Originally posted by Neil Young
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Rodriguez wins again. Contador's team rode all day and set him up perfectly on the final climb. He attacked and looked to have made the break by getting 50m or more. But Rodriguez and Valverde came back to him and, when he attacked again, Rodriguez climbed his way back and then held his wheel for the final attack, riding around him in the last 300m to take the win, with the 12" bonus, plus another 5" for the gap.
Froome did well to respond to get back to Rodriguez and Valverde at one point but but hasn't got it. Valverde is now level on time and looking stronger. This was a climb where Froome was expected to take time on all but Contador - I don't think he'll make the podium. Valverde looked stronger and smoother, as well as finishing ahead of him.
New, professional format for results (which took ages so don't come to expect it as a matter of course):
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Suppose you have a physicist and a sociologist standing at the side of a field, observing a set of events unfolding on the field. The physicist does [describes] it using the terminology of mass and velocity and frequency of radiation and the rest. And the sociologist does it by describing it as a rugby match.
May the Lord bless this post.Comment
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Great bit of commentary from David Harmon today. As they went up the final climb and Saxo-Tinkoff set a stern pace, the peloton got lined out and then gaps started to appear as, one by one, riders dropped off the back, at which point he said:
Riders are strung out like a Seventies rockstar.
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Suppose you have a physicist and a sociologist standing at the side of a field, observing a set of events unfolding on the field. The physicist does [describes] it using the terminology of mass and velocity and frequency of radiation and the rest. And the sociologist does it by describing it as a rugby match.
May the Lord bless this post.Comment
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So a breakaway takes the stage (Piedra of Caja Rural) but behind, the GC battle continues. Very different tactics, much the same result. The three Spaniards finish together (a long time behind the stage winner) and Froome loses 35" and drops to fourth.
Saxo-Tinkoff and Movistar's decision to send riders up the road at the bottom of Lagos de Covadonga made it fascinating. When Valverde lit it up, Froome had no answer but the other two went with him. Valverde used Quintana very well but Contador and Rodriguez had a great battle.
This is a great race. It's not brilliant the way the race has been set up for the same kind of rider too many times but the battle between Contador and Rodriguez is very exciting. I can't see Rodriguez cracking but, being the kind of attacking rider he is, Contador will keep trying. And Valverde has been good. Shame Froome hasn't got it this year.
I really want to ride up this climb - it looked fantastic. I'll need to train hard and buy some lower gears though.
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Suppose you have a physicist and a sociologist standing at the side of a field, observing a set of events unfolding on the field. The physicist does [describes] it using the terminology of mass and velocity and frequency of radiation and the rest. And the sociologist does it by describing it as a rugby match.
May the Lord bless this post.Comment
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An epic stage in one of the great Grand Tours.
A breakaway win for Cataldo from De Gendt. But the final climb - 19+km, average <7% but that doesn't tell the story. The leaders' bunch attacked the 5% sections at 35-40kph. Froome was dropped along with almost everyone else with more than 6km to go. Contador attacked when the road ramped up to 13% but he couldn't drop Rodriguez and Valverde. The gradient dropped back down...Then Contador attacked again when it ramped up to 15%. Valverde was dropped but came back on a less steep section. It ramped again, Contador attacked, Rodriguez held him. Then it ramped repeatedly up to 22%, 23%, 24%. Rodriguez stayed with Contador, overhauled him in the finale, and took a couple of seconds plus the 4" bonus for third.
Just amazing. Painful to watch, let alone ride.
[All the same, I wish they wouldn't put such steep climbs in. It becomes a circus, there's no style, just pain. And most of us will never be able to ride the same mountains, and that's part of the fun of riding the road.]
The top 3 looks set, apart from accidents. Froome should hold on to fourth. Ten Dam and Anton might have a fight for eighth on Saturday, which is the last big test. Maybe Talansky isn't safe in seventh.
Rest day tomorrow. They've earned it.
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Suppose you have a physicist and a sociologist standing at the side of a field, observing a set of events unfolding on the field. The physicist does [describes] it using the terminology of mass and velocity and frequency of radiation and the rest. And the sociologist does it by describing it as a rugby match.
May the Lord bless this post.Comment
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Missed it all over the weekend and today. Any update from today or was it a rest day?
