Vuelta a España - Stage 8 Villena - Xorret del Catí 190km

[icefire]

Cervelo and Leakygas at the front of the bunch

 

[The Hitch]

I don't think Kelly was saying that the breakaway won't escape, but instead that the GC contenders teams won't feel the need to chase like hell even if the breakaway gets fifteen minutes.

Nope. He said that the gap is still small and tha even if it doubles to 15 minutes, Katusha and co dont need to chase to hard just yet because they will take back lots of time on the final climb.

He just said it again. This time saying 13 instead of 15 minutes.

 

[Not Riding Enough]

Cervelo and Leakygas at the front of the bunch

but why????

 

[icefire]

Even if there were still two races (one for the stage, another one for the GC), everyone in the peloton knows that the last climb is relatively narrow. They need to accelerate the race to reduce the bunch size and start the climb in a good position.

 

[vcampbell]

Seems like Sean Kelly is know anything about cycling

 

[The Hitch]

well either way, the gap is falling down, falling down, falling down.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Another Valverde Spanish flag. I see pitis name all over the hills in the places where the fans use chalk to give support. Looks like Spains is solidly behind Alejandro.

Murcia is his home region, though we're moving into Comunidad Valenciana now; the last couple of days we've been going around his local areas, so there are perhaps more that you'll see at this part of the race.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Hands up all those who know what Cervelo are planning?

 

[The Hitch]

Why are cervelo pulling? I dont see Tondo taking the bonus seconds, and Carlos had his grave dug when they forced him to ride the tour.

 

[zapata]

gabriel rasch of cervelo is commentating for norwegian eurosport today,and his best guess was that tondo wanted the stage.

 

[Mellow Velo]

It's a mystery to me.
David Harmon now has Phil Deignan falling in the wrong GT.
Think Blockhaus stage of the Giro, David.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Why are cervelo pulling? I dont see Tondo taking the bonus seconds, and Carlos had his grave dug when they forced him to ride the tour.

I don't get it either. Deignan and Co were really hammering the pace there.

 

[icefire]

Cervelo men are looking for a new contract

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Since i didnt have time to give a prediction in the OP, i will do it now.

The official thread prediction :
Igor Anton to win if the contenders go for it on the climb.
Nibali to win if they approach it like the tour and take it easy up the climb since there is a descent on the other side.

it really isn't a technical descent. Not even nibali will lose his compatriots there.short and simple.

 

[Menndo]

I don´t understand Cervelo movement, maybe Sastre is just looking for attention

 

[Not Riding Enough]

Even if there were still two races (one for the stage, another one for the GC), everyone in the peloton knows that the last climb is relatively narrow. They need to accelerate the race to reduce the bunch size and start the climb in a good position.

Well the bunch size didn't get reduced just the gap by 3 min. I still don't know why Cervello did it.

 

[zapata]

He! Even Gabriel Rasch just admitted that he found cervelo's effort "meaningless".

 

[The Hitch]

I don´t understand Cervelo movement, maybe Sastre is just looking for attention

He gets more attentione every time he finishes hilly stages 1 minute down.

 

[Zoncolan]

Tschopp FTW.

 

[The Hitch]

it really isn't a technical descent. Not even nibali will lose his compatriots there.short and simple.

I guess. But someone has to win a sprint if the gc guys are contesting the stage win. Why not nibali. Besides, even if its not technical, i think he can drop the others if he wants to.

Looks like break will win this though

 

[DAOTEC]

Branislau Samoilau out ... abandon

 

[theyoungest]

I guess. But someone has to win a sprint if the gc guys are contesting the stage win. Why not nibali. Besides, even if its not technical, i think he can drop the others if he wants to.

Looks like break will win this though

He says it's not technical because Gesink managed to return to the front group on this descent last year After which the famous Evansian headbutt ensued.

 

[Jamsque]

If the climb really is as fierce as it is supposed to be then five minutes could very well be brought back.

 

[Zoncolan]

If the climb really is as fierce as it is supposed to be then five minutes could very well be brought back.

3.8 km. Too short.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

He says it's not technical because Gesink managed to return to the front group on this descent last year After which the famous Evansian headbutt ensued.

yeah. If memory serves me right it was practically flat (slightly downhil) and had minimal bends. Can't imagine nibali getting away.