Vuelta a España - Stage 18: September 17: Talavera de la Reina - AVILAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

[ak-zaaf]

Vuelta a España - Stage 18: September 17: Talavera de la Reina - AVILAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Oh VDB, I miss you
God in Avila

Gesink will probably lose it today =/

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Gesink will probably lose it today =/

agreed.

hopefully he surprises us though.

 

[auscyclefan94]

agreed.

hopefully he surprises us though.

that would make me sad. i don't like to see anyone lose out like he might in that way. he's rode a great race.

 

[craig1985]

I think Valverde can win this.

 

[laurentiu46]

It depends on what Liquigas or Euskaltel have in mind.
I don't think Caisse is going to launch Valverde for the stage win,they will be happy if a breakaway stays clear and takes the bonus seconds.
Now,if Basso or Sammy's teams will try something and manage to catch the escapees,i suppose Piti will use his final surge to take the stage.

Fuglsang said a couple of days ago he still eyes a stage win and was pointing towards this one as being perfect for him. We'll probably see him in the break.

 

[auscyclefan94]

It depends on what Liquigas or Euskaltel have in mind.
I don't think Caisse is going to launch Valverde for the stage win,they will be happy if a breakaway stays clear and takes the bonus seconds.
Now,if Basso or Sammy's teams will try something and manage to catch the escapees,i suppose Piti will use his final surge to take the stage.

Fuglsang said a couple of days ago he still eyes a stage win and was pointing towards this one as being perfect for him. We'll probably see him in the break.

if sammy wants to win, sammy's gotta go tonight. same with anyone else who wants to win this race. can't wait till tomorrow. personally i hope valverde crumbles.

 

[msjett]

I hope that Sanchez, Basso and Evans all go for it today but I get the feeling that they will wait for tomorrow for some reason, and even though I find it hard to like Valverde, the guy has ridden a good race. So unless he has a shocker...I can't see much changing today.

 

[Mellow Velo]

This comes 50kms from the finish.......



Pretty much like Cati, in terms of length and gradient. Too good to waste, or too far from the finish? It is up and down, all the way to Avila, after this ramp.

For those with strong stomachs. Bobby Gesink's holey leg:-
http://twitpic.com/hyans

 

[laurentiu46]

I think both of them.
Maybe Liquigas will try to shred the peloton,but 50 k from the finish is pretty far.
Trying a solo attack is also not very likely,because there's plenty of time for Caisse to reel it back.
Besides,the cat 3 climb isn't steep at all,while the descent is too short to make the difference.
But even if a breakaway will succeed,we might see a little gap between the favourites. I don't think Basso or Mosquera can match Valverde's speed in the last hundreds of meters,if AV will sprint like he did it at Cati or Sierra Nevada.

Man,RG's knee looks bad.
Hopefully he'll be able to hang on.
But,imo,Sammy will relegate him to third after Toledo,if not tomorrow.

 

[Sasquatch]

I think you will find Fuglsang in the break. Perhaps Devolder.

Fuji will send someone up the road - De La Fuente. Hoogerland will try a break.

All the guys who have tried breaks before without success will try again - well the main guys that have that is.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Gesink said on his twitter he slept well and riding on the rollers went good. So there is hope...

 

[cromagnon]

They have to try something if they try to roll in together Valverde will just grab another handful of seconds with his explosive sprinting ability. WTF is up with that anyway, how can a guy climb with the elite yet completely dust most of the peloton in a sprint.

 

[ak-zaaf]

Canadian MEIER Christian has withdrawn from the Vuelta after having been informed of the death of his brother.

That's sad.

 

[El Imbatido]

Vuelta a Espa&#241]

The 'a' key get stuck did it zaaf

And what is with all the hate for my main man Valv piti

He only did what all other cyclists were doing. It is just unfortunate that CONI decided to go after him and him only. It should have been dealt with in 06 there and then.

I also agree that the only one who might possibe lose some time today is Gesink which is unfortunate as it is not the way you should lose time.

Gesink said on his twitter he slept well and riding on the rollers went good. So there is hope...

Also about him on the rollers this morning...........do you think he would tell us he isnt feeling that good if he wasn't, cos i wouldn't want to show any kind of weakness to my rivals if it was me.

 

[powderpuff]

It should have been dealt with in 06 there and then.

+1 It would be all over and done with by now, suspension served and he could still be leading this race.

