Vuelta stage 20. Corvera → Alto de El Angliru - 119km

[PremierAndrew]

Re: Re:

Zakarin to ruin the party tomorrow (hopefully not by crashing in the wet but rather winning the stage)

Considering how Contador destroyed Zakarin today I have a hard time imagining that.

Zakarin's never been great on the shorter climbs.

But it would be so special if Alberto won tomorrow, same goes if Froome or Nibali ends up winning GC narrowly.

And a Froome Nibali Contador podium in the final battle, one that we were ultimately robbed of in 2014. Dare to dream

 

[LanLions]

Contador to attack on Cobertoria and go mad down the wet descent. Sky will take it easy on the descent and shed a minute to Contador, though Froome will still hit the ground. Contador will join his team mates in the break who will deliver him to the bottom of the Angliru with two minutes over Froome and a minute over Nibali. Alberto will then push on up the Angliru to secure both the stage win and the red jersey.

 

[SafeBet]

So many great posts in this thread. Thanks for them, guys. I truly hope this is going to live up to the hype. The last battle among three champions: Contador vs Nibali Vs Froome.

Trek can't let the break go this time. This one is for El Pistolero.

 

[Jagartrott]

I hope Trek, Astana and Katusha make it hard straight away. Bahrein are too weak to do that, and I don't think Sunweb would dare (they'll be in defense mode I guess). By the way: how are the two last descents?

 

[jsem94]

Inb4 Moscon drops Froome and wins the stage himself in a Landa 2.0 moment, which itself was a Froome moment.

 

[sir fly]

What ever the epilogue of the stage should be, it's going to be written in the history books.
The double or an epic turnaround.

And the final ascent of one of the most talented and successful cycling has ever had.

 

[Escarabajo]

I predict a forum meltdown tomorrow!

Poels and Nieve to have a bad day!

 

[Ataraxus]

With 30km of uphill and 2500m of altitude climbing, this makes the Cobertoria,Cordal, Angliru trio the hardest 50km ever raced.
I'm trying to recall (I've done it before months ago as well) a harder 50km in any stage design, but I cannot find any.

 

[aarononymous]

Lopez or Contador to win, Froome to finish with Nibali 15 seconds back. Later to declare that he was never at risk of being dropped. Poels to come in 6th on stage.

 

[GraftPunk]

Re:

I predict a forum meltdown tomorrow!
Poels and Nieve to have a bad day!

The safest prediction in the thread so far! :lol:


edited for emphasis

 

[bob.a.feet]

I don't think I've ever been this excited for a stage before and all these posts are making me even more hyped up. Can't wait

 

[Rollthedice]

What about Contador's dancing on the pedals, can he do it in the rain on a slippery surface?

 

[deValtos]

Last big mountain stage before 2018, lets try to enjoy it.

Gunna be a long wait again.

 

[El Pistolero]

Pointless stage, not possible to gain 1 minute and 37 seconds on one climb.

 

[Escarabajo]

Re:

Pointless stage, not possible to gain 1 minute and 37 seconds on one climb.

What are you talking about?

We are discussing about gaining 3:34!!!!

 

[skippo12]

Would be anticlimatic if Contador and Nibali try a long range attack but get caught by the Sky train and lose a lot of time.
Froome, Kelderman and Zakarin on the podium would be the worst possible scenario for me.

 

[Gigs_98]

Re: Re:

Pointless stage, not possible to gain 1 minute and 37 seconds on one climb.

What are you talking about?

We are discussing about gaining 3:34!!!!

That's the right attitude :lol:

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

Would be anticlimatic if Contador and Nibali try a long range attack but get caught by the Sky train and lose a lot of time.
Froome, Kelderman and Zakarin on the podium would be the worst possible scenario for me.

Unfortunately, it seems a quite likely scenario.

Well, I'm not sure if Nibali will try from far. But if he does, he will certainly blow up.

I could see Zaka try something as well, on the other hand he needs just a few seconds so there's no need to go early

 

[Gigs_98]

Re: Re:

Would be anticlimatic if Contador and Nibali try a long range attack but get caught by the Sky train and lose a lot of time.
Froome, Kelderman and Zakarin on the podium would be the worst possible scenario for me.

Unfortunately, it seems a quite likely scenario.

Well, I'm not sure if Nibali will try from far. But if he does, he will certainly blow up.

I could see Zaka try something as well, on the other hand he needs just a few seconds so there's no need to go early

I think Nibali will try something before the Angliru but I don't think he'll try something with a big risk of blowing up. He could try to split the peloton on one of the descents for example. I don't see him trying a solo from the penultimate climb. After all one always has to think about why a rider would make such an attack. Making such an all out attack only makes sense if it gives you a bigger chance of winning than attacking on the final climb and considering sky's strength an attack on the final climb is more likely to win him the vuelta and has a lower risk --> He won't do anything crazy. I'm pretty sure about that.

 

[benzwire]

If anyone has not seen the Angliru before, go back and watch it on YouTube. It is a beast and if it's raining, it is going to be carnage. I hope the Civil Guard is ready tomorrow because the fans get crazy and with this being Contador's last race, I expect complete chaos. I really hope there are no incidences with fans, no crashes, and everyone gets the chance to fight it out. I think it will be a stage for the ages!

 

[LaFlorecita]

With all this hype, I think we are in for a massive disappointment breakaway win and the top-5 to finish within 30s of eachother.

 

[Escarabajo]

Re: Re:

Would be anticlimatic if Contador and Nibali try a long range attack but get caught by the Sky train and lose a lot of time.
Froome, Kelderman and Zakarin on the podium would be the worst possible scenario for me.

Unfortunately, it seems a quite likely scenario.

Well, I'm not sure if Nibali will try from far. But if he does, he will certainly blow up.

I could see Zaka try something as well, on the other hand he needs just a few seconds so there's no need to go early

Nibali won't try from far away.

 

[Rollthedice]

Re: Re:

Would be anticlimatic if Contador and Nibali try a long range attack but get caught by the Sky train and lose a lot of time.
Froome, Kelderman and Zakarin on the podium would be the worst possible scenario for me.

Unfortunately, it seems a quite likely scenario.

Well, I'm not sure if Nibali will try from far. But if he does, he will certainly blow up.

I could see Zaka try something as well, on the other hand he needs just a few seconds so there's no need to go early

Nibali won't try from far away.

I think you are correct. It'll be like Basso on Zoncolan.

 

[benzwire]

Re:

With all this hype, I think we are in for a massive disappointment breakaway win and the top-5 to finish within 30s of eachother.

 

[deValtos]

The thing is there will be a definitely be a moment of tension as Froome will drop for sure, whether he yo-yos back or not idk.