Vuelta Stage 14 - Sunday 13th Sep - Granada-La Pandera 157km

[taiwan]

There aren't a lot of opportunities left for Mosquera or Gesink to make up time now. Maybe Sanchez could use stage 19, the TT the next day might be on his mind too much, though.
I wonder if anyone's targeted the time trial, if there might be some surprise that day. If Evans goes well he could salvage a podium place still, but we won't know until the day.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Good stage... Would love to know who pushed Valverde up that hill though.. Nice ride by cunego.. I love a bit of rain..

Valverde was cracking and then he got going again. What happened there? I think i'm just upset because valverde's going to win and evans and/or Gesink are going to struggle to win. I think you guys were right that yesterday it really took it out of evans. I was really happy when gesik got away but unfortunately valverde got back.

 

[craig1985]

Either way, I wouldn't bet against him finishing in white come 2010

IMO the Vuelta should scrap the Combination classification and go for a Best Yound Rider classification.

 

[craig1985]

Gesink to win the Vuelta?

Cobo helping Valverde. bah.

Cobo is probably looking for a contract for next year...

 

[auscyclefan94]

Mosquera copped an unfair penalty because he got some food from the roadside of the mountain. it's a 43km climb, surely they are allowed to eat a little. Evans got penalised for taking a bottle on board when their was still an hour of climbing to go to the finish. Surely on a mountain top finish they can take as much as they need because the riders have to go back to their car to get it. It costs them time anyway.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Sanchez is still in this though his beest chance of winning is taking it all out on the descent. the vuelta only has 1 real mountain stage int he last week. they have a few medium mountain stages but nothing to excite people for the last week. the challengers to valverde are going to have to attack him at every opportunity. None of the top 6 are out of it but they need to isolate valverde and then attack him hard one after the other. It's still very close...

 

[craig1985]

Mosquera copped an unfair penalty because he got some food from the roadside of the mountain. it's a 43km climb, surely they are allowed to eat a little. Evans got penalised for taking a bottle on board when their was still an hour of climbing to go to the finish. Surely on a mountain top finish they can take as much as they need because the riders have to go back to their car to get it. It costs them time anyway.

Eating and drinking and avoiding the bonk >>>> time penalty.

 

[Angliru]

On the steep pitch, getting pushed is a HUGE advantage. On the non steep parts we know what Valverde can do.

It's not Valverdes fault, but it is now definately a cheated competition/stage. Sad. I blame the Spanish fans.

As if he's the first rider to get a push up climb. Lighten up.

 

[cyclingmad]

Pandera

Valverde was cracking and then he got going again. What happened there? I think i'm just upset because valverde's going to win and evans and/or Gesink are going to struggle to win. I think you guys were right that yesterday it really took it out of evans. I was really happy when gesik got away but unfortunately valverde got back.

IMO the puncture gave Evans a good excuse for not being good enough to win again. Sanchez worked far harder the previous day after being dropped while Evans hung to his wheel until he cracked. Same thing in the front bunch would have happened and a loss of 30 secs instead of 1:10.

The next day both Sanchez and Valverde pace the climb right and it pays off against the less experienced (Mosquira and Gesink) and the tactically inept (Evans) now they are the guys looking good for the win.

 

[Von Mises]

IMO the puncture gave Evans a good excuse for not being good enough to win again. Sanchez worked far harder the previous day after being dropped while Evans hung to his wheel until he cracked. Same thing in the front bunch would have happened and a loss of 30 secs instead of 1:10.

The next day both Sanchez and Valverde pace the climb right and it pays off against the less experienced (Mosquira and Gesink) and the tactically inept (Evans) now they are the guys looking good for the win.

You cannot see into the head of another rider (Valverde) to know is he pacing or really cracking, but if main contender (Valverde) is loosing contact, it is normal to add pressure. Problem was not wrong choice of tactics from Evans, Gesink, Basso, problem was that they did not have legs.

 

[oronet commander]

Evans got penalised for taking a bottle on board when their was still an hour of climbing to go to the finish.

Evans was penalised to use the old "sticky bottle" to be towed up a little and then catapulted; the TV images were quite clear about that. It's a usual trick but in Cadel's case it just lasted for too long and was far too evident.

Mosquera's case was different and crazy: he took a bottle from an spectator... which was dressing Xacobeo's jacket. The referees didn't considered any complains from the team.

 

[SergeDeM]

IMO the Vuelta should scrap the Combination classification and go for a Best Yound Rider classification.

I totally agree. That combination thing is total crap. Most fans don't know how it works, don't care about it and as if that wasn't enough, the overall winner always takes it so the guy in white isn't even the real combination leader.