I also agree that the only one who might possibe lose some time today is Gesink which is unfortunate as it is not the way you should lose time. Also about him on the rollers this morning...........do you think he would tell us he isnt feeling that good if he wasn't, cos i wouldn't want to show any kind of weakness to my rivals if it was me.

This peleton doesn't seem very compassionate, so i think he will be put under alot of pressure. Basso, Cadel and Sanchez would be silly not to try and gain some time while they have a chance(not sportsman like, maybe, but this isn't a sport anymore it's a business and these guys earn their keep winning races.).

 

[Bala Verde]

Besides Meier, who had to abandon due to a very unfortunate event, there are 3 more who did not start:

35 Iglinskiy (KAZ, AST)
114 Hesjedal (CAN, GRM)
173 B. Grabsch (GER, THR)

Chérel and Gilbert were the first who attempted a break away, but are caught back again by the peloton...

 

[Bala Verde]

A nice little group has formed, 30s gap with the peloton:

12 riders:
62 Deignan (IRE, CTT) +17:49
89 Vázquez (SPA, MCO) +23:02
33 J. Hernández (SPA, AST) +23:24
71 Moncoutié (FRA, COF) +37:49
216 D. Herrero (SPA, XGZ) +47:51
11 Valjavec (SVN, ALM) +57:33
2 Antón (SPA, EUS) +1:00:54
195 Fuglsang (DEN, SAX) +1:17:53
94 Di Gregorio (FRA, FDJ) +1:28:31
135 Kreuziger (CZE, LIQ) +1:29:11
79 Taaramäe (EST, COF) +1:42:55
104 Del Nero (SPA, FUJ) +1:46:34

Perhaps Moncoutie will ride to support Taaramae? Is Anton setting something up for Sammy, and Kreuziger for Basso? Or will they be going for the stage, which seems more realistic...

Fuglsang is there as well, as someone already mentioned that he was eyeballing this one in particular. Good group!


EDIT> since it looks like the peloton lets the group go, 4 more riders are trying to get away and make it to the front:

93 Chérel (FRA, FDJ) +33:48
165 Gilbert (BEL, SIL) +1:14:17
76 B. Fernández (SPA, COF) +1:26:39
193 Breschel (DEN, SAX) +1:39:37

I doubt they'll like having Gilbert around though

 

[TRDean]

That's sad.

That is really sad!! I will be thinking about his family today!!

On a more positive note...I hope Gesink can hold on and surprise. I know if it was me...I would not attack him, as he has been a main animator in this race. Just does not seem right...even though it is part of the sport. Rock on!!

 

[ak-zaaf]

EDIT> since it looks like the peloton lets the group go, 4 more riders are trying to get away and make it to the front:

93 Chérel (FRA, FDJ) +33:48
165 Gilbert (BEL, SIL) +1:14:17
76 B. Fernández (SPA, COF) +1:26:39
193 Breschel (DEN, SAX) +1:39:37

I doubt they'll like having Gilbert around though

+2 saxo's and 3 cofidis riders. Gilbert won't be the biggest problem

 

[Mellow Velo]

Could be more problems with the foul weather......100 riders not bothering to sign on and get wet!

 

[ak-zaaf]

could be more problems with the foul weather......100 riders not bothering to sign on and get wet!:d

ka-ching :d

 

[Bala Verde]

+2 saxo's and 3 cofidis riders. Gilbert won't be the biggest problem

Ha! A cofidis coup a la l'Ain is in the making then. Let's hope Taaramae doesn't misjudge the mediano. Wouldnt want to see him parked like he did on Cati...

Anyway the 4 joined the breakaway, so the ball's in the COF/SAX court.

 

[Moondance]

agreed.

hopefully he surprises us though.

Maybe you now apreciate poor Jakob Fuglsang a bit more...

 

[msjett]

Danielson has abandoned....Garmin mustn't have many of the team left in the race.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Maybe you now apreciate poor Jakob Fuglsang a bit more...

lol at you comparing their injuries.. did you see that hole in his knee?
I was compassionate, i just said fugslang was overrated.. and stand by my comment, he was never going to contend imo (you seem to grudge opinions though?).. get over it mate.
PS: I think he is a great rider, and has shown a lot of heart at this year's vuelta. I just didn't believe he was gonna contend.

That's sad.

wow that is sad