Vuelta; Stage 8 (Aug 25): Lleida - Andorra; *contains unmasked spoilers*

dastardly00

Stage 8 (Aug 25): Lleida - Andorra (Collada de la Gallina)
Distance: 175km
Highest point: 1,555m
Category: High mountains

The second weekend of the race brings the second major summit finish. Unlike Valdezcaray, which has plenty of Vuelta history attached to it, the Collada de la Gallina is a new climb to the race. Before it, riders will cross the cat 2 Comella. It’s not a huge test as a climb but the descent is steep, tight and tricky.
While Andorran climbs tend to climb gently and steadily to a great height, making them difficult for their length, the Gallina is shorter and rises in irregular steps, some of which are incredibly steep. The final 4km averages more than 9 per cent, which should create gaps between the main contenders.

Stage profile:


Live coverage on Eurosport1 from 3pm.
Highlights on Eurosport2 at 8pm and 11pm, and on ITV4 at 7pm.

Stage betting: Rodriguez 11/4; Froome 3/1; Contador 10/3.

full_irish

That last 40km is gonna a b$tch for Roche without a team.

Chips Lovell

Why?

full_irish

because looking at (most of) Roche past grand tours... he's going to blow at least one day and I think this could be today. No team and he'll lose a chunk of time.

Just my opinion though

Morrisseeee

Climb 7km:


On Strava (minus the last bit)

stage finishes near Church, ie. they're not going all the way to the Col.

Rovi

They're well into the climbs now, anyone seen any sign of Nico?

luapenak

Absolutely booting along, it's a pity Eurosport didn't know Skys tactice, perhaps they could have started coverage earlier

corny

Strong steady pace might suit Roche today. Froome is trying to discourage the attacking.

JacksonHeightsOwn

i just read on the eurosport website that Nico had a mechanical problem on the second to last climb,

im not sure if he lost time or not, what a ****ty time to get a mechanical

riparooo

I cant get my europsport feed to work and the last thing the lavuelta site said was that Roche "suffered mechanical problems" - any update?

K_1

The vuelta site says:

Nicolas ROCHE (019) (Ag2r) suffered mechanical problems.

@16.22.

Anyone see anything? Dont have eurosport.

corny

I thought i saw an AG2R jersey bobbing side to side out of the saddle there in the front group.

corny

Can't go with that Chris!

dastardly00

Any word of Nico? Can't see any sign of him on TV.

corny

Was Roche the third AG2R rider there?

JacksonHeightsOwn

i think i just saw Roche come over the line there

1.30 down, not bad considering he had a mechanical

edit, only 1 minute down ,

dastardly00

corny wrote: »

Was Roche the third AG2R rider there?

Surely one of them was Nico.

corny

corny wrote: »

Was Roche the third AG2R rider there?

No that was Bouet. Roche at 1.02. Not bad.

riparooo

Roche 11th at 1.02

Rovi

Nico drops to 7th on GC

corny

Could have been worse. Gesink will have his day where he explodes so top 5 still there for Roche.

riparooo

Compared to this year TdF this is very exciting. At least four contendors for 1st.

dastardly00

Stage results:

1 VALVERDE, Alejandro MOV 4h 06' 39''
2 RODRIGUEZ, Joaquin KAT m.t. 1º
3 CONTADOR, Alberto STB m.t. 1º
4 FROOME, Christopher SKY + 15''
5 MORENO, Daniel KAT + 23''
6 INTXAUSTI, Beñat MOV + 33''
7 ANTON, Igor EUS + 33''
8 ANACONA, Winner LAM + 39''
9 GESINK, Robert RAB + 39''
10 NIEMIEC, Przemyslaw LAM + 42''
11 TALANSKY, Andrew GRS + 44''
12 ROCHE, Nicolas ALM + 1' 02''
13 NOCENTINI, Rinaldo ALM + 1' 02''
14 TEN DAM, Laurens RAB + 1' 05''
15 CAPECCHI, Eros LIQ + 1' 06''

corny

All the talk about Roche not having a team mate thats two days running himself and Nocentini have worked together

dastardly00

Overall:

1 RODRIGUEZ, Joaquin KAT 29h 59' 35''
2 FROOME, Christopher SKY + 33''
3 CONTADOR, Alberto STB + 40''
4 VALVERDE, Alejandro MOV + 50''
5 GESINK, Robert RAB + 1' 41''
6 MORENO, Daniel KAT + 1' 48''
7 ROCHE, Nicolas ALM + 2' 14''
8 ANTON, Igor EUS + 2' 47''
9 TEN DAM, Laurens RAB + 2' 58''
10 MOLLEMA, Bauke RAB + 3' 07''

dastardly00

It will be interesting to hear what mechanical Nico had and if he got help from his team..... did anybody give him their bike, wheel etc. I wonder if he was paced back into the lead bunch before the start of the final climb or if he even made it back in time before the final climb? And if he was getting help from Nocentini and Bouet on the final climb. So many questions! :pac:

buffalo

So Froome's legs couldn't hold the pace... wonder if he can recover and improve for the next summit finish.

