Vuelta; Stage 21 (Sep 9): Cercedilla - Madrid;*contains unmasked spoilers*

dastardly00

Stage 21 (Sep 9): Cercedilla - Madrid
Distance: 111.9km
Highest point: 82m
Category: Flat

"The Vuelta finishes in traditional fashion with a straightforward stage into the centre of the Spanish capital. It starts in the mountains to the north of the city and runs steadily down into Madrid. Once in the capital, the action will quicken up considerably as the riders tackle 10 laps of a 5.7km finishing circuit based on the Plaza de Cibeles on the Paseo del Prado. Expect lots of attacks, counters and high-speed pursuits culminating in a bunch sprint. Famed for its fountain where Real Madrid fans celebrate their team’s successes, Plaza de Cibeles is a fitting place for the coronation of the 67th Vuelta champion."

Stage profile:


Live coverage on Eurosport1 from 3.45pm.
Highlights on Eurosport1 at 9.30pm, and on ITV4 at 7pm.
Stage betting: Degenkolb 10/11; Swift 9/2; Bennati 5/1.

Rovi

Nico is wearing a skin suit today:

@nicholasroche on Twitter wrote:

If any of you wonder why i wear a skun suite today,just had a look at my jersey out of wash bag, its black!

@nicholasroche on Twitter wrote:

And obviously all other kit already packed in suite case waiting for me at finish... Actualy lucky that i had skin suite in rain bag.

dastardly00

^^^^^
LOL! He'll get a good bit of stick for that.

happytramp

Seriously? They only have one jersey? No way.

Rovi

happytramp wrote: »

Seriously? They only have one jersey? No way.

In the second message he says that all his other kit is packed away and waiting in Madrid, so I'd hope that he means that's where his other jerseys are.

Although, knowing how AG2R operate regarding TT bikes, food, hotels, etc, you'd have to wonder...

RobFowl

happytramp wrote: »

Seriously? They only have one jersey? No way.

Go on, tell me you are really surprised

Why he stuck with that team so long I cannot understand.....

MPFG

See Bertie and his 7 fingers salute ??

Guess he does not acknowledge any wrong doing

ednwireland

MPFG wrote: »

Guess he does not acknowledge any wrong doing

you suprised ? he spent 18 minths before his ban doing that.doubt he's going to change now

dastardly00

Who won the stage?

buffalo

dastardly00 wrote: »

Who won the stage?

Degenkolb.

dastardly00

buffalo wrote: »

dastardly00 wrote: »

Who won the stage?

Degenkolb.

I should have guessed that! :pac:

mistermatthew

Doper wins. Doper second.

How Contador is even allowed in this race boggles the mind. Ohh professional cycling why do you do this to yourself.

ednwireland

mistermatthew wrote: »

Doper wins. Doper second.

How Contador is even allowed in this race boggles the mind. .

served his ban as given by his national federation

(bit like the british olympic association having to remove its life bans for the olympics after the dwain chambers case)

dastardly00

Finger bang! :pac:

Undercover Elephant

ednwireland wrote: »

served his ban as given by his national federation

(bit like the british olympic association having to remove its life bans for the olympics after the dwain chambers case)

It's not the same at all. The BOA were trying to ban Chambers. The Spanish authorities were doing everything they could to stop Bertie being banned.

buffalo

Nico talks more about his jerseys at http://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/nicolas-roche-i-was-lucky-i-didnt-have-to-ride-the-final-stage-in-the-nip-3225571.html

Nicolas Roche: 'I was lucky I didn't have to ride the final stage in the nip'

:pac:

MPFG

Looking forward to following Nico next year at Saxo
Wonder how he will fit in and which tours he rides..if he will support Bertie in the mountains or just be used on races when Bertie is resting up

Maybe good for improving his chances of winning races (?) but imagine he will be some what censored on reporting on Bertie and the Saxo team. This would certainly attract more international attention than the antics of the Ag2R Mondiale riders
Wonderd if he could co write his column for a Spanish newspapaer
Maybe a column entitled "Bertie and Me ..how we conquered the Alps"

fat bloke

That pistol shot strikes me as a joke gone stale. Is it me or does even Contador himself look a little embarrassed at still having to do that all the time.:o

Fair play to Contador in a way he made the Vuelta a thrilling race to watch and I did find myself rooting for him, but now that it's over I do wish he hadn't won.


