Vuelta a España:Stage 3 August 30, Marbella - Malaga 157,3km

[Lyds97]

I guess ones form is a very delicate thing and quite difficult to perfect. It doesnt help to have been injured most of the season, and maybe he is a bit scared to ride his bike after the dreadful injuries he has had.

Maybe he's just feeling his way back into racing. Then again maybe he doesnt fancy his GC chances and is going to try the breakaways

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/vande-velde-to-ride-the-vuelta-but-reveals-he-almost-quit-the-sport

Didn't he really start riding again, like, last week? It's probably more to do with form than anything else.

he already said he isn't in shape and just want to help danielson

Thanks guys, they all seem sound reasons. Ryo Hazuki - do you have a link to where he said that?

 

[Anonymous]

Brailsford saying it's not food poisoning- riders and staff eat completely different meals yet all are affected, he's implying all riders are suffering, gerrans was bad judging by his own Twitter, and a couple of staff couldn't leave hotel. Very weird?

Info I got was three riders (two of whom now retired and Gerrans) and a number of staff, but who knows. And as said before, its not known it was food poisoning and DB seems now to have confirmed it isnt.

 

[La Pandera]

Menchov and schleck were very dissapointing.

Gilbert did not have to try very hard to get the gap. He almost floated off the front and when you give a guy like him a gap you are gone. Rodriguez could of challenged ftw imo.

You talk like they all gifted Gilbert the win. I would think that those that gave chase hoped that Gilbert would run out of gas which of course he did not. Rodriguez, Anton and Nibali are no jokes in the climbing department but Gilbert is just more explosive than these lithe climber dudes. Add to that Gilbert is really coming into his own in judging the right moments to attack where even early last year he was still perfecting his craft so to speak. This was a classic Gilbert win. Great effort by him and I'm happy to see Anton, Nibali and Rodriguez are in good form. A very exciting climax.

Regarding Menchov and Schleck I would think that since their goal is the gc, that maybe they figure it's too early to be burning matches chasing stage wins. Especially Menchov, who is coming off of a grueling Tour. He'd be wise to ride conservatively when he can.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

tbh I think Rodríguez is just as explosive (just look at his attacks on Montelupone) but Gilbert pre-empted him and was comfortably powerful enough to hold on; Rodríguez needed some steeper sections, where he really excels, to bridge that gap.

 

[Oldman]

What a strong finish by Gilbert.

If that stretch had some cobbles in it, he might have been wheelsucking the ghost of VDB.

It certainly feels a while ago since I saw someone fly up the last hill with that dominance. Looks like Belgium can make itself up for savouring plenty of our autumn fruit once again.

+1
Strong finish after a helpful lead out to the hill by everyone else. The way he was looking back I thought he might blow but he held it to the line.

 

[La Pandera]

tbh I think Rodríguez is just as explosive (just look at his attacks on Montelupone) but Gilbert pre-empted him and was comfortably powerful enough to hold on; Rodríguez needed some steeper sections, where he really excels, to bridge that gap.

I was going to add that. The climb itself wasn't steep enough for Rodriguez to utilize his talents. What was it 7%? Also it wasn't as if Gilbert left Rodriguez in his wake. Rodriguez didn't appear to be losing any ground but not gaining any either. It was Anton that drifted back as they got closer to the finish. Still, I'm impressed with all 3 of their performances.

 

[hrotha]

I think the most important thing we saw today is that Menchov's actually in the race.

 

[La Pandera]

I guess I'm confused as to what ACF was expecting out of Menchov and Schleck. They lost 18 and 19 seconds to the stage winner and a little less than that to Rodriguez, Anton and Nibali, all likely competitors for the gc. That isn't a whole lot this early in the race. It's not like they were back with Benat Inxausti who really got dropped. Anyone know what happened to him?

