Vuelta 2014 Stage 20 *SPOILERS*

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  • pinno
    pinno Posts: 52,312
    type:epyt wrote:
    ^ Contador was all over his bike like a monkey trying to open a vaseline covered banana and as a result survived to the win. He barely beat Froome who looked worse crossing the the line today than he did when he abandoned the Tour.

    Have you witnessed this at Whipsnade or somewhere similar?!
    seanoconn - gruagach craic!
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,253
    Joelsim wrote:
    but he wasn't even blowing at the summit today.
    He was. He has a twitch with his mouth when he's on the limit and it was going like the clappers late on in the stage.
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • fleshtuxedo
    fleshtuxedo Posts: 1,858
    No class from Contador today, unnecessary to disrespect his main competitor in that way. Take a f**king turn when it's in the bag instead of playing to the crowd.
  • joelsim
    joelsim Posts: 7,552
    FleshTuxedo wrote:
    No class from Contador today, unnecessary to disrespect his main competitor in that way. Take a f**king turn when it's in the bag instead of playing to the crowd.

    I don't agree with that. The onus was on Froome today, Contador could just sit and do his own thing.
  • fleshtuxedo
    fleshtuxedo Posts: 1,858
    Joelsim wrote:
    FleshTuxedo wrote:
    No class from Contador today, unnecessary to disrespect his main competitor in that way. Take a f**king turn when it's in the bag instead of playing to the crowd.

    I don't agree with that. The onus was on Froome today, Contador could just sit and do his own thing.

    Yes he could, and he did. But he didn't have to. That's the problem. No class.
  • pinno
    pinno Posts: 52,312
    FleshTuxedo wrote:
    No class from Contador today, unnecessary to disrespect his main competitor in that way. Take a f**king turn when it's in the bag instead of playing to the crowd.

    Maybe he was wary after Froome attacked on the Ventoux last year. Why did he need to pull on the front? His main rival is going to have to bury himself if there's any chance of threatening his lead and all he had to do was follow wheels and pick up a stage win.
    I remember Lemond getting lots of stick in the '89 tour because all he did was follow Fignon's wheel once the time gap was there.
    seanoconn - gruagach craic!
  • type:epyt
    type:epyt Posts: 766
    FleshTuxedo wrote:
    Joelsim wrote:
    FleshTuxedo wrote:
    No class from Contador today, unnecessary to disrespect his main competitor in that way. Take a f**king turn when it's in the bag instead of playing to the crowd.

    I don't agree with that. The onus was on Froome today, Contador could just sit and do his own thing.

    Yes he could, and he did. But he didn't have to. That's the problem. No class.

    Today's win seemed to be about laying down a marker for future battles, something Sky went out of their way to do with both Froome and Wiggins (albiet in shorter stage races) in the past.

    Plus, I think Uncle Oleg expects nothing less.
    Life is unfair, kill yourself or get over it.
  • fleshtuxedo
    fleshtuxedo Posts: 1,858
    pinarello001 wrote:
    FleshTuxedo wrote:
    No class from Contador today, unnecessary to disrespect his main competitor in that way. Take a f**king turn when it's in the bag instead of playing to the crowd.

    Maybe he was wary after Froome attacked on the Ventoux last year. Why did he need to pull on the front? His main rival is going to have to bury himself if there's any chance of threatening his lead and all he had to do was follow wheels and pick up a stage win.
    I remember Lemond getting lots of stick in the '89 tour because all he did was follow Fignon's wheel once the time gap was there.

    Yeah I can believe he was wary, but if that was the case he didn't need to sprint off for the win. I just don't like seeing him wheel sucking the whole climb, taking off with 700m to go and giving it the pistoleros over the line like he's The Man, when he already has the gc done and dusted. Unnecessary.
  • fleshtuxedo
    fleshtuxedo Posts: 1,858
    type:epyt wrote:
    FleshTuxedo wrote:
    Joelsim wrote:
    FleshTuxedo wrote:
    No class from Contador today, unnecessary to disrespect his main competitor in that way. Take a f**king turn when it's in the bag instead of playing to the crowd.

    I don't agree with that. The onus was on Froome today, Contador could just sit and do his own thing.

    Yes he could, and he did. But he didn't have to. That's the problem. No class.

    Today's win seemed to be about laying down a marker for future battles, something Sky went out of their way to do with both Froome and Wiggins (albiet in shorter stage races) in the past.

    Plus, I think Uncle Oleg expects nothing less.

    Today lays down no markers though does it, the race between bert and froome was shaped by froomes rubbish early form which he's meant he's been tactically snookered the whole race. You're probably right about Oleg though :shock:
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,725
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    Joelsim wrote:

    +1. Amazing that his performances have improved hugely since his contract looked in jeopardy last year. Perhaps he realised, but he wasn't even blowing at the summit today.

    Yes he was.

    That kind of chat belongs in the clinic.


    Not unless he signs for Sky, it doesn't. :wink:
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    Do find it odd Contador is taking stick for his tactics.

    Leader of the race, riding with the 2nd placed Brit who's trying to drop him, with a Spaniard racing for 2nd behind him.
    _
  • milton50
    milton50 Posts: 3,856
    If Contador had tried to drop Froome and couldn't then I'm guessing he would have just ridden on Froome's wheel and allowed him to take the stage. Like he did with Andy Schleck in 2010 on the Tourmalet.

