Vuelta Stage 16 **Spoiler**

Pross

disgruntledgoat wrote:

Lichtblick wrote:

Is the steepest finish on any grand tour? Steeper than Mont Ventoux?

Nah, the Angirlu and Zoncalon are way steeper.

I thought the Angliru was similar to this one but a much shorter climb? I seem to recall that 'inclinometer' (all races should have that!) showing about 25% on the Angliru and today was hitting 23 - 24%. They have the Bolo del Mundo in a few days too which isn't exactly flat!!

LangerDan

Froome now nearly 5 minutes down on GC.

MrTapir

Rick Chasey wrote:

First win in 2 years in a GT for Quick Step.

Ah so when one of the guys posted 'well done Dario', Cataldo had won the stage? I had no idea. Good on him.

slim_boy_fat

Awesome stage. Looked like Hell on earth by the end. Fair play to Contador for giving it his all but JRod has looked unflappable in the last couple of days. Don't know what Frenchie expects him to do different when he's sat in red.

disgruntledgoat

Pross wrote:

disgruntledgoat wrote:

Lichtblick wrote:

Is the steepest finish on any grand tour? Steeper than Mont Ventoux?

Nah, the Angirlu and Zoncalon are way steeper.

I thought the Angliru was similar to this one but a much shorter climb? I seem to recall that 'inclinometer' (all races should have that!) showing about 25% on the Angliru and today was hitting 23 - 24%. They have the Bolo del Mundo in a few days too which isn't exactly flat!!

He said steepest, not longest and steepest. I can only go on the information presented.

rick_chasey

disgruntledgoat wrote:

Pross wrote:

disgruntledgoat wrote:

Lichtblick wrote:

Is the steepest finish on any grand tour? Steeper than Mont Ventoux?

Nah, the Angirlu and Zoncalon are way steeper.

I thought the Angliru was similar to this one but a much shorter climb? I seem to recall that 'inclinometer' (all races should have that!) showing about 25% on the Angliru and today was hitting 23 - 24%. They have the Bolo del Mundo in a few days too which isn't exactly flat!!

He said steepest, not longest and steepest. I can only go on the information presented.

In that case my arse is steeper than the Angrilu.

afx237vi

LeicesterLad wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

I don't like J Rod.

He's made it look way to easy for someone who can't do 'long climbs' and siffered in the Giro at the hands of lesser competitors. Wasn't a huge fan to begin with though.

The "can't do long climbs" thing is overcooked. Before this year's Vuelta he's finished in the top 10 of a GT six times. You can't do that without being a climber.

frenchfighter

I don't expect Rodriguez to attack with several km to go simply because I don't think he would be able to.

Yes he is leading but he has to fear Contador...I don't think I'd be comfortable if I was him with Bola to come.

Valverde has climbed nowhere close to this before. He is even attacking Contador and JRod.

I do like Joaquim (I have a huge number of photos of him) and I know he can climb.

I do not like him taking bonus seconds and small seconds right in the last few hundred metres...but I don't blame him. He has a better kick in the finale so he may as well use it.

rick_chasey

afx237vi wrote:

LeicesterLad wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

I don't like J Rod.

He's made it look way to easy for someone who can't do 'long climbs' and siffered in the Giro at the hands of lesser competitors. Wasn't a huge fan to begin with though.

The "can't do long climbs" thing is overcooked. Before this year's Vuelta he's finished in the top 10 of a GT six times. You can't do that without being a climber.

Quite.

disgruntledgoat

Rick Chasey wrote:

disgruntledgoat wrote:

Pross wrote:

disgruntledgoat wrote:

Lichtblick wrote:

Is the steepest finish on any grand tour? Steeper than Mont Ventoux?

Nah, the Angirlu and Zoncalon are way steeper.

I thought the Angliru was similar to this one but a much shorter climb? I seem to recall that 'inclinometer' (all races should have that!) showing about 25% on the Angliru and today was hitting 23 - 24%. They have the Bolo del Mundo in a few days too which isn't exactly flat!!

