unofficial tour of Spain thread
- Thread starter CAMPYBOB
- Start date
As Charles Pelkey pointed out, Garmin DID win the Giro, which generally means your season has one pretty significant highlight.
But yeah, it's been buzzard's luck for them so far in the other 2 Grand Tours.
I didn't realize the finish was in the arean where the running of the bulls ends. Pretty neat.
But yeah, it's been buzzard's luck for them so far in the other 2 Grand Tours.
I didn't realize the finish was in the arean where the running of the bulls ends. Pretty neat.
A motorbike led Martin offline. Lots of weirdness in the prologue.
I only had time to watch a bit of the Vattenfal Cyclassic this morning before heading out to ride. O'grady shattered a collarbone...nasty. Off to watch the Vuelta road stage I missed this morning.
I only had time to watch a bit of the Vattenfal Cyclassic this morning before heading out to ride. O'grady shattered a collarbone...nasty. Off to watch the Vuelta road stage I missed this morning.
Next two stages Arrate and Estación de Valdezcaray
Froome said he's looking forward to Arrate after very good sensations during opening TTT.
Contador mentioned earlier he expects to catch top form in the second week, while Arrate and Valdezcaray aren't exactly the climbs where he'll be trying to make the difference.
I'm not sure he's forthright about it, but after today's bonus seconds ambush it makes sense.
And just because of that ambush, I hope Froome will put some time into Contador.
Bonus seconds should be exactly what their name says - bonus. Reward for good ride, not the goal. At least not for the rider of Contador's caliber. Although he's right about importance of small gains.
It was very nerdy move (chasing bonus), and I think Riis has something to do with it.
Rodriguez is the rider to watch on Arrate. It's his kind of climb, and he has to take as much time as he can.
Igor Anton is the other one who should fancy his chances there.
Movistar could establish their team hierarchy on Arrate.
I also hope Arrate won't redirect VDB's goals from GC to stage victories.
Froome said he's looking forward to Arrate after very good sensations during opening TTT.
Contador mentioned earlier he expects to catch top form in the second week, while Arrate and Valdezcaray aren't exactly the climbs where he'll be trying to make the difference.
I'm not sure he's forthright about it, but after today's bonus seconds ambush it makes sense.
And just because of that ambush, I hope Froome will put some time into Contador.
Bonus seconds should be exactly what their name says - bonus. Reward for good ride, not the goal. At least not for the rider of Contador's caliber. Although he's right about importance of small gains.
It was very nerdy move (chasing bonus), and I think Riis has something to do with it.
Rodriguez is the rider to watch on Arrate. It's his kind of climb, and he has to take as much time as he can.
Igor Anton is the other one who should fancy his chances there.
Movistar could establish their team hierarchy on Arrate.
I also hope Arrate won't redirect VDB's goals from GC to stage victories.
Yes, Contador looked very good.
His accelerations reminded me on his famous battle against Rasmussen during 2007 Tour.
This time it looked more like testing of his rivals. Froome particularly. Contador needs to know what has to be done against Sky.
And Froome looked good too. Doesn't have explosiveness of Contador, but his pacing is very good.
Although Froome took bonus in front of Contador, the latter one won this round in my opinion.
If Contador improves the way he's expecting, I doubt he'll have appropriate rival.
P.S.
Regarding bonus at the finish, maybe Contador's message is: "Be my guest, take it. I won't need it."
Or just wanted to make things even after yesterday's ambush. To act knightly.
His accelerations reminded me on his famous battle against Rasmussen during 2007 Tour.
This time it looked more like testing of his rivals. Froome particularly. Contador needs to know what has to be done against Sky.
And Froome looked good too. Doesn't have explosiveness of Contador, but his pacing is very good.
Although Froome took bonus in front of Contador, the latter one won this round in my opinion.
If Contador improves the way he's expecting, I doubt he'll have appropriate rival.
P.S.
Regarding bonus at the finish, maybe Contador's message is: "Be my guest, take it. I won't need it."
Or just wanted to make things even after yesterday's ambush. To act knightly.
J-Rod says:
I expected today the favorite riders to be at the same standard and I have very good feelings about my shape, but in this moment I'm so ****** against myself that I don't really care. I can only think I lost a stage not because I was weaker, but because I was stupid."
At least he's honest!
