Vuelta; Stage 11 (Aug 29): Cambados - Pontevedra (ITT); *contains unmasked spoilers*

dastardly00

Stage 11 (Aug 29): Cambados - Pontevedra (Individual Time Trial)
Distance: 40km
Highest point: 490m
Category: Time trial

Given that Spain’s holiday season is in full swing in August, Vuelta route directors Abraham Olano and Paco Giner had to look for a time trial route that would not only provide a good test but would also steer clear of the main traffic routes.
They plumped for a course that sticks mainly to minor roads and which features the cat 3 climb of Alto Monte Castrove. This climb isn’t steep enough to particularly unsettle the time trial specialists but does offer climbers the chance to limit their losses. The descent is reported to be technical. Another small rise follows it, before a flat and flat-out section into the finish.

Stage profile:



Live coverage on Eurosport2 from 3pm.
Highlights on Eurosport2 at 7.45pm, and on ITV4 at 7pm.
Stage betting: Froome 6/4; Martin 17/10; Contador 5/2.

Selected start times are listed in the post below (note: times are CET, not GMT!)

ednwireland

last 20 odd starters

full list here
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/rodriguez-last-off-in-vuelta-a-espana-stage-11-time-trial

170 Marcos Garcia (Spa) Caja Rural 16:04:00
171 Sergio Luis Henao Montoya (Col) Sky Procycling 16:06:00
172 Benat Intxausti Elorriaga (Spa) Movistar Team 16:08:00
173 Gorka Verdugo Marcotegui (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 16:10:00
174 Kevin Seeldraeyers (Bel) Astana Pro Team 16:12:00
175 Bart De Clercq (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team 16:14:00
176 Maxime Monfort (Bel) Radioshack-Nissan 16:16:00
177 Steve Morabito (Swi) BMC Racing Team 16:18:00
178 Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale 16:20:00
179 Andrew Talansky (USA) Garmin - Sharp 16:22:00
180 Winner Anacona Gomez (Col) Lampre - ISD 16:24:00
181 Tomasz Marczynski (Pol) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling Team 16:26:00
182 Eros Capecchi (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale 16:28:00
183 Przemyslaw Niemiec (Pol) Lampre - ISD 16:30:00
184 Bauke Mollema (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team 16:32:00
185 Laurens Ten Dam (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team 16:34:00
186 Igor Anton (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 16:36:00
187 Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La Mondiale 16:38:00
188 Daniel Moreno Fernandez (Spa) Katusha Team 16:40:00
189 Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team 16:42:00
190 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Movistar Team 16:44:00
191 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Saxo Bank - Tinkoff Bank 16:46:00
192 Christopher Froome (GBr) Sky Procycling 16:48:00
193 Joaquim Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Katusha Team 16:50:00

g0g

This may be a stupid question, but why is there a food symbol on a route that I presume will barely take an hour? Is it for gels and stuff? Do these riders carry nothing at all that even gels are handed to them?

GetWithIt

Possibly a first top ten finish in a GT TT for Nico. He'll never have a course that suits him more.

buffalo

g0g wrote: »

This may be a stupid question, but why is there a food symbol on a route that I presume will barely take an hour? Is it for gels and stuff? Do these riders carry nothing at all that even gels are handed to them?

Just speculating here, but maybe for liquids if it's a scorcher. Are you allowed take bottles from a car in a TT?

Beasty

buffalo wrote: »

Are you allowed take bottles from a car in a TT?

Pretty sure the answer is no - my recollection is support vehicles must stay behind in TTs. Even the motor bikes with cameramen aboard are not allowed to pass IIRC

lennymc

any predictions of how today will go for nico in the GC?
This course will obviously suit him more than other TT courses, limiting his losses. How do those around him perform in TTs?
WIll he use a disk?

retalivity

lennymc wrote: »

WIll he use even have a disk?

FYP

dastardly00

Current situation @ 15.10 GMT with about 20 riders left to start.

