Vuelta Stage 18 *Spoiler*

FJS

dsoutar wrote:

Horner crosses the line 1:50 behind the winner, with Nibali coming in at 2:18 so he's probably in red by bonus secs - no ?

The bonus seconds were gone - there were still riders from the break left

TheBigBean

I think Valverde and J Rod still have the tour in their legs.

Give me more

Horner rode that 22secs faster than J-Rod in 2010

FJS

Give me more wrote:

Horner rode that 22secs faster than J-Rod in 2010

And 38 seconds faster than Froome and Cobo in 2011.

Interesting but completely useless info. Katusha's attack was relatively early this year, increasing the overall pace (next to a 1000 other variables).

cesco

“@JohanBruyneel: GOOOOOOO HOANA!!!! @hornerakg going for the red jersey!!!”

8)

Richmond Racer

Kiri, you absolute beauty!

FJS

TheBigBean wrote:

I think Valverde and J Rod still have the tour in their legs.

Hansen has the Tour AND the Giro in his legs. And the Vuelta and the Tour and the Giro. And the Vuelta. Cool 3rd today at the end of his 3rd GT of the year. 8)

frenchfighter

Superb by Kiri. Just what I was talking about earlier this year. He is a classy guy with some serious firepower in his legs and a willingness to go solo from distance. So much better for the fan to watch that then to see him serving a Class 1 protected rider.

Well Horner is certainly surprising and the Valverde/JRod last km launch is per usual. Niabli sure did crack at the end though - crushing his opponents comprehensively in the Giro is miles away, although this is not exactly a big goal for him. Still days to go and he will be on it. Great to see Roche right there. Pozzo surprisingly nowhere on this super steep stuff.

frenchfighter

GC
1 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Astana Pro Team 73:39:35
2 Christopher Horner (USA) RadioShack Leopard 0:00:03
3 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Movistar Team 0:01:09
4 Joaquim Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Katusha 0:02:24
5 Nicolas Roche (Irl) Team Saxo-Tinkoff 0:03:34
6 Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale 0:05:44
7 Thibaut Pinot (Fra) FDJ 0:06:14
8 Leopold Konig (Cze) NetApp-Endura 0:06:35
9 Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 0:07:51
10 Tanel Kangert (Est) Astana Pro Team 0:11:10

Stage
1 Vasil Kiryienka (Blr) Sky Procycling 4:46:48
2 Chris Anker Sörensen (Den) Team Saxo-Tinkoff 0:00:28
3 Adam Hansen (Aus) Lotto Belisol 0:01:18
4 Martin Kohler (Swi) BMC Racing Team 0:01:34
5 Egoi Martinez De Esteban (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 0:01:42
6 Christopher Horner (USA) RadioShack Leopard 0:01:53
7 Amets Txurruka (Spa) Caja Rural 0:02:02
8 Joaquim Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Katusha 0:02:13
9 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Movistar Team 0:02:14
10 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Astana Pro Team 0:02:18

FJS

frenchfighter wrote:

the Valverde/JRod last km launch is per usual.

To be fair, J-Rod did attack from further out today - first of the favourits to go

Crankbrother

Bang! Another jab right in the heart of the SKY/anyonenverassociatedwithLanceradar faithful ... and a few random facts to support consistent riding ...

Save you're bullets for yourselves ...

the article don

Nice work by hansen there

blazing_saddles

Crankbrother wrote:

Bang! Another jab right in the heart of the SKY/anyonenverassociatedwithLanceradar faithful ... and a few random facts to support consistent riding ...

Save you're bullets for yourselves ...

Is there an English translation available for this?
On second thoughts.....

Horner currently up to the number 1 climber in the World spot, or is he still back in his
number 2 slot behind Quintana?
Will he sit down before Madrid?

Nibali on the ropes awaiting the Angliru KO, if not the Naranco, tomorrow.

Pross

Brilliant ride by Kiri, really pleased for him. He doesn't do a poker face when he's riding does he?

Is Horner's bike too big? His bars look huge and it might explain why he can't ride in the saddle!

Turfle

I don't know if I've ever seen a rider as consistently (inconsistently?) brilliant then awful then brilliant as Kiryienka.

Richmond Racer

Turfle wrote:

I don't know if I've ever seen a rider as consistently (inconsistently?) brilliant then awful then brilliant as Kiryienka.

When he's on, he's really ON

Did you read Richard Moore and Daniel Freibe's accounts on what happened to him on st 9 of the Tour?

Turfle

I did, but the brain is struggling to recall it right now. Was it a load of early work to try and get the race under control, and forgetting to eat?

It's great seeing the likes of Lopez and Kiryienka (and almost Zandio) get their reward. And nice tribute to Tondo from Kiri too.

knedlicky

Pross wrote:

Is Horner's bike too big? His bars look huge and it might explain why he can't ride in the saddle!

I agree, his handlebars do look too wide for him. On descents he must ride in what the French call ‘English-style’, otherwise he’d be like a kite and accordingly pick up the wind.

I’d still like to know why he has his left foot crooked in the pedal, it was evident today again, if not as extreme as during stage 10.
(I mentioned it as noticeable in the thread for stage 10; I posted “No one’s mentioned his crooked left foot – Horner rode much of the last few kms with his left heel sticking out at an angle of 20-25 degrees. Or has he got a gammy foot and always rides like that?)
But I got no answers/explanations.

