Vuelta a España - Stage 4 Málaga - Valdepeñas de Jaén 183.8km

[maltiv]

Kreuziger lost 2.48

Nordhaug was the only Sky rider to finish in the top 100 today

Yet he was the one bringing bottles for the team the whole race. Good thing Sky can adapt to unexpected situations and make new tactics.

Really exciting stage today, really loving those ridiculously steep uphill finishes already in the first week!

 

[theswordsman]

Maybe it's my eyes, but I don't see Schlecklet in the top 149 for either the stage or the GC?

Anton is a beast on mountain finishes. I love that Nibali is fighting every day to gain a few seconds, and today, the time bonus. I think that with Cav getting pipped on Stage 2, this makes the Vuelta three for three in interesting finishes. Lots of guys went for it today. I'm looking forward to the mountains on the weekend.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

The Vuelta has also offered the 5 points for 1st over the final climb to Óscar Pujol. We know for a fact that he was pacing Sastre at that point, and Tondó was the only Cervélo rider in the front group, so that must be a case of mistaken identity.

 

[Frosty]

Not very surprising. I've seen him do domestique work (even on the run-in to stage 2) several times now. Kreuziger's cards are not being played this Vuelta, and that was clear from the start.

Ah, ok, thanks for the info. Havent been able to watch live action so i hadnt seen that. I wasnt expecting him to be a contender for the overall in this race but was wondering if he might have a go at the 7-10 places. Looks like he's going to be Nibali's main support in the mountains.

 

[Parrulo]

great race today. so much the better then le tour. . .

anyway my current top favourites for the win.

1- nibali
2- anton
3- menchov
4- mosquera
5- frank

TJVG will drop big time in the last couple of high montain stages cus i don't believe that he has enough gas for the whole trip around spain . and even if he could keep up he doesn't seem to be able to stay with the big guys on the long climbs(couldn't keep up with an out of form contador and brajkovic in super form in the dauphine) rodrigues will blow out in the third week too but will stay in the top 10 i would say.

arroyo and plaza will lurk around the top 10 too

am i missing some1?

 

[kurtinsc]

In the high mountains he will lose even more. F.Schleck has always been better at short steep hills than longer climbs. The longer the worse even in my opinion.

He's not horrible at the longer climbs though. In the 2009 Tour, he was really the best climber in the high mountains aside from Contador and his brother.

I don't know if I'd call anyone within 2 minutes of the lead completely out this year until maybe stage 11.

As for the other comments about Anton being some sort of uber-climber... I'm just not seeing it. He's shown some promise... but no more then other younger riders like Kreuziger or Brajkovic.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

yes uran, the guy freakin broke his collarbone 4 weeks ago!! and already getting in good shape, amazing exceptional talent he has in this, he also has great recuperation so for me no doubt will be the best man caisse has the in the final week

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

What about today made you think that? Not that I would be surprised if he finished lower than 3rd, but he seems to be in a good position right now, about 40 seconds back of Anton and Rodriguez and Nibali (who aren't dominant time triallers) and 20 seconds ahead of Menchov. A podium doesn't really seem soooooo out of reach, especially with no high mountains yet...

nibali alone will put at least 2 minutes on frank in the long itt. nibali is a great itt rider.

 

[kurtinsc]

great race today. so much the better then le tour. . .

anyway my current top favourites for the win.

1- nibali
2- anton
3- menchov
4- mosquera
5- frank

TJVG will drop big time in the last couple of high montain stages cus i don't believe that he has enough gas for the whole trip around spain . and even if he could keep up he doesn't seem to be able to stay with the big guys on the long climbs(couldn't keep up with an out of form contador and brajkovic in super form in the dauphine) rodrigues will blow out in the third week too but will stay in the top 10 i would say.

arroyo and plaza will lurk around the top 10 too

am i missing some1?

Well, you didn't list Danielson, but I think everyone expects him to drop out before the race is over anyway. Roche? Tondo? Bruseghin?

 

[jaylew]

great race today. so much the better then le tour. . .

anyway my current top favourites for the win.

1- nibali
2- anton
3- menchov
4- mosquera
5- frank

TJVG will drop big time in the last couple of high montain stages cus i don't believe that he has enough gas for the whole trip around spain . and even if he could keep up he doesn't seem to be able to stay with the big guys on the long climbs(couldn't keep up with an out of form contador and brajkovic in super form in the dauphine) rodrigues will blow out in the third week too but will stay in the top 10 i would say.

arroyo and plaza will lurk around the top 10 too

am i missing some1?

