• The Cycling News forum is looking to add some volunteer moderators with Red Rick's recent retirement. If you're interested in helping keep our discussions on track, send a direct message to @SHaines here on the forum, or use the Contact Us form to message the Community Team.

    In the meanwhile, please use the Report option if you see a post that doesn't fit within the forum rules.

    Thanks!

Vuelta a España - Stage 9: September 7 - Alcoy - Xorret de Catí, 186km

May 6, 2009
8,522
1
0
Visit site
Vuelta a España - Stage 9: September 7 - Alcoy - Xorret de Catí, 186km

9_perfil.gif


Have to go for Samuel Sanchez for the win. If he gets clear over the top in 1st place, they won't see him again until the finish.
 
Mar 10, 2009
7,268
1
0
Visit site
Sanchez in the descent? Or how steep is the descent actually. Gesink said that his Spanish team mates told him it couldn't be called a descent in the true word. Valverde seems a good bet and Cunego showed his form yesterday.

More importantly, who will lose time today?

Gesink and Evans have shown on Huy and/or Montelupone that they can suffer on the shorter steeper climbs. But Basso? Danielson?

Where is Di Luca when you need him ;)
 
Mar 11, 2009
3,274
1
0
Visit site
from the live ticker:
Stijn Devolder
Belgian DEVOLDER Stijn (145) has won the Tour of Flanders on two occasions and is currently considered one of the leading Classics riders. His wins in the iconic Flemish race have converted him into a hero for cycling fans from the Low Lands. An all-round rider, he performs equally well in TTs and mountain stages. Although he attempted to compete for the GC in Grand Tours, finishing 12th in 2006 Vuelta and wearing the leader's jersey in the 2007 edition, he has since concentrated on one-day races and week-long tours.

That's a nice way to spin it. Thought Lefevere gave him a carte blanche for the tour.

The 7-man break is composed of DEVOLDER Stijn (145), LOPEZ GIL José Antonio (023), MARZANO Marco (126), CESAR VELOSO Gustavo (212), DE LA FUENTE RASILLA David (103), TAARAMAE Rein (079) and SANCHEZ PIMIENTA Julian (081)
Over 5 minutes now.
 
I finally picked a breakman, in DDLF, but he's already had a visit to the doc and a "mechanical"!:eek:

Cati is a "first to the top, wins", kind of finish. It may be like 4 Muy de Huys stacked on top of eachother, but it's a very short sharp decent.
Minimal time advantage can be gained there.

Even a "dead on his feet" Roscioli, managed to hold his finishing position, once over the top, back in 2000.....
 
Mar 10, 2009
7,268
1
0
Visit site
Hmm from the cyclingnews live report it seems like a rather boring stage. Nothing happening, break away 7m ahead and no one in the peloton interested in the stage win. Easy day in the saddle for Evans & co?

Rein taarame didn't he recently win the queen stage in tour de l'ain...
 
Jun 18, 2009
1,086
1
0
Visit site
Bala Verde said:
Sanchez in the descent? Or how steep is the descent actually. Gesink said that his Spanish team mates told him it couldn't be called a descent in the true word. Valverde seems a good bet and Cunego showed his form yesterday.

More importantly, who will lose time today?

Gesink and Evans have shown on Huy and/or Montelupone that they can suffer on the shorter steeper climbs. But Basso? Danielson?

Where is Di Luca when you need him ;)

According to Neil Stephens, it is fast, but only ~2km long.

There's a steep climb near the finish - 39x25 kind of stuff - then two or kilometres of fast descent. It's about 80 or 90km/h descending a windy road to the finish.
 
Mar 18, 2009
4,186
0
0
Visit site
Bala Verde said:
Hmm from the cyclingnews live report it seems like a rather boring stage. Nothing happening, break away 7m ahead and no one in the peloton interested in the stage win. Easy day in the saddle for Evans & co?

Rein taarame didn't he recently win the queen stage in tour de l'ain...

