't mean anything to him.

 

[The Hitch]

I'm gonna get eaten alive for this, but if Cav was really the horrible person that some posters here seem to think he is, would Matt Goss really be turning down a stage win from him and celebrating as he did it?

He may not always come across great on camera, but it seems like most of his team-mates love riding for him.

Even dictartors have friends

Nah Cav aint that bad, and i like seeing him happy, a bit like watching a child take candy, but he really does work for them. Has one of those masochistic streaks were he will put himself through immense pain for victory which is admirable in a way. He just needs to control himself a bit sometimes. Less swearing is definately working.

I think your Matt Goss argument is wrong though. I doubt Goss turned down a stage win because he is so in love with Cav. More likely he just didnt understand Cav.. Maybe he wants to challenge Renshaw for Cav leadout man. maybe he was worried no wins for Cav would be blamed on no Renshaw so is glad Cav finaly won. Besides he was already happy with the stage win for the team and the extra dough that comes with that.

Oh and if it was Goss its not that bad. He got a stage in the Giro and is still young. I was worried it was someone for whom that was the closest theyll ever have to a stage win and will be having nightmares about it.

 

[The Hitch]

One thing I think has to be universally held in Cav's favour is that the guy is a racer. He loves to race, and he races to win. Winning is in his bones, and second place really doesn't mean anything to him.

Perhaps this phrase would be better left for a stage where Cav hadnt just admitted he was very willing to take 2nd place.

 

[Jamsque]

Ahahaha ok you got me there.

 

[Frosty]

1 Mark Cavendish 85
2 Tyler Farrar 76
3 Igor Anton 75
4 Philippe Gilbert 67

Gilbert isn't out of the picture, but I think 19 and maaaaaybe 14 are the only stages left that really suit him more than the other three guys there.

I hadn't noticed stage 19 for some reason, Mambo, but you're absolutely right. Hard to tell how tough that little climb in the finale actually is, it could be enough to disrupt Cav.

The lavuelta view of the last 3km of stage 19 is actually the previous day's - it looks like a slight uphill finish on the larger view but difficult to know exactly how much it is. Could be one for Freire if he is coming into form.

 

[El Pistolero]

By the way, it seems like Gilbert will be riding a full Vuelta instead of dropping out like many others do. Otherwise he wouldn't be going for points. Kind of strange as I don't see him winning the green jersey.

 

[luckyboy]

Actually laughed out loud when they got that gap.

Reminded me of the last corner of the Champs-Élysées 09.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

By the way, it seems like Gilbert will be riding a full Vuelta instead of dropping out like many others do. Otherwise he wouldn't be going for points. Kind of strange as I don't see him winning the green jersey.

seems like he could be wasting a bit of energy for the worlds... than again he peaked a little after the worlds last year.

 

[The Hitch]

seems like he could be wasting a bit of energy for the worlds... than again he peaked a little after the worlds last year.

I dont know. Cadel won the worlds last year after coming 3rd - lots more energy wasted thann Gilbert going for points.

Samu came 2nd in Lombardy despite coming 2nd here.
Valverde always does well in both Vuelta and Worlds. The week off (or 2?) is probably sufficient to recover.