I think a few other candidates that could lurk around the top 10 are Tondo, Bruseghin and Danielson. Not sure about Uran but I hope to see him there.

 

[jaylew]

As for the other comments about Anton being some sort of uber-climber... I'm just not seeing it. He's shown some promise... but no more then other younger riders like Kreuziger or Brajkovic.

I would disagree with that. I think he's shown more than both of those guys w/ regards to pure climbing ability.

 

[Parrulo]

indeed i forgot about roche and tondo. sorry my bad.

don't think burseghin can do it. about denielson? well lets say that if i had to choose btw believing in the thooth fairy and in denielson getting a top 10 . . . i would choose the thooth fairy.

I would disagree with that. I think he's shown more than both of those guys w/ regards to pure climbing ability.

i agree with you. brajkovic is yet to show something in a grand tour. kreuziguer is not even close to anton's level nor is brajkovic

 

[jens_attacks]

that was a pretty insane stage,loved the caisse d'epargne tactics just like kelme in the good old days,gotta love succesive attacks.can't wait xoret del cati.it will be a massacre.and anton will kill them all.

 

[jaylew]

indeed i forgot about roche and tondo. sorry my bad.

don't think burseghin can do it. about denielson? well lets say that if i had to choose btw believing in the thooth fairy and in denielson getting a top 10 . . . i would choose the thooth fairy.

Yeah, you never know with Tommy D, but he has already accomplished the feat twice, remember? I think Roche will run out of gas somewhere and hunt for a stage win instead.

 

[Parrulo]

Yeah, you never know with Tommy D, but he has already accomplished the feat twice, remember? I think Roche will run out of gas somewhere and hunt for a stage win instead.

ya but i don't think he can pull it again. the competition this year is much better, remember?

 

[theswordsman]

The official site only lists 149 riders in the results, and I don't see Andy Schleck or Cancellara on the list. Did a whole lot of guys not make the time cut today?

 

[kurtinsc]

I would disagree with that. I think he's shown more than both of those guys w/ regards to pure climbing ability.

Where?

I know he's served as a domestique for other guys in many races, so hasn't had great chances to show what he can do in big climbs against big names... but what results has he had that show him to be superior to Kreuziger or Brajkovic in climbing?

Brajkovic has a 2nd place finish on the Alpe d'huez in the Dauphine Libere. Kreuziger has had some solid finishes at big climbs in the Tour the past couple of years.

I'm not sure what Anton has done that surpasses that in terms of climbing accomplishment. He's got some good results... but nothing that jumps out and shouts that he's way better then the other two.

I'm not saying he ISN'T better... as I said before, he hasn't really had many opportunities. I'm just not sure what he's done that makes him more promising then other younger climbers.

 

[kurtinsc]

indeed i forgot about roche and tondo. sorry my bad.

don't think burseghin can do it. about denielson? well lets say that if i had to choose btw believing in the thooth fairy and in denielson getting a top 10 . . . i would choose the thooth fairy.




i agree with you. brajkovic is yet to show something in a grand tour. kreuziguer is not even close to anton's level nor is brajkovic

Again... what has Anton shown?

Kreuziger has GT top 10 finishes in mountain stages. Brajkovic had a 2nd place finish on the Alpe d'Huez in the DL.

With Anton the last couple of years, I see him finishing behind Kreuziger in the Tour in 2009 climbs (but Anton was riding in support). I see in the 2009 Vuelta a nice top 5 from a breakaway where the leaders were 9 minutes back... and Kreuziger ahead of him. He had some good climbs in Castilly y Leon this year... but he wasnt' much different from Brajkovic in that race.

I'm not saying your wrong... and I know he hasn't had a lot of opportunity to ride for himself... but what exactly is that opinion based on?

 

[theyoungest]

The official site only lists 149 riders in the results, and I don't see Andy Schleck or Cancellara on the list. Did a whole lot of guys not make the time cut today?

Maybe, but I'm sure Andy and Cancellara weren't among them. Andy probably had a bike change when he flatted, Cancellara maybe had a similar problem. I know Nick Nuyens is never listed in the immediate results, the computer is blind to some riders I guess (and would you blame it ).

 

[rmacek]

Kreuziger is not going for GC, he said he will do everything to help Nibali and also he want to win a stage.. Probably after breakaway, so he needs some minutes in GC and then peloton lets him go...

