La Vuelta 15 #15 Comillas / Sotres. Cabrales **SPOILERS**
Withdrawals
114 DE GENDT Thomas LTS abandono
59 SOUPE GEOFFREY COF no compite
47 MAS BONET Luis Guillermo CJR abandono
31 SANCHEZ GONZALEZ Samuel BMC abandono
Hearing that TdG withdrawal was a mixture of mental and physical fatigue - easy to see the physical cause and it cannot be nice racing with a mate still in a very serious condition in hospital. All best wishes for Kris - but the update doesn't have a lot of good news
http://www.lottosoudal.be/update-kris-boeckmans/?lang=en
Two weeks into the race and it is now the northern coastline that provides the setting
wow - it's about a hundred miles with a small climb in the middle and a big MTF - same old same old. Still should be thrilling if the climbers really have ambition - they need to put time into Dumoulin
The final climb looks nastier than yesterday's - it isn't the long drag with steaddy gradient; some shallow sections and some wallike sections - and really climmbers finish
from eyeballing it that looks like about 450m climbing in the last 5000m - average 9% for the last 5km is a perfect setup for the pure climbers to scoot away for timegaps.
Alternative view of the last climb that I really like - gonna have to see what other climbs they have
114 DE GENDT Thomas LTS abandono
59 SOUPE GEOFFREY COF no compite
47 MAS BONET Luis Guillermo CJR abandono
31 SANCHEZ GONZALEZ Samuel BMC abandono
Hearing that TdG withdrawal was a mixture of mental and physical fatigue - easy to see the physical cause and it cannot be nice racing with a mate still in a very serious condition in hospital. All best wishes for Kris - but the update doesn't have a lot of good news
http://www.lottosoudal.be/update-kris-boeckmans/?lang=en
Two weeks into the race and it is now the northern coastline that provides the setting
wow - it's about a hundred miles with a small climb in the middle and a big MTF - same old same old. Still should be thrilling if the climbers really have ambition - they need to put time into Dumoulin
The final climb looks nastier than yesterday's - it isn't the long drag with steaddy gradient; some shallow sections and some wallike sections - and really climmbers finish
from eyeballing it that looks like about 450m climbing in the last 5000m - average 9% for the last 5km is a perfect setup for the pure climbers to scoot away for timegaps.
Alternative view of the last climb that I really like - gonna have to see what other climbs they have
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Comments
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Hope Quintana is feeling better and trounce Aru into the dust0
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Hope Quintana is feeling better and trounce Aru into the dust
that would be good0 -
Bit of a snooze fest today I'm guessing? At work so no Eurosport today0
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Today's philosophical conundrum: If Zubeldia attacks alone in the Vuelta and nobody is watching....Warning No formatter is installed for the format0
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J-Rod going for the win inside the last 1k, Quintana went pop very visibly trying to follow him. Dumoulin was about 20-30s behind the GC group but it's blown apart now and the gap is getting bigger.
Aru and Majka trying to chase down Rodriguez, hanging 10-20m back at the moment.0 -
Typical Rodriguez win in the end. Most of the GC guys within 25s. Dumoulin about 50s behind Rodriguez.
Aru still in red, but only by a second. Majka 3rd, Dumoulin 4th, both well over a minute back.0 -
Always love a Purito win
Dumoulin's riding gutsy as, to limit his losses these last 2 stages *doffs cap*0 -
Sensible riding by Tom D there. Good win by J Rod but was hoping the invisible man might hold on up the final climb to take it. Boswell battling well to stick with the big guns for most of the climb which was good to see.0
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Haha solid result on this spoiler thread for a mountain stage.
Good to see Dutch lad going backwards although not nearly as much as Aru needs.
Really pleased with Majka - 3rd GC is super.
JRod 1 sec back may see him don ther jersey before losing it.
Quintana back in form after a nasty fever.Contador is the Greatest0 -
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Aru looks very vulnerable now - J-Rod in better shape the last two stages, and at only 1 second in GC; and Dumoulin still only a minute and 25 behind with a TT to do.
Next stage is the last real MTF. Still 4 riders with a very good chance of taking the overall. Could well still be very close after the TT, which means long range attacks in those hilly and mountain stages without summit finish.
Last (?) golden opportunity for J-Rod to win a Grand Tour?0 -
Just watching it now.
Seem to be a lot of teammates still in the favourites group really late on. I'm 1.2km from the finish and most of the top 10 have some teammate representation.
Maybe they're not even going up that fast, and that's flattering Tom a bit.
Doesn't matter, but if you look at the Tour mountain stages the favourites were on their own from a lot further out.0 -
Just watching highlights now.
The Picos really is spectacular. Unfortunately Costa Verde comes with plenty of rainfall - only time I was there I barely saw the mountains, while England was on a hosepipe ban.
Holes appearing in Zubeldia's invisibility cloak.0 -
Are we all going to be kept in detention for not making it past a page on a (quite good on highlights) GT stage?0
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Just watching highlights now.
The Picos really is spectacular. Unfortunately Costa Verde comes with plenty of rainfall - only time I was there I barely saw the mountains, while England was on a hosepipe ban.
Holes appearing in Zubeldia's invisibility cloak.0 -
Just watching highlights now.
The Picos really is spectacular. Unfortunately Costa Verde comes with plenty of rainfall - only time I was there I barely saw the mountains, while England was on a hosepipe ban.
