Who will wear red in Madrid.

[The Hitch]

Cesar Veloso won in Xorret del Cati in La Vuelta in 2009. He is a good climber. He won Volta a Catalunya in 2008 also.

Marcos Garcia is from San Martín de Valdeiglesias (where the stage of Bola del Mundo starts) and he must know the region and the last climb perfectly. That can be a good advantage against the Liquigas guys. For me knowing the last 3 kms and getting a good gear combination will be decisive. It is not so much about the 20% stretches, it is about the need to climb seated due to the lack of grip. Plus he is a good climber.

Rabunal is doing good in this vuelta.

I know who they are. I was joking and making the point that in this Vuelta i have only seen 1 guy with Mosquera the whole time - David Garcia. The others havent really been with him in the mountains.

 

[colmenarejo]

For me knowing the last 3 kms and getting a good gear combination will be decisive. It is not so much about the 20% stretches, it is about the need to climb seated due to the lack of grip.

Knowing the last 3ks will be very useful but I'm not sure that he will know it, afaik Contador's first ascent to the Bola was for the magazine article, roadies wouldn't normally go up there. Anyway, to help Eze he has to arrive at the base in the lead group which by then will have been whittled down by the Leakygas henchmen.

I couldn't imagine sitting down and climbing the last bit this but if it's wet they may have to. Given nobody ahead of him I expect Eze to attack right at the base, there is a horrible section at the bottom of the last 3k past the ski lift, you would only need a small difference in speed over the final 3k to gain 20ish secs + the bonus would see him take red...

 

[Climbing]

That's why i was asking about Compact Gear usage.
This could prove decisive if you can't get out of the saddle for weather and road conditions.

 

[Benotti69]

what with this being an amazing year Spain are having in sport i imagine the organisers of the Vuelta will want a Spanish victor in order not to be the event who failed in the 'year of the Spanish' and Robert Millar can attest to that they are known to achieve it, whether it happens or not we will have to wait and see.

I imagine a lot of Spanish teams will be trying to assist a Spanish win if they can.

Whether luiqigas can get help from other teams will be interesting to watch.

 

[colmenarejo]

That's why i was asking about Compact Gear usage.
This could prove decisive if you can't get out of the saddle for weather and road conditions.

I don't know what they'll do, I guess much depends on the rider's style and the weather, but it will be very important to get the right gears and possibly different tires? I'd be thinking of ways to allow the rider to stand because that would be a massive advanatage over a short distance. Changing bikes will be difficult as the pace is sure to be very high in the last half of the stage.

 

[Climbing]

I don't know what they'll do, I guess much depends on the rider's style and the weather, but it will be very important to get the right gears and possibly different tires? I'd be thinking of ways to allow the rider to stand because that would be a massive advanatage over a short distance. Changing bikes will be difficult as the pace is sure to be very high in the last half of the stage.

I remember both Basso and Nibali using Compact gear for Zoncolan ascent back in Giro d'Italia.
Basso then said it gave him a definite advantage, considering his style as a tempo rider, but maybe he said that just for the sponsor.
In this particular case, when getting out of the saddle could create more trouble than benefit, maybe there would be some advantage, but I'm no expert and never tried this new gear.

 

[icefire]

Contador recommends at least 36x28

http://www.biciciclismo.com/cas/site/noticias-ficha.asp?id=27884

 

[Scirea]

I know who they are. I was joking and making the point that in this Vuelta i have only seen 1 guy with Mosquera the whole time - David Garcia. The others havent really been with him in the mountains.

David Garcia is almost in the top10 (11th), Rabunal is right after Kreuziger in the GC (29th and 30th), Marcos Garcia and Veloso are both in the top50. They are way stronger than Liquigas in the mountains, not even close.

 

[Scirea]

what with this being an amazing year Spain are having in sport i imagine the organisers of the Vuelta will want a Spanish victor in order not to be the event who failed in the 'year of the Spanish' and Robert Millar can attest to that they are known to achieve it, whether it happens or not we will have to wait and see.

I imagine a lot of Spanish teams will be trying to assist a Spanish win if they can.

Whether luiqigas can get help from other teams will be interesting to watch.

Who would help Liquigas and why?

 

[Menndo]

David Garcia is almost in the top10 (11th), Rabunal is right after Kreuziger in the GC (29th and 30th), Marcos Garcia and Veloso are both in the top50. They are way stronger than Liquigas in the mountains, not even close.