hawkwing

corny wrote: »

All the talk about Roche not having a team mate thats two days running himself and Nocentini have worked together

Also they are second in the team standings,maybe he should stay where he is:o

1 Rabobank Cycling Team RAB 89h 28' 24''
2 AG2R La Mondiale ALM a 2:27
3 SKY Procycling SKY a 2:34
4 Katusha Team KAT a 3:55
5 Movistar Team MOV a 5:38
6 Euskaltel - Euskadi EUS a 5:40
7 Lampre - ISD LAM a 8:43
8 Radioshack - Nissan RNT a 9:35
9 Astana Pro Team AST a 11:54
10 Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team VCD a 13:28
11 Caja Rural CJR a 14:16
12 Team Saxo Bank - Tinkoff Bank STB a 18:55
13 Garmin - Sharp GRS a 30:58
14 Cofidis, le credit en ligne COF a 34:06
15 Omega Pharma - Quickstep OPQ a 40:29
16 BMC Racing Team BMC a 41:10
17 Liquigas - Cannondale LIQ a 47:36
18 Lotto Belisol Team LTB a 52:22
19 FDJ - Big Mat FDJ a 1:03:10
20 Team Argos - Shimano ARG a 1:03:47
21 Andalucia ACG a 1:09:02
22 Orica Greenedge OGE a 1:40:21

corny

buffalo wrote: »

So Froome's legs couldn't hold the pace... wonder if he can recover and improve for the next summit finish.

I'm sure the visionaries at Sky have something for recovery.

Regardless he really needs to sort out his tactics. He let the others, 3 Spaniards, walk all over him today.

ednwireland

another cracking stage, can they keep this up for another 2 weeks !

Rovi

Twittered by Nico a few minutes ago:
"Nicholas Roche ‏@nicholasroche
Pity had a mecanical probleme before 2nd cat,chain locked up in between frame and wheel really took alot out of me to get back onto bunch"

funnights74

Nico was very unlucky today, what a time for a mechanical, Sky were setting a savage tempo so he performed heroics to limit his losses.
That last climb was savage, those ramps went up from 10 to 15% :eek: valverde, froome and contador all had a lash, and with 2 weeks to go and more finishes like this it really will be the survival of the fittest. Most of the major tours are decided in the last week so any one of probably the top 4 could still win it.

dastardly00

Another tweet from Nico (@nicholasroche)
"But all ok will ride hard to get back closer to top 5..ben and riblon gave me a good hand! And thanks to @simonclarke for that zip of water."

Glad to hear that he is getting some help from his team mates.

themandan6611

to finish just 1 minute odd down is some result

dave2pvd

corny wrote: »

Could have been worse. Gesink will have his day where he explodes so top 5 still there for Roche.

I'd wager top 3.

Wonder what odds I'd get?

full_irish

dave2pvd wrote: »

I'd wager top 3.

Wonder what odds I'd get?

Wonder no more my man. Top 3 odds for Roche

Some tits offering 25/1 on Betfair. That's not bad at all.

But if you want some easy money, Roche for Top 6 GC is at 14/5.

FrankGrimes

I'd recorded the highlights and watched them yesterday. Holy crap, that was a truly epic climb, from front on the TV never shows the true steepness well, but from the few side on shots you could see how crazy it was, seriously tough sections.

The ITV4 commentators (both the main guy with possibly the most annoying nasally voice ever and the other fella who chimed in every so often) took their UK bias to another level by calling Froome 'stronges man in the race' at least 7 times and talking about how Contador was doing well to hold his wheel. You didn't need the benefits of hindsight to see how clearly Contador was just saving energy hanging in behind waiting to make a jump towards the end. Not sure Froome could've played it much differently - the track stand was misguided as it let the 2 others get back in contact, but his choice was to force Contador to do some work or to knowingly give him a free tow.

Was really saddened when I saw the unrepetant drug-user Contador making his way towards the line for what looked a certain victory only to see one of the most specatacular uphill sprint finishes from Valverde and Rodriguez flying by him (at least if there are any suspicions/convictions on them, I'm blissfully ignorant of them so it didn't spoil the enjoyment).

I think Nico did phenomenally well to finish only a minute down on those elite climbers on a truly challenging climb, nothing shabby about that whatsoever.