Finish, 39.4km

1.Richie Porte (Sky) 53:51
2.Cameron Meyer (Orica-GreenEdge) +0:02
3.Jonathan Castroviejo (Movistar) +0:19
4.Tony Martin (OPQS) +0:24
5.Thomas De Gendt (Vacansoleil) +0:35
6.Lars Boom (Rabobank) +0:51
7.Juan Antonio Flecha (Sky) +1:01
8.Christophe Riblon (AG2R) +1:19
9.Macej Bodnar (Liquigas) +1:23
10.Kristof Vandewalle (OPQS) +1:28

Second time check, 23.5km

1.Richie Porte (Sky) 36:23
2.Cameron Meyer (Orica-GreenEdge) +0:12
3.Thomas De Gendt (Vacansoleil) +0:18
4.Jonathan Castroviejo (Movistar) +0:19
5.Tony Martin (OPQS) +0:31

First time check, 13.5km

1.Fredrik Kessikoff (Astana) 16:24
2.Lars Boom (Rabobank) +0:07
3.Tony Martin (OPQS) +0:08
4.Kristof Vandewalle (OPQS) +0:15
5.Thomas De Gendt (Vacansoleil) +0:15

Darkglasses

Well, no disc for Nico.

gwakamoley

No disc wheel for Nico, although he has gone for less pointy style (sorry for the technical term) helmet

mistermatthew

Stream? English?

lennymc

mistermatthew wrote: »

Stream? English?

I think its against boards rules to post links to streaming copyrighted content, but just in case I misunderstood, heres a stream thats english

Beasty

mistermatthew wrote: »

Stream? English?

No streams allowed - check the sticky for details

dastardly00

Roche +46 secs behind Kessiakoff at 1st time check

happytramp

full split list anywhere?Can't find it on official site!!!

dastardly00

happytramp wrote: »

full split list anywhere?Can't find it on official site!!!

http://www.lavuelta.com/12/en/resultados/crono.html?e=11

took me a while to find it as well

mcgratheoin

happytramp wrote: »

full split list anywhere?Can't find it on official site!!!

**beaten to the punch**

dastardly00

Nico should be passing the 2nd time check in a couple of minutes

Aoibheann

Roche in 12th at 1'32 behind Kessiakoff after the second time check. He's over 2 minutes ahead of Moreno, which is great to see. Could move up tonight perhaps! Nope, wrong Moreno...

dastardly00

C'mon Nico!

The 3 riders behind Nico in the GC:
Anton + 2' 31" behind Kessiakoff at 2nd time check
Ten Dam + 1'33"
Mollema + 2'17"

brandon_flowers

Hayden Roulston you are looking at?

Aoibheann edited her post, wrong rider.

happytramp

Roche and Moreno neck and neck. Hopefully he can pull out a couple of seconds by the end. Great TT by the way. Almost, dare I say it.........exciting.

morana

Aoibheann wrote: »

Roche in 12th at 1'32 behind Kessiakoff after the second time check. He's over 2 minutes ahead of Moreno, which is great to see. Could move up tonight perhaps! Nope, wrong Moreno...

on the official site it has them level on time

Aoibheann

brandon_flowers wrote: »

Hayden Roulston you are looking at?

Aoibheann edited her post, wrong rider.

Stupid sneaky multiple Morenos.. And no first names.. :P

Still, Nico's looking good, not losing a whole lot of time to anyone around him. I expected him to lose a fair bit to the likes of Gesink, but it's only about 15 seconds so far to him, and otherwise he's at the same time (or better than!) the others.

morana wrote: »

on the official site it has them level on time

Hence the strikethrough! There's another Moreno at 3'46 down..

Aoibheann

Anton at 3'33... Roche at 2'21! So he's gained on Anton, he lost a single second to Ten Dam, gained 38" on Mollema.. Perfect. Still in 7th so. Moreno at 2'02 so he's lost 19 seconds there.

Edit: Gesink at 1'42, about 40 seconds lost to him.

Valverde with an excellent showing just there to lie in second place behind Kessiakoff, about 1'08 down. Contador comes in and knocks him straight out of second place, just 17 seconds behind the lead. Froome 39 seconds down, so he's lost 22ish to Contador. Just Rodriguez to come, and he's put in a serious effort to limit his losses today. He's 1'17 down, exactly a minute down on Contador. Well, well, well.. Who gets the red jersey so?

mistermatthew

Some time trial by Contador. In red now by looks of it.

Aoibheann

mistermatthew wrote: »

Some time trial by Contador. In red now by looks of it.

It's going down to the hundredths for it..

