Vuelta a España Stage 15: Avilés - Anglirú 144km

[Libertine Seguros]

Kitzbüheler Horn is NOT a hill compared to Anglirú. The problem is that the Österreichrundfahrt only climbs to Alpenhaus, not all the way to the top, so it's only 7,4km, and for reasons known only to the organisers, they don't put any other climbs on the menu that day despite going through the most mountainous part of one of the most mountainous countries around.

 

[jens_attacks]

kitzbuheler horn actually can be compared with angliru(of course it loses the battle).

kessiakoff was very impressive,very good time and he attacked after just 2 km of climbing.surprisingly i remember he was fresh enough to zip his jersey and he didn't looked cooked at all.but after two weeks in a grand tour,that's different

 

[Descender]

Watch out for the descent of El Cordal. That's where Olano crashed while he was wearing the leader's jersey and lost the Vuelta to Ullrich (who that day lost almost 3min on the Angliru to Jiménez).

Is it gonna be wet like back then?

 

[Sylvester]

That's also where Antón (in 2008) crashed out. I hate that hill

 

[ferryman]

Angliru awesomeness by Contador:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afFI4alhJQc

Stop it at 6.00 if you are not a fan of the smokin' gun

 

[The Hitch]

Of course, since they included the Angliru they had to make the stage super short so that the gaps are as small as possible. Olano is a moron.

At least they dont build our hopes up with Crostis.

 

[Havetts]

Mollema vs Wiggins vs Froome vs Cobo


the showdown.

 

[Descender]

Cobo to win the stage and the Vuelta.

I'm willing to take bets on that.

 

[luckyboy]

Would be cool if Cobo won

Mollema vs Wiggins vs Froome vs Cobo


the showdown.

Isn't it Mollema vs Wiggins + Froome vs Cobo + Menchov vs Nibali?

 

[jobiwan]

Could we get Alberto to race just for this stage?
His racing style will be desperately missed on Angliru...

 

[Sophistic]

Mollema!6km@13% should favor the lightest of the top 4.

 

[Ferminal]

Sky have two weapons here, time to stop being so reactive. It's served them well enough up until this point but tomorrow gaps will appear, and they need to make sure at least one of them is on the winning end.

 

[Descender]

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Hopefully it won't be as much of a letdown as today. I've been consistently defending this race, but I'm getting pretty sick and tired of formation riding. Guys need to realise that this isn't the Tour de France, and so attacking is possible!

We look like going a perfect 0 for 2 on Grand Tours this year.

 

[roundabout]

Cobo to win the stage and the Vuelta.

I'm willing to take bets on that.

It's possible.

*starts panicking*

 

[luckyboy]

Going a bit crazy and having this as my top 5..

Cobo
Rodriguez
Mollema
Nibali
Menchov

 

[LukeSchmid]

Would be cool if Cobo won



Isn't it Mollema vs Wiggins + Froome vs Cobo + Menchov vs Nibali?

Sastre came in ahead of Nibali today so might be able to help Cobo as well, but when it gets really step it is going to be every man for himself.

 

[Anonymous]

 

[Scirea]

C'mon Cobo, get some much needed rest and get ready for tomorrow, finish what you started today. Geox should destroy the field tomorrow, they are built for mountains. Then Cobo can finish it off at the end solo.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I wouldn't bother. If we've learnt anything from this race it's that the people who go off the front and try to do something are usually the ones that get spat out the back. Who lost most time from the top 15-20 today? Nibali and Rodríguez, who toasted their domestiques trying to force things, and Moreno and Bruseghin, who tried to attack and gain time.

It seems that trying to attack bionic Froome's pace is futile, so you may as well just sit back behind the two Skys and protect your GC position.

Seems to be working for most.

 

[the student]

Im hoping mollema will still be alive after this climb. I expect that mechov and cobo will both do well. Mollema to finish with cobo. Froome will beat wiggins but they will both loose some time on the stepest sections.

Dangerous outsider for the stage victory: Wout Poels.

 

[The Hitch]

Igor Anton came in half an hour back today.

Saving himself?

Hes going for the double.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Igor Anton came in half an hour back today.

Saving himself?

Hes going for the double.

I don't think he can turn around the bad form. Usually riders looking that bad fail to ever hit the top in that GT.

 

[roundabout]

Depends if he can get in the break tomorrow and who he will have for company.

Head to head against the favourites I don't see him featuring.

 

[The Hitch]

I don't think he can turn around the bad form. Usually riders looking that bad fail to ever hit the top in that GT.

I havent been able to watch much of the Vuelta this last week, besides final few km on some stages. But I remember after failing on a few stages he was up there in one of the ones Purito won.

So he might be losing time gradually to go for it today.

After all Zoncolan Angliru in 1 season could instantly make it a great season for him.