Nothing with the Xorret de Catí is easy.

I guarantee this break will be caught before the top of the climb. Watch them die when they get there ;)
 
Mar 11, 2009
3,274
1
0
Visit site
issoisso said:
Nothing with the Xorret de Catí is easy.

I guarantee this break will be caught before the top of the climb. Watch them die when they get there ;)

Devolder is thinking: pfff, it doesn't even have cobbles.
;)
 
Bala Verde said:
Hmm from the cyclingnews live report it seems like a rather boring stage. Nothing happening, break away 7m ahead and no one in the peloton interested in the stage win. Easy day in the saddle for Evans & co?

They look to be taking it easy, but I don't see how nothing can happen on the final climb. The grades are so steep that there will surely be gaps, even with the short descent.

The riders are mugging for the camera right now.
 
Mar 18, 2009
4,186
0
0
Visit site
ak-zaaf said:
Devolder is thinking: pfff, it doesn't even have cobbles.
;)

He'll still get dropped though :p

Anyway, the peloton has relaxed, so with 6 minutes they may very well stay away. 3 minutes, no chance at all. 4, doubtful. 6, very possible!
 
Mar 11, 2009
3,274
1
0
Visit site
issoisso said:
He'll still get dropped though :p

Anyway, the peloton has relaxed, so with 6 minutes they may very well stay away. 3 minutes, no chance at all. 4, doubtful. 6, very possible!


That makes it time to play the 'Which Lucky ******* Will Take Te Stage' game.

I'll go with Cesar Veloso. =/
 
issoisso said:
Nothing with the Xorret de Catí is easy.

I guarantee this break will be caught before the top of the climb. Watch them die when they get there ;)

I think I'd take that bet. They are not all Fabio Roscioli's up there.
Grovel? Yes
Die? Heavy casualties, but someone will survive.

issoisso said:
I'll go with De la Fuente

Ah...I see you have reviewed and gone for earlier pick.
 
Mar 18, 2009
4,186
0
0
Visit site
Mellow Velo said:
I think I'd take that bet. They are not all Fabio Roscioli's up there.
Grovel? Yes
Die? Heavy casualties, but someone will survive.

That post was made when the break's advantage was lower than it is now and it was coming down fast. They would've had 3 minutes tops at the bottom. Now they have far, far more :)
 
Jun 22, 2009
10,644
2
0
Visit site
BroDeal said:
They look to be taking it easy, but I don't see how nothing can happen on the final climb. The grades are so steep that there will surely be gaps, even with the short descent.

The riders are mugging for the camera right now.

for sure someone will go, and cause a reaction.
 
Mar 18, 2009
4,186
0
0
Visit site
Notice how only good climbers dared to get into the break. Everyone else wants to get there as fresh as possible so they can survive it.
This climb is very very good for Cunego. And Rodríguez, as someone posted on the first page.


Basso will lose time on a climb like this
 
Mar 11, 2009
3,274
1
0
Visit site
Wuyts is saying riders will have bodypainted sponsornames on their legs at the worlds.

On a more relevant note: are the really steep parts of this climb short enough for a classic guy like Gilbert?
If it's Redoute or Huy times 3 he might actually try to stay with Evans.
 
Mar 18, 2009
4,186
0
0
Visit site
ak-zaaf said:
Wuyts is saying riders will have bodypainted sponsornames on their legs at the worlds.

On a more relevant note: are the really steep parts of this climb short enough for a classic guy like Gilbert?
If it's Redoute or Huy times 3 he might actually try to stay with Evans.

Or he might try to drop Evans :D

But past experiences with this climb suggest that no, it's too long for such riders.
 
Mar 11, 2009
3,274
1
0
Visit site
issoisso said:
Or he might try to drop Evans :D

[aussiemode] He probably will! His team is only out to hurt him![/aussiemode]

He might try. Until now he seems to think the worlds are being held in this race.
 

TRENDING THREADS