Holes appearing in Zubeldia's invisibility cloak.
I couldn't believe me eyes! Zubeldia!
I must have struck it lucky when I spent a few days hiking in the Picos - no rain! Nada!0 -
I know some folks on here reckon Froome is rather ungainly on a velocipede, but watching Aru struggle up a hill is quite one of the strangest things I have ever seen.0
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If it's like nearby Galicia, that part of the world normally has good weather during Summer, but yeah, constant rain rest of the year0
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I know some folks on here reckon Froome is rather ungainly on a velocipede, but watching Aru struggle up a hill is quite one of the strangest things I have ever seen.
Had the same thoughts. Looks like he is wrestling the bike all the way.0 -
Just watched the recording of this, great win by Rodriguez. I would be delighted for Rodriguez to take the overall.
Gutsy effort from Dumoulin to keep the time loss down too.
I suppose for me it's anyone but Astana!It's only a bit of sport, Mun. Relax and enjoy the racing.0 -
I know some folks on here reckon Froome is rather ungainly on a velocipede, but watching Aru struggle up a hill is quite one of the strangest things I have ever seen.
Had the same thoughts. Looks like he is wrestling the bike all the way.
Stylish, aggressive, winner. Heart of fire and he leaves it on the macadam at any opportunity. Rather watch that 1 then 100x watching some 150 rpm, seated rider, zero pain face (when you see it), riding his own race and turning on the turbo boosters in the last 1km.
Pure passion and talent from when he was a youngster. Just like Nibali. Real riders.
Contador is the Greatest0 -
A great end to that stage, love watching Rodriguez climb when he goes for it. Pure guts and determination0
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Aru is indeed fugly on a bike
Aru, Froome and Hesjedal are on my Fugly Podium of current riders0 -
Aggressive, yes, but stylish? Don't want to question you on your field of expertise, but really?
Stylish, aggressive, winner.
I've always agreed with you that Contador has a beautiful, classic, pure climber style uphill (although not as much on a TT bike), and can see the appeal there. And Aru certainly has the gutsy aggressive riding style to fit. But stylistically his bike and body really are all over the place, in an uncontrolled way in complete contrast with Contador. Interestingly, Dumoulin, who you don't seem to rate, has IMHO one of the most best riding styles of the current peloton on the flat0 -
I know some folks on here reckon Froome is rather ungainly on a velocipede, but watching Aru struggle up a hill is quite one of the strangest things I have ever seen.
Very ungainly. reminds me of something i read and watched with Merckx. Ugly but very effective (though completely dissimilar. Not quite the same thing applies to Aru, he's still a bit naieve.
on the other side of the aesthetic theme, Quintana and Rodriguez are both phenomenal to watch. Great win for Rodriguez. having a good year again with 3 GT stage wins at 36. Class act.0 -
I guess that style isn't my only reference for my enjoyment of watching the race. I am incredibly impressed by Dumoulin's coolness under fire for example, plus he looks good on a bike. I love how he allows himself to drift off at just the right time to limit his losses.
Agreed J-Rod was great yesterday, Aru horrible but you have got admire his guts. Qunitana leaves me a bit cold to be honest. He'll be looking fine, then just drifts off the pass or increases it, no apparent changes of visible effort.
Style appart, I enjoy watching Froome.0 -
Aggressive, yes, but stylish? Don't want to question you on your field of expertise, but really?
Stylish, aggressive, winner.
I've always agreed with you that Contador has a beautiful, classic, pure climber style uphill (although not as much on a TT bike), and can see the appeal there. And Aru certainly has the gutsy aggressive riding style to fit. But stylistically his bike and body really are all over the place, in an uncontrolled way in complete contrast with Contador. Interestingly, Dumoulin, who you don't seem to rate, has IMHO one of the most best riding styles of the current peloton on the flat
I agree, he's gutsy and has balls but he's hardly stylish.0 -
Aggressive, yes, but stylish? Don't want to question you on your field of expertise, but really?
Stylish, aggressive, winner.
I've always agreed with you that Contador has a beautiful, classic, pure climber style uphill (although not as much on a TT bike), and can see the appeal there. And Aru certainly has the gutsy aggressive riding style to fit. But stylistically his bike and body really are all over the place, in an uncontrolled way in complete contrast with Contador. Interestingly, Dumoulin, who you don't seem to rate, has IMHO one of the most best riding styles of the current peloton on the flat
Ha to be fair lets say he is stylish but not stylish when he is in full on attack mode. Lots more stylish than him. I just love the way he gives himself entirely to getting to the top of the climb fastest. And it is not because he is not a poor climber and is trying to drag his body up there - as he is clearly only a climber.
Tom D, clearly talented, beautiful style in the TT, just can conjure zero enthusiasm for him and really dislike TT riders climbing. His face, eyebrows and stupid flat brimmed caps don't help his cause either.Contador is the Greatest0 -
I love the way Aru climbs, all over the bike clearly wringing every last ounce of effort from his body. That said I'd love Rodriguez to win this race, plenty in front of Aru in his career but it'd be nice for Rodriguez to win a grand tour.[Castle Donington Ladies FC - going up in '22]0
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I'm going to stand by my comment about the riders still in contention with the favourites at the sharp end of MTFs and suggest that the level in this Vuelta is quite low and is flattering to deceive.0
