Vuelta Stage 8 **Spoilers**

RichN95.
RichN95. Posts: 27,137
edited August 2016 in Pro race
So today we have probably the most back-loaded stage in the history of Grand Tours

170km of pan flat riding followed by 20% mania:

PROFILCOLSCOTES_1.jpg

Look at that nonsense. It's designed by a mad man.
Twitter: @RichN95
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Comments

  • Absolutely daft stage design.
    Guarantees nothing will happen until the final, mad dash to be first at the bottom of the wall, followed by 15 minutes of grinding attrition, ending in last man standing.
    Yuk.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • iainf72
    iainf72 Posts: 15,784
    One of these days they'll realise these ridiculously steep roads don't always produce exciting racing as everyone just ends up grinding it out.

    I like admire the stupidity of the whole enterprise though. It's kind of like Iron Maiden back in the day - How would they top the last stage show.
    Fckin' Quintana … that creep can roll, man.
  • bobmcstuff
    bobmcstuff Posts: 11,196
    25% at 4k...

    Least we know when to tune in today...
  • Breakaway 11 rider(s)
    67 SMUKULIS Gatis. (AST), 89 WAEYTENS ZICO. (TGA), 105 DOMONT Axel. (ALM), 114 LAGUTIN Sergey. (KAT), 117 RESTREPO Jhonatan. (KAT), 136 SERRY Pieter. (EQS), 156 JANSE VAN RENSBURG Jacques. (DDD), 173 CATTANEO Mattia. (LAM), 183 CHETOUT LOÏC. (COF), 199 THWAITES Scott. (BOA), 219 QUEMENEUR Perrig. (DEN)

    They have over a six minute lead after 46kms.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • joelsim
    joelsim Posts: 7,552
    I don't see any harm in putting a stage in like this midway through. Wouldn't want it near the end though.
  • TheBigBean
    TheBigBean Posts: 20,510
    Is it any different than a typical Vetoux stage? Bit steeper obviously.
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 40,216
    Might surprise us with a bit of a battle for the stage win between riders trying to hang on from the break and the GC group or maybe a team will make it hard from the start to knacker their rivals before the climb. I won't hold my breath though!
  • Knocking off the kms at a better rate due to a bigger break, thank goodness.
    A lead of 7'-45" probably not enough, yet.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,137
    Overnight Contador has had his leg rebuilt by Tony Stark

    Cq3KIiTWcAA4S2v.jpg
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • FocusZing
    FocusZing Posts: 4,373
    Ha!

    I can't see the poor bloke start tomorrow. The cycling Gods need to give the guy a break.

    His bike looks robotic cool.
  • above_the_cows
    above_the_cows Posts: 11,406
    The break has 10 minutes now.

    I tuned in too early with 25k to go.

    Loving Contador's Transformer's leg.
    Correlation is not causation.
  • above_the_cows
    above_the_cows Posts: 11,406
    Did Flecha just call the climb a 'goaty' road?
    Correlation is not causation.
  • The_Boy
    The_Boy Posts: 3,099
    Did Flecha just call the climb a 'goaty' road?

    Yes. As in 'goat track', I guess.
    Team My Man 2018: David gaudu, Pierre Latour, Romain Bardet, Thibaut pinot, Alexandre Geniez, Florian Senechal, Warren Barguil, Benoit Cosnefroy
  • above_the_cows
    above_the_cows Posts: 11,406
    The_Boy wrote:
    Did Flecha just call the climb a 'goaty' road?

    Yes. As in 'goat track', I guess.

    That's what I thought I just wanted to check I wasn't going a bit mad.
    Correlation is not causation.
  • dabber
    dabber Posts: 1,924
    The police seem to be controlling things well... makes a nice change.
    “You may think that; I couldn’t possibly comment!”

    Wilier Cento Uno SR/Wilier Mortirolo/Specialized Roubaix Comp/Kona Hei Hei/Calibre Bossnut
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,137
    Movistar going big early. Froome 'dropped''
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,137
    GC guys playing it cool. Fairly relaxed. Contador going OK
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,137
    Froome attacks. Quintana counters.
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • above_the_cows
    above_the_cows Posts: 11,406
    I'm tired just watching this.

    Teeny Tana drops Froome. Bertie going backwards.
    Correlation is not causation.
  • Dorset_Boy
    Dorset_Boy Posts: 6,876
    Contador's miracle surgery clearly didn't add enough bionics
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,137
    About 15s for Quintana
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • Dorset_Boy
    Dorset_Boy Posts: 6,876
    edited August 2016
    Quintana riding into red
  • above_the_cows
    above_the_cows Posts: 11,406
    edited August 2016
    Teeny Tana pedaling sqaures.

    Contador engages Stark mode. They've hidden a motor in his new leg.
    Correlation is not causation.
  • Dorset_Boy
    Dorset_Boy Posts: 6,876
    I spoke too soon. Contador just took a while to find the right switch
  • jscl
    jscl Posts: 1,015
    Good finish for Contador that.

    I think it's fair to expect that Nairo would put time in to the other GC guys on this type of steep climb. But I'd have expected him to put more than that in...
    Follow me on Twitter - http://twitter.com/scalesjason - All posts are strictly my personal view.
  • bobmcstuff
    bobmcstuff Posts: 11,196
    That was a dust up at the end. Surprised Contador brought that back!
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 40,216
    Froome ballsed that one up. Unusual for him to push himself into the red like that without gaining on his rivals. Quintana looking very strong and a miraculous comeback from the bionic man with his multiple compound fractures.
  • above_the_cows
    above_the_cows Posts: 11,406
    Pross wrote:
    Froome ballsed that one up. Unusual for him to push himself into the red like that without gaining on his rivals. Quintana looking very strong and a miraculous comeback from the bionic man with his multiple compound fractures.

    He's probably off his face on painkillers.
    Correlation is not causation.
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 40,216
    Froome loses 33s to Quintana and 8s to Contador.
  • TheBigBean
    TheBigBean Posts: 20,510
    1 Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team 29:55:54
    2 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar Team 0:00:19
    3 Christopher Froome (GBr) Team Sky 0:00:27
    4 Esteban Chaves (Col) Orica-BikeExchange 0:00:57
    5 Leopold Konig (Cze) Team Sky 0:01:16
    6 Alberto Contador (Spa) Tinkoff Team 0:01:39
    7 Daniel Moreno (Spa) Movistar Team 0:01:44
    8 Gianluca Brambilla (Ita) Etixx - Quick-Step 0:01:46
    9 Samuel Sanchez (Spa) BMC Racing Team
    10 Simon Yates (GBr) Orica-BikeExchange