Darkglasses

Kessiakoff! Excellent for my fantasy team.

mistermatthew

Rodriguez by a second. Such a great tour. Tour de france directors need to take note.

gwakamoley

what a performance by Rodriguez to hang onto the red jersey by 1 second. Bring on the mountains!

thebourke

Wow, what a great tour so far...way better than the tour de france..i really hope Rodrigeuz wins this tour........

Aoibheann

Provisional GC:

1. Rodriguez 40:26:15
2. Contador @ 1'
3. Froome @ 16'
4. Valverde @ 59'
5. Gesink @ 2'27
6. Moreno @ 2'54
7. Roche @ 3'39
8. Talansky @ 4'08
9. Ten Dam @ 4'22
10. Mollema @ 5'10

Apologies if there are any errors, hastily typed down from the Eurosport shot!

dastardly00

Aoibheann wrote: »

Provisional GC:

Rodriguez 40:26:15
Contador @ 1'
Froome @ 16'
Valverde @ 59'
Gesink @ 2'27
Moreno @ 2'54
Roche @ 3'39
Talansky @ 4'08
Ten Dam @ 4'22
Mollema @ 5'10

Apologies if there are any errors, hastily typed down from the Eurosport shot!

Looks like that Nico's best finish could be 5th.

dave2pvd

dastardly00 wrote: »

Looks like that Nico's best finish could be 5th.

Maybe. But don't rule out Talansky.

Fan

I think that's what he's aiming for anyway

"As I said last week, I think the first four spots in this Vuelta are going to be filled by Rodriguez, Froome, Contador and Valverde,
in whatever order, and the rest of us are riding for fifth"

http://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/nicolas-roche-ive-been-really-going-for-it-i-hope-it-doesnt-all-blow-up-in-my-face-3210560.html

corny

Fan wrote: »

I think that's what he's aiming for anyway

"As I said last week, I think the first four spots in this Vuelta are going to be filled by Rodriguez, Froome, Contador and Valverde,
in whatever order, and the rest of us are riding for fifth"

http://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/nicolas-roche-ive-been-really-going-for-it-i-hope-it-doesnt-all-blow-up-in-my-face-3210560.html

Not that Valverde or Contador are reading the indo but he really shouldn't concede something like that

Brian?

corny wrote: »

Fan wrote: »

I think that's what he's aiming for anyway

"As I said last week, I think the first four spots in this Vuelta are going to be filled by Rodriguez, Froome, Contador and Valverde,
in whatever order, and the rest of us are riding for fifth"

http://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/nicolas-roche-ive-been-really-going-for-it-i-hope-it-doesnt-all-blow-up-in-my-face-3210560.html

Not that Valverde or Contador are reading the indo but he really shouldn't concede something like that

Nought wrong with realism. 5th place in a grand tour is nothing to sniff at.

I really don't care who wins the Vuelta, it's been great so far. I think Contador has ridden into form nicely and will take it in the mountains now. Rodriguez has been brilliant, as has Valverde but Contador is thean I reckon.

Tour de France me hole.

Tombo2001

given contador's recent ban, why would anyone take him seriously as a competitor and/or hope he would win?

just askin'.....

gwakamoley

Tombo2001 wrote: »

given contador's recent ban, why would anyone take him seriously as a competitor and/or hope he would win?

just askin'.....

I hate seeing him doing well, but I can't deny that I am really enjoying the drama his attacks bring to races. He is a very entertaining cyclist to watch.

That said when he goes on the attack I always cheer on whoever is chasing him down.

luapenak

Tombo2001 wrote: »

given contador's recent ban, why would anyone take him seriously as a competitor and/or hope he would win?

just askin'.....

Take him seriously?
In terms of supporting him, it's hard not to, when he is the most exciting rider in the race, especially after the this years boring TDF. He just makes great tv

aindriu80

good tour so far from Nico, maybe Saxo will help him.

ednwireland

aindriu80 wrote: »

good tour so far from Nico, maybe Saxo will help him.

errrrrr my guess is they might be working for someone a few places higher

Brian?

Tombo2001 wrote: »

given contador's recent ban, why would anyone take him seriously as a competitor and/or hope he would win?

just askin'.....

Take him seriously how? He is a serious competitor. Are you asking whether we think he's clean? I certainly do.

He's not unbelievably fast in the mountains anymore, just better than most.