Vuelta a España Stage 15: Avilés - Anglirú 144km

[Arnout]

Well you never know, on the steeper stuff he seems to be doing good even in bad form.

The only time he was the best in the Giro was on the Zoncolan. The only time he was decent in the Vuelta was on that 20% ramp.

Realistically he is not gonna win this though, but you never know.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Well you never know, on the steeper stuff he seems to be doing good even in bad form.

The only time he was the best in the Giro was on the Zoncolan. The only time he was decent in the Vuelta was on that 20% ramp.

Realistically he is not gonna win this though, but you never know.

on short stuff yes, but he's really off in this vuelta

 

[zapata]

No way Anton is saving himself. I like him, and thought he might win the entire race, but the way he's been going, clearly he's horribly out of shape. If he wins, I'm buying orange berets for everyone.

 

[Tank Engine]

Wiggins top3. Not joking

After watching today, it's certainly possible. Although there's no real advantage from wheelsucking at these gradients, it's likely that Wiggins will have Froome with him on the final climb and that's a real psychological boost.
Geox will go out out to launch Cobo and TGBM is still very dangerous, especially as he's likely to pick up bonuses in the last week. Let the best man win tomorrow, but remember that there's still a week until the end.

 

[El Pistolero]

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.

The Alps were good in the Tour, this Vuelta is one big joke so far. I hope Contador rides the Vuelta next year. Kudos for Cobo though and Wiggo has been setting the pace a lot on the climbs, so kudos for him too. Top 10 is a joke though. Fuglsnake, Monfort, Moreno and Kessiakof? Lol... And VDB2 with his broken ribs and shoulderblade...

 

[theyoungest]

The Alps were good in the Tour, this Vuelta is one big joke so far. I hope Contador rides the Vuelta next year. Kudos for Cobo though and Wiggo has been setting the pace a lot on the climbs, so kudos for him too. Top 10 is a joke though. Fuglsnake, Monfort, Moreno and Kessiakof? Lol... And VDB2 with his broken ribs and shoulderblade...

It's almost like the Tour de France, with Tommy Voeckler in 4th.

Cobo will take the red jersey tomorrow. Mollema will crack, he wasn't feeling great today so his usual fever must be coming up

 

[Polish]

I've heard Roberto Heras (pic in Hitch's OP) used a triple chainring on the Angliru when he won the Vuelta in 2004.
So how many riders will use the triple on Sunday?
Or is that too stupid of a question?
Yeah, that's what I thought.

Heras used a triple 53/39/30 with a 23 or 25 cog in the back.
Most everyone else riding double 53/39 with 25 or 26 or 27cogs.

But that was before compact cranks became popular
No triples on Angliru this year I bet, but compacts for sure.
Maybe some bike swaps at the base of the climb?

 

[Anonymous]

It's almost like the Tour de France, with Tommy Voeckler in 4th.

Cobo will take the red jersey tomorrow. Mollema will crack, he wasn't feeling great today so his usual fever must be coming up

No, Wiggins will still be in the red after stage 15, he has become a good climber and there is no way he would crack.

 

[Scirea]

No, Wiggins will still be in the red after stage 15, he has become a good climber and there is no way he would crack.

LOL On a mountain like this there is only one man for that "there is no way he would crack" sentence. He is not Wiggins.

 

[Anonymous]

LOL On a mountain like this there is only one man for that "there is no way he would crack" sentence. He is not Wiggins.

just you wait..

 

[Amsterhammer]

This stage is cycling hardcore porn at it's best!


If mollema wins this, I think the Dutch posters will have a massive orgy.

I would also be pretty happy tbh!

Cycling hardcore

Can't see Mollema winning the stage, the hope is to finish ahead of Wiggo and improve or consolidate his position. If he was to do both at once, a collective national orgasm might well take place.

Thanks to Hitch for a wonderful preview, very cool!

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

every dutchman that won the vuelta, won the tour de france a year later...

 

[l.Harm]

every dutchman that won the vuelta, won the tour de france a year later...

Nice fact, didn't know it. Probably because all the focus in Holland is on the Tour de France, very little attention for the Vuelta.

 

[jens_attacks]

cobo for the win!!!

although i have a feeling froome will attack his leader and he will ride everyone off his wheel.aitor gonzalez murdering oscar sevilla.
menchov is looking good,geox has to give everything for cobo tomorrow.

