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

[Libertine Seguros]

it seems like the crash has affected nibali. a bloody shame as i really think he was on his way to winning back to back vueltas.

machado disappointing once again . . . no longer a surprise

Since when was this Machado territory? Tomorrow is more for him, and the ITT should be of use to him. La Manzaneda might suit him best of what remains.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Havent seen much mention of the two br's* yet - Bruseghin and Brajkovic. Both can time trial well and i dont think these short steep finishes are ideal for them. Tomorrow will be a good test to see how they do on the longer climbs. Cant see them podiuming, more a test of whether they are going to compete for the lesser places.






*Maybe its too hot for them?

Bruseghin made it to the top 10 of the 2008 Vuelta, which started in Andalucía and included Anglirú, and that was after doing the Giro (finished 3rd) and Tour (finished 21st) too. On the other hand he's now 37.

I think that due to his affinity for donkeys he can only perform well on Vuelta routes that go through Catalunya.

 

[Michielveedeebee]

Really impressed by Fuglsang who seems to finally have stepped up as a genuine GC contender. Of course, the real mountains haven't started yet, but at least he shows he can be consistent. Could be a real dark horse, I think he will be in the leader's jersey after the time trial.

Same could be said about Monfort....

 

[Frosty]

Bruseghin made it to the top 10 of the 2008 Vuelta, which started in Andalucía and included Anglirú, and that was after doing the Giro (finished 3rd) and Tour (finished 21st) too. On the other hand he's now 37.

I think that due to his affinity for donkeys he can only perform well on Vuelta routes that go through Catalunya.

Yeah he's getting on and maybe Clinic matters may play a part too. He was going along in 6th last year before his hopes ended in the Anton crash.

 

[maltiv]

Same could be said about Monfort....

Indeed. He deserves a result here, that guy has been a domestique far too much.

 

[Gingerale]

i really hope Nibali isn't injured. he and Liquigas were so much fun watching on stage 6. (also hope he's not still unhappy about how that stage ended) what bad luck on stage 7 too!

great to see Anton is coming around. JRod smashed the climb!

so far i like the riders and this Vuelta. no clear winner.

at least whoever wins GC won't win in the ITT. a strong ride in the ITT will have to be backed up by defending on some big climbing stages.

not thinking of cadel. he's grown on me. (thinking of levi )

 

[El Pistolero]

Everyone knows ALL Spanish climbers are clinic topics.

50% of the decent time trial specialists in Britain have already tested positive.

 

[Irish2009]

Ireland is not part of the UK. Our 4 riders in the Pro Tour are as Irish as Wiggans(Belguim) and Millar(Hong Kong) are British

 

[Walkman]

50% of the decent time trial specialists in Britain have already tested positive.

To be fair, Britan have one guy who can time trial these days...

 

[LaFleur]

I remember somebody asking about the reason of the Nicholas Edet abandon. Apparently he had a constant nose bleed and he was forced to abandon by the team.

 

[hrotha]

I remember somebody asking about the reason of the Nicholas Edet abandon. Apparently he had a constant nose bleed and he was forced to abandon by the team.

Someone's been hanging out with Boonen and O'Grady.

 

[luckyboy]

To be fair, Britan have one guy who can time trial these days...

As much as I don't care much for Millar, he still won the Giro TT this year.

 

[Nielsa]

Someone's been hanging out with Boonen and O'Grady.

I snorted.

 

[Michielveedeebee]

I snorted.

So did they

 

[Richeypen]

As much as I don't care much for Millar, he still won the Giro TT this year.

And silver at the World Championships last year

 

[no crostis no party]

Got up at 8:15 fully intending to go to El Escorial, check that 20% gradient by myself and see the stage finish, but I couldn't be arsed because no one was coming with me. So TV it is.

It's 20%; makes Valdepenas look easy. I'm no cycle computer so I can't confirm positively, but it's the nastiest finish I've seen in 4 years of doing all the grand tours. The cobbles were "Mater" like for about a k, then they flattened out for about 500 meters, then the pitch went up. There were two ramps that were well over 25%, IMO, and the whole thing, from the underpass at 2.5 k was extremely hard.

Crowd liked some of the moto's catching air as the road passed over cross streets.

I road Valdepenas de Jaen 4 times to feel it right, rode San Lorenzo El Escorial twice, didn't have the energy to do it again. I rode in from Avila, and a couple climbs while not catagorized, were really tough, and should have been cat 3's.

I've ridden parts of all the stages, except 7, and it's really hard as reported elsewhere.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

50% of the decent time trial specialists in Britain have already tested positive.

100% of posters named El Pistolero can't spot a joke.

 

[El Pistolero]

100% of posters named El Pistolero can't spot a joke.

Actually, I made one. Just not as funny when it's about the British huh

 

[jens_attacks]

purito the boss,awesome win.
glad to see igor anton back

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Actually, I made one. Just not as funny when it's about the British huh

My joke was hyperbole. Your's was the hilarity of fact.

 

[Mellow Velo]

My joke was hyperbole. Your's was the hilarity of fact.

This post should take him a while to figure out.

 

[El Pistolero]

This post should take him a while to figure out.

No, he's stating the reason why I made the joke in the first place.

Besides, I don't care if people think Spanish people dope. I'd be more fishy about Moreno than Jrod though.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

No, he's stating the reason why I made the joke in the first place.

Besides, I don't care if people think Spanish people dope. I'd be more fishy about Moreno than Jrod though.

My post was never about saying Spanish people dope though. It was mocking people who think that. That's why what I posted was a joke, and what you posted was just weird.

But nevermind.

 

[El Pistolero]

My post was never about saying Spanish people dope though. It was mocking people who think that. That's why what I posted was a joke, and what you posted was just weird.

But nevermind.

I was just making fun of British athletes(who never seem to be really English on top of that)

 

[The Hitch]

No, he's stating the reason why I made the joke in the first place.

Besides, I don't care if people think Spanish people dope. I'd be more fishy about Moreno than Jrod though.

Moreno is Rodriguez 2 years ago.