Vuelta a España - Stage 13: September 12 - Berja - Sierra Nevada, 175km

[auscyclefan94]

Evans has trained here in may and on this exact climb. Expecting him to put on a show!

 

[Buninyong Bunny]

You know I think Evans will need to follow every attack made by Gesink and Gunego on the lower slopes today - in order to the get rid of this Caisse train for the Sirrea Nevada.

If he lets Caisse do all the chasing than they will be able to conserve there efforts until the last moment, leaving Evans no time to drop him. And I do believe he has to drop him, cause leaving it will the very last moment of a race is always risky, and leaves no room for error. So it's do or die today for everyone...

 

[issoisso]

You know I think Evans will need to follow every attack made by Gesink and Gunego on the lower slopes today - in order to the get rid of this Caisse train for the Sirrea Nevada.

If he lets Caisse do all the chasing than they will be able to conserve there efforts until the last moment, leaving Evans no time to drop him. And I do believe he has to drop him, cause leaving it will the very last moment of a race is always risky, and leaves no room for error. So it's do or die today for everyone...

Evans and Basso have to drop Valverde. The time trial could go to either Valverde or Evans. If Evans gambles all on the TT he's either an idiot or didn't have strength to attack.

Caisse meanwhile taking a leaf out of the Rabobank book of stupid tactics. OK, let's be fair to them, this is nowhere near the monstrous level of tactical stupidity Rabobank tend to exhibit.

 

[auscyclefan94]

If I was Evans, I would not just count on the TT.

In the first TT, he won.. 3 seconds on Valverde
The second TT is hillier, shorter and suits Valverde even more!

At cholet 08 tt, it was a 29km tt and similar course to the final tt in la vuelta. Evans gained a minute on valv. I understand it is different circumstances now but evans is the superior time trialist we must not forget.

 

[issoisso]

At cholet 08 tt, it was a 29km tt and similar course to the final tt in la vuelta. Evans gained a minute on valv. I understand it is different circumstances now but evans is the superior time trialist we must not forget.

Valverde has a tendency to do fantastically when in time trials when it really matters.

 

[Zoncolan]

live feed:

http://www.channelsurfing.net/watch-la-vuelta-a-espana.html

 

[powderpuff]

At cholet 08 tt, it was a 29km tt and similar course to the final tt in la vuelta. Evans gained a minute on valv. I understand it is different circumstances now but evans is the superior time trialist we must not forget.

Cadel does have a fair bit of faith in the team for this GT, and they will want to prove the critics wrong that they are a bunch of nobodies. I can't see Cadel leaving it for the TT, he will do something before then. gold jersey on Valverde's back and the home crowd and going for the first GT win, you would think Valverde would pull out a big ride.

 

[msjett]

Being superior at the time trial won't mean squat if Cadel doesn't haul his **** up the next couple of big hills.

 

[powderpuff]

High gusts are expected on Sierra Nevada

 

[issoisso]

High gusts are expected on Sierra Nevada

Where'd you hear that? I just came in here to post that the TVE reporter that just finished doing the climb by car has reported absolutely no wind from any direction

 

[Señor_Contador]

That Sierra Nevada climb was cut short by more than 10 kilometers. The actual climb itself, as it is done in competition, or so I've heard, in Andalucía goes all the way up to 3,400 meters (all paved) and has a total distance of about 43 kilometers. If my memory serves me right... I think it is called Pico Veleta.

I bet my left nut they had to cut it short because, otherwise, some of these cycling pussies wouldn't do the Vuelta.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Universal's coverage has started. tarramee has been dropped. Euskatel are setting up something big for sanchez.he has to do something today.

 

[Paolini]

Taaramee has probably been doing the work for Moncoutie. Strong man for the future, the Estonian. Impressed me in the Tour de Suisse. Now how long can Mourenhout hang onto Moncoutie's wheel when they approach the climb?

 

[powderpuff]

Where'd you hear that? I just came in here to post that the TVE reporter that just finished doing the climb by car has reported absolutely no wind from any direction

This comes from la Vuelta website.

Winds: It will blow light from variable directions for the cyclists and with little importance in this journey. The wind could be favourable for the cyclists from the start until the la Ragua High summit. There will be some high gusts in Sierra Nevada.

I was just reporting what was on the website. I don't know old the report was.

 

[Paolini]

Now how long can Mourenhout hang onto Moncoutie's wheel when they approach the climb?

That was quick... Then I suppose we have today's winner out alone in front.

 

[Señor_Contador]

As far as Valverde goes he has said that he will not attack during the next two stages (this was prior to the Velefique stage, so it includes today's), that it is something the others must do. I presume he is saying that, tactically, all he's gotta do is sit pretty and let the other top contenders to take the initiative.

I personally think Valverde is waiting for the Sierra de la Pandera. Methinks everyone is underestimating that climb because it is only about 9 kilometers long... but you're talking about a climb that gets progressively harder and hits tops of 13% at an altitude of about 1,700 meters, with the last 4 averaging 10-12%. It's like Verbier on steroids.

All I've got to say is good luck.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Evans has trained here in may and on this exact climb. Expecting him to put on a show!

Gesink has been training there for a month... also in may

 

[issoisso]

As far as Valverde goes he has said that he will not attack during the next two stages (this was prior to the Velefique stage, so it includes today's), that it is something the others must do. I presume he is saying that, tactically, all he's gotta do is sit pretty and let the other top contenders to take the initiative.

I personally think Valverde is waiting for the Sierra de la Pandera. Methinks everyone is underestimating that climb because it is only about 9 kilometers long... but you're talking about a climb that gets progressively harder and hits tops of 13% at an altitude of about 1,700 meters, with the last 4 averaging 10-12%. It's like Verbier on steroids.

All I've got to say is good luck.

I assure you I'm not underestimating the Sierra de La Pandera. I've been saying all along it's where the larger differences by far will come.

 

[Buninyong Bunny]

At cholet 08 tt, it was a 29km tt and similar course to the final tt in la vuelta. Evans gained a minute on valv. I understand it is different circumstances now but evans is the superior time trialist we must not forget.

IMO, Evans ITT ability is actually extermely overrated. Sure, before he became a top class GC rider, he was able to beat all comers convincingly, but nowadays he is only as good as the rest of the guys in the disicpline. Indeed if we got the current time gaps into this year ITT I would still put money on Evans, but he would be a long way from a certainty

 

[Señor_Contador]

I assure you I'm not underestimating the Sierra de La Pandera. I've been saying all along it's where the larger differences by far will come.

To be honest with you I never knew Spain had such high caliber climbs in the south. I was under the impresion all the difficult ones were concentrated in the north.

Why on earth did it take the Vuelta officials so long to include the climbs in the southern part of the country?

By the by, I've just found this cool website... http://www.altimetrias.com. Lots of climbs and photographs.

Cool stuff.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

You are correct. What's more, in the Basque TT (similar to the later Vuelta one), he was just inside the top ten with the same time as Gesink.. (!!)

Evans TT is not always good this year

 

[issoisso]

To be honest with you I never knew Spain had such high caliber climbs in the south. I was under the impresion all the difficult ones were concentrated in the north.

Why on earth did it take the Vuelta officials so long to include the climbs in the southern part of the country?

So long? Only the Velefique is new. All the others have been used before

 

[powderpuff]

Gesink has been training there for a month... also in may

They were staying in the same hotel.

 

[auscyclefan94]

valverde is going backwards

 

[Señor_Contador]

How about doing some mountain stages in he Islas Canarias? I mean, 60 kilometers at almost 4% for peace sake!