    But with only a 1:20 advantage then you have to take the seconds when they're on offer. Even though it's only 9km, a couple of mechanicals could still see him lose the race today.

    Obviously if he had sat on Fromme's wheel and then popped out with 10m to go to take the win then that would have been classless.
  • alistaird
    alistaird Posts: 290
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    Do find it odd Contador is taking stick for his tactics.

    Leader of the race, riding with the 2nd placed Brit who's trying to drop him, with a Spaniard racing for 2nd behind him.

    +1

    I'm no expert at all, just enjoy watching the racing and to me it seemed like Contador got his tactics right, defending his lead and the extending it late on.

    A
    Alistair


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  • mfin
    mfin Posts: 6,729
    Milton50 wrote:
    Even though it's only 9km, a couple of mechanicals could still see him lose the race today.

    Yes, there is a small chance, all religions across the world are diligently praying with their fingers crossed, just been watching it on BBC News 24.
  • Paul 8v
    Paul 8v Posts: 5,458
    Milton50 wrote:
    If Contador had tried to drop Froome and couldn't then I'm guessing he would have just ridden on Froome's wheel and allowed him to take the stage. Like he did with Andy Schleck in 2010 on the Tourmalet.

    But with only a 1:20 advantage then you have to take the seconds when they're on offer. Even though it's only 9km, a couple of mechanicals could still see him lose the race today.

    Obviously if he had sat on Fromme's wheel and then popped out with 10m to go to take the win then that would have been Valverde.

    FTFY :wink:
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  • milton50
    milton50 Posts: 3,856
    Paul 8v wrote:
    Milton50 wrote:
    If Contador had tried to drop Froome and couldn't then I'm guessing he would have just ridden on Froome's wheel and allowed him to take the stage. Like he did with Andy Schleck in 2010 on the Tourmalet.

    But with only a 1:20 advantage then you have to take the seconds when they're on offer. Even though it's only 9km, a couple of mechanicals could still see him lose the race today.

    Obviously if he had sat on Fromme's wheel and then popped out with 10m to go to take the win then that would have been Valverde.

    FTFY :wink:

    :)
  • Paul 8v
    Paul 8v Posts: 5,458
    Contador is far enough in front not to worry if Valverde catches him, Froome isn't so it makes perfect sense for him to sit on Froome's wheel and let him do the work. He's played the whole race pretty well, maybe he also wanted to make sure he got plenty of stage wins under his belt so he wouldn't be criticised on online forums as well ;-)
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  • thomthom
    thomthom Posts: 3,574
    Blazing Saddles wrote:
    Idiot throws a branch into Froome's chest:

    https://vine.co/v/OaJYj6T0lrE

    Not sure what google translate will make of this for you but it wasn't thrown. http://www.bt.dk/cykling/kaep-angreb-pa ... r-et-uheld
  • takethehighroad
    takethehighroad Posts: 6,821
    Question is why did he feel the need to bang a stick on the ground to support his favourite cyclists?
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    ThomThom wrote:
    Blazing Saddles wrote:
    Idiot throws a branch into Froome's chest:

    https://vine.co/v/OaJYj6T0lrE

    Not sure what google translate will make of this for you but it wasn't thrown. http://www.bt.dk/cykling/kaep-angreb-pa ... r-et-uheld

    Thanks for the clarification.
    Contador is the Greatest
  • LinkD
    LinkD Posts: 30
    Here's the video if you're interested https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBJ5iYbVIMs
  • mroli
    mroli Posts: 3,622
    That spectator's just as big a dolt. Smashing a stick of wood on the ground in front of riders - that branch was far more likely to go into someone's spokes...
    http://www.georgesfoundation.org
    http://100hillsforgeorge.blogspot.com/
    http://www.12on12in12.blogspot.co.uk/
  • mfin
    mfin Posts: 6,729
    Don't be soft, millions of people go see cycle races a year who carry and drop all sorts of stuff that could cause fluke accidents, nothing serious happened here whatsoever.
  • Paul 8v
    Paul 8v Posts: 5,458
    I must admit I do get wound up by the drunken idiots running next to the riders and waving flags in their faces. Have a drink by all means but don't be a d£#k and jeopardise peoples races.
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  • pinno
    pinno Posts: 52,312
    Paul 8v wrote:
    I must admit I do get wound up by the drunken idiots running next to the riders and waving flags in their faces. Have a drink by all means but don't be a d£#k and jeopardise peoples races.

    They (the fans) are getting more and more raucous on the Muur de Huy every year.
    seanoconn - gruagach craic!
  • takethehighroad
    takethehighroad Posts: 6,821
    I know how excited I was in Ilkley when the Tour came past this year, and I hadn't touched a drop in days
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    :lol:

    @chrisfroome · Sep 13
    And people ask me why I ride with my head down?!
    BxbvPFeIUAECVpR.jpg
    Contador is the Greatest
  • shazzz
    shazzz Posts: 1,077
    The way that the stick basher reacts, slowly moving the remains of the stick behind his back and looking innocent, is very amusing. I wonder if he started to whistle?
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,463
    He's made some fairly witty Tweets recently to be fair. I'm warming to him a bit more.
  • Paul 8v
    Paul 8v Posts: 5,458
    The question is who wins the Golden C0ck award this year, "Man bashing stick on the floor like an over excited child" or "Fake world Champion who ruined the Giro queen stage for a poor rider (Who's name escapes me)"?
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