Vuelta a España - Stage 20 San Martín de Valdeiglesias - Bola del Mundo 172.1km

[Ferminal]

Climb doesn't really get going until 12km to go, but some of the lower ranked guys will have a go earlier for sure.

 

[Hoop Dogg]

I reckon xacebo to blow the peloton apart when the real climbing starts, then eze attacks and bridges to his 2 mates in the break, then a TTT to the top, and voilà!

 

[The Hitch]

I still dont see Mosquera dropping Nibali enough, even if he is trying to bridge to teammates.

 

[Christian]

wow euskaltel haulin a*s

 

[hfer07]

so it begun... la navacerrada

 

[Spare Tyre]

Oroz looks a wee bit tired.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I still dont see Mosquera dropping Nibali enough, even if he is trying to bridge to teammates.

I can definately see Mosquera dropping Nibali, but getting enough time is something else.
He has shown before dropping Nibali is not the problem.

Anyway, I still don't think Mosquera will do anything before final 3km. Just high pace..high pace..high pace..

 

[The Hitch]

I so hope we dont get all the contenders reaching the top together. Especially not Mosquera and Nibali

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I so hope we dont get all the contenders reaching the top together. Especially not Mosquera and Nibali

That would be the Tour all over again indeed

 

[The Hitch]

The time has come.

 

[Spare Tyre]

Well they're finally bringing the gap down. From 1'44" a few km ago it's down to 1'08" now.

 

[Anonymous]

at the start....
1 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo 80:30:48
2 Ezequiel Mosquera (Spa) Xacobeo Galicia 0:00:50
3 Peter Velits (Svk) Team HTC-Columbia 0:01:59
4 Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Team Katusha 0:03:54
5 Frank Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank 0:03:57
6 Xavier Tondo (Spa) Cervélo Test Team 0:04:02
7 Nicolas Roche (Irl) Ag2R-La Mondiale 0:04:10
8 Tom Danielson (USA) Garmin-Transitions 0:04:12
9 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Cervélo Test Team 0:04:28
10 Luis-Leon Sanchez (Spa) Caisse d’Epargne 0:05:50

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

The time has come.

False flat for 7,5km first, then 6%, gradually up to 10% but most of the time 6/7%, and then...Bam, Bola del Mundo. End of the world.

 

[The Hitch]

I can definately see Mosquera dropping Nibali, but getting enough time is something else.
He has shown before dropping Nibali is not the problem.

Anyway, I still don't think Mosquera will do anything before final 3km. Just high pace..high pace..high pace..

Let me ask you something. Has the 11 seconds Nibali gained yesterday changed things for you? or Was Mosquera either going to get 1 minute, or not get anywhere near enough time? i think its unlikely that Mosquera will happen to get somehwere between 39 and 50 seconds, though that would be cruel.

 

[icefire]

Still in the big chainring. We have to wait 3 or 4 kms more

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Mosquera down to 2, and the entire Liquigas team still there. That has to be pretty demotivating.

 

[The Hitch]

that 15:45 central european time?

Because British eurosport only start 15:30 gmt. Make room for the usual 15 minute delay theres a chance the race will be finished by the time they start. All for 20 20 cricket. Dont sky by that crap

Well i got this prediction right. Eurosport has delayed its coverage again. To show some cricketers celebrating

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Let me ask you something. Has the 11 seconds Nibali gained yesterday changed things for you? or Was Mosquera either going to get 1 minute, or not get anywhere near enough time? i think its unlikely that Mosquera will happen to get somehwere between 39 and 50 seconds, though that would be cruel.

The 11 seconds yesterday have only changed the likelyhood of Mosquera getting the red jersey.

It doesn't tell anything in strength, we already knew Nibali was better on short explosive climbs like the one yesterday. It's on the same type of climbs he won time on Mosqurea in the first week.
We also know on long climbs, Nibali has not once, not ONCE, been able to follow Mosquera.
I'm pretty sure Mosquera will drop Nibali, but 50 seconds (30+ boni if he manages to win) is a lot harder than 38 seconds (18s + boni)

 

[Anonymous]

i have a feeling that "Nippy Nibs" would still be at the top after today

 

[Eyeballs Out]

The gap has come down because Euskaltel has stopped riding for some reason

 

[Mellow Velo]

Mosquera down to 2, and the entire Liquigas team still there. That has to be pretty demotivating.

Told you.
A toss up as to whether those potential 20 seconds are worth it.........or not.
At the moment Liquigas appear to be sitting pretty.
Of course, Nibali could blow up all on his own............

 

[Anonymous]

team "leaky gas" looks really strong

 

[Christomir]

Let me ask you something. Has the 11 seconds Nibali gained yesterday changed things for you? or Was Mosquera either going to get 1 minute, or not get anywhere near enough time? i think its unlikely that Mosquera will happen to get somehwere between 39 and 50 seconds, though that would be cruel.

But it would be equally cruel to Nibali if Mosquera were to win the stage by 50 + whatever time Nibali lost in the ITT because of the puncture and his mechanic...

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Told you.
A toss up as to whether those potential 20 seconds are worth it.........or not.
At the moment Liquigas appear to be sitting pretty.
Of course, Nibali could blow up all on his own............

Well on Cotobello Nibali blew while following the pace of Kreuziger. Kreuziger was actually trying to close the gap on Roche and then Nibali blew (at that point, Rodriguez noticed and attacked).
So Liquigas can be as strong as ever, if Nibali is at his limit again...it doesn't help him much

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Brooding mountain shot - or what!