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

[Scirea]

That would be interesting but I think you will find Liquigas will be super strong Saturday

We will see. I doubt they will be super strong if other teams will do the right thing and get rid of everybody but Nibali and Kreuziger on the first two climbs.

 

[royalpig180]

Good work on the intro Hitch

I hope, hope, hope that Mosquera can do it today. It seems like a very tall order, and at best I rate his chances at 1-in-3. If Rodriguez decides to attack at Navacerrada to take his best shot to get back on the podium, and Mosquera can follow him, and they form a little Spanish armada to take down the Italian I guess it could happen.... But Mosquera doing the necessary damage, entirely by himself, seems too much.

That could be a powerful and very possible combination as they would both stand to benefit from it...

However, I must wonder if the end this climb truly suits Mosquera... we saw him struggle on the very steep climbs at the end of the stages in week 1 (albeit very different than the top of the Bola del Mundo, especially if its wet) and though the long sections at the early part of the climb may favor his riding style, as Andorra demonstrated, I don't think he can wait until the last 3ks...

 

[icefire]

We will see. I doubt they will be super strong if other teams will do the right thing and get rid of everybody but Nibali and Kreuziger on the first two climbs.

It won't happen. The stage to Cotobello had harder climbs than the stage to Bola del Mundo (excluding the MTF) and Nibali had 4 or 5 teammates with him before starting the final climb. Nothing will happen before the last climb to Navacerrada. People tends to easily forget that every year the Vuelta visits the mountains of Madrid nothing happens there (unless there is an ITT or Delgado gets back to racing again ). The only difference this year is the last 3 kms.

 

[Scirea]

It won't happen. The stage to Cotobello had harder climbs than the stage to Bola del Mundo (excluding the MTF) and Nibali had 4 or 5 teammates with him before starting the final climb. Nothing will happen before the last climb to Navacerrada. People tends to easily forget that every year the Vuelta visits the mountains of Madrid nothing happens there (unless there is an ITT or Delgado gets back to racing again ). The only difference this year is the last 3 kms.

We will see.

 

[blaxland]

Thanks for the intro Hitch,but i think Nibali will hold on for the win.Eze will go down fighting as will roche and Rodriguez...Shleck and Sastre to win stage..

 

[The Hitch]

Thanks for the intro Hitch,but i think Nibali will hold on for the win.Eze will go down fighting as will roche and Rodriguez...Shleck and Sastre to win stage..

i too think nibali will hold on

 

[blaxland]

i too think nibali will hold on

Having someone like Krueziger to ride tempo on the front is a big advantage,this guy has the potentual to finish in the top 10 overall...Liquigas would have to be happy if Nibali wins that makes two Grand Tours this year..

 

[theswordsman]

For the GC, not the stage:
I've had Nibali to win all along, and won't change now. I hope Roche can leapfrog over a couple of guys and make the podium. Mosquera or Purito for second, but I hope Sastre puts in a stage that will keep him inspired in the off season.

 

[ericthesportsman6]

In response to the OP, while this is probably/absolutely Mosquera's best chance to win a GT, but it won't be his last chance to contend. Personally, I think Ezequiel can do it. I'll say he goes all out, and gets around a minute to win the race.

 

[Scirea]

In response to the OP, while this is probably/absolutely Mosquera's best chance to win a GT, but it won't be his last chance to contend. Personally, I think Ezequiel can do it. I'll say he goes all out, and gets around a minute to win the race.

He can contend but he won't win. He is already old and the competition will be stronger in the coming years.

 

[Hoop Dogg]

Is there the chance they could go all Spanish armada and gang up on nibali if it comes down to a select group at the bottom of "del mundo"??

 

[Scirea]

Is there the chance they could go all Spanish armada and gang up on nibali if it comes down to a select group at the bottom of "del mundo"??

Very possible, especially since they don't even have to race together. Purito, Tondo and Sastre will have to attack for the podium anyway and every attack is a help for Zeke.

 

[theswordsman]

Thursday Federico Bahamontes went to Vincenzo Nibali & described the Stage 19 finish so Nibali could ride smart & gain time on others.

Friday Federico Bahamontes went to Ezequiel Mosquera & told him he needs to attack at the bottom of Bola del Mundo & go for the victory.

Fickle, that one.

I imagine if there's room for them, there will be a lot of Spanish fans along the Bola del Mundo trying to give certain riders a good push towards the top.

I've been waiting for this one since Contador (and later Sastre) posted the video of the climb. I'm just going to sit back and enjoy cycling, confident that there won't be any hand holding at the top. Good times.

 

[Scirea]

Vamos Zeke!

 

[Hoop Dogg]

confident that there won't be any hand holding at the top. Good times.

I hope for our sakes there's not!! Doing track stands whilst batting your eyelids at your opponent makes baby Jesus cry.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

NibTactic?

Perhaps Liquigas would do well to put a strong rider (not RK though) in the break - that would put pressure on Eze to do the work to catch the break to not lose out on time-bonuses.

 

[theswordsman]

I hope for our sakes there's not!! Doing track stands whilst batting your eyelids at your opponent makes baby Jesus cry.

I still have nightmares about "the wink".

Mosquera has a shiny new red bike ready in case he takes over the race lead. It's going to be on the team car as his spare for everyone to see. This should be fun.

http://www.biciciclismo.com/cas/site/noticias-ficha.asp?id=30620

 

[Ferminal]

"Should" be a great stage. At least the last 10km or 3km. Is there going to be big crowds?

 

[Kwibus]

"Should" be a great stage. At least the last 10km or 3km. Is there going to be big crowds?

I hope there won't be too big crowds. Looking at the tiny road for the last 3km it will be a disaster if it's overcrowded

 

[Mellow Velo]

Nice to see that The Tilburg Terror has returned.

"I hope for a good day and good legs," Mosquera continued. "I look serene but I'm not. I'm very nervous and I find it hard to sleep at night.".

 

[Descender]

There will be big crowds, guaranteed. I hear this climb has been sold in Spain big time, like nothing since the Angliru.

 

[Scirea]

Michel Kreder: "Today's stage we go to the top of Bola Del Mundo or 'End of the World' what kind of climb will that be like?!I guess its a hard one!"

I think it's pretty sure to suggest that Danielson doesn't know anything about Bola del Mundo other than the percentages... (or his teammate would know smething about it too)

 

[Ferminal]

I hope there won't be too big crowds. Looking at the tiny road for the last 3km it will be a disaster if it's overcrowded

It's a bit of a trade-off isn't it, the Giro was great with Zoncolan and the Kronplatz, big crowds managed well.

 

[Kwibus]

It's a bit of a trade-off isn't it, the Giro was great with Zoncolan and the Kronplatz, big crowds managed well.

True, but these huge crowds always make me very nervous when I watch it. Specially the idiots that run along. Soon someone will fall and a rider will fall over him. It just has to happen someday.
I thought the crowds on the Madeleine were waaay too much for example. If a rider wanted to pass another rider it was practically impossible.

 

[Kwibus]

Anyone from belgium/NL or with Eurosport.

I most likely won't be home before 18:00 today. So I want to record it. Preferably on the belgian channel 'een'. It's just that they always switch to another channel at 18:00 if the stage didn't finish yet. That would mean I'm gonna miss the last and most important part...
I don't like the dutch commentators very much so I prefer Eurosport, but how sure am I that they will broadcast till the very end?

Is there a time schedule of the stage?

edit: Estimated arrival is 17:40... I'm gonna gamble on the belgian tv. I'm soooo gonna cry if I will miss the last 3km