kiddy Posted August 20, 2012 Share Posted August 20, 2012 Thought Swift was a bit too early with his sprint & put it on a plate for Degenkolb in La Vuelta's 2nd stage. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiddy Posted August 20, 2012 Share Posted August 20, 2012 Decent stage from Froome today, never panicked, kept control & limited losses to a couple of seconds. Only loser appeared to be Anton who just couldn't stick with it. Contador looked ominously impressive, lets see if Valverde, J-Rod & the rest can stick with him over the three weeks. General classification standings: 1. Alejandro Valverde (Spa/ Movistar) 8:46:56" 2. Benat Intxausti (Spa/ Movistar) +18" 3. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spa/ Katusha) +19" 4. Chris Froome (GB/ Team Sky) +20" 5. Alberto Contador (Spa/ Saxo Bank) +24" 6. Bauke Mollema (Ned/ Rabobank) +28" 7. Robert Gesink (Ned/Rabobank) 8. Rigoberto Uran (Col/ Team Sky) +30" 9. Daniel Moreno (Spa/ Katusha) +33" 10. Igor Anton (Spa/Euskaltel) +46" 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desert Nomad Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 Roche attacks while Froome & Contador look at one another. Valverde losing time on everybody of note. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiddy Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 Roche attacks while Froome & Contador look at one another. Valverde losing time on everybody of note. Would imagine Movistar will be raging as, whilst Sky & Saxo didn't really put the hammer down, when Valverde crashed, they certainly didn't ease off. I could see Harmons point that it was caused when Sky hitting the front of the Peleton with a change of pace. But it was more down to rider error, in not paying attention, with the touch of wheels that brought down Valverde & 3 team mates. Certainly puts Valverde under pressure the rest of the race & J-Rod didn't look too impressive when Froome & Berty eased off the front on the final climb. The ITT will be the crunch day, & unless J-Rod can gain serious time in the only Pyrenean stage before that. It looks like becoming a two horse race. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Brightside Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 Imagine how mental they would be going if it happened to UK Postal. Disgrace. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe pineapples Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 The echelons formed to combat the wind seemed quite a sight. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiddy Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 The echelons formed to combat the wind seemed quite a sight. Considering what that can do I was expecting Valverde to ship 5 mins+. He was doing a large part of the work himself, & I think how close he got, by the finish, only showed how the others took as little advantage as they could in the circumstances. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiddy Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 Imagine how mental they would be going if it happened to UK Postal. Disgrace. I can see the point, & the sudden interest of the British Press would have created a furore, had it happened to Froome. But as was said, the initial move came before the crash, not vice versa. Had that been the case then it really would cause a stink. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe pineapples Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 Considering what that can do I was expecting Valverde to ship 5 mins+. He was doing a large part of the work himself, & I think how close he got, by the finish, only showed how the others took as little advantage as they could in the circumstances. Watching on eurosport 2. Bloody brilliant for the viewer and a heck of a hill finish. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shuggie_Murray7 Posted August 22, 2012 Share Posted August 22, 2012 An eventful stage. Can't quite see the Movistar problem, Sky made a move before the crash and I don't think they took as much advantage as they could. Etiquette suggest you sit up and wait, especially for the race leader, but it's not like they stamped all over the race as a result of the crash. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chico Posted August 22, 2012 Share Posted August 22, 2012 An eventful stage. Can't quite see the Movistar problem, Sky made a move before the crash and I don't think they took as much advantage as they could. Etiquette suggest you sit up and wait, especially for the race leader, but it's not like they stamped all over the race as a result of the crash. Didn't see an etiquette issue, sky were on the front before the crash, they just kept going. See the point if it had involved half the peleton. Exceptional conditions with those cross winds and Movistar were unfortunate. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desert Nomad Posted August 22, 2012 Share Posted August 22, 2012 (edited) Looks like it may already be coming down to a straight fight between Froome & Contador, although Froome may well suffer fatigue into the 2nd half of the race. The TT will be pivotal & J-Rod looked weak yesterday on the final climb, didn`t panic though. Some epic stages over the penultimate weekend & the huge Bola del Mundo on the penultimate day. Stage 14 Stage 15 Stage 16 Stage 20 Edited August 22, 2012 by Desert Nomad 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shuggie_Murray7 Posted August 22, 2012 Share Posted August 22, 2012 Didn't see an etiquette issue, sky were on the front before the crash, they just kept going. See the point if it had involved half the peleton. Exceptional conditions with those cross winds and Movistar were unfortunate. Well someone at Sky is lying. Froome said he didn't know there was a crash, the sportif said he told the guys, Stannard said he knew there was a split but not a crash, he looked over his left shoulder directly at the crash, he may not have known who went down, but he absolutely knew there was a crash, As for Movistars claims that Flecha intentionally brought them down? I thought Neil Lennon was the sportif for Movistar with those levels of paranoia. Why would Flecha crash on purpose when he will be one of Froomes main helpers in the mountains. Anyway, personally I don't think there was too much of a problem. Nobody attacked as a result of the crash and if anything the cross winds cost Valverde getting back into the main field as much as any unsporting behaviour. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T_S_A_R Posted August 23, 2012 Share Posted August 23, 2012 team leinders keeps on rolling. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Co.Down Hibee Posted August 23, 2012 Share Posted August 23, 2012 Cycling is the new rock n roll, what used to be just behind caravaning as the scourge of motorists is now cool,what a world 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiddy Posted August 23, 2012 Share Posted August 23, 2012 Good day for Froome, only lost 9 secs to J-Rod, but more importantly, picked up 22 on Contador & 9 on Valverde. First sign of Berty not being in top shape? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chico Posted August 23, 2012 Share Posted August 23, 2012 Been watching Eurosport and they had some American race on where there was no actual on road footage for the last 15 odd km. was killing myself at the commentary. But Jens Voight winning at age 41! Stayed away from field after an early split. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chico Posted August 23, 2012 Share Posted August 23, 2012 Thoughts from Vuelta highlights was that Froome got great back up just when he really needed it on the final climb. Nothing he could do about winning the stage, but should be a good slugfest over the next few days. Really enjoying how narrow the course can be through the towns. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
well fan for life Posted August 24, 2012 Share Posted August 24, 2012 Decent result for Froome today. Doesn't have the burst of acceleration to contest the final uphill sprint, but he piled some time into Bertie. Should be fairly tight over the next few days. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Brightside Posted August 24, 2012 Share Posted August 24, 2012 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-19364384 lulz 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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