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Antón won a serious mountain stage in the 2006 Vuelta to Calar Alto. Antón was 3rd to Mont Ventoux in the 2007 Dauphiné. Antón was 4th to Pla de Beret in 2008, just about holding on to Contador and Valverde when they attacked. Antón has a win on the Alto del Morredero in the Vuelta a Castilla y León this year, where he beat Ezequiel Mosquera, Juan Mauricio Soler and Alberto Contador - three top level climbers. Antón was 6th to La Pandera in the 2006 Vuelta, ahead of his team leader. Antón has a 4th to Lagunas de Neila in Burgos this year, despite working for Samuel Sánchez - and the names he put out the back door include Scarponi, Arroyo and Menchov. Antón has a stage win in the Tour de Romandie in a lumpy stage (though admittedly by default since Valverde originally outsprinted him to the line). His group left Brajkovic's group behind. Antón has a very solid Classics season behind him - 4th in La Flèche Wallonne and 6th in LBL, which is an extra dimension that Brajkovic cannot point at. Antón has a 6th in the first mountain stage of the 2008 Vuelta, in with the top stars of the race after the break came in first in terrible conditions. Antón has a mountain stage win in the Tour de Suisse in 2008, when he came 3rd overall. He was 5th in the stage to Alto de Abantos in the 2007 Vuelta, despite working for Samu, and 8th overall. Antón was 7th in the 2007 Tour de Romandie, and won a lumpy stage. He was 5th to Alto de Navacerrada in the 2007 Vuelta a Castilla y León.

Those are the results that tell you he's a top climber. 2nd to Alpe d'Huez in the Dauphiné is damn good, but does that result really spit all over 3rd to Mont Ventoux AND mountain wins in the Vuelta?

 

[roundabout]

nibali alone will put at least 2 minutes on frank in the long itt. nibali is a great itt rider.

Yes and Contador will put 2 minutes on the other Schleck in the TdF.

Oh wait...

 

[Mambo95]

The official site only lists 149 riders in the results, and I don't see Andy Schleck or Cancellara on the list. Did a whole lot of guys not make the time cut today?

They've updated it now. Cancellara came in with Cavendish/Farrar/Sky sick bay @19.46. Three behind that group with Dave Z last to finish @25'. Schleck finished 14 minutes down, next to Petacchi.

 

[Parrulo]

Antón won a serious mountain stage in the 2006 Vuelta to Calar Alto. Antón was 3rd to Mont Ventoux in the 2007 Dauphiné. Antón was 4th to Pla de Beret in 2008, just about holding on to Contador and Valverde when they attacked. Antón has a win on the Alto del Morredero in the Vuelta a Castilla y León this year, where he beat Ezequiel Mosquera, Juan Mauricio Soler and Alberto Contador - three top level climbers. Antón was 6th to La Pandera in the 2006 Vuelta, ahead of his team leader. Antón has a 4th to Lagunas de Neila in Burgos this year, despite working for Samuel Sánchez - and the names he put out the back door include Scarponi, Arroyo and Menchov. Antón has a stage win in the Tour de Romandie in a lumpy stage (though admittedly by default since Valverde originally outsprinted him to the line). His group left Brajkovic's group behind. Antón has a very solid Classics season behind him - 4th in La Flèche Wallonne and 6th in LBL, which is an extra dimension that Brajkovic cannot point at. Antón has a 6th in the first mountain stage of the 2008 Vuelta, in with the top stars of the race after the break came in first in terrible conditions. Antón has a mountain stage win in the Tour de Suisse in 2008, when he came 3rd overall. He was 5th in the stage to Alto de Abantos in the 2007 Vuelta, despite working for Samu, and 8th overall. Antón was 7th in the 2007 Tour de Romandie, and won a lumpy stage. He was 5th to Alto de Navacerrada in the 2007 Vuelta a Castilla y León.

Those are the results that tell you he's a top climber. 2nd to Alpe d'Huez in the Dauphiné is damn good, but does that result really spit all over 3rd to Mont Ventoux AND mountain wins in the Vuelta?

nothing to be added. perfect post

 

[Frosty]

Hushovd is 149th as of now on the stage, i'm going to take a guess that he won't be when the full results are available.

A bit of both, he was 159th but 34 guys finished after him. Andy Schleck was one of the ones missed out, finishing 14 minutes down. 193 finishers in all today with the Z-man being the last on the list riding with Dean who may still be suffering the effects of that crash.