Vuelta; Stage 12 (Aug 30): Vilagarcía de Arousa-Dumbría; *contains unmasked spoilers*

dastardly00

Stage 12 (Aug 30): Vilagarcía de Arousa - Dumbría Mirador de Ézaro
Distance:184.6km
Highest point: 270m
Category: Flat

Similar to stage 6, today’s parcours has no complications until the very final few kilometres, where the riders face the precipitous climb to the Mirador del Ezaro. Rated by Vuelta stage winner Gustavo César Veloso as "tougher than the climb in Valdepeñas de Jaén", where Joaquim Rodríguez put his rivals to the sword last year, the 1.8km ramp averages 13.5 per cent :eek:. Veloso believes that riders will opt for gearing similar to a stage up the Alto del Angliru. One stretch rears up to 30 per cent near the bottom, which is sure to blow the fast-moving bunch apart.

Stage profile:


Live coverage on Eurosport2 from 3pm.
Highlights on Eurosport2 at 7.45pm, and on ITV4 at 10.15pm.
Stage betting: Rodriguez 4/6; Contador 5/1; Valverde 8/1.

n-dawg

Can not wait...

mistermatthew

Looks like an incredible stage finish.
I can't see froome staying with the other fantastico's up that last climb. Too short and explosive. I expect Rodriguez/Contador stage win.
Contador looking in last couple of stages on hills like he has that famous acceleration back.

manwithaplan

As the betting would suggest, it looks made for Rodriguez. Outside the big four, Gilbert might be a possibility but the final ramp is probably a bit too long for him.

De Bhál

30%
sweet mother of God

mahoo

i remember this one last year... couldnt believe the size of gear JROD managed to turn, he killed everyone. id say he's licking his lips

donfers

lads at what time roughly will they be hitting that final climb

n-dawg

Potential for cross winds too... right I'm leaving work now to catch the action...

Rovi

donfers wrote: »

lads at what time roughly will they be hitting that final climb

Sometime between 4:25 and 4:55 (our time), depending on how fast the rest of the stage goes, according to the official website:
http://www.lavuelta.com/12/en/recorrido/index.html?e=12

retalivity

This has to be one of the most ridiculous stage routes ever....170km of flat then bam! a 2k wall.
Thank you, Vuelta!

corny

You'll see the grupetto walking over the 30% bit;)

GetWithIt

corny wrote: »

You'll see the grupetto walking over the 30% bit;)

In fairness, it's only 29.

dastardly00

donfers wrote: »

lads at what time roughly will they be hitting that final climb

It's been a quick stage so far so they might reach the climb a few minutes before the earliest predicted time of 16.25 GMT.

ednwireland

11km left

dastardly00

It's hard to see any of top GC contenders reaching the top of the climb before Rodriguez.

ednwireland

thats f*****g steep

oflahero

That slope is barbaric.

dastardly00

Nico doing pretty well so far

retalivity

jesus the slope is ridiiculous!

Nico about 8-9th i think

goose06

What speed where they going up that?

furiousox

Roche 8th @ 31"

dastardly00

Stage Results:

1 RODRIGUEZ, Joaquin KAT 4h 24' 32''
2 CONTADOR, Alberto STB + 8''
3 VALVERDE, Alejandro MOV + 13''
4 GESINK, Robert RAB + 20''
5 FROOME, Christopher SKY + 23''
6 MORENO, Daniel KAT + 23''
7 ANTON, Igor EUS + 27''
8 ROCHE, Nicolas ALM + 31''
9 NIEMIEC, Przemyslaw LAM + 33''
10 VERDUGO, Gorka EUS + 36''

Overall Standings:

1 RODRIGUEZ, Joaquin KAT 44h 50' 35''
2 CONTADOR, Alberto STB + 13''
3 FROOME, Christopher SKY + 51''
4 VALVERDE, Alejandro MOV + 1' 20''
5 GESINK, Robert RAB + 2' 59''
6 MORENO, Daniel KAT + 3' 29''
7 ROCHE, Nicolas ALM + 4' 22''
8 TALANSKY, Andrew GRS + 5' 17''
9 TEN DAM, Laurens RAB + 5' 18''
10 MOLLEMA, Bauke RAB + 6' 01''

dave2pvd

Looks like Roche further distanced Talansky by 26sec.

Good stuff.

dastardly00

dave2pvd wrote: »

Looks like Roche further distanced Talansky by 26sec.

Good stuff.

Yeah, and the only rider who is behind Nico on GC that gained on him today was Igor Anton. He gained 4 seconds to reduce the gap between himself and Nico to 1min 46sec.

corny

Impressed with Gesink today. Set his own tempo and kept to it all the way up the climb. Unfortunately for Roche he seems to be getting stronger.

riparooo

Another fantastic stage and very good day for Roche. The weekends stages are going to be fascinating I'm dying to see can Rodriquez keep up hid form on the longer mountainous stages, whether Froome can replicate his Le Tour form and put Contador under pressure and to see how the battle for fifth progress's.

Morrisseeee

Another great bit of climbing by Roche and especially Purito (Rodriguez), I really hope he wins it now, he's such a natural climber, a purist (ok I'm a little biased as he's on my fantasy team) :pac:

Q. What's the story with Ten Dam, he's not uploading his Strave files, is it because he's in the top 10 on GC ??!! (or should I head on over to the Conspiracy Forum)

Brian?

Great riding by Roche. Finally just watched the stage, sweet Jesus that was steep.

I still think Contador will do it on the longer climbs.

Darkglasses

I'm watching the highlights now, how is that a road. That's just absurdly steep.

EDIT: Amazing to see Nico going up after J-Rod and Alberto!