Vuelta Stage 8 *Spoiler*

frenchfighter
frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
edited September 2009 in Pro race
Alzira - Alto de Aitana. 205km.
Eight categorised climbs and a summit finish. This should be a great days racing. Looking forward to seeing Martins and Gesink in action.
8_perfil.gif

The final climb, Alto de Aitana, is 22.3 kilometer long, with a 6% average gradient, going from 280m to 1525m above sea level. It is certainly the hardest climb of the day and given its length I think the GC guys will wait until this climb before making a move.
Contador is the Greatest
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Comments

  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    There is about 125km left and the following have about 10mins:

    Pieter Weening (Rabobank), David Moncoutie (Cofidis), Johnny Hoogerland (Vacansoleil), Sébastien Hinault (Ag2r La Mondiale), Paul Voss (Team Milram) and William Bonnet (BBox Bouygues Telecom)
    Contador is the Greatest
  • takethehighroad
    takethehighroad Posts: 6,812
    frenchfighter wrote:
    Good one of Boonen. He has one of my favourite positions on the bike.

    You mean eyeballs out?!Awesome

    I think today will be about who can get over the previous 7 climbs with the most team mates, 'cos they're not exactly tough for the likes of Valverde and Basso, just second and third cat.
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    Haha, no it has to do with his ridiculously long torso:

    TourdeFranceStageThirteenTimeTrialM.jpg

    By the way, Wiggins is competing in the British TT Champs today. Stannard (ISD) is also competing. The man to beat though is Hutchinson.
    Contador is the Greatest
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,711
    Anyhow......

    There's been a fair amount of action. Flying along, with the half way mark, soon to be reached.
    Break at 13"
    Pieter Weening (Rabobank), David Moncoutie (Cofidis), Johnny Hoogerland (Vacansoleil), Sébastien Hinault (Ag2r La Mondiale), Paul Voss (Team Milram) and William Bonnet (BBox Bouygues Telecom)

    Moncoutie after the mountain jersey, again.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    ANDY SCHLECK ABANDON
    Contador is the Greatest
  • afx237vi
    afx237vi Posts: 12,630
    frenchfighter wrote:
    ANDY SCHLECK ABANDON

    Makes me wonder why he bothered starting the Vuelta in the first place.
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    I agree. I don't like half-hearted attempts. It is disrespectful. Maybe he has his eyes on the Worlds...

    However, he may well have had a good reason. We will see.
    Contador is the Greatest
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    Vincent Jerome (Bbox Bouygues) also abandons - he crashed twice during yesterday's TT.
    Contador is the Greatest
  • afx237vi
    afx237vi Posts: 12,630
    It's on TVEi - channel 795 - if you have it. There's some motor racing crud on Eurosport.

    Looks like nasty weather at the top of the final climb.
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    Now live.

    ES audio: http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/audioplayer.html

    CdE on the front.

    Quality link with English commentary:
    http://www.fromsport.com/video-66247.html
    Contador is the Greatest
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    Sammy Sanchez making his way back through the cars. He has dirt on his shoulder so he may well have fallen.
    Contador is the Greatest
  • afx237vi
    afx237vi Posts: 12,630
    Starting the final climb now. Breakaway is doomed.
  • afx237vi
    afx237vi Posts: 12,630
    Very impressed with Hoogerland in the past week. Attacker, sprinter... now a climber.

    Vacansoleil as a whole, actually.
  • FJS
    FJS Posts: 4,820
    Blimey, Johnny Hoogerland is flying! Leaves Moncoutie, Weening and Seb Hinault alone
  • Moomaloid
    Moomaloid Posts: 2,040
    David is my PTP pick for today!! Go on son!
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    afx237vi wrote:
    Very impressed with Hoogerland in the past week. Attacker, sprinter... now a climber.

    Vacansoleil as a whole, actually.

    Maybe the Feillu's move to VS wasn't such a bad thing! This team is lighting up this Vuelta with a good showing.

    His reaction when Moncoutié came passed was pretty funny - the cadence was crazy.
    Contador is the Greatest
  • afx237vi
    afx237vi Posts: 12,630
    frenchfighter wrote:
    His reaction when Moncoutié came passed was pretty funny - the cadence was crazy.

    His pedalling style reminds me of Soler. He jabs at the pedals instead of turning 'em smoothly... but hey, whatever works...
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    Frank Schleck dropped. Shocking.
    Contador is the Greatest
  • afx237vi
    afx237vi Posts: 12,630
    Frank Schleck gets blown out the back.
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    afx237vi wrote:
    frenchfighter wrote:
    His reaction when Moncoutié came passed was pretty funny - the cadence was crazy.

    His pedalling style reminds me of Soler. He jabs at the pedals instead of turning 'em smoothly... but hey, whatever works...

    Good comparison. The whole body jerks.
    Contador is the Greatest
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    Has De La Fuente done any relay?!
    Contador is the Greatest
  • afx237vi
    afx237vi Posts: 12,630
    Vinooooooooooo. Seeya.
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    Anyone seen Martins?

    Moncoutié must be pretty surprised that Hoogerland is holding on so well.
    Contador is the Greatest
  • Moomaloid
    Moomaloid Posts: 2,040
    Hoogerlands legs are spinning so quick, surely he's gotta snap sooner or later..
  • afx237vi
    afx237vi Posts: 12,630
    Dan Martin? Not sure, it's hard to see past the wall of CdE jerseys... Can't see many Garmin riders though.

    Edit: there are 2 near the front. One looks kinda skinny like Martin.
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    Hoogerland only dropped now. Amazing effort by him. I hope Moncoutie holds on.
    Contador is the Greatest
  • Moomaloid
    Moomaloid Posts: 2,040
    got him!!
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    afx237vi wrote:
    Dan Martin? Not sure, it's hard to see past the wall of CdE jerseys... Can't see many Garmin riders though.

    Edit: there are 2 near the front. One looks kinda skinny like Martin.

    Danielson and Martins just been confirmed.
    Contador is the Greatest
  • afx237vi
    afx237vi Posts: 12,630
    Yep, Dan Martin deffo in the group. Number 116.
  • afx237vi
    afx237vi Posts: 12,630
    Szmyd putting the hurt on now. Glad to see Mosquera is still there.

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