Vuelta a España - Stage 8: September 6 - Alzira - Alto de Aitana, 206km

[issoisso]

Evans leads the GC!

 

[BroDeal]

This is like the best Tommy D has ridden in about four years. Must be the rice diet.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

always good to see a cunego win
Moncoutie unlucky.
Gesink showing he is here to compete, strong ride!

 

[Moondance]

Chapeau Gesink. Best of the GC riders, although I don't know whether we count Cunego among those now. He was 2:30 down on Evans at the start of the stage.

 

[ak-zaaf]

This is like the best Tommy D has ridden in about four years. Must be the rice diet.

Weight loss/Diet/Cadence!

Even you could win the tour!

 

[Bala Verde]

wow! Cunego timed his attack. Moncoutie almost had it, and then the little prince crushed him in the final K. Good to see Gesink is in for some action. He was 3rd, took time and bonus seconds.

Evans, Valverde and Sanchez took some time on Basso even... Let's see how Basso is going to attack his opponents in the next couple of days...

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Top 6 : Evans, valverde, Sanchez, Danielson, Basso.
Gesink the best of the GC riders, promising!

 

[ak-zaaf]

Let's see how Basso is going to attack his opponents in the next couple of days...

Basso just isn't that good.
Certainly not extra-terrestrial.

 

[Bala Verde]

Weight loss/Diet/Cadence!

Even you could win the tour!

Gluten free diet for the Garmin team is really paying off!

 

[BroDeal]

Weight loss/Diet/Cadence!

Even you could win the tour!

Sweet. I like like rice; I would fit right in. I don't know about the team kit though.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Evans in gold, should go down well with a few, here.
Top 6 all within 46" Top 3, within 3".
Couldn't ask for better.
Is the Little Prince finally back as a GT contender?
(Eurosport commentator's were all laughing and taking the piss)

Bro...you are back. Must be pleased with Tommy's day.

 

[Bala Verde]

Basso just isn't that good.
Certainly not extra-terrestrial.

He took a pull today and it seemed as if some were pushing it in the red zone. He just doesn't have that final acceleration, but on some steep, longer climbs, I still think he could wreck some havock one of these days.

And in a way, I prefer not seeing extra-terrestial action

 

[BroDeal]

Is the Little Prince finally back as a GT contender?

Heck, no. Cunego is a great one race rider now. When he picks his days and the right terrain he can ride with anyone.

 

[issoisso]

Basso just isn't that good.
Certainly not extra-terrestrial.

And especially with the climb tomorrow suiting everyone but him, he's out.

The Vuelta is long, though, and a lot of people that were great today are going to blow up completely in a week or so.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

that was better then the first tour "mountain" stage anyway

 

[ak-zaaf]

Sweet. I like like rice; I would fit right in. I don't know about the team kit though.

If you're on a program nowadays you need an ugly kit.
Just look at Telekom, Mapei, Kelme, Columbia.
It's the code.

 

[BroDeal]

He took a pull today and it seemed as if some were pushing it in the red zone. He just doesn't have that final acceleration, but on some steep, longer climbs, I still think he could wreck some havock one of these days.

And in a way, I prefer not seeing extra-terrestial action

This race will be a race of attrition. As long as Basso can ride consistently strong in all the mountains, many others will have a jour sans. He just has to keep the pressure on.

This week will be very interesting. I am not all that convinced by Evans. His ITT was not as good as usual. I don't think his form is anywhere near what it was during the Dauphine.

 

[Bala Verde]

If you're on a program nowadays you need an ugly kit.
Just look at Telekom, Mapei, Kelme, Columbia.
It's the code.

What about the poopy AG2R?

 

[ak-zaaf]

I am not all that convinced by Evans. His ITT was not as good as usual. I don't think his form is anywhere near what it was during the Dauphine.

But that could just be enough.
I'm not convinced by Valverde as a GC man. Basso need a new gyno. Saxo is out. Cunego is a classics man. Marchante is fragile. Gesink needs more years. Mosquera is hurt. Sanchez has everything to prove in a grand tour.

I think if Evans just plays his steady game, he could finally take his big win.

 

[ak-zaaf]

What about the poopy AG2R?

Flame me, but i love that kit.
But they we're pretty strong in the tour right?

 

[BroDeal]

But that could just be enough.
I'm not convinced by Valverde as a GC man. Basso need a new gyno. Saxo is out. Cunego is a classics man. Marchante is fragile. Gesink needs more years. Mosquera is hurt. Sanchez has everything to prove in a grand tour.

I think if Evans just plays his steady game, he could finally take his big win.

Nope, my man Tommy D. will win it. And I'll laugh my ass off if that happens.

I think Valverde will fade on one of the mountain stages...but then again, he has nothing to lose. He might be super "prepared."

 

[Moondance]

Flame me, but i love that kit.

I agree. It's unlike any other jersey and I like the colour scheme.

 

[Cobber]

Wow... what a great stage today. It's also good to see all of the favorites still in the hint after the first week and after the first mountain stage. The next week or so are going to be really fun to watch!

 

[Bala Verde]

Flame me, but i love that kit.
But they we're pretty strong in the tour right?

Touché!

about the kit, I think it's 'interesting', and certainly not dull, or mainstream . Somehow I prefer the Liquigas colours.

I am still waiting for Rabobank to come up with something 'interesting' before I can support the team haha.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Nope, my man Tommy D. will win it. And I'll laugh my ass off if that happens.

About 50/50 Him or Cunego.
I would have thought the Italian would have favoured Cati, for his stage win, so, all in all, a day of surprises.
(except for Caisse doing a USPS, doing a Disco, doing an Astana....)