Who will wear red in Madrid.

[The Hitch]

 

[tgsgirl]

Romain Zingle, probably.

 

[theyoungest]

Mosquera. He only needs 20 secs on the Bola del Mundo (and Nibali not doing better than 4th) to win the Vuelta. Everything we've seen so far suggests he can do it.

 

[hrotha]

I'd say it's about 60-40 in favour of Mosquera. Xacobeo will have to work hard if they don't want a break to get those bonus seconds, although Katyusha might help them. Mosquera hasn't taken lots of time on Nibali in the mountains, but he looks stronger and the Bola del Mundo should be enough to put that kind of gap on Nibali.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Heart says Mosquera.
Head says Nibali.

 

[The Hitch]

Mosquera. He only needs 20 secs on the Bola del Mundo (and Nibali not doing better than 4th) to win the Vuelta. Everything we've seen so far suggests he can do it.

Really? he only won 18 seconds on Nibali on the Asturias queen stage. 11 s the day before. I wouldnt say its so certain.

 

[The Hitch]

Damn. Once you voted, you cant see the names of who is voting for who.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Really? he only won 18 seconds on Nibali on the Asturias queen stage. 11 s the day before. I wouldnt say its so certain.

Bola del Mundo is not comparable to Andorra.
Not at all even.

Most part of the climb is 'easy' (like Andorra), but the final 3km are more like the Zoncolan.
And mr. Nibali doesn't have good memories of ultra steep goat herder roads like that

 

[Lupetto]

Mosquera will do it. He has the advantage of a total focus on this race. Nibali will lose it on the last terrible slopes of Bola del Mundo. Nibali started his season in January, he will be too tired.

But...

The weather could also make a difference...maybe we see Liqiuigas, Saxo and/or Columbia putting Mosquera in the wind tomorrow.

Weather: There will be mostly cloudy and overcast sky in this stage. There will be some rain showers and with some thunderstorm even at some moments in the second half of the stage.
Winds: It will blow light Southwesterly, increasing to some high winds in the second half of the stage. Wind will be contrary for the cyclists at general in almost all route.
Temperatures: Temperatures will mild and they will oscillate between 24ºC and 22ºC in all journey.

 

[The Hitch]

Bola del Mundo is not comparable to Andorra.
Not at all even.

Most part of the climb is 'easy' (like Andorra), but the final 3km are more like the Zoncolan.
And mr. Nibali doesn't have good memories of ultra steep goat herder roads like that

I wasnt talking about Andora but Cotabello and Covadonga. Put the times Mosquera gained in both together and you still dont get the 39 seconds. This time, Mosquera needs to get it all, every last second, on the Bola. A brute for sure, but only 1 climb.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Romain Zingle, probably.

and Tony Gallopin!

 

[quadsRme]

The podium girls will be wearing red, that is the only thing for sure!!

Go Mosquera!!!!

 

[jens_attacks]

mosquera cause i like him better.venga eze!

 

[vcampbell]

and Tony Gallopin!

What about TGBM? If he not, then Kozontschuk.

 

[Descender]

Just as a reminder, this climb is nasty, nasty, nasty...

Mosquera me thinks.

http://www.altimetrias.net/aspbk/verPuerto.asp?id=380

 

[Magnus]

Really? he only won 18 seconds on Nibali on the Asturias queen stage. 11 s the day before. I wouldnt say its so certain.

Who said anything about certainty?

The last 8 km of the climb is 9.5% average. That favours Mosquera compared to Nibali imo. If Mosquera is the strongest on saturday he should be able to take the overall victory.

 

[ttrider]

Potential to be the best GT stage in years, Sastre in 9th could conceivably podium! 29" seperate 9 - 4 with 3 probably gona suck, not sure for the win Nibali only has to focus on Mosquera and with Euskatel and Caisse sure to attack early i cant see a GC rider winning no matter how hard it is, any of the 4-9 could attack early, still think Mosquera has enough to do it but wont be easy, would love Nibali to win!

PROBABLY:

Mosquera
Nibali
Shleck/Rodriguez

 

[Libertine Seguros]

What about TGBM? If he not, then Kozontschuk.

The point is, both Romain Zingle and Tony Gallopin are likely to be wearing red in Madrid. Mollema and Kozontchuk aren't. I was being facetious.

If I was being OTT about a talented young rider that then turns them into a running joke (I feel so sorry for Mollema because of this) then I'd have said Ángel Madrazo, cos I like him.

 

[Scirea]

Really? he only won 18 seconds on Nibali on the Asturias queen stage. 11 s the day before. I wouldnt say its so certain.

He took 18 seconds on Nibali when he felt the worst in his whole career... He should be able to do it based on climbing capabilities and form.

 

[zapata]

I wasnt talking about Andora but Cotabello and Covadonga. Put the times Mosquera gained in both together and you still dont get the 39 seconds. This time, Mosquera needs to get it all, every last second, on the Bola. A brute for sure, but only 1 climb.

There's the bonus seconds, though, and I don't think Nibali will be top three on the stage. Think mosquera will probably get the red,

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

There's the bonus seconds, though, and I don't think Nibali will be top three on the stage. Think mosquera will probably get the red,

That all depends on the breakaway, doesn't it? Breakaways have done quite well so far.

Although presumably there will be other teams motivated to work at the front even though Liquigas will be content to let the breakaway off into the distance. The fact that everyone as far back as ninth will think that a podium place is conceivable will probably mean that teams like Katusha, Saxobank and Cervelo will want to keep the bonus seconds in play. Ag2r will be less worried about the bonus points but may want to keep the pace high to tire out some of the smaller climbers on the flat. That's a lot of potential allies of convenience for Xacobeo.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I wasnt talking about Andora but Cotabello and Covadonga. Put the times Mosquera gained in both together and you still dont get the 39 seconds. This time, Mosquera needs to get it all, every last second, on the Bola. A brute for sure, but only 1 climb.

Still though enough to get those 39 seconds, be sure.
And Mosquera got 19 seconds on Andorra (finished at 3' of Anton, Nibali at '23). And since Bola del Mundo has Andorra combined with Cotabello, I'd know the result

 

[hfer07]

I hope for the sake of cycling that Eze wins the Vuelta..
Nibali needs to win the stage(which won't happen) to became the rightful winner-otherwise his victory will be tasteless

 

[roundabout]

What's so tasteless about it?

He didn't win a stage?

What am i missing?

 

[hrotha]

What's so tasteless about it?

He didn't win a stage?

What am i missing?

You're missing the 46 Vuelta stage victories Mosquera has.