Oh and no need for your fancy graphs. Has disco given you lessons?Go **** yourselfComment
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Actually I followed MrM's "Tables for Dummies" tips in another thread.
Yes, today's update is right above your post.
Tomorrow is the second rest day..
Suppose you have a physicist and a sociologist standing at the side of a field, observing a set of events unfolding on the field. The physicist does [describes] it using the terminology of mass and velocity and frequency of radiation and the rest. And the sociologist does it by describing it as a rugby match.
May the Lord bless this post.Comment
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Froome looks like he is way out of this then, shame but I guess his exersions in the tour and the olympics have taken their toll on him.Comment
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Yes. Remember also that, before July, fourth was the highest ever finish in any Grand Tour by a British rider. He'll have both equalled and exceeded that in just two months, with Olympic bronze thrown in.
It's a killer parcours as well. Wiggins would probably be way down.
Despite the shameful cheating that led to his ban, you have to admire Contador for the way he keeps attacking, time after time, day after day. It's unlucky for him that Rodriguez is just a little stronger right now..
Suppose you have a physicist and a sociologist standing at the side of a field, observing a set of events unfolding on the field. The physicist does [describes] it using the terminology of mass and velocity and frequency of radiation and the rest. And the sociologist does it by describing it as a rugby match.
May the Lord bless this post.Comment
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Oh don't get me wrong, it's been a brilliant year for British cycling; infact I doubt there has ever been a year even close to this one for the success of the Brits.
Did I read somewhere there was a 23% incline for some of the course today ? If thats right my god that has to have hurt, surely the temptation must kick in to just hop off and start pushing it up the hill.
Ah I am not a fan of Contador at all, mainly due to the drugs ban and some slightly opportunist moves he's pulled over the years but yeah got to give him credit for day after day trying to break Rodriguez, obviously not quite managed it but impressive he's done it day after day.Comment
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Yes. It touched 24% supposedly for a few metres.
Yeah, there's the ban of course, and the fact the backdating of the punishment lightened the effect considerably. As for opportunism, the only instance I can think of is his attack on the Tourmalet in 2010. But expert opinion seems to have shifted slightly - I think the balance among ex-pros and cycling journalists seems to be that Schleck made a mistake and it was his tough luck. It was a racing incident that happened after the action had started (which was done by Schleck himself ironically). In that sense it was no more opportunistic than Sky's continuing with the echelons a couple of weeks ago when Valverde came down pretty much immediately and ended up losing almost a minute..
Suppose you have a physicist and a sociologist standing at the side of a field, observing a set of events unfolding on the field. The physicist does [describes] it using the terminology of mass and velocity and frequency of radiation and the rest. And the sociologist does it by describing it as a rugby match.
May the Lord bless this post.Comment
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I watched the final stages of yesterday, and the climb was crazy. They were barely moving. These guys must have a **** load of stamina and leg power.
It was going between 22% and 24% for ages. I dont even think Id walk up something that steep
*Except Michael, who died.Comment
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F*cking hell! This Vuelta doesn't cease to amaze, even on a stage when you'd imagine nothing much would happen.
I don't really know how it happened as when it came on air, they'd been riding so fast there was only 30km to go, rather than the 70 or 80km that could have been expected.
Contador took the win a few seconds ahead of Valverde. He also took 2'56", including bonuses, out of Rodriguez who has now dropped to third overall. Incredible.
Assuming it's all above board, Contador deserves it. He hasn't stopped attacking the whole way through and today got his reward for a daring and tactically brilliant ride.
Like I say, incredible. Racing like it used to be. Exciting, aggressive, varied tactics and tension all the way through.
Wow.
If you get a chance to watch the highlights on ITV4 tonight then do. Maybe by then someone will have worked out how this happened.
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Last edited by Neil Young; 07-09-12, 10:30 PM..
Suppose you have a physicist and a sociologist standing at the side of a field, observing a set of events unfolding on the field. The physicist does [describes] it using the terminology of mass and velocity and frequency of radiation and the rest. And the sociologist does it by describing it as a rugby match.
May the Lord bless this post.Comment
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Drugged up sport and all that
Patience when teased often, transforms into rageComment
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