Vuelta; Stage 4 (Aug 21): Barakaldo-Estación de Valdezc; *contains unmasked spoilers*

dastardly00

Another very tough finish today (1st Cat climb) in what is only the 4th stage of this year's Vuelta. The final ascent to the Valdezcaray ski station hasn’t featured in the Vuelta since 1991. Sean Kelly won a summit finish here in 1988.

Stage profile:

MrMischief

Complete contrast to the TDF and no hiding behind your team mates on stages like this. Compelling viewing!!!

AG2R

this shall be fun

happytramp

Tricky situation for Roche. His team don't want him to ride for GC since he'll take any points to one of their close rivals next year. Instead they want him to go for stage wins for the publicity. But their only other GC rider (Gadret) doesn't look strong enough to get anywhere near the top 10.

Roche will have to lose a bunch of time today to be allowed any chance of getting in a break and being let go for stage wins. Trouble is, have you seen the other guys who will be trying the same thing? Cobo, Van Den Broeck, Cunego, De Gent, Monfort etc. It'll be tough.

Wonder what he's going to do!!!

Henlars67

I reckon we'll see Roche aim for a high GC position regardless.

mcgratheoin

Henlars67 wrote: »

I reckon we'll see Roche aim for a high GC position regardless.

Any chance he'll do a bit of domestique work for Bertie?

retalivity

i would not be surprised at all to see him towing contador around, get in a bit of practice for next year.

Darkglasses

Oh cheese, a lot of movistar riders just crashed out of the blue. Valverde involved. Sky riders push hard, less than sporting if you ask me.

Darkglasses

Peloton's broken up into about 3 or 4 groups, could be tough for some to get back.

dastardly00

Valverde has 3 team mates with him to help him back to the peloton. But there are a good few echelons after forming.

Darkglasses

Froome's having a go it seems, he's got over a minute on Valverde. Don't forget they've got all the team cars too Dastardly!

corny

Darkglasses wrote: »

Oh cheese, a lot of movistar riders just crashed out of the blue. Valverde involved. Sky riders push hard, less than sporting if you ask me.

Thats their fault.

Sky didn't up the pace after the crash. They started to race in the wind and Valverde faltered. His problem.

dastardly00

There are a few AG2R riders at the head of the echelon with Valverde in it. Anybody know who they are?

thebourke

how is roche doing?

titan18

corny wrote: »

Thats their fault.

Sky didn't up the pace after the crash. They started to race in the wind and Valverde faltered. His problem.

They upped the pace when the crash happened and kept on going. Absolutely stupidity on their part too since they've probably made a lot of enemies in doing that to a Spanish rider in the red jersey.

corny

dastardly00 wrote: »

There are a few AG2R riders at the head of the echelon with Valverde in it. Anybody know who they are?

They're working for Gadret i think. Man is useless in the wind!

Roche was right at the front when the crash happened.

lennymc

Darkglasses wrote: »

Oh cheese, a lot of movistar riders just crashed out of the blue. Valverde involved. Sky riders push hard, less than sporting if you ask me.

Havent movistar regularly pushed on in the past when others have crashed/punctured etc? Karma, payback, and so forth (or maybe im confusing them with another team)

Darkglasses

lennymc wrote: »

Havent movistar regularly pushed on in the past when others have crashed/punctured etc? Karma, payback, and so forth (or maybe im confusing them with another team)

Harmon said that too yeah, I guess i'm a bit too much of a softy for racing! Hakuna Matata and all that...

corny

lennymc wrote: »

Havent movistar regularly pushed on in the past when others have crashed/punctured etc? Karma, payback, and so forth (or maybe im confusing them with another team)

True

titan18 wrote: »

They upped the pace when the crash happened and kept on going. Absolutely stupidity on their part too since they've probably made a lot of enemies in doing that to a Spanish rider in the red jersey.

Listen if the race is on its on. Sky put a load of riders not caught up in the crash in trouble in the wind. That was their plan. Defeats the purpose of racing if you slow up once somebody gets in trouble.

lennymc

im not sure what race it was but i remember harmon commenting on it and saying that the peloton remembers everything

Rovi

Is the 'dynamic route summary' (route ticker) thing on http://www.lavuelta.com working for anyone else, or is it just me?

I'm getting a "not found on this server" error

corny

lennymc wrote: »

im not sure what race it was but i remember harmon commenting on it and saying that the peloton remembers everything

BMC certainly remember!:)

dastardly00

Rovi wrote: »

Is the 'dynamic route summary' (route ticker) thing on http://www.lavuelta.com working for anyone else, or is it just me?

I'm getting a "not found on this server" error

Yeah I'm getting that too.

titan18

corny wrote: »

True



Listen if the race is on its on. Sky put a load of riders not caught up in the crash in trouble in the wind. That was their plan. Defeats the purpose of racing if you slow up once somebody gets in trouble.

The race is on in the feed zone, yet it's considered inappropriate to attack there, likewise on the procession part of the final stage in the Tour. Sky knew what they were doing, crashes can happen due to bad luck and most teams won't up the pace when it happens. You can make allowances if it's close to the finish, but that was far enough out that they could slow down and allow him back in

retalivity

nico up supporting bertie!

thebourke

given valverdes drug use in the past, he should have no problems catching them...........

dastardly00

come on Nico!

D3PO

Roche, Froome and Bertie on the attack go on Nico

Darkglasses

Nico!!

corny

Hope he didn't go into the red. Rodriquez backed off. Big enough peloton left.

D3PO

corny wrote: »

Hope he didn't go into the red. Rodriquez backed off. Big enough peloton left.

Hes pretty good at knowing his limits he rarely blows so Id be confident his legs must be feeling good

corny

Berto doing Roche a favour!!!!!

retalivity

g'wan nico!!!

dastardly00

jaysus Nico

corny

Will the group slow up when Contador and Froome rejoin the peloton?

D3PO

anybody got a timecheck between Nico and the two leaders ?

dastardly00

corny wrote: »

Will the group slow up when Contador and Froome rejoin the peloton?

yeah they might slow a bit since Contador and Froome are in there. Although they will want to gain more time over Valverde.

corny

Martin still looks strong unfortunately.

retalivity

D3PO wrote: »

anybody got a timecheck between Nico and the two leaders ?

its around 2 mins\


EDIT: 1.40

dastardly00

D3PO wrote: »

anybody got a timecheck between Nico and the two leaders ?

I reckon just under 2 minutes.

corny

Too much:(

D3PO

dastardly00 wrote: »

I reckon just under 2 minutes.

bah he wont catch them so. If he can grab the 4 second time bonus the UCI points and some time on the rest of the GC guys though it will still be a good day in the saddle

corny

GC working out well for Roche. The group are crawling.

dastardly00

5th for Nico

oflahero

Hahaha, LOL @ de la Fuente

retalivity

the group werent too far back from him < 10secs, any time bonus for 5th?

Darkglasses

Great ride Nico

elchupanebrey

dastardly00 wrote: »

5th for Nico

On stage. Or GC after 2day, sorry i've no way to watch at work.

retalivity

5th on stage, 8th overall for nico

dastardly00

Overall:

1. RODRIGUEZ, Joaquin 13h 18' 45''
2. FROOME, Christopher + 1''
3. CONTADOR, Alberto + 5''
4. MOLLEMA, Bauke + 9''
5. GESINK, Robert + 9''
6. URAN, Rigoberto + 11''
7. MORENO, Daniel + 14''
8. ROCHE, Nicolas + 24''
9. TEN DAM, Laurens + 46''
10. COBO, Juan José + 47'

Ultegra

any links to watch this in work for tomorrow?