RobFowl

FrankGrimes wrote: »

Was really saddened when I saw the unrepetant drug-user Contador making his way towards the line for what looked a certain victory only to see one of the most specatacular uphill sprint finishes from Valverde and Rodriguez flying by him (at least if there are any suspicions/convictions on them, I'm blissfully ignorant of them so it didn't spoil the enjoyment).

Sorry but Valverde just back form a 2 year ban for doping (part of Puerto). Completely unrepentant too.....

Surinam

RobFowl wrote: »

Sorry but Valverde just back form a 2 year ban for doping (part of Puerto). Completely unrepentant too.....

:eek:
Are there any professional cyclists we can trust?? The more I learn about all this the more disillusioned I am - I never even knew our beloved Sean Kelly tested positive twice. There was a huge cycling event this weekend in Waterford named after him, like he's some sort of hero

riparooo

Surinam wrote: »

:eek:
Are there any professional cyclists we can trust?? The more I learn about all this the more disillusioned I am - I never even knew our beloved Sean Kelly tested positive twice. There was a huge cycling event this weekend in Waterford named after him, like he's some sort of hero

I think the consensus is that the only world class cyclist of recent years considered clean is Greg Le Mond.

FrankGrimes

RobFowl wrote: »

Sorry but Valverde just back form a 2 year ban for doping (part of Puerto). Completely unrepentant too.....

Ah well....thought there was something ringing in the back of my mind about him alright but couldn't place him. Makes it more depressing...was kinda hoping that it could've been a good example of the bright side of cycling - drug cheat returns and gets trumped right on the line by a clean rider, but I guess not. Commentator said Valverde and Rodriguez were known for their fast finishes on extremely steep slopes, but their speed at the end looked incredible, so knowing Valverde is a drug cheat certainly doesn't make it seem any less incredible.

Beasty

While it's fine to comment on past misdemeanours, please do not make any allegations concering doping amongst current riders unless a positive test is declared

Thanks

Beasty

Brian?

riparooo wrote: »

I think the consensus is that the only world class cyclist of recent years considered clean is Greg Le Mond.

Carlos Sastre?

Oldlegs

Surinam wrote: »

:eek:
Are there any professional cyclists we can trust?? The more I learn about all this the more disillusioned I am - I never even knew our beloved Sean Kelly tested positive twice. There was a huge cycling event this weekend in Waterford named after him, like he's some sort of hero

Ah come on Surinam - a bit off-topic, but still have to respond. The SKT event is NOT named after him. He is a main organiser. Rides out with the first part of each of the 160/100 and 50km. Pure gent giving his time with all of the kids, adults etc. Few hours of photos and signatures before heading to airport back to Eurosport for the Vuelta coverage.

This is about giving back to the sport he loves.

Hard man who had to play the game the way it was played. From what I know/hear he is still well respected in within the sport (and not just by the suits). Pity the sporting bodies did not have the courage/technical know-how to sort it out. Hopefully USADA/WADA led initiatives will 'support' UCI in the right direction.

Back on topic now, or happy to roll-over to a new thread.

Surinam

Oldlegs wrote: »

From what I know/hear he is still well respected in within the sport (and not just by the suits). Pity the sporting bodies did not have the courage/technical know-how to sort it out. Hopefully USADA/WADA led initiatives will 'support' UCI in the right direction.

Sorry but I absolutely LOLed at that sentence. That means absolutely nothing given how up to their neck in it most of the people "within the sport" at the top level seem to be. Small example: when Vinokourov won that gold medal in London this year, notice how the peloton were all patting him on the back etc? If I were one of those guys I'd be raging at this drugs cheat being allowed back in with no consequences. Notice how Lance Armstrong is still feted by so many at the top?

You have to do some background reading to really see just how grubby the professional level of the sport can be. Most of them seem totally at ease with dopers continuing to cycle alongside them, do you ever wonder why?

Sorry but it really makes me sad how blind people can be; you almost portray him as some sort of victim of the system. If you want to pass yourself off as some great honest sportsman then don't dope, it's as simple as that.

Mods: apologies, last off-topic post from me - maybe move these to the other thread?

Russman

Surinam wrote: »

If you want to pass yourself off as some great honest sportsman then don't dope, it's as simple as that.
QUOTE]

I don't think SK has ever tried to pass himself off as anything other than a former pro who does a bit of commentating.

Surinam

Russman wrote: »

Surinam wrote: »

If you want to pass yourself off as some great honest sportsman then don't dope, it's as simple as that.
QUOTE]

I don't think SK has ever tried to pass himself off as anything other than a former pro who does a bit of commentating.

Well then why all the praise and admiration? Look at Michelle Smith and the reaction to her in comparison!

I would of course acknowledge his contribution to promoting healthy lifestyles through cycling events etc. but this is just like trying to excuse LA because of Livestrong.