Vuelta Stage 8 ***SPOILER***

milton50

afx237vi wrote:

Nice climb, too, like a rampy Alpe d'Huez. Did no-one notice that there's more than one mountain in Andorra until now?

Before the stage Rodriguez gave an interview where he said the organisers had cut off the last 4km of the climb. Does anyone know why that is? Did they just want to have the finish line on a really steep section?

Yellow Peril

Milton50 wrote:

afx237vi wrote:

Nice climb, too, like a rampy Alpe d'Huez. Did no-one notice that there's more than one mountain in Andorra until now?

Before the stage Rodriguez gave an interview where he said the organisers had cut off the last 4km of the climb. Does anyone know why that is? Did they just want to have the finish line on a really steep section?

Possibly an access issue for the entourage. The road was quite narrow where they finished and perhaps there was no placed to set up on top of the climb.

Looks worth a climb though. I'll be ordering a dinner plate sized rear cassette for that.

Yellow Peril

Milton50 wrote:

afx237vi wrote:

Nice climb, too, like a rampy Alpe d'Huez. Did no-one notice that there's more than one mountain in Andorra until now?

Before the stage Rodriguez gave an interview where he said the organisers had cut off the last 4km of the climb. Does anyone know why that is? Did they just want to have the finish line on a really steep section?

Possibly an access issue for the entourage. The road was quite narrow where they finished and perhaps there was no place to set up on top of the climb.

Looks worth a climb though. I'll be ordering a dinner plate sized rear cassette for that.

coulcher

I'm surprised there has been no comment on how comfortable Valverde looked crossing the finishing line. He's just done a long uphill sprint to catch and pass Contador. In contrast both Froome & Contador looked knackered, exactly how you'd expect riders to look after that climb.

I don't know how other posters feel but whenever I do all out efforts on hill climbs I'm hanging over the handlebars at the finish. Just because they are pros, as Lemond said, it doesn't get easier you just go faster.

Richmond Racer

coulcher wrote:

I'm surprised there has been no comment on how comfortable Valverde looked crossing the finishing line. He's just done a long uphill sprint to catch and pass Contador. In contrast both Froome & Contador looked knackered, exactly how you'd expect riders to look after that climb.

I don't know how other posters feel but whenever I do all out efforts on hill climbs I'm hanging over the handlebars at the finish. Just because they are pros, as Lemond said, it doesn't get easier you just go faster.

I've just watched it again via the ITV4 highlights, and you're right - he looks pretty fresh for someone who's just put in that massive effort.

DeadCalm

It's clear from this thread that riding in the wheels and jumping in the last 500 meters will be either wheelsucking or riding smart depending on whether or not the rider involved is a particular hero of the viewer. Despite my initial outburst immediately after the race I'm pleased to see Contador resorting to such tactics as it reassures me that what we are seeing from him is real. Hopefully some of those fans of his who have been so quick to denigrate this style of riding in others will in future give pause before launching a scathing attack.

The GC looks incredibly well balanced at the moment and can't wait to see how it all pans out. Ideally I would like either Froome or J-Rod to win and wouldn't be too disappointed if Contador takes it. I really don't want Valverde to win though.

Vino2007

These forums get ruined by know-it-alls plaguing every post with their petty arguments.

Vino'sGhost

dougzz wrote:

Bertie may have rode a smart race today, but the defence of his tactics by his bromance buddies is hilarious. A true 'Heavyweight' wouldn't have refused to ride like that, right.....
What's with all the football fans crap, can't you like cycling and football? I like the way the football fan insult is thrown by people clearly invested in one rider whilst slagging off a another, it's almost as if they support a particular 'team'.

Agreed, the football fan insult is as puerile as the Daily Mail one, an assumed superiority given pseudo credence by mindless crowd agreement.

Baaaa little sheep. Btw thank god we've had a proper race this week. Tactics or wheel sucking or can't actually do anymore and had to save himself for one attack makes no odds, it was massively engaging and just the shot in the arm GT,s need after then tdf snooze fest.

Tbh some of the best cycling I've watched has been where the whole peloton has been off its tits on gear this seems to me to be the best there is , attacks and failures. Measured response and commit all attacks much better than measured rides by a better team suppressing individual talents.. My two pennethnworth.

Ave Suarez calves

Team4Luke

Pross wrote:

Team4Luke wrote:

Froome seems (may not be recovered from tour) not confident in his climbing ability, having seen him ride at the tour, was looking forward to see him unleash, but seems he can't or not confident enough, he had the chance today, to just GO and he didn't take it.

Or more likely, despite the hype and bluster from his missus he really wasn't some sort of superior being at the Tour and benefitted from the tempo being set by Porte and Rogers for Wiggins.

yea beginning to wonder. When Conty and Rod attack, it's full on no messing, Froomy is too busy looking around and shuftying about on his saddle.

RichN95.

Team4Luke wrote:

yea beginning to wonder. When Conty and Rod attack, it's full on no messing, Froomy is too busy looking around and shuftying about on his saddle.

So far in this Vuelta, when 'Conty' attacks it has been little but messing. He's not taken a second on a rival so far - it's total posturing up to this point.

alwaystoohot

Good day for the ex druggies.

Regardless of how certain posters feel, to see those to lads competing at the front when they didn't come clean and admit their guilt then start with a more modest air is sickening. Sorry but I can't feel any excitement seeing them dominating a finish as they did yesterday.

Team4Luke

RichN95 wrote:

Team4Luke wrote:

yea beginning to wonder. When Conty and Rod attack, it's full on no messing, Froomy is too busy looking around and shuftying about on his saddle.

So far in this Vuelta, when 'Conty' attacks it has been little but messing. He's not taken a second on a rival so far - it's total posturing up to this point.

you misunderstand what I mean, regardless what time he has or not gained, his attacks and Rod's too are full on effort whereas we have not seen Froome go full out, just in these modern drug free days (uumm) these guys can no longer maintain the full out efforts like they used to do, it's been so obvious these last few years when our guys can keep up and outperform them, still whatever we think of ex-druggies they do give it full gas when they attack.

frenchfighter

Just watched the final 5km again. That was a suPer slow climb. I thought Froome did very well and was exciting and don't fault him for not riding defensively. Contador's cadence sometimes makes him look like he is standing still and I am wondering whether he might decide to shift up. I think Contador should have worked with Froome - I think it wld likely have finished the same way but there was a s all chance of cracking those two before they could wind up their sprint with 300m to go.