Vuelta a Espana Stage 2: La Nucía - Playas de Orihuela 175.5 km

[just some guy]

With the climb of Alto de Relleu, a category 3 mountain pass coming early a sprint finish is expected. Alessandro Petacchi won the stage that finished in the area last year.

All aboard the HTC express, whatever happens today the HTC train will be in full force for one the last times.The Peloton knows it and so do the HTC boys, they will do the work required to get the win, with 4 sprinters on the team it will be a fast and furious finial few km´s.

The 1st big Question will be asked of Marcel Kittel on this stage as well.

Weather - sunny and 32 degrees will be a hot one

 

[Jamsque]

Cav is on a long streak of failing to win the first sprint in a GT.

 

[Thomsena]

Bring on the crosswinds!

 

[royalpig180]

Cav is on a long streak of failing to win the first sprint in a GT.

+1.

Kittell should still be really strong coming off of the Tour of Poland. He's my pick to win this one.

 

[Fetisoff]

Farrar first, with Bennati close second

 

[Ferminal]

Sagan or Breschel.

 

[Fetisoff]

Is there time bonuses for intermediate sprints? What are they?

 

[jobiwan]

Bennati gets red tomorrow. But he won't win the stage!

 

[roundabout]

Is there time bonuses for intermediate sprints? What are they?

6-4-2 I assume.

Still no 2011 rule book up.

 

[Ferminal]

Bennati gets red tomorrow. But he won't win the stage!

Have to be worried about Sagan/Goss/Degenkolb.

(Or Purito going all Contador on us).

 

[Lance Armstrong]

Sagan to attack with 600m to go. Win by 3 seconds.

 

[Fetisoff]

Have to be worried about Sagan/Goss/Degenkolb.

(Or Purito going all Contador on us).

This is an interesting question. Will Purito want to put on a red before the ITT, or is he going to stay quiet and just try to stay as fresh for the TT?

 

[zapata]

I wonder about the form of Petacchi. All through the TDF I was waiting for him, but nothing happened. If he's in shape, I say he wins. If not, Bennati.

 

[icefire]

Cav is on a long streak of failing to win the first sprint in a GT.

With 270m at 8% in the last km that shouldn't come as a surprise

 

[icefire]

Bring on the crosswinds!

Bad luck. Soft tailwind is expected tomorrow.

 

[The Hitch]

6-4-2 I assume.

Still no 2011 rule book up.

What?

Why not 20, 12, 8?

Have to be worried about Sagan/Goss/Degenkolb.

(Or Purito going all Contador on us).

Yeah, I was just thinking that if Contador was here he would try it, and Purito might just could too. Anton might also give it a go. Maybe.

 

[roundabout]

What?

Why not 20, 12, 8?

20, 12, 8 at the finish.

6-4-2 at intermediate sprints.

 

[The Hitch]

This is an interesting question. Will Purito want to put on a red before the ITT, or is he going to stay quiet and just try to stay as fresh for the TT?

He has more stages going for him before than after the itt.

I know the tt comes early but so do the mountains.

 

[Descender]

This has Sagan written all over it.

 

[icefire]

He has more stages going for him before than after the itt.

I know the tt comes early but so do the mountains.

2 MTFs and 2 hills before the TT, and 4 MTFs after the ITT. It's a tie at best.

 

[Jamsque]

250m at 8% is nothing.

 

[jsem94]

Plus it's far enough from the finish to allow for sprinters to catch back up. It'll be a limited few contesting the finish though, the winner might be Bennati or Farrar.

 

[Michielveedeebee]

Imma go for a surprise Cav doesn't screws it up victory

 

[hfer07]

This is an interesting question. Will Purito want to put on a red before the ITT, or is he going to stay quiet and just try to stay as fresh for the TT?

better off to put some effort tomorrow & gain time rather than wait for the ITT to further lose time-which he will (luckily not much)
He & Sagan can do some damage tomorrow...........






& don't forget Anton-he can surprise too

 

[LaFleur]

So... what's the earliest broadcast tomorrow? Surely not Eurosport???