Vuelta Stage 18 *spoiler*

FJS
FJS Posts: 4,820
edited September 2009 in Pro race
A hilly stage with a steep climb 50 km from Avila, and a more gentle category 3 one at 17 km. And as always in Avila a finish uphill on cobbles.
More a stage for a breakaway with climbers and strong riders than something where the GC contenders can do something. And if it all gets together something for the punchy uphill sprint specialists.

Gesink and Mosquera start with the effects of yesterday's crash. There were several attacks form the start, the peloton split, with Gesink in the second group. All back together again at km 9, but it doens't bode well for Gesink today...

Comments

  • iainf72
    iainf72 Posts: 15,784
    Danielson has retired. 3 down from Garmin today.
    Fckin' Quintana … that creep can roll, man.
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,711
    Another abandon to add to Danielson's palmares. He also fell, yesterday.
    Gerald Ciolek has withdrawn from the Vuelta as the temperatures drop to just eight degrees. :shock:
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • Kléber
    Kléber Posts: 6,842
    Cold.

    It's sad to see so many riders drop out. I understand why. But you see riders go through hell just to finish the Tour de France. It's disrespectful to the race, to the organisers and Spain in general, no?

    Be interesting to see if the break can stay away?
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    Gilbert took off from the group straight away. 5 mins with 21km to go.

    18_perfil.gif
    Contador is the Greatest
  • sonny73
    sonny73 Posts: 2,203
    Good stuff Philip Deignan :D
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    DEIGNAN
    Contador is the Greatest
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    Moves up to about 8th in GC.

    Valverde is in the next pack but it is pretty small. Could be a GC shake up.
    Contador is the Greatest
  • calvjones
    calvjones Posts: 3,850
    frenchfighter wrote:
    DEIGNAN

    Wot no pics? :wink:
    ___________________

    Strava is not Zen.
  • FJS
    FJS Posts: 4,820
    Well done by Deignan.

    Kreuziger shows again that he's not the brightest tactician around...


    Cyclingnews reporting on Danielson quitting:
    "I've proved to a lot of people that I'm one of the best guys on the climbs and in the time trials," he said. "I'm obviously really upset. I thought I had a chance of winning or finishing on the podium,"

    Winning? Finishing on the podium? He was more than 8 minutes behind Valverde and more than 7 minutes from the podium! Did he fall on his head perhaps?
  • LangerDan
    LangerDan Posts: 6,132
    Should move him into the top 10 too.
    'This week I 'ave been mostly been climbing like Basso - Shirley Basso.'
  • iainf72
    iainf72 Posts: 15,784
    FJS wrote:
    Winning? Finishing on the podium? He was more than 8 minutes behind Valverde and more than 7 minutes from the podium! Did he fall on his head perhaps?

    He lost the time when he was vomiting on his handlebars.

    Before that he was in a podium position.
    Fckin' Quintana … that creep can roll, man.
  • takethehighroad
    takethehighroad Posts: 6,812
    Danielson was bang in form and in line for a podium before, as Iain says, he got the trots.

    I was really sceptical about his chances before this Vuelta but he really impressed me. I'm not surprised he quit if he crashed yesterday, 'cos he will just have been in such a bad frame of mind about carrying on.

    So I say good effort Tom, you proved me wrong to doubt you, and I hope you can get the Grand Tour podium you deserve in the future.
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,711
    The Spaniards "Gift" Evans a second. :roll:
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • Kléber
    Kléber Posts: 6,842
    frenchfighter wrote:
    DEIGNAN
    How is his name pronounced? I've heard a couple of versions...
  • takethehighroad
    takethehighroad Posts: 6,812
    I pronounce it Dayg-Nan

    As in a day-glo nan, if you can imagine such a thing
  • LangerDan
    LangerDan Posts: 6,132
    TakeTheHighRoad wrote:
    I pronounce it Dayg-Nan

    As in a day-glo nan, if you can imagine such a thing

    In Ireland, it is usually pronounced "dyeg-nan" (though there can be a regional variation as you've indicated above.)
    'This week I 'ave been mostly been climbing like Basso - Shirley Basso.'
  • takethehighroad
    takethehighroad Posts: 6,812
    Whatever you do though, don't pronounce it like Brad Pitt pronounces "dogs" in Snatch
  • donrhummy
    donrhummy Posts: 2,329
    iainf72 wrote:
    Danielson has retired. 3 down from Garmin today.

    Tom can say what he wants, that he's finally put it all behind him and is as good as ever but was hit by a random illness - doesn't matter. The fact still remains that he had to drop out of a GT yet again. He needs to give up stage racing - it's just too long a time for him to remain on "the razor's edge".
  • iainf72
    iainf72 Posts: 15,784
    donrhummy wrote:
    Tom can say what he wants, that he's finally put it all behind him and is as good as ever but was hit by a random illness - doesn't matter. The fact still remains that he had to drop out of a GT yet again. He needs to give up stage racing - it's just too long a time for him to remain on "the razor's edge".

    He's come 6'th and 7'th in the Vuelta so he can do 3 week races. What should he do instead? As Vaughters said, he's proved his toughness in this race.

    I feel sorry for anyone who can gain 5kg's during a grand tour.
    Fckin' Quintana … that creep can roll, man.
  • timoid.
    timoid. Posts: 3,133
    Fantastic result for a top bloke. First Irish GT victory in 17 years.
    It's a little like wrestling a gorilla. You don't quit when you're tired. You quit when the gorilla is tired.
  • takethehighroad
    takethehighroad Posts: 6,812
    Xacobeo are almost half an hour clear on the teams classification! Great effort
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    TakeTheHighRoad wrote:
    Xacobeo are almost half an hour clear on the teams classification! Great effort

    That is very impressive.
    Contador is the Greatest
  • thomasmc
    thomasmc Posts: 814
    Timoid. wrote:
    Fantastic result for a top bloke. First Irish GT victory in 17 years.

    +1

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