He said steepest, not longest and steepest. I can only go on the information presented.

In that case my ars* is steeper than the Angrilu.

I stand to be corrected, but I'm not sure your arse has staged a grand tour stage.

Jez mon

Rick Chasey wrote:

Jez mon wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

I don't like J Rod.

How come?

Totally irrational.

No good reason.

Fair enough, I like his riding, and I quite like the fact that someone is giving Contador a good fight.

Of course, these days most good performances, are eyebrow raising, it could be that J-Rod struggled on long climbs when everyone was at it, so to speak. Can't we just stick to only calling out stuff that is blatantly ridiculous i.e. performances which belong in the bad old days thread.

smithy21

I can see where FF is coming from. If it was not for bonus seconds his boy would be in the lead.

Thems the rules though and they all know the score. Just so happens J Rod has a better finishing kick than Contador and is using it.

oneof1982

Rick Chasey wrote:

I don't like J Rod.

I recall you don't like Wiggo either. Something to do with winning?

rick_chasey

I get bored with his sprint finishes in the same way I get bored with Cav sprint finishes, but I'm happy with Boonen winning from a bunch sprint when there's been a bit of attrition so I'm hardly internally consistent.

rick_chasey

oneof1982 wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

I don't like J Rod.

I recall you don't like Wiggo either. Something to do with winning?

You forget I am the biggest Boonen fanboy on here.

By.

Miles.

frenchfighter

Would be interesting to know how this race would pan out if Saxo were not putting the heat on hard after which Contador puts them under severe pressure.

dsoutar

disgruntledgoat wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

disgruntledgoat wrote:

Pross wrote:

disgruntledgoat wrote:

Lichtblick wrote:

Is the steepest finish on any grand tour? Steeper than Mont Ventoux?

Nah, the Angirlu and Zoncalon are way steeper.

I thought the Angliru was similar to this one but a much shorter climb? I seem to recall that 'inclinometer' (all races should have that!) showing about 25% on the Angliru and today was hitting 23 - 24%. They have the Bolo del Mundo in a few days too which isn't exactly flat!!

He said steepest, not longest and steepest. I can only go on the information presented.

In that case my ars* is steeper than the Angrilu.

I stand to be corrected, but I'm not sure your ars* has staged a grand tour stage.

...and more to the point can you fit two hundred cyclists and all the support and media staff, never mind their vehicles up it ?

Pross

Climb by bike links for:-

Cuetu Negro

http://www.climbbybike.com/profile.asp?Climbprofile=Cuetu-Negro---Cuitu-Negru&MountainID=12441

Angliru

http://www.climbbybike.com/profile.asp?Climbprofile=Angliru---Gamonal&MountainID=18

Bola del Mundo (looks flat in comparison!)

http://www.climbbybike.com/profile.asp?Climbprofile=La-Bola-del-Mundo&MountainID=4539

Zoncolon (probably the daddy of them all although Climb By Bike only rates it as 15th in Italy!!)

http://www.climbbybike.com/profile.asp?Climbprofile=Monte-Zoncolan&MountainID=36

rick_chasey

dsoutar wrote:

disgruntledgoat wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

disgruntledgoat wrote:

Pross wrote:

disgruntledgoat wrote:

Lichtblick wrote:

Is the steepest finish on any grand tour? Steeper than Mont Ventoux?

Nah, the Angirlu and Zoncalon are way steeper.

I thought the Angliru was similar to this one but a much shorter climb? I seem to recall that 'inclinometer' (all races should have that!) showing about 25% on the Angliru and today was hitting 23 - 24%. They have the Bolo del Mundo in a few days too which isn't exactly flat!!

He said steepest, not longest and steepest. I can only go on the information presented.

In that case my ars* is steeper than the Angrilu.

I stand to be corrected, but I'm not sure your ars* has staged a grand tour stage.

...and more to the point can you fit two hundred cyclists and all the support and media staff, never mind their vehicles up it ?

Hello.

