Vuelta a España - Stage 6: Xativa - Xativa 176,8Km

[180mmCrank]

Vuelta a España - Stage 6: Xativa - Xativa 176,8Km

Another stage for the sprinters?

 

[issoisso]

Definitely.

Or, as I've said every day since Sunday......."Is it Saturday yet?"

 

[auscyclefan94]

Definitely.

Or, as I've said every day since Sunday......."Is it Saturday yet?"

Totally agree. Can't wait for the vuelta to crank up a notch.I'm really hoping it will be better than the tour

 

[Hammerhed]

Maybe today we'll see a bit more of Philippe Gilbert-like action again today? Phil's Stage 5 attack was great, wasn't it, even if the terrain didn't quite favor a good late breakaway move. Maybe not steep enough, up or down? Maybe too far from the line?
Stage 6 though is supposed to have a lip at the end, something to favor a late-race attack. Before Caddle's announcement yesterday that he was not at the Vuelta to race but only to train (Damnit how I hate those little pronouncements: Even if they are being truthful, the riders should be forbidden to talk that crap), I thought that Stage 6 was made for him, especially the new, firery, racer-boy Cadel. Really, I could see it my mind's eye, he and Alejandro, the Green Bullet streaking and the Teddy Bear chugging, towards the line like in one of the Ardennes races! Now I don't have it there anymore, the vision I mean. Now I see AV ripping towards the line and Caddle training, conserving calories, calculating the net gain or loss of power in the new "volts to go" power meter readout.

 

[Susan Westemeyer]

Do you think you might use real names instead of nicknames you made up? I figured out who "caddle" is, but Teddy Bear?????

Susan

 

[issoisso]

Do you think you might use real names instead of nicknames you made up? I figured out who "caddle" is, but Teddy Bear?????

Susan

I remind you you're addressing a guy who spells "Hed"

 

[powderpuff]

Cadel announced weeks ago that the worlds were his priorities not just yesterday. But he also said he would wait and see how he was going at Vuelta before switching to training mode.

Not may GC riders will attack early this Vuelta as the second rest day is after Stage 11, (why so early?) meaning there will be some very tired riders come the last couple of days.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Kim Kirchen hasn't signed on.
With the second rest day after stage 11, expect a mass exodus of high profile riders.
For the second day in succession Jose Antonio Lopez Gil (Andalucia Cajasur) and Matheus Pronk (Vacansoleil) are in an early breakaway. They are joined by Bingen Fernandez (Cofidis) and Aitor Perez (Contentpolis) and have opened up a four minute lead.

 

[powderpuff]

Live now on Net

http://www.channelsurfing.net/watch-la-vuelta-a-espana.html

 

[Cobber]

Another stage for the sprinters?

Probably... but it is really nice to see a few little hills to give someone a chance for an attack, like Gilbert attempted yesterday. I'm hoping Boonen will come through for a win.

 

[Mellow Velo]

......and it goes on and on and on............
Mid to high 30's and no wind doesn't help.

Never mind, ITT and mountains are almost here.

 

[Bala Verde]

Ballan and Lainus Gurdemen, some of the usual suspects.

Matje Breschel looked strong up hill.

and finally, Phil Dilbert, he made the jump and bridged the gap. Now we know the race has started for real. Ex-Saunier polka dot dude de la Fuente sprinted up to the main group as well.

 

[ak-zaaf]

Ballan and Lainus Gurdemen, some of the usual suspects.

Matje Breschel looked strong up hill.

and there we have de la fuente and gilbert.
the most usual suspects.

 

[Bala Verde]

and moncoutie tries a VDB carniceria, riding tempo shredding the peloton?

joined by Sjonnie Hoegerlent

 

[ak-zaaf]

yeah, gilbert looked a bit surprised.


hoogerland!

wow, didn't expect that.

 

[Bala Verde]

yeah, gilbert looked a bit surprised.


hoogerland!

wow, didn't expect that.

nope but good to see he's trying!

let's wait for the sprint

 

[Bala Verde]

YES!!! Bozic disrupted Farar by starting at the 5.4km point almost!!! What a long sprint.

one of Evans better results this year, if it was actually him finishing 8th

Duque and Chavanel good on the front, no Greipel, Freire...

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

such power by bozic. great win.
griepel was way back.

 

[ak-zaaf]

wow, impressive sprint by bozic.

vacansoleil takes a stage. attacking every day and after that trying in the sprints.
good to see them win.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Farrar should never have lost it from there.
vacansoleil showing that they are leagues ahead of skil shimano.

 

[Bala Verde]

Farrar should never have lost it from there.
vacansoleil showing that they are leagues ahead of skil shimano.

to be fair, Skil was doing the TdF this year, not the vuelta, so the competition might have been a tad tougher...

 

[Mellow Velo]

Bozic does what he's been threatening to do, all week.
The mystery continues.
I haven't picked a podium spotter, since the prologue!
Evans beats Greipel?

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

that is true bala. But It's hard to argue that vacansoleil aren't better. I like skil, they ride with a lot of heart, but they just don't seem like a threat like vacansoleil are.

Bozic does what he's been threatening to do, all week.
The mystery continues.
I haven't picked a podium spotter, since the prologue!
Evans beats Greipel?

evans was so high up. I dunno if he is trying to find form for the worlds, or riding this high up to benefit from (minimal, like yesterday) time gaps in the field.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Cadel announced weeks ago that the worlds were his priorities not just yesterday. But he also said he would wait and see how he was going at Vuelta before switching to training mode.

Not may GC riders will attack early this Vuelta as the second rest day is after Stage 11, (why so early?) meaning there will be some very tired riders come the last couple of days.

IMO evans wants to win the vuelta, but my saying he has the worlds in mind he aputs less pressure on himself and less media expectation, which again helps with the pressure.

I think Evans will be the best of the GCrs on saturday, but I'm not so sure he will survive in the mountains, we'll see...

 

[Kimono]

Hilarious - the stage winner wrestling the champagne bottles! Podium girls got bored and left him standing there!