Kudos to Roche as well, he has taken some stick over the years, but on a Vuelta as tough as that, to be well up there and giving it a go almost daily - it was fantastic, fair fcuks to him, says I.

Brian?

MPFG wrote: »

Looking forward to following Nico next year at Saxo
Wonder how he will fit in and which tours he rides..if he will support Bertie in the mountains or just be used on races when Bertie is resting up

Maybe good for improving his chances of winning races (?) but imagine he will be some what censored on reporting on Bertie and the Saxo team. This would certainly attract more international attention than the antics of the Ag2R Mondiale riders
Wonderd if he could co write his column for a Spanish newspapaer
Maybe a column entitled "Bertie and Me ..how we conquered the Alps"

I'd imagine he'll get a team lead spot when Contador isn't racing. Expect to see him burying himself on the moutains working for Contador. I wouldn't be surprised to see a leaner Roche next year.

fat bloke

Actually - something that occurred to me last night, catching up on recorded highlights of Vuelta as I was away for the weekend.

Is it me, or were there very very few crashes in the Vuelta?? - Compared to the TdF for example, where there were big bunch pile ups all over the place - early on in stages, mid stages, and then riders coming together in the sprints as well. I can't specifically remember any big bunch carbon fiber strewn melees from the Vuelta at all.

Brian?

fat bloke wrote: »

Actually - something that occurred to me last night, catching up on recorded highlights of Vuelta as I was away for the weekend.

Is it me, or were there very very few crashes in the Vuelta?? - Compared to the TdF for example, where there were big bunch pile ups all over the place - early on in stages, mid stages, and then riders coming together in the sprints as well. I can't specifically remember any big bunch carbon fiber strewn melees from the Vuelta at all.

There were a lot more flat stages in le Tour, better weather as well.

MPFG

Watching the tour of Britian now
Struck at how many people on the road but all standing silently by the side like ghosts just clapping politely ...so very British ...not a mankini or crazed fat bloke running alongside the riders anywhere...only fat bloke in sight is Cav

MPFG

Just discovered Denni Menchov on twitter …he is hilarious
@DeniMenchoff


-His tweets about day Bertie attacked in Vuelta and took red jersey from J-Rod (aka Roddy) and his prediction for Bola del Munda

“Those vodkas on rest day probably a bad idea. Things not go to plan today. Is okay, Deni kill peloton on Bola del Mundo. Roddy right wrong.”

“Still angry about Roddy losing red the other day. Alberto attack big surprise. Deni was getting water bottles. Had a lot to drink after.”

- On Armstrong

“If Armstrong lose title maybe Deni become a past Tour winner, powered on borsch alone!”

- Tweet on his philosophy for life
“Some say borscht bowl half empty. Some say half full. Deni say there's never enough borscht so go get second bowl to fill. “

- On Sky in TdF
“People say why no Deni attack. I say, no need to attack, Deni just wait for others to crack and Twiglet men to snap”

- On transfer at end of TdF stage
“Top20 take helicopter last night. The rest have 400km bus ride. Greipel takes train. Goss same train but arrive 2secs late. Sagan ride bike!”

corny

MPFG wrote: »

- On Sky in TdF
“People say why no Deni attack. I say, no need to attack, Deni just wait for others to crack and Twiglet men to snap”

Twiglet men.:D

retalivity

it must be a parody similar to the sagan one that was going around...

MPFG

retalivity wrote: »

it must be a parody similar to the sagan one that was going around...

Yes probably too good to be true
But fun nonetheless