TheBigBean

I think the climb was a good one for J-Rod. He has always been good when it is steep and it had a nice break with a few kilometes to go. I think he will struggle more when he doesn't get a flat bit just before the finish to recover.

frenchfighter

TheBigBean wrote:

I think the climb was a good one for J-Rod. He has always been good when it is steep and it had a nice break with a few kilometes to go. I think he will struggle more when he doesn't get a flat bit just before the finish to recover.

Quite. He said similar about yday's stage.

Unfortunately this played out...

frenchfighter wrote:

I fear that given the serious averages of the last couple of km that Joaquim will win and gain more time and bonus seconds. It will be like a leg burner on the way up then a repeat of several of the earlier stages this Vuleta.

I hope however that Contador gains 30 odd secs, then JRod gets a bonus time between now and the Bola and the Contador blows them away there for 2+mins.

frenchfighter wrote:

Pozzi wrote:

What do you think about today FrenchF? Contador to be the only one who attacks, and see who can stay with him, or will we see Purito or Valverde try something?

Put my thoughts just before you posted. Valverde will try and take more time on Froome if he has the legs. Don't think Joaquim will do anything until last 2km when I am sure he will go for the stage. As for Contador, he can always be relied on to try and go for the win - he is not racing for 2nd!

Already on the way to the hotel in Gijon after a stage of continuous attacks.Tomorrow more!;-)
-Contador yday

Pross

smithy21 wrote:

I can see where FF is coming from. If it was not for bonus seconds his boy would be in the lead.

Thems the rules though and they all know the score. Just so happens J Rod has a better finishing kick than Contador and is using it.

And Froome would have won last year's Vuelta and his girlfriend could then STFU and stop whinging and we would all be in a better place

richard wants a baum

J-Rod has always been there about's but his looking way stronger than he ever has. That was a monster climb and before the start of this race if asked i would think most would rule him out of it given the length. I reckon his not going to lose from this point, if Contador gets a gap on him it won't be enough to wipe out the time difference.

Jez mon

I can't help but think Contador isn't making the most of his attacks, he's making repeated attacks and that just isn't working against J-Rod, perhaps he should pin all his hopes to one all out attack.

thomthom

TheBigBean wrote:

I think the climb was a good one for J-Rod. He has always been good when it is steep and it had a nice break with a few kilometes to go. I think he will struggle more when he doesn't get a flat bit just before the finish to recover.

We are running out of mountains that JRod isn't good at, aren't we..

He has just been a really good rider. That's all.

thomthom

LeicesterLad wrote:

ThomThom wrote:

LeicesterLad wrote:

I'm struggling not to mention doping here...

Oh, sod off..

Just witnessed an absolutely fantastic stage. Just enjoy that.

jesus...

Sorry, I don't usually mind so much - but if Bertie is a doper then...J-rod has never liked a 19km climb in his life. He got dropped by Hesjedal in the Giro? As for Valverde...

But Alberto and Valverde are not riding as fast as they used to.

I think it's a shame that that was your first reaction to a absolutely fantasti stage. Was this reaction similar when Moh Farah won the 1000m gold? A sport that is twice as dirty as cycling..? Andy Murray as well?

frenchfighter

Mama mia, they were riding circa 10km/h on that last bit. I have mixed feelings about these sorts of climbs. They rule out so many riders very quickly. It's almost too niche. On the other hand, a Champion should be able to deal with all these things and they provide good entertainment.

frenchfighter

As a point of reference to when Contador has a proper season in his legs, JRod finished the 2011 Giro in 5th, 4.55mins behind Contador (lost 3.17 in TT/TTT).

GT record
Race 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12
Giro d'Italia 80 – – – 80 – – 17 WD – 4 2
Tour de France – – – – – – – – – 7 – –
Vuelta a España – – 26 42 37 17 – 6 7 3 19

Jez mon

Think you'll find J-Rod was fourth in the 2011 Giro.

woody1545

Think you'll find J-Rod was fourth in the 2011 Giro

Touche Sir