Vuelta a Espana Stage 4: Baza - Sierra Nevada 170.2 km

[El Pistolero]

Seriously? It's his third GT of the year and the first stage that suits him is a week in. Cavendish clearly cares about the Vuelta because that's the only reason to do all three GTs in a year.

There was no chance of him finishing the stage within the time limit and abandoning was the sensible thing to do. Why make something worse for the sake of it?

He rode 1.3 GTs this season.

 

[Angliru]

But how is it possible that Anton made such a mess out of a season goal?

Seriously. How do you manage that. He didn't fall or get sick this time either

Maybe altered his prep in someway thinking it would serve him better. Wiggins' followup to his 2009 success was a disaster and Hjesdal's followup to his 2010 breakthrough was well short of his expectations I'm sure. He (Anton)didn't completely blow up though, losing 1 minute and a half isn't devastating but of course it is disappointing and makes his chances of winning the overall quite slim.

 

[hrotha]

The problem is not the time he lost, the problem is each day he's had +40 dudes outclimbing him, which means his form is abysmal.

 

[Angliru]

Anton is overrated. Dunno why every man and his dog was picking him to win. VDB and Wiggins looked good as did Nibali. Good win for Moreno though I was hoping Noddy would win.

He was winning the Vuelta after almost 2 weeks before crashing out last year.
He had shown he was the dominant rider in the mountains up to that point. To have expectations that he could be one of the race's top contenders based on that alone isn't that much of a stretch.

As far as his being overrated, who is doing the rating? If it is you then of course you are entitled to your opinion. Still his performances last year in the Ardennes and this year at the Giro should put him in fairly good company. As Euskaltel brings their young riders along quite slowly and conservatively IMO it's reasonable to anticipate Anton growing as a rider and consequently his performances rising to a higher level of consistency, maybe not this year but in the future. He's obviously a fine talent with a big upside.

 

[Angliru]

The problem is not the time he lost, the problem is each day he's had +40 dudes outclimbing him, which means his form is abysmal.

My post was prior to finding out the results of today's stage and my trying to hold out hope that he would find his climbing legs. On the plus side he lost less than a minute today compared to yesterday's minute + and only 37 finished in front of him today. He's taking babysteps in finding his legs.

Well Nieve is looking good!