Vuelta al País Vasco 4–9 April 2016

[rhubroma]

You could tell he was comfortable in the agony. No rocking back in forth. Looked like TA 2014. Should bode well for the Dauphine and the Tour

 

[burning]

Here comes the olbigatory Reihenbach praise

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Re:

So Bertie lost 22 to Henao and 18 to Quintana on the descent? Odd...

Berto had the advantage from the climb though. Quintana may have picked up some of his time in the last 4km on the TT bike, while Henao as the race leader got the time split given to him when he was at the top of Arrate and knew he needed to take every risk in the book. He was really going for it on that descent, I think Alberto was making sure to keep control and not crash, cos he holds the cards in the last few kilometres whereas Sergio had no option as he was so far behind Contador at the intermediate.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Re:

Vervaeke is 1" short for the top 10, i think

1 second behind Kelderman i think.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Re:

So Bertie lost 22 to Henao and 18 to Quintana on the descent? Odd...

Not really. He was really taking it easy, not risking anything because he knew that the GC was won on the ascent.

 

[Gigs_98]

Now I actually think the TT in the tdf wont decide anything. Froome might still be better than Bertie and Quintana, but still the two just smash everyone else in a TT so they really don't have to worry. The ITT in the tour is maybe a bit flatter but still very hilly.

The tt's in pais vasco are always extremely technical. I dont think we can compare them.

I think (i repeat I THINK) that Contador has an advantage over Froome in a TT like this, but in the TdF it isn't comparable.

It was indeed very technical but that was exactly the part on which Contador lost a lot of time.

 

[bigcog]

Re:

So Bertie lost 22 to Henao and 18 to Quintana on the descent? Odd...

Probably didn't want to take too many risks, it's not worth getting injured ahead of the TDF for this race in the grand scheme of things.

 

[Taxus4a]

Re:

Contador didn't take any risks in the descent. That was 2014/2009 kinda stuff

Maybe, of cirse he didnt take too much risk. but he lost time on the last Km as well. Anyway he has margin to do it.

Samuel descent as crazy and he is very good on that, and Contador lost with him in the second part just 11 seconds, so Contador didnt lost a lot in the descent. But that is something to analyze later watching videos and taking times of the last Km.

 

[staubsauger]

Wow. Congrats to Contador. Very strong win. LaFlo certainly has got a reason to celebrate tonight. Cheers, lady!

Very impressive racing this week. Landa's great surprising victory. Rosa and his supreme escape yesterday. Today Contador simply aced it. Itzulia absolutely confirmed itself as the first real stage race highlight of this season.

Big edition it has been!

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Re:

How was Quintana's bike change possibly fair? I know it didn't have any implication on the end results, but the guy got pushed up three quarters of a ramp...

It's fair to get a push after a mechanical or a fall, but a push up a climb like that after a pre-planned change? I know everyone does it but it's really not fair when you think about it

100% agreed. I wonder if Quintana gained anything from that bike change? It looked like a very odds time do make a change.

 

[Asero831]

Landa's TT exposed.

 

[Irondan]

Great result for Lawson Craddock, a sign of things to see in the future I hope..

 

[blackmamba]

No surprise at all that Contador lost in the downhill, it was obvious before the start that Contador wouldnt take the most risk downhill so I dont read anything into that other than that was expected. On the hill tho I did say yesterday I thought he was gonne smash em but tbh I didnt think he would crush Henao with over 40 sec and burried Quintana alive.

This bolds very well for Contador who is not far away from 2014 form, remember in Paris - Nice he was super strong only that cancelled stage who cost him the win + that shilly 4 sec time loose in the sprint! Only that Catalanya he was a little behind but that could be said duo the the cold he got from PN effected him probably a little.

Overall spring, super strong maby not 100% 2014 lvl but very very very good stuff imo.

 

[HelloDolly]

Contador has really put alot of effort into improving his TT it seems in the last few years...looking good for the Tour

I got the feeling Contador rode the whole race in a very measured way ...as did Quintna ...both waiting somewhat for the TT

I said earlier in the year Contador can win the Tour if he keeps his major efforts for the last week...i still think he can do it

 

[Gigs_98]

Re:

Wow. Congrats to Contador. Very strong win. LaFlo certainly has got a reason to celebrate tonight. Cheers, lady!

Very impressive racing this week. Landa's great surprising victory. Rosa and his supreme escape yesterday. Today Contador simply aced it. Itzulia absolutely confirmed itself as the first real stage race highlight of this season.

Big edition it has been!

So you probably didnt watch the last stage of Paris Nice, right?

 

[Txrt]

Contador has just said that he is rethinking his future and that he might continue a bit more.

Hope that is true. We need riders like Alberto.

 

[Arredondo]

Re: Re:

Contador didn't take any risks in the descent. That was 2014/2009 kinda stuff

Maybe, of cirse he didnt take too much risk. but he lost time on the last Km as well. Anyway he has margin to do it.

Samuel descent as crazy and he is very good on that, and Contador lost with him in the second part just 11 seconds, so Contador didnt lost a lot in the descent. But that is something to analyze later watching videos and taking times of the last Km.

Do you have specific times of the descent by the GC guys?

 

[Taxus4a]

Contador said on TV that he knew the references and he didnt took much risk, but he lost. He wanted to win the stage but the important thing was GC and Henao was very far in the climb.

Contador has said is likely he do another year more in cycling, so big news.

 

[Txrt]

Henao tremendously classy on the post-race interview. Praising Contador and saying he tried his best and he'll keep coming.
He called him "Señor Alberto Contador".

 

[Red Rick]

Re:

Contador said on TV that he knew the references and he didnt took much risk, but he lost. He wanted to win the stage but the important thing was GC and Henao was very far in the climb.

Contador has said is likely he do another year more in cycling, so big news.

We win, we all win

 

[tristecsinamigos]

Contador saying he is reconsidering his future as a pro

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Re:

Landa's TT exposed.

Not really, we've always known that his TT is almost as toxic as Nieve's.

 

[Samamba]

Re: Re:

Vervaeke is 1" short for the top 10, i think

1 second behind Kelderman i think.

Yes 11th place unfortunately. Nonetheless a great performance for a 22 year old.

 

[burning]

Re: Re:

Landa's TT exposed.

Not really, we've always known that his TT is almost as toxic as Nieve's.

He lost 2 minutes on the climb, I certainly did not expect him to lose too much. Maybe he was really tired from yesterdays effort.

 

[bigcog]

Re:

Henao tremendously classy on the post-race interview. Praising Contador and saying he tried his best and he'll keep coming.
He called him "Señor Alberto Contador".

Given the injury he had, he is doing fantastically, it could have ended his career. Class.