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

[auscyclefan94]

Excuse me while I throw up.

Well he has reconned the finish and the profile of the final climb is quite decent. I don't necessarily agree with him but some big time gaps could really open.

 

[roundabout]

When the sport is being reduced to a serious of uphill sprints encouraged by the overly generous time bonuses it is really sickening.

But of course Rodriguez is right that it will create gaps because he can't get them in the proper mountains.

 

[auscyclefan94]

When the sport is being reduced to a serious of uphill sprints encouraged by the overly generous time bonuses it is really sickening.

But of course Rodriguez is right that it will create gaps because he can't get them in the proper mountains.

You don't rate Rodriguez? Saying he can't create the real gaps in the mountains surely a little harsh?

 

[wirral]

Temp drops to 22 degrees.

 

[hrotha]

You actually know people that would go to a cycling race with you?

Wow.

Ive yet to even meet a person who knows who Alberto Contador is.

Fat chance. Some of my friends go out on their bikes with me but I don't think any of them has ever been to a race, and only one or two of them watch cycling from time to time.

 

[The Hitch]

Chavanel with Quickstep should just set a false tempo for the rest of the day. With the people in the break they won't threaten his gc lead and the peloton may lose interest in contesting the finale.

J Rod wants that red jersey before the tt and should be able to put 23 seconds into Chavannel on that finish even if there are no bonus seconds. Unless hes injured of course.

So why would he soft pedal

 

[Fetisoff]

But of course Rodriguez is right that it will create gaps because he can't get them in the proper mountains.

Yep, and of course he never attacks till the last 300 meters of the race ***caugh caugh, dauphine stage 6, caugh***

 

[Libertine Seguros]

When the sport is being reduced to a serious of uphill sprints encouraged by the overly generous time bonuses it is really sickening.

But of course Rodriguez is right that it will create gaps because he can't get them in the proper mountains.

Maybe you don't recall, but he won a mountain stage last year and was the last man left with Contador on Anglirú in 2008.

 

[Delicato]

Yep, and of course he never attacks till the last 300 meters of the race ***caugh caugh, dauphine stage 6, caugh***

The GT stages count, not the one-week race where nobody of TDF contenders really push hard.

 

[icefire]

why does la vuelta televise their stages so late?

Stages use to finish later than the Tour. And they're on a very tight budget to televise the full stage. They don't even have a mobile studio in the race.

 

[just some guy]

2 become 4

193 Haussler
18 Montaguti
49 Fouchard
25 Palomares

de kort still @ 5.20

peloton @ 8.17

104 km to go

 

[Fetisoff]

The GT stages count, not the one-week race where nobody of TDF contenders really push hard.

Oh yeah, I forgot... "It's a **** race anyway (c)"

 

[The Hitch]

But of course Rodriguez is right that it will create gaps because he can't get them in the proper mountains.

Rodriguez cracked Nibali on the queen stage last year for 40 seconds. He put 20 seconds into Nibali on Pena Cabarga.

This year when he got over his illness he dropped the group on the Finnestre stage. And nibali got dropped by the group.

He put 1 and a half minutes into Nibali there.

So yes he can gain time in the mountains.

Not to mention he was 3rd on Tourmalet behind Al and Andy (though probably would have been 3rd if Samu hadnt had a broken wrist).

 

[hrotha]

Obviously Purito is better on the hills than on the proper mountains but that doesn't mean he's not a great climber.

 

[roundabout]

Maybe you don't recall, but he won a mountain stage last year and was the last man left with Contador on Anglirú in 2008.

He won a fearsome mountain stage with 2 climbs in it with the last 6k long.

And with the customary attack in the last 1500 meters.

Guess my memory is working fine, thank you very much.

Also I like how people bring up a couple of stage 3rd places as an example of Rodriguez's prowess in the high mountains. Can't help but shake my head.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

How long left ?

 

[Fetisoff]

He won a fearsome mountain stage with 2 climbs in it with the last 6k long.

And with the customary attack in the last 1500 meters.

