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

[Kwibus]

Yeah, it is, but you can never be prepared for illnesses, as shown by Cav and Goss. Also I'm not sure that he retired, might just be helping Moncoutie for the KOM and try a stage. Let's see if he appears in the results

That's true, but it's too be expected though. Cofidis should've never let him ride the Vuelta imo.

 

[jsem94]

Terrible stage. My favorite rider lost 1.37 while 25-30 riders were still left in the peloton. Also, incredibly boring. Too much of a Lautaret type climb.

I wonder what Anton will have to say, maybe he forgot to eat or something. I hope he can come around, I mean - Menchov and Kruijswijk lost about this much yesterday.

 

[Kwibus]

Terribly disappointed for Anton, but I don't think it's time to throw it in just yet.

Dissapointing indeed. There are still plenty of opportunities for him, but somehow I get the feeling he will be dissapointing most of this Vuelta. Let's hope not!

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Things that happened today:

1) Anton cracked.
2) Cavendish out.
3) Taaramae out.
4) Nibali attacked on the way up a mountain, on the very day a row broke out here (again) about whether he ever attacks on a climb.
5) Some of the riders whose performance level was very hard to read showed that they have at least a semi-decent level of form - Wiggins, Menchov, Martin, JVDB.

 

[Kwibus]

Terrible stage. My favorite rider lost 1.37 while 25-30 riders were still left in the peloton. Also, incredibly boring. Too much of a Lautaret type climb.

I wonder what Anton will have to say, maybe he forgot to eat or something. I hope he can come around, I mean - Menchov and Kruijswijk lost about this much yesterday.

Maybe it's an ideal stage this early in a GT. It makes a nice selection which creates a more relaxed peloton I think. They should try this in the TdF next year. It's not a climb which will create huge gaps unless an inform Contador goes nuts with 8k to go, but that's not likely in the first week.
Allthough Mt.Etna was in the first week of the Giro...

 

[LaFleur]

Things that happened today:

1) Anton cracked.
2) Cavendish out.
3) Taaramae out.
4) Nibali attacked on the way up a mountain, on the very day a row broke out here (again) about whether he ever attacks on a climb.
5) Some of the riders whose performance level was very hard to read showed that they have at least a semi-decent level of form - Wiggins, Menchov, Martin, JVDB.

I just can't call the thing that Nibali did an attack. If that's an attack, Schlecks are beasts! I mean, he did 2-3 quicker pedalstrokes and started looking back and fell through the group.



PS! - I don't think Nibali is a wheelsucker.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

where did Kash end up??

 

[WillyWoet]

Cav out

Cavendish DNF. Maybe Sky's hard riding on The front yesterday killed him off. Now his pre-Worlds training is f-uped. So no rainbow jersey on The Sky Team next year ....

 

[hatcher]

where did Kash end up??

He hasn't showed up on the official result yet.

http://www.lavuelta.com/11/en/resultados/index.html?e=4

 

[Poursuivant]

Anton was struggling yesterday too so it doesnt bode well for him. Maybe he can target a stage. I wouldnt rule him out of GC just yet though. Really pleased Wiggins is looking good, albeit really early. He may come to depend on Lovkvist and Froome who was superb today. I think today was the kind of stage to suit Wiggins because its not so steep, and he can go at a steady tempo. Theres still loads of contenders and I think it is very open. Nibali looked strong too, but like I said, its early doors.

 

[hatcher]

Cavendish DNF. Maybe Sky's hard riding on The front yesterday killed him off. Now his pre-Worlds training is f-uped. So no rainbow jersey on The Sky Team next year ....

EBH will win.

I think as/if Cav pulled out due to illness, he will get dispensation to ride Tour of Britain or other races.

 

[Damiano Machiavelli]

I think as/if Cav pulled out due to illness, he will get dispensation to ride Tour of Britain or other races.

Cav gets ill when the road goes up. If he is too sick to complete the race then he is too sick to do another.

 

[theyoungest]

Terrible stage. My favorite rider lost 1.37 while 25-30 riders were still left in the peloton. Also, incredibly boring. Too much of a Lautaret type climb.