 

[Boardslide]

Cavendish said he threw up a few times during Stage 2. Rabo's Mauricio Ardila was also sick during today's stage but attributes it to the heat.

http://www.biciciclismo.com/cas/site/inicio.asp

I used to play hours of tennis when it was up to a hundred degrees out and never had a problem as long as I had store bought ice cubes (they stay frozen longer) in my ice jug. One time I was running late and had to use regular ones out of the freezer. They were soon melted, I drank warmish water, and the life guards at the pool could hear me heaving in the mens room from half a block away. It could be some sort of virus going around, but I suspect it's days of effort in the heat with drinks that aren't (and can't be" cold enough.

It sounds more like they're all suffering from heat stroke/exhaustion. We brits can't survive when the temps reach an unheard of 25-27c let alone when they get up into the mid 30's low 40's

 

[tgsgirl]

It sounds more like they're all suffering from heat stroke/exhaustion. We brits can't survive when the temps reach an unheard of 25-27c let alone when they get up into the mid 30's low 40's

What climate do you think Belgium has? Gilbert isn't exactly used to tropical temps either, you know.

 

[Boardslide]

What climate do you think Belgium has? Gilbert isn't exactly used to tropical temps either, you know.

Agreed but Eurosport did keep saying how much Gilbert enjoys the heat and always performs well in it.

 

[Ferminal]

What did Menchov do wrong?

It's not exactly his kind of finish, but he did enough to show that he's here to race, and only lost seconds Anton and Rodriguez, neither who I think can beat Menchov at his peak in a GT.

 

[Michielveedeebee]

What climate do you think Belgium has? Gilbert isn't exactly used to tropical temps either, you know.

He doesn't live in Belgium, but in Monaco. Hot climate if you ask me!

 

[python]

kash is back ?

dont know what to make of kash's 25th today. looks like he is getting his legs back but we'll have to wait till the big mountains.

 

[Kwibus]

I guess I'm confused as to what ACF was expecting out of Menchov and Schleck. They lost 18 and 19 seconds to the stage winner and a little less than that to Rodriguez, Anton and Nibali, all likely competitors for the gc. That isn't a whole lot this early in the race. It's not like they were back with Benat Inxausti who really got dropped. Anyone know what happened to him?

ACF has no clue about the result of Menchov if you ask me.
This wasn't a typical Menchov finish. You might wonder what a typical Menchov finish it though, but he certainly ain't a specialist in short sprint climbs so seeing him finishing at 19secs with most of the favourites aound him actually gave me a positive feeling about him for this Vuelta.

Maybe F. Schleck should've done better though since he's also a pretty good hilly classics rider so maybe this gives us an indication that F.Schleck isn't brilliant atm. Hard to tell anyways. This stage doesn't tell us very much about anyone finishing within 25 secs of Gilbert imo.

 

[Ferminal]

What did Menchov do wrong?

It's not exactly his kind of finish, but he did enough to show that he's here to race, and only lost seconds Anton and Rodriguez, neither who I think can beat Menchov at his peak in a GT.

Oops I forgot Nibali.

Still, my point stands, Menchov has shown that he's turned up and is now my favourite to win.

F. Schleck might be one to watch today.

 

[hrotha]

Agreed about Menchov. Fränk should get better, but he needs time. I'd say it was a nice surprise to see him do so well already.

By the way, anyone else not surprised in the slightest by Intxausti?

 

[Mellow Velo]

Agreed about Menchov. Fränk should get better, but he needs time. I'd say it was a nice surprise to see him do so well already.

By the way, anyone else not surprised in the slightest by Intxausti?

I agree about Frank.
No one should write him off after 2kms of climbing, given his rapid recovery.
I fail to see how anyone can diagnose disaster, yet ignore the fact he was just 1 second behind Menchov.
He should be getting there, come Cati.

I was very surprised by Intxausti. He was my dark horse, given he can ITT as well as climb. Well, until this Vuelta, at least.

 

[theyoungest]

Agreed about Menchov. Fränk should get better, but he needs time. I'd say it was a nice surprise to see him do so well already.

By the way, anyone else not surprised in the slightest by Intxausti?

Intxausti already seemed to be in difficulty on the first stage, so I wasn't really surprised TBH. Maybe he can't handle the heat very well. He's used to the Basque rain