Guess my memory is working fine, thank you very much.

Also I like how people bring up a couple of stage 3rd places as an example of Rodriguez's prowess in the high mountains. Can't help but shake my head.

Well, my example was a first place. With a long attack... But yeah, then you'll just say it's a **** race and it doesn't count. If it was a GT, you'd say it's a **** GT with no main contenders present, or something... anyway.

Also, Contador must really suck in the high mountains, judging by his last two TDF's. How many mountain stages has he won??? Giro's a **** unimportant race anyway (C)

 

[khardung la]

But of course Rodriguez is right that it will create gaps because he can't get them in the proper mountains.

IMO today they ride a mountainous stage, with about 3000 m of climb. The last of the climbs is short (3,8 km), but it is a proper climb and not just a short wall.

 

[cineteq]

How long left ?

3 hours maybe?

 

[just some guy]

How long left ?

97 km

peloton 6.17 behind 4

 

[Fetisoff]

How long left ?

100 Km.. mostly flat/uphill. So at 34 avg, yeah about 3 hours


Katusha chasing, lead reduced. Good news, Purito must be feeling good after his fall yesterday. Hope nibbles and scarponi are ok too

 

[Michielveedeebee]

Oh yeah, I forgot... "It's a **** race anyway (c)"

+1 Nice one Fetisoff

 

[Libertine Seguros]

He won a fearsome mountain stage with 2 climbs in it with the last 6k long.

And with the customary attack in the last 1500 meters.

Guess my memory is working fine, thank you very much.

Also I like how people bring up a couple of stage 3rd places as an example of Rodriguez's prowess in the high mountains. Can't help but shake my head.

You're saying he can't gain any time.

Yes, I'm talking up the 3rd place to Anglirú. Because nobody in this field is as good as Contador or Valverde, and J-Rod was a domestique that day.

And the 2 people who beat him to Sestrières? One of them was in the breakaway, the other isn't here. However, J-Rod's opposition for the Vuelta were, and he beat them all.

The steeper a climb, the more it suits Rodríguez. Most of the really steep stuff is short, hence why that's what he's better at. You're stretching your definitions a bit if you consider Xorret del Catí or Peña Cabarga to be "hills" though. What is a "proper" mountain? I hereby declare that Mark Cavendish is a rubbish cyclist because he can't win any "proper" stages. When pushed for my definition of "proper" stages, I can state "stages Mark Cavendish can't win".

Besides, you said J-Rod couldn't gain time in the mountains. You didn't specify it had to be by attacking with more than 1500m to go, or on mountains that were longer than 10km, or where he won the stage. It's perfectly feasible to gain time without winning the stage, simply by finishing ahead of your other GC rivals, especially if the people who finish ahead of you are irrelevant to that battle.

 

[icefire]

Teledeporte is live

 

[roundabout]

You're saying he can't gain any time.

Yes, I'm talking up the 3rd place to Anglirú. Because nobody in this field is as good as Contador or Valverde, and J-Rod was a domestique that day.

And the 2 people who beat him to Sestrières? One of them was in the breakaway, the other isn't here. However, J-Rod's opposition for the Vuelta were, and he beat them all.

The steeper a climb, the more it suits Rodríguez. Most of the really steep stuff is short, hence why that's what he's better at. You're stretching your definitions a bit if you consider Xorret del Catí or Peña Cabarga to be "hills" though. What is a "proper" mountain? I hereby declare that Mark Cavendish is a rubbish cyclist because he can't win any "proper" stages. When pushed for my definition of "proper" stages, I can state "stages Mark Cavendish can't win".

Besides, you said J-Rod couldn't gain time in the mountains. You didn't specify it had to be by attacking with more than 1500m to go, or on mountains that were longer than 10km, or where he won the stage. It's perfectly feasible to gain time without winning the stage, simply by finishing ahead of your other GC rivals, especially if the people who finish ahead of you are irrelevant to that battle.

Show me where I wrote "hills" in relation to Rodriguez on this thread and then we can discuss hopefully without you deliberately misunderstanding me.