 

[ferryman]

Every man for their selves on the Angrilu. I'm sticking with my gut feeling and that is Mollema.

 

[stetre76]

a bit disappointed by Kessiakoff today, thought he can do better.
well, maybe tomorrow, when it's really going to be steep...

Wiggins to stay in red, Cobo moving up to second.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

every dutchman that won the vuelta, won the tour de france a year later...

lol, but the chance Mollema wins the Tour in 2012 is a big as the chance I have to win the lottery of the 10th of september

 

[Griotto]

The Alps were good in the Tour, this Vuelta is one big joke so far. I hope Contador rides the Vuelta next year. Kudos for Cobo though and Wiggo has been setting the pace a lot on the climbs, so kudos for him too. Top 10 is a joke though. Fuglsnake, Monfort, Moreno and Kessiakof? Lol... And VDB2 with his broken ribs and shoulderblade...

I wouldn´t call it a joke, seems a bit disrespectful. The trouble is that many of the riders in top 10 is more than satisfied to finish top 10, probably only 3 riders who isn´t satisfied (who´s currently in top10). Wigans, Cobo and Nibali, and of those W and C seems to be best and therefore animating the race.

 

[goggalor]

every dutchman that won the vuelta, won the tour de france a year later...

By every you mean both?

 

[King Of The Wolds]

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!

Easy to say, but difficult to do when Wiggins and Froome are putting the hurt in at a high pace and nobody's strong enough to go past them. Attacking isn't possible.

I'm not sure why everybody thinks Wiggins is in big trouble tomorrow. He's looked as strong as anybody all 2 weeks and I think people are forgetting that we don't have a prime Contador, Evans and Basso in this race.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Easy to say, but difficult to do when Wiggins and Froome are putting the hurt in at a high pace and nobody's strong enough to go past them. Attacking isn't possible.

I'm not sure why everybody thinks Wiggins is in big trouble tomorrow. He's looked as strong as anybody all 2 weeks and I think people are forgetting that we don't have a prime Contador, Evans and Basso in this race.

Blind hope simply because the attacking back and forth is more entertaining to watch than the diesel grind, so people are desperately hoping that the most powerful diesel in the race (which has a performance advantage akin to the diesel success at Le Mans, it seems) will have an off day.

Plus, Wiggins is totally untested at anything of this kind of gradient, hence some are assuming that he won't take to it as well as the power climbs, which suit him more. That is the case - but today wasn't his kind of climb and he and Froome still wiped the floor with everyone save Cobo.

 

[The Hitch]

He's looked as strong as anybody all 2 weeks and I think people are forgetting that we don't have a prime Contador, Schleck, Sanchez and Evans in this race.

fixed it for you.

 

[The Hitch]

Blind hope simply because the attacking back and forth is more entertaining to watch than the diesel grind, so people are desperately hoping that the most powerful diesel in the race (which has a performance advantage akin to the diesel success at Le Mans, it seems) will have an off day.
.

What?

What have you got against Sky so much. You keep insinuating stuff with Froome and Wiggins in this subforum (which is surprising considering who some of your favourite riders are) and now you really attack Wiggins style as boring?


Wiggins doesnt grind his way up the climb like Szmyd Basso, slowly dropping riders off one by one.

Rather when Wiggins turns on the pace its like an attack. Riders get dropped immediately. Not small fry rather but big fish like for example the overwellming favourite for the gc and the guy seen as the best climber.

Its very much like an attack.

He's looked as strong as anybody all 2 weeks and I think people are forgetting that we don't have a prime Contador, Schleck, Sanchez and Evans in this race.

fixed it for you.

 

[Swede1]

Wiggins to barely keep red. Cobo to move up close to Wiggins on GC. Menchov to take stage win after sastre/duarte/ddlf set him up. Mollema to lose a little bit of time but not too much. Nibali to attack and then lose time like scarponi did.

 

[hfer07]

honestly- after all the insane things that took place today- I hardly can pick a winner-I'm only going to say that If Wiggins keeps the Rojo jersey & maintain Cobo within 45 secs - I'd say he's won the race...
as I wrote in another thread-I cannot picture Nibali pulling back 1:25 at all...