Vuelta 2014 Stage 11 *SPOILERS*

ic.

Gutsy ride by Froome. My guess is he didn't eat before the climb but took on some sugar and was recovering by the end.

I've no evidence of this, just a guess based on how he climbed. It was clear he was trying to maintain a pace whilst the others put he sprints in

milton50

IC. wrote:

Gutsy ride by Froome. My guess is he didn't eat before the climb but took on some sugar and was recovering by the end.

That was my thought as well. He does have a history of it. We'll see what he says in the interview.

dish_dash

Valverde grabs a few more seconds... I confess I'm warming to his canny riding...

Great to see Gesink firing after his health problems...

Macaloon

Froome to Control: "Empty tank. Need sugar"

Control to Team: "Froome says empty the tank lads."

ic.

Macaloon wrote:

Froome to Control: "Empty tank. Need sugar"

Control to Team: "Froome says empty the tank lads."

thegreatdivide

Blazing Saddles wrote:

Astana now have the two best GT riders in the world.

?

The Kennington Kaiser

thegreatdivide wrote:

Blazing Saddles wrote:

Astana now have the two best GT riders in the world.

?

If the world only extends to the Italian peninsula

philwint

frenchfighter wrote:

Froome the winner of the day. Rides like that sort the men from the boys. You can't win Grand Tours if you do not know how to suffer. Do not like him too much but the boy is one of the best suffer riders in the pro peloton.

I think so too. I actually quite like the guy, but generally try not to confuse "like" with "admire". This was a fab demonstration on why cycling is such a good sport to watch. Seldom do you see suffering like that in other sports.

Aru as well - very admirable chap. And I think he has panache.

ContrelaMontre

Joelsim wrote:

Nightmare. Really like Quintana.

PTP Carnage! Glad I picked Evans for GC ... :?

iainf72

So I reckon that was good for the race.

That will probably put Froome's head in a good place for first time since Dauphine. 2 easy days and the form is coming. Could possible be interesting still.

dsoutar

I still don't think Froome has the physical capability to win this race but he certainly appears to have the mental capability based on today's stage. My fears of a bit of a procession seem (at the moment, at least) to be unfounded. A good days's racing on what was to be honest only a taster of what's coming up although I was surprised that none of the leading GC contenders tried to put the others under some sort of duress.

Uran lost a few more seconds but I still wouldn't write him off a podium place.

Bring on the Lagos !

iainf72

Froome doing quite well at humanising himself

https://twitter.com/chrisfroome/status/ ... 1194083328

danlikesbikes

Certainly made for an interesting highlights show, do hope it's a sign of the form coming for Froome and the fight continues

Macaloon

iainf72 wrote:

Froome doing quite well at humanising himself

https://twitter.com/chrisfroome/status/ ... 1194083328

Spoke very well yesterday after a pretty shocking TT. I'm gagging for a full strength Froome - Contador GT showdown. Fireworks guaranteed.

frenchfighter

Macaloon wrote:

iainf72 wrote:

Froome doing quite well at humanising himself

https://twitter.com/chrisfroome/status/ ... 1194083328

Spoke very well yesterday after a pretty shocking TT. I'm gagging for a full strength Froome - Contador GT showdown. Fireworks guaranteed.

Kind of although he just said he went off way too hard so suffered in the latter half. Implication being for me that he thinks he messed up rather than admit he didnt have the legs. (A pro like him especially one from the team that is Sky would know how to pace themselves...unless he has done away with his power, hrm and plan and is riding on feel). Think today showed he didn't have the legs he wished for.

Its fine though. I lauded praise on him today.

frenchfighter

Contador's comments today are great. Class.

He said a lot but thus is my favourite:
"I congratulate Aru today but I am not surprised. Watching the Giro on tv, he reminded me of myself: he is courageous and has good changes of rhythm. He is going to be a star."
High praise indeed. Glad I backed Aru from when he wasn't even a pro. Heart of a lion.

frenchfighter

Morabito was involved in a pile up then whilst on the ground got run over by two motorbikes!!! Dislocated his shoulder nut2 sorted it himself apparently.

danlikesbikes

frenchfighter wrote:

Morabito was involved in a pile up then whilst on the ground got run over by two motorbikes!!! Dislocated his shoulder nut2 sorted it himself apparently.

Proper hard nut then, could you imagine a footballer doing that these days

mfin

frenchfighter wrote:

Contador's comments today are great. Class.

He said a lot but thus is my favourite:
"I congratulate Aru today but I am not surprised. Watching the Giro on tv, he reminded me of myself: he is courageous and has good changes of rhythm. He is going to be a star."
High praise indeed. Glad I backed Aru from when he wasn't even a pro. Heart of a lion.

That's class is it? Congratulating them by likening them to yourself and blowing smoke up your own ass? Fair enough!

Maybe it was lost in the translation a bit.

Also, 'Heart of a lion'. Get real, he felt strong and attacked a bit, he's just another cyclist going as hard as he can when he feels good.

Macaloon

Quintana had bruising to his toes where they "hit the crash barrier" :shock: Looked like a real hard man on the highlights. More scunnered to be out of the race than crippled by the pain.

Prolonged scenes of Morabito rolling on his shoulder were a tough watch.

bluemoon17

Danlikesbikes wrote:

frenchfighter wrote:

Morabito was involved in a pile up then whilst on the ground got run over by two motorbikes!!! Dislocated his shoulder nut2 sorted it himself apparently.

Proper hard nut then, could you imagine a footballer doing that these days

What, getting run over by a motorbike? :?

danlikesbikes

Bluemoon17 wrote:

Danlikesbikes wrote:

frenchfighter wrote:

Morabito was involved in a pile up then whilst on the ground got run over by two motorbikes!!! Dislocated his shoulder nut2 sorted it himself apparently.

Proper hard nut then, could you imagine a footballer doing that these days

What, getting run over by a motorbike? :?

No the sorting it himself part.

Macaloon

I missed most of the climb live. Pretty gutsy of Froome to dangle off the back and be happy for teammates to keep pulling.

Pross

Let's face it Froome has form of dangling off the back, looking to be in trouble and then attacking. He should have given Bertie the 'keep up' hand signal like he did to the race leader the last time

iainf72

frenchfighter wrote:

Kind of although he just said he went off way too hard so suffered in the latter half. Implication being for me that he thinks he messed up rather than admit he didnt have the legs. (A pro like him especially one from the team that is Sky would know how to pace themselves...unless he has done away with his power, hrm and plan and is riding on feel). Think today showed he didn't have the legs he wished for.

Its fine though. I lauded praise on him today.

Or unless this idea that riding on power is some kind of panacea is a myth and doesn't really affect how people ride.

danlikesbikes

Pross wrote:

Let's face it Froome has form of dangling off the back, looking to be in trouble and then attacking. He should have given Bertie the 'keep up' hand signal like he did to the race leader the last time

Think if he had it would be one of those moments to remember

RichN95.

iainf72 wrote:

So I reckon that was good for the race.

That will probably put Froome's head in a good place for first time since Dauphine. 2 easy days and the form is coming. Could possible be interesting still.

I reckon so. He was looking decent before his crash. And crashes effect everyone. You don't see gauze at the front of the race. I think he'll get better from here on in. Sunday is a big day for all.

frenchfighter

Contador had blue, then yellow then red tape on his knee. Why? Does each tape have different properties?

frenchfighter

menthel

frenchfighter wrote:

He really isn't very good at hide and seek.