Vuelta a Espana, Stage 8: Talavera de la Reina - San Lorenzo de El Escorial, 183km

[luckyboy]

Heh, Nibali only 45 seconds down on the GC. Rodriguez needs quite a lot more time.

Menchov would have to hang on through the mountains because he's a TT's worth of time down on J-Rod now.

 

[ingsve]

Looks like Anton isn't dead yet. A podium should still be out of reach but he could still get a top 10 if this stage is a sign for days to come.

 

[dlwssonic]

I think VDB forgot Gilbert is not racing.

 

[Zoncolan]

VDB looking good. Great to see Anton finding his legs again. Should be a great stage tomorrow.
Hope Menchov and Anton get some time and are back in the mix.
Very sorry to see Sastre that far back. Really thought he was back on for a possible podium place.

 

[roundabout]

Yea but he's not being asked to sacrifice himself for the Schlecks, so that they can usher Gilbert through ahead of them.

The most impressive thing about Fuglsang is that he had like 80 days of racing this season already.

He also seems to ride better for himself.

 

[Nielsa]

Jesus, JVDB you couldn't have made an effort for those bonus seconds?

Kessiakoff, very nice. He only lost 56 seconds to Grabsch in the Austria ITT maybe he can keep his top 10 for a while. Until the end?

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Looks like Anton isn't dead yet. A podium should still be out of reach but he could still get a top 10 if this stage is a sign for days to come.

But if he doesn't lose too much more time, and is still relatively close when we get to next weekend, the possibility of a podium could EXPLODE the race on Farrapona and Anglirú. Could be some horrible days for the power climbers in store if Antón truly is back to form.

 

[Michielveedeebee]

Sastre at 1.33 game over

Sastre was never in the game

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Just want to register how much I approve of having the TT before the rest day, rather than after.

Not just because of the bank holiday either.

 

[The Hitch]

Hate this. .

Why dont you like Purito lucky? Hes one of those characters that loves the sport, goes 100% in every race, and is well overdue a major victory.

Whats not to like?

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

But if he doesn't lose too much more time, and is still relatively close when we get to next weekend, the possibility of a podium could EXPLODE the race on Farrapona and Anglirú. Could be some horrible days for the power climbers in store if Antón truly is back to form.

True love never dies...

 

[cineteq]

GC
1 RODRIGUEZ, Joaquin KAT 32h 18' 16''
2 MORENO, Daniel KAT + 32''
3 FUGLSANG, Jakob LEO + 34''
4 NIBALI, Vincenzo LIQ + 45''
5 SCARPONI, Michele LAM + 51''
6 KESSIAKOFF, Fredrik AST + 54''
7 VAN DEN BROECK, Jurgen OLO + 56''
8 CHAVANEL, Sylvain QST + 1' 00''
9 MOLLEMA, Bauke RAB + 1' 00''
10 MONFORT, Maxime LEO + 1' 01''
11 BRUSEGHIN, Marzio MOV + 1' 09''
12 NIEVE, Mikel EUS + 1' 14''
14 ZUBELDIA, Haimar RSH + 1' 17''
16 BRAJKOVIC, Janez RSH + 1' 33''
17 COBO, Juan José GEO + 1' 41''
19 SIVTSOV, Kanstantsin THR + 1' 46''
21 WIGGINS, Bradley SKY + 1' 48''
22 MARTIN, Daniel GRM + 2' 03''
23 ROCHE, Nicolas ALM + 2' 06''
24 MACHADO, Tiago RSH + 2' 20''
27 MENCHOV, Denis GEO + 2' 54''
29 KRUIJSWIJK, Steven RAB + 3' 03'''
31 ANTON, Igor EUS + 3' 28''
32 SASTRE, Carlos GEO + 3' 28''

 

[jobiwan]

Sastre was never in the game

Yep, he lost pretty early...

 

[Michielveedeebee]

Jesus, VdB you couldn't have made an effort for those bonus seconds?

Kessiakoff, very nice. He only lost 56 seconds to Grabsch in the Austria ITT so should be able to keep his top 10 for a while. Until the end?

He might with some luck

 

[roundabout]

Sastre was never in the game

Yes, but now there's no point in even pretending.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Why dont you like Purito. Hes one of those characters that loves the sport, goes 100% in every race, and is well overdue a major victory.

Whats not to like?

Everyone knows ALL Spanish climbers are clinic topics.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Just want to register how much I approve of having the TT before the rest day, rather than after.

Not just because of the bank holiday either.

Definitely. 100% behind this - the GC men will really have to consider their efforts and the gaps from the ITT could be bigger as a result, giving us a more interesting race when we get to next week.

 

[Lanark]

Weak day for Nibali, or genuinely gimpy from the crash. Tomorrow will tell.

Time gaps were pretty muted apart from Jrod, who starts 3 minutes behind everyone else, so good watching, but probably not that decisive for GC.

Or just not the shape of last year. At Valdapenas he didn't come close to last year's performance either.

I wouldn't say the time gaps were completely inconsequential, Rodriguez takes 45 seconds on Wiggins today. But apart from Rodriguez, most GC-favorites were pretty close.

 

[cineteq]

Why dont you like Purito. Hes one of those characters that loves the sport, goes 100% in every race, and is well overdue a major victory. Whats not to like?

What don't you like Nibali?

 

[Thomsena]

Yea but he's not being asked to sacrifice himself for the Schlecks, so that they can usher Gilbert through ahead of them.

Perhaps he is using less energy on complaining about a 1% downhill before the finish line when the two sisters aren't around him No, I'm just glad he is doing alright. Should be a possible top 5 in Madrid.

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

JRod stripped Scarponi's bike! Holy ****!

I guess 20% or more slope will do that to someone, making them look average like Hitch mentioned.

Jeez, I thought it looked like going up the streets of San Francisco in places, but with much shorter flats between the pitches

 

[Kwibus]

That finish from TGBM should trigger a frenetic burst of posting from Dutchieland.
Kruijswijk bombed though.

I have no idea if these kind of finishes suit Kruijswijk though or if he's in really good form either.
I do know that Mollema is kinda punchy so these finishes should suit him, but he isn't Purito

 

[theyoungest]

That finish from TGBM should trigger a frenetic burst of posting from Dutchieland.
Kruijswijk bombed though.

I think the Belgians will be more inclined to post about that b*stard TGBM

He's starting to look better and better. But of course it's still complete chauvinism to consider him more of a favourite for top-10 than, say, Dan Martin...

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Another crap day for BMC at la vuelta, at least they tried.
This Hill top finishes would have been much more exciting if gilbert and evans were included.

vintage cadel-less bmc aka they suck.

 

[Michielveedeebee]

I guess 20% or more slope will do that to someone, making them look average like Hitch mentioned.

Jeez, I thought it looked like going up the streets of San Francisco in places, but with much shorter flats between the pitches

that was great you see the riders all tilted upwards then seem flat for like a bike lenght and tilt upwards again ^^