Today his left foot was perhaps 15 degrees off line.

I’ve also noticed that most days he has some sort of a bandage around his left calf. A couple of days ago it was like a full stocking up to the knee, and today as high but only a partial 'wrapping' of the calf.

Does everyone else only look at his 'smile'?

inseine

So, the lack of love for Horner is really because everyone thinks he's doped and the rest are clean? I know he's been implicated and he's performing above his usual level, but he's making a race of it.
FF, is he surprising or a complete ******** joke?

Loretta Damage

Got to say, the Vuelta has been the best GT this year. Today's final climb was great to watch; 6km of pain, tactics, effort, attacks, responses.....loved it! For me, the GT stage of the season so far.

alan_a

Loretta Damage wrote:

Got to say, the Vuelta has been the best GT this year. Today's final climb was great to watch; 6km of pain, tactics, effort, attacks, responses.....loved it! For me, the GT stage of the season so far.

How dare you... ECHELONS!!! This is NOT a drill was by far the GT stage of the season.

That said, today ran it a close 3rd after TdF stage 9 as discussed earlier where Kiri popped.

stanislav

What an inspiration Horner is to all us 40 plus oldies.Makes me want find out those 20% slopes and burn off all the young pups on sunday morning.

ShandyH

inseine wrote:

So, the lack of love for Horner is really because everyone thinks he's doped and the rest are clean? I know he's been implicated and he's performing above his usual level, but he's making a race of it.
FF, is he surprising or a complete ******** joke?

Yeah, not knowing Horner very well, please fill me in on the Horner hate.

matt_n-2

knedlicky wrote:

Pross wrote:

Is Horner's bike too big? His bars look huge and it might explain why he can't ride in the saddle!

I agree, his handlebars do look too wide for him. On descents he must ride in what the French call ‘English-style’, otherwise he’d be like a kite and accordingly pick up the wind.

I’d still like to know why he has his left foot crooked in the pedal, it was evident today again, if not as extreme as during stage 10.
(I mentioned it as noticeable in the thread for stage 10; I posted “No one’s mentioned his crooked left foot – Horner rode much of the last few kms with his left heel sticking out at an angle of 20-25 degrees. Or has he got a gammy foot and always rides like that?)
But I got no answers/explanations.

Today his left foot was perhaps 15 degrees off line.

I’ve also noticed that most days he has some sort of a bandage around his left calf. A couple of days ago it was like a full stocking up to the knee, and today as high but only a partial 'wrapping' of the calf.

Does everyone else only look at his 'smile'?

My mate rides very similarly, his left heel sticks out in the same fashion, just the way his left foot naturally lies. Doesn't seem to hamper him (my mate) and he doesn't seem to suffer with any injuries etc.

Bo Duke

Loretta Damage wrote:

Got to say, the Vuelta has been the best GT this year. Today's final climb was great to watch; 6km of pain, tactics, effort, attacks, responses.....loved it! For me, the GT stage of the season so far.

+1 I watched it this morning and was on the edge of my seat. Even Carlton Kirby good into it with some great comments, calling them a very apt 'Brave souls coming over the finish line'. Superb last climb.

joelsim

Agree it was a great stage, up there with Quintana's first attack in the Tour.

Valverde keeps looking like he's cracked, and then he's back there in the mix again. J-Rod looks like he hasn't quite got enough and Nibs isn't as strong as he was at the Giro. Horner...well if he isn't cheating then chapeau to the old man. All still open.

Bring on tomorrow!!!

Crozza

Matt_N wrote:

knedlicky wrote:

Pross wrote:

Is Horner's bike too big? His bars look huge and it might explain why he can't ride in the saddle!

I agree, his handlebars do look too wide for him. On descents he must ride in what the French call ‘English-style’, otherwise he’d be like a kite and accordingly pick up the wind.

I’d still like to know why he has his left foot crooked in the pedal, it was evident today again, if not as extreme as during stage 10.
(I mentioned it as noticeable in the thread for stage 10; I posted “No one’s mentioned his crooked left foot – Horner rode much of the last few kms with his left heel sticking out at an angle of 20-25 degrees. Or has he got a gammy foot and always rides like that?)
But I got no answers/explanations.

Today his left foot was perhaps 15 degrees off line.

I’ve also noticed that most days he has some sort of a bandage around his left calf. A couple of days ago it was like a full stocking up to the knee, and today as high but only a partial 'wrapping' of the calf.

Does everyone else only look at his 'smile'?

My mate rides very similarly, his left heel sticks out in the same fashion, just the way his left foot naturally lies. Doesn't seem to hamper him (my mate) and he doesn't seem to suffer with any injuries etc.

some chat about it here, from some renowned bike fitters

http://forum.slowtwitch.com/gforum.cgi? ... r;#4557466

frenchfighter

Lovely smile here:


Not breathing here:

Compared to:

and:

prawny

As a couterpoint to those pics I've just tried to find a pic of horner looking tired, there aren't any. Maybe one from when he was at lotto (but surely if he's doping now...) there's even one with blood on his face and he's still smiling. I think he's from Stepford.

frenchfighter