I expected today the favorite riders to be at the same standard and I have very good feelings about my shape, but in this moment I'm so ****** against myself that I don't really care. I can only think I lost a stage not because I was weaker, but because I was stupid."
At least he's honest!
Va...va...va...VOOM Valverde!!!
http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-3/photos/236061
Who wears short shorts?!?!
Sweet Madre de Dio!!!
Miss Phillips...book me a ticket to Arrate, he said while rolling his 'r's!
http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-3/photos/236061
Who wears short shorts?!?!
Sweet Madre de Dio!!!
Miss Phillips...book me a ticket to Arrate, he said while rolling his 'r's!
Stage 4 : Valverde has crashed and is having his work trying to get back on to the bunch.
It looks very windy out there today too.
It looks very windy out there today too.
I've always liked Roche.
There was some discussion that Valv falling and Sky putting the hammer down were NOT coincidental - Movistar has a bit of a rep for going on the attack when someone crashes or has a mechanical, so there may have been a bit of a "Should we neutralize until he catches back on?" "Oh, let's not!" decision.
I'm not surprised to see them working together. They were together in trouble and Capecchi will join Movistar next season. I even think their coalition will last throughout entire Vuelta.
Roche also showed yesterday what colors he'll be wearing next season.
There was some discussion that Valv falling and Sky putting the hammer down were NOT coincidental - Movistar has a bit of a rep for going on the attack when someone crashes or has a mechanical, so there may have been a bit of a "Should we neutralize until he catches back on?" "Oh, let's not!" decision.
I think that's spot on. You could see guys look over their shoulders and then punch it into passing gear. Radios were going wild with, "Screw Valverde! Open the gap!".
Even before the M-star rider went up to 'politely' ask Sky to step off the gas (which did not happen), they knew exactly who had hit the deck. Those trees were really bending hard with that right-to-left cross wind and the gaps between the three echelons at that roundabout near the underpass were significant.
As said earlier, it was a hellova ride back by Valv to only come in a minute or so down on the Contador group. For a while, on the climb, Contador and company were going uphill in a hurry.
I think that's spot on. You could see guys look over their shoulders and then punch it into passing gear. Radios were going wild with, "Screw Valverde! Open the gap!".
Even before the M-star rider went up to 'politely' ask Sky to step off the gas (which did not happen), they knew exactly who had hit the deck. Those trees were really bending hard with that right-to-left cross wind and the gaps between the three echelons at that roundabout near the underpass were significant.
As said earlier, it was a hellova ride back by Valv to only come in a minute or so down on the Contador group. For a while, on the climb, Contador and company were going uphill in a hurry.
Some anger expressed over Sky's continuing the attack: http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/purito-rodriguez-teams-can-do-what-they-want
Ex-professionals think Sky were correct in continuing the attack: http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/ex-pros-back-sky-in-valverde-crash-row
Bad luck for Valverde, any way you slice it.
Ex-professionals think Sky were correct in continuing the attack: http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/ex-pros-back-sky-in-valverde-crash-row
Bad luck for Valverde, any way you slice it.
I don't think it's humanly possible to design more dangerous finishes than the Tour and Giro.
The finishing circuit today had some stupid back alleys (now we know why they can actually sell more than five Smart FourTwos over there) on it and the usual 179 traffic circles that seemed to get increasingly smaller radii the closer the riders got to the finish, but despite the constant suges by the various teams and trainless sprinters, they did a good job at keeping it under control.
I kept waiting for the inevitable crash, but the guys were on their game this afternoon.
I think I spotted a Siata Spring in the background of one of the TV camera bike shots!
The finishing circuit today had some stupid back alleys (now we know why they can actually sell more than five Smart FourTwos over there) on it and the usual 179 traffic circles that seemed to get increasingly smaller radii the closer the riders got to the finish, but despite the constant suges by the various teams and trainless sprinters, they did a good job at keeping it under control.
I kept waiting for the inevitable crash, but the guys were on their game this afternoon.
I think I spotted a Siata Spring in the background of one of the TV camera bike shots!
Awesome!!!Originally Posted by CAMPYBOB .
I think I spotted a Siata Spring in the background of one of the TV camera bike shots!
I really think the narrow roads are slowing things down actually making it safer. But you're right on, for safety it's better than the 2-3 lane 60kph drag race into a closing 100 degree corner /img/vbsmilies/smilies/eek.gif
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