Liquigas is stronger, Veloso is a time trialist and he's not very strong this year. Marcos García is the only climber of Xacobeo, apart from Mosquera, but he's in his first Vuelta and he's not doing very well.

I think the GC means nothing, if Xacobeo riders are better classified is because they won the teams classification last year and they're trying to do well. As Nibali is the leader Liquigas have worked a lot during the Vuelta, and they're just focused on that.

 

[Scirea]

Liquigas is stronger, Veloso is a time trialist and he's not very strong this year. Marcos García is the only climber of Xacobeo, apart from Mosquera, but he's in his first Vuelta and he's not doing very well.

I think the GC means nothing, if Xacobeo riders are better classified is because they won the teams classification last year and they're trying to do well. As Nibali is the leader Liquigas have worked a lot during the Vuelta, and they're just focused on that.

Are you kidding? I hope so because you wrote a bunch of crap. David Garcia is within 7,5 minutes of Nibali and he is not a good climber? Please.

 

[Scirea]

Liquigas is stronger, Veloso is a time trialist and he's not very strong this year. Marcos García is the only climber of Xacobeo, apart from Mosquera, but he's in his first Vuelta and he's not doing very well.

I think the GC means nothing, if Xacobeo riders are better classified is because they won the teams classification last year and they're trying to do well. As Nibali is the leader Liquigas have worked a lot during the Vuelta, and they're just focused on that.

And Nibali has the red jersey since stage 15, Liquigas didn't have to work before that. Do you know how much guys they had in the top 35 after stage 14? Exactly 1, Nibali.

 

[Menndo]

what with this being an amazing year Spain are having in sport i imagine the organisers of the Vuelta will want a Spanish victor in order not to be the event who failed in the 'year of the Spanish' and Robert Millar can attest to that they are known to achieve it, whether it happens or not we will have to wait and see.

I imagine a lot of Spanish teams will be trying to assist a Spanish win if they can.

Whether luiqigas can get help from other teams will be interesting to watch.

This is professional cycling, teams are competing in a race and they're not going to help one rider only due to his nationality.

 

[Scirea]

This is professional cycling, teams are competing in a race and they're not going to help one rider only due to his nationality.

They sure do if they don't have any personal goals.

 

[Menndo]

Are you kidding? I hope so because you wrote a bunch of crap. David Garcia is within 7,5 minutes of Nibali and he is not a good climber? Please.

Well, David Garcia is very fit and he can help Mosquera in the Mountains. I didn't speak about him because it's obvious he's strong. But only him and maybe Rabuñal, who is doing quite well too in the climbs.

But one important thing about Garcia. How many times have you seen him working for Mosquera by far? Not many, because probably Xacobeo won't be in the peloton next season and Garcia needs to do well to get a new contract, so maybe he won't risk his position on the GC.

 

[Menndo]

They sure do if they don't have any personal goals.

If they don't habe personal goals they'll probably look for economic goals.

 

[Scirea]

Well, David Garcia is very fit and he can help Mosquera in the Mountains. I didn't speak about him because it's obvious he's strong. But only him and maybe Rabuñal, who is doing quite well too in the climbs.

But one important thing about Garcia. How many times have you seen him working for Mosquera by far? Not many, because probably Xacobeo won't be in the peloton next season and Garcia needs to do well to get a new contract, so maybe he won't risk his position on the GC.

Trust me, he will. He is not a captain and nobody wants a "good climber but not leader" who won't give it all for his captain.

 

[The Hitch]

Well, David Garcia is very fit and he can help Mosquera in the Mountains. I didn't speak about him because it's obvious he's strong. But only him and maybe Rabuñal, who is doing quite well too in the climbs.

But one important thing about Garcia. How many times have you seen him working for Mosquera by far? Not many, because probably Xacobeo won't be in the peloton next season and Garcia needs to do well to get a new contract, so maybe he won't risk his position on the GC.

He will probably much rather be part of a gc winning team and get the bonus and be friends with a Vuelta winner, than try to get 11th on gc for future.

 

[Scirea]

If they don't habe personal goals they'll probably look for economic goals.

If you get some money from Mosquera, that's economical enough for you?

 

[Menndo]

If you get some money from Mosquera, that's economical enough for you?

But this has nothing to do with nationality, I mean that spanish teams are not going to help Mosquera just because he's spanish. They could help him or help Nibali, it depends on who needs it and who is willing to pay. But I don't expect anything of that.