Vuelta Stage 15 **Spoiler**

frenchfighter

http://www.bikeradar.com/blog/article/c ... ain-13491/

frenchfighter

Simoni

RowCycle

Blimey, that's a fairly steep hill!

camerone

this is the stage that most people have been looking at as Wiggins achilles heel, even before race started. will he cope with the gradients? can he ride by numbers on his threshold like the 3 other MTF's?

No_Ta_Doctor

camerone wrote:

this is the stage that most people have been looking at as Wiggins achilles heel, even before race started. will he cope with the gradients? can he ride by numbers on his threshold like the 3 other MTF's?

To be fair, there isn't a rider in the GC that isn't going to be worried about today, any of them could drop time if their legs aren't right. Most of the GC riders tipped to do damage today didn't look all that strong yesterday.. But yes, a mountain for the natural climbers. Hope Skys can control it like they did yesterday.

gregster04

Looks like an evil climb today!!!

gsk82

do people expect a mini neutralisation at the bottom while everyone gets onto bikes with lower gearing? if wiggins can get onto a bike with small enough gearing could he be able to ride somethng like how he would want to?

iainf72

Nope, I expect they'll arrive at the bottom à bloc.

pat1cp

I recall some riders utilising triples when confronted with the Angrilu in the past. I expect some guys will be using compacts today. It is brutal.

That percentage graphic that the Vuelta show is good too, something other races could adopt maybe.

camerone

Wiggins runs rotor rings if I recall correctly in the giro David Millar had to use an 11-36 cassette as smallest ring is 42. Expect to see xtr rear mech on wiggins bike.

Gazzaputt

camerone wrote:

Wiggins runs rotor rings if I recall correctly in the giro David Millar had to use an 11-36 cassette as smallest ring is 42. Expect to see xtr rear mech on wiggins bike.

On a Di2 bike? Don't think he will.

All the GC will be dreading today. As long as Wiggo and Froome can maintain a high cadence that will keep others from launching attacks.

camerone

Gazzaputt wrote:

camerone wrote:

Wiggins runs rotor rings if I recall correctly in the giro David Millar had to use an 11-36 cassette as smallest ring is 42. Expect to see xtr rear mech on wiggins bike.

On a Di2 bike? Don't think he will.

All the GC will be dreading today. As long as Wiggo and Froome can maintain a high cadence that will keep others from launching attacks.

May just use mechanical?

camerone

He is apparently using 38x32.

iainf72

Don't know if a team mate is of much use on the final climb today. The ridiculous gradient makes for a different kind of climb. I'm still unconvinced they make for good racing.

morstar

iainf72 wrote:

Don't know if a team mate is of much use on the final climb today. The ridiculous gradient makes for a different kind of climb. I'm still unconvinced they make for good racing.

I tend to agree with you regarding whether they make for good racing. I recall Kellogs tours taking in Winnats pass and it doesn't feel quite right as a spectacle.
Conversely, it is a bike race and it is necessary that bike races take in all sorts of terrain to remain both relevant and interesting. I suppose stupidly steep climbs are every bit as relevant as cobbles and downhill finishes.

saintdracula

Think about it this way: it's a 10% TT.

mr_poll

Group of 3 about to hit the first serious climb of the day a CAT 2 - - Champion, Talansky and Geschke - have a lead of 6 mins over the peleton which includes all the favourites, an Andulcian rider trying to bridge the gap.

Tom BB

Wiggo right at the back of the peloton......cant see many Sky around him either?

blazing_saddles

ITV 4 commentary must be going down a storm around here.

afx237vi

Ooh. A flamingo.

What happens if Froome has better legs than Wiggo today?

afx237vi

Blazing Saddles wrote:

ITV 4 commentary must be going down a storm around here.

Switching windows between cycling and forum is a PITA.

rebs

duel screens baby! \o/

fungus_the_muffin_man

Blazing Saddles wrote:

ITV 4 commentary must be going down a storm around here.

I'm just riveted to my seat with excitement!

RichN95.

afx237vi wrote:

Blazing Saddles wrote:

ITV 4 commentary must be going down a storm around here.

Switching windows between cycling and forum is a PITA.

Lap top for the race, smartphone for the forum. Easy.

GentlemanBear

this is coming back together pretty quickly now

fungus_the_muffin_man

Now this Aussie guy sounds better. he just needs a decent partner and you could have a decent commentary team. I like the stuff he's saying. Who is he?

FJS

afx237vi wrote:

What happens if Froome has better legs than Wiggo today?

That's the big question. And if not for today definitely for Pena Cabarga on Wednesday.

Fuglsang said this morning in an interview that the big favorite for him now to win the Vuelta was Froome

GentlemanBear

FJS wrote:

afx237vi wrote:

What happens if Froome has better legs than Wiggo today?

That's the big question. And if not for today definitely for Pena Cabarga on Wednesday.

Fuglsang said this morning in an interview that the big favorite for him now to win the Vuelta was Froome

The ITV4 pundit was speculating that if Wiggins broke down, or was really suffering around the 3km mark, Froome would go on alone, simply because it's so steep that you could lose minutes over the closing 3km.

RichN95.

Fungus The Muffin Man wrote:

Now this Aussie guy sounds better. he just needs a decent partner and you could have a decent commentary team. I like the stuff he's saying. Who is he?

Matt Keenan

mr_poll

Fungus The Muffin Man wrote:

Now this Aussie guy sounds better. he just needs a decent partner and you could have a decent commentary team. I like the stuff he's saying. Who is he?

Seriously !!!

And he says Leee O pard

fungus_the_muffin_man

Cheers Rich

Compared to what I was just listening to Mr Poll he sounds lie a cycling commentary god.

He's a bit monotone but the content is quite good.