Sherminator Posted 4 September, 2012 Share Posted 4 September, 2012 Anyone watching this? For me it has been by some distance the best Grand Tour of the three this year and on what is by some distance the hardest course - yesterday's finish was evil. Going into the last week now and still up for grabs. Contandor has thrown everything at Rodriguez but still finds himself 20odd seconds behind. Valverde (3rd) is slipping back, and a long season finally seems to have taken its toll on Chris Froome (4th) who lost several minutes yesterday. Would be inteersting to see how a fully fit and rested Wiggins would have fared - possibly too much climbing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winnersaint Posted 4 September, 2012 Share Posted 4 September, 2012 Purito nailed on unless Bertie has a rabbit to pull out of the hat. Shame Froome has struggled, but he is still learning and gaining in maturity and nouse. He may turn out to be one of the best 'BRITS'. Wiggins was 3rd last year behind Cobo and Froome, a great performance considering a few weeks earlier he'd been sat on the ground with a broken collarbone in the TdF. Horrible climbs those. Have a few around here in the Hambleden Valley that push similar gradients, but are so so so much shorter. Howe Hill out of Watlington is my nemesis. Was literally seeing stars at the top of that last time up, and I'd only done 30 miles not 100+ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badgerx16 Posted 4 September, 2012 Share Posted 4 September, 2012 It's a course designed for the Spanish, the climb in Andorra was Rodriguez's local road. And as for yesterday - it looked like somebody had had a 'bright' idea, "let's tarmac 3 Km of a ski slope just to add a bit of extra pain". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sherminator Posted 5 September, 2012 Author Share Posted 5 September, 2012 True, the course definately helps the Spanish and Rodriguez in particular. Only one individual time trial and even that had a climb. If he doesn't win this one, I don't think he'll ever win one. Nonetheless it has made for great attacking racing and from Contador in particular. Rodriguez only needs to crack once and that lead disappears. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winnersaint Posted 5 September, 2012 Share Posted 5 September, 2012 Rabbit pulled firmly out of hat by Albert the Accountant. Remarkable stuff. Don't often see that sort of thing in Grand Tours these days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badgerx16 Posted 5 September, 2012 Share Posted 5 September, 2012 Rabbit pulled firmly out of hat by Albert the Accountant. Remarkable stuff. Don't often see that sort of thing in Grand Tours these days. Rodriguez got that one totally wrong, but where were his team ? There were at least 2 each from Saxo-Bank and Moviestar in the leading groups right up to the finish - loved the gesture of satisfaction from the Saxo rider on Purito's wheel as they crossed the line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlakeySFC Posted 6 September, 2012 Share Posted 6 September, 2012 Anyone watching this? For me it has been by some distance the best Grand Tour of the three this year and on what is by some distance the hardest course - yesterday's finish was evil. Going into the last week now and still up for grabs. Contandor has thrown everything at Rodriguez but still finds himself 20odd seconds behind. Valverde (3rd) is slipping back, and a long season finally seems to have taken its toll on Chris Froome (4th) who lost several minutes yesterday. Would be inteersting to see how a fully fit and rested Wiggins would have fared - possibly too much climbing. I've been watching it every day its been on. Been a truly great Vuelta for me, love the battles between Valverde, Contador, Rodriguez and Froome in the last 20/30kms of stages. Wish Froome would still be in there with a chance of winning it but the last few days he's just looked knackered and can't keep up wth Contador & co. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sherminator Posted 6 September, 2012 Author Share Posted 6 September, 2012 What a stage yesterday. Roger Hammond on ITV4 was suggesting that Rodriguez made a tactical error - to me he just just looked cooked after a hard race. Great ride by Valverde and his team to limit his losses and take second. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Cat Posted 6 September, 2012 Share Posted 6 September, 2012 Some of these climbs are ridiculous. Fair play to Contador he deserves it with his relentless attacks. Froome has just had too many races recently to keep up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badgerx16 Posted 6 September, 2012 Share Posted 6 September, 2012 What a stage yesterday. Roger Hammond on ITV4 was suggesting that Rodriguez made a tactical error - to me he just just looked cooked after a hard race. They did mention that Rodriguez hadn't ridden on the rest day,but had spent the day in bed. Now I understood that it is perceived wisdom that they need to ride for a few hours even on the rest day to keep the 'engine' tuned, so perhaps he was ill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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