I wonder what Anton will have to say, maybe he forgot to eat or something. I hope he can come around, I mean - Menchov and Kruijswijk lost about this much yesterday.

The difference being that they didn't lose the time because they couldn't follow: Kruijswijk and (supposedly) Menchov both had mechanicals.

Is Taaramae out? Totally missed that. Why?

 

[Papparrazzi]

Why was Froome pulling on the front 5km to go? What was to be gained from that?

 

[cineteq]

Virtual GC

5 NIBALI, Vincenzo LIQ
11 MARTIN, Daniel GRM a 13
12 VAN DEN BROECK, Jurgen OLO a 14
13 RODRIGUEZ, Joaquin KAT a 21'
14 NIEVE, Mikel EUS a 24
15 BRAJKOVIC, Janez RSH a 25
16 ZUBELDIA, Haimar RSH m.t.
17 MOLLEMA, Bauke RAB a 26
19 SCARPONI, Michele LAM a 28
21 WIGGINS, Bradley SKY a 38
22 COBO, Juan José GEO a 39
24 MACHADO, Tiago RSH a 46
25 SASTRE, Carlos GEO a 59
32 KRUIJSWIJK, Steven RAB a 1:49
35 ANTON, Igor EUS a 1:51
37 DUARTE, Fabio Andrés GEO a 2:02
38 MENCHOV, Denis GEO a 2:02

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Why was Froome pulling on the front 5km to go? What was to be gained from that?

Presumably Wiggins was feeling good and thought that a higher tempo might drop a few more guys.

 

[hfer07]

just two observations:

*Anton is gone & somehow a couple folks here along with me saw it coming -sad day indeed knowing the excitement he brings to the race-perhaps he'll have free reign to hunt stage wins as a consolation price
*Nibali is doing everything right- like him or not- he's controlling the race as he sees it convenient & i'm afraid he's setting the scenario for his 2nd Vuelta title.

 

[ingsve]

Why was Froome pulling on the front 5km to go? What was to be gained from that?

Well, presumable Wiggins was feeling good so potentially putting time into some people could be one reason. Though anyone who would be dropped would not be a threat in the end anyway.

 

[theyoungest]

Presumably Wiggins was feeling good and thought that a higher tempo might drop a few more guys.

Wiggins probably likes a steady tempo, to discourage the more plucky climbers from attacking.

 

[hatcher]

Why was Froome pulling on the front 5km to go? What was to be gained from that?

Maybe to ride at a pace suitable for Wiggins. Maybe to up the pace and drop some more people off the back.

 

[ingsve]

Virtual GC

5 NIBALI, Vincenzo LIQ
11 MARTIN, Daniel GRM a 13
12 VAN DEN BROECK, Jurgen OLO a 14
13 RODRIGUEZ, Joaquin KAT a 21'
14 NIEVE, Mikel EUS a 24
15 BRAJKOVIC, Janez RSH a 25
16 ZUBELDIA, Haimar RSH m.t.
17 MOLLEMA, Bauke RAB a 26
19 SCARPONI, Michele LAM a 28
21 WIGGINS, Bradley SKY a 38
22 COBO, Juan José GEO a 39
24 MACHADO, Tiago RSH a 46
25 SASTRE, Carlos GEO a 59
32 KRUIJSWIJK, Steven RAB a 1:49
35 ANTON, Igor EUS a 1:51
37 DUARTE, Fabio Andrés GEO a 2:02
38 MENCHOV, Denis GEO a 2:02

No faith in Kessiakoff?

 

[just some guy]

Why was Froome pulling on the front 5km to go? What was to be gained from that?

Higher speed less likely to have attacks from riders which Wiggins could not follow and therefore lose time. So was smart

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Wiggins probably likes a steady tempo, to discourage the more plucky climbers from attacking.

Good point, and much more likely than caring about whether or not the guys who came 25th to 30th get dropped. Although, I suppose he might have wanted to finish Anton.

 

[roundabout]

Taaramäe hasn't retired (yet). 16.45 behind today

 

[LaFleur]

Taaramäe hasn't retired (yet). 16.45 behind today

Where is this from? Official site gives me no times.