Vuelta Stage 17: Villadiego - Los Machucos (180.5 km)

[Lexman]

Bahrein, Astana and Trek to send some guys in the BOD. Lopee, Nibali and Contador to rally them on Lunada... rest willbe history

 

[Rollthedice]

Good to know stage will be live from the beginning starting 12:40 CET.

 

[telencefalus]

from the beginnig? Huh in the first 70 km nothing will happen but we could see which will be the av speed after the tt

 

[Lexman]

Cobo did the climb

http://sporza.be/cm/sporza/wielrennen/Vuelta/1.3060824

 

[Climbing]

Re:

Cobo did the climb

http://sporza.be/cm/sporza/wielrennen/Vuelta/1.3060824

Jesus, this will be carnage.

 

[TromleTromle]

Re: Re:

Cobo did the climb

http://sporza.be/cm/sporza/wielrennen/Vuelta/1.3060824

Jesus, this will be carnage.

How is the weather? Rain on 2 two descents?

 

[Sestriere]

Re:

Cobo did the climb

http://sporza.be/cm/sporza/wielrennen/Vuelta/1.3060824

Extremely irregular, this may favour Contador, although he could struggle in the wet with his riding style (I read somewhere it's supposed to rain). Doesn't look particularly good for either of Froome, Nibali, Lopez to me.

P.S.: No idea how they could talk while riding up there

 

[Climbing]

I would have loved to go up there with my MBT, before cement/asphalt.
Apparently it's supposed to rain, that would be even more devastating.

 

[ice&fire]

Very light showers expected until 2PM at the bottom of the climb. Temperature just below 20 C.

 

[Groene Patraaf]

DNS Lennard Kämna. Knee problems

http://teamsunweb.com/kamna-abandons-lv/

 

[LaFlorecita]

JA Flecha just said the rain will favor riders with seated climbing position like Nibali or Froome because the rear wheel can easily lose traction.

 

[fantomas]

Re:

JA Flecha just said the rain will favor riders with seated climbing position like Nibali or Froome because the rear wheel can easily lose traction.

Or Superman.

 

[sir fly]

Have you seen the climb recon? Surfaced in layers. Brutal.

 

[jarvo]

It looks an absolute brute, especially if its going to be wet on those concrete strip sections

 

[jsem94]

I can't wait. Nibali to put guys in the break and go early? Please. Probably not, but PLEASE.

 

[Laplaz]

A real leg breaker. Surely not big time gaps but the legs will hurt the next days!

 

[sir fly]

Wonder what gears they've put on their frames for this wall.

 

[spalco]

Re: Re:

Alberto Contador will win this bike race

For once let this meme come true.

It's actually possible today too.

 

[Rollthedice]

Oss abandons.

 

[Rollthedice]

Re:

Wonder what gears they've put on their frames for this wall.

34/32 Wilco

 

[Blanco]

Don't you know it's kamikaze time for Contador on the Lunada with Nibali following, before being caught on the Alisas and spat out the back.

Aru to win

Nibali could try something in the descent, but would he really risk throwing away his second place with an all or nothing attack?

He would not risk that much, on Machucos it will be mano a mano right from the bottom, team help will be minimized. I would actually say that ideal place for attack is on the top of Alisas.

 

[Rollthedice]

Very nice to see the beginning of the race with all the break attempts.

 

[sir fly]

Re: Re:

Wonder what gears they've put on their frames for this wall.

34/32 Wilco

Thanks.
1:1 is what I'd need, suppose.

 

[ice&fire]

Re:

Wonder what gears they've put on their frames for this wall.

Cobo had 34x28 in his recon video. I guess that active pros can do it with 36t small chain ring and 28t or 29t sprocket.

 

[Blanco]

Re:

Really looking forward to this, even though I doubt much will happen on the GC ... Seems like an obvious stage for a second tier climber (i.e. not someone in podium contention) to get in a break or attack on the penultimate climb.

Majka must be targeting this. Adam Yates likewise. I could even see Chaves bouncing back on a final climb that suits him much better.

Amazed the Lopez is so dominant a betting favourite. A steep and irregular climb is not ideal for him at all.

I don't know, to me it looks like an obvious stage for strongest climber...