Volta a Catalunya 2013 - Stage 6 - [Contains Spoilers]

D3PO

Martin takes the first intermediate sprint today for another 3 seconds and is now 17 seconds ahead of Purito on GC

D3PO

Todays penultimate stage profile

Bukman13

Garmin seem to be setting a very high pace, they might let a group up the road on the 1st cat climb but will reel them in closer to the line in hopes that the stage has whittled the Peloton down to a select group, in which martin can contest the sprint.

D3PO

Bukman13 wrote: »

Garmin seem to be setting a very high pace, they might let a group up the road on the 1st cat climb but will reel them in closer to the line in hopes that the stage has whittled the Peloton down to a select group, in which martin can contest the sprint.

Dangerous tactic IMO. That little ramp at the end today could suit JRod, why give him a chance of closing the gap ? Let a group go all the way whilst conservative is a better option in my book.

17 seconds going to the last stage should be adequate even with ten seconds on offer for the stage winner.

GetWithIt

D3PO wrote: »

Dangerous tactic IMO. That little ramp at the end today could suit JRod, why give him a chance of closing the gap ? Let a group go all the way whilst conservative is a better option in my book.

17 seconds going to the last stage should be adequate even with ten seconds on offer for the stage winner.

Would have to agree. They may be riding at the front just for the sake of it and to control the race. Proud to have their man in the lead and riding for him.

Bukman13

D3PO wrote: »

Dangerous tactic IMO. That little ramp at the end today could suit JRod, why give him a chance of closing the gap ? Let a group go all the way whilst conservative is a better option in my book.

17 seconds going to the last stage should be adequate even with ten seconds on offer for the stage winner.

Its a 30m incline over what? 1-1.5k? That is about a 2-3% gradient. I think Dan would be faster in a finish like that.

happytramp

GetWithIt wrote: »

Would have to agree. They may be riding at the front just for the sake of it and to control the race.

Waiting for the right sort of break to let away i'd say.

10 men away
Astarloza, Edmonson, Herrada , Losada, Navarro, Silin, Smzyd, Sorensen and 2 others

Best placed is at 2.39sec. They've just passed the second bonus sprint point and I assume Garmin will want them to stay away although the finish should be no problem for Martin either way.

Inquitus

Clearly Purito thinks he can easily get the 10 bonus seconds and another 8 the last time over Montjuic tomorrow, given he didn't even bother with the intermediate sprint.

dastardly00

Any update/stage results lads?

D3PO

dastardly00 wrote: »

Any update/stage results lads?

Gerrans wins a sprint ahead of Meersman.

Martin safely in the bunch has 17 second lead on GC over Jrod going into tomorrows final stage

General Classification after Stage 6
IRL 1 MARTIN, Daniel (GARMIN SHARP)
ESP 2 RODRIGUEZ OLIVER, Joaquin (KATUSHA) + 17
COL 3 QUINTANA ROJAS, Nairo Alexander (MOVISTAR TEAM) + 45
GBR 4 WIGGINS, Bradley (SKY PROCYCLING) + 54
ITA 5 SCARPONI, Michele (LAMPRE-MERIDA) + 55
NED 6 GESINK, Robert (BLANCO PRO CYCLING) + 1:07
POL 7 NIEMIEC, Przemyslaw (LAMPRE-MERIDA) + 1:18
FRA 8 PINOT, Thibaut (FDJ) + 1:26
BEL 9 VAN DEN BROECK, Jurgen (LOTTO BELISOL) + 1:28
USA 10 STETINA, Peter (GARMIN SHARP) + 1:30

Inquitus

Gerrans won the sprint, Martin and Rodriguez on Sametime, Martin extends lead by 3 secs gained in intermediate sprint 1.

General Classification after Stage 6
IRL 1 MARTIN, Daniel (GARMIN SHARP)
ESP 2 RODRIGUEZ OLIVER, Joaquin (KATUSHA) + 17

Bukman13

Inquitus wrote: »

Clearly Purito thinks he can easily get the 10 bonus seconds and another 8 the last time over Montjuic tomorrow, given he didn't even bother with the intermediate sprint.

The intermediate sprint 16km into the stage is interesting, the effort required by the Garmin to keep the bunch together up to that point could have negative effects on them later in the stage, plus the extra effort used up by Dan to get the few seconds... If a big group goes away early Garmin can sit back and watch Katusha to do all the work in order for the stage victory to be still there for Purito at the end.

dave_o_brien

If I were Dan, I'd be phoning my cousin asking him to attack as soon as the flag is waved, and stay away for at least 20km.

D3PO

Bukman13 wrote: »

The intermediate sprint 16km into the stage is interesting, the effort required by the Garmin to keep the bunch together up to that point could have negative effects on them later in the stage, plus the extra effort used up by Dan to get the few seconds... If a big group goes away early Garmin can sit back and watch Katusha to do all the work in order for the stage victory to be still there for Purito at the end.

if the right selection goes then let them i say. Garmin can sit back and relax whilst Katusha bust a gut to pull them back then.

The odds are stacked against purito getting 18 seconds tomorrow. I just wish Phil Gilbert was in this race though for the extra bit of peace of mind lol

happytramp

Has anyone got the profile of that climb/descent lap they're doing tomorrow? Am I right in thinking that even after the climb there's still a few Km's left to the line? Or does it kick up again in the last few hundred meters?

Bukman13

happytramp wrote: »

Has anyone got the profile of that climb/descent lap they're doing tomorrow? Am I right in thinking that even after the climb there's still a few Km's left to the line? Or does it kick up again in the last few hundred meters?

Its a 2k climb, average gradient of 5.7%, with a max of 8%. The top of the climb is 3.65 Km from the finish, its pretty much all down hill from there, the last 200m or so look flat.

D3PO

happytramp wrote: »

Has anyone got the profile of that climb/descent lap they're doing tomorrow? Am I right in thinking that even after the climb there's still a few Km's left to the line? Or does it kick up again in the last few hundred meters?

the last 2.2km are downhill 145m to 34m

TheBlaaMan

Just how many bonus seconds are on offer tomorrow? 10, 6 and 4 at the finish presumably, but otherwise?

happytramp

TheBlaaMan wrote: »

Just how many bonus seconds are on offer tomorrow? 10, 6 and 4 at the finish presumably, but otherwise?

Rodriguez needs to go for a stage win and beat Martin by 8 seconds to boot. He will push hard on the last climb. It's up to Martin to stick with him and if he loses contact he'll need team mates to pace him back up to Rodriguez on the descent. He's a handy enough descender and probably got a better sprint than Rodriguez. I'm quietly optimistic.

D3PO

happytramp wrote: »

Rodriguez needs to go for a stage win and beat Martin by 8 seconds to boot. He will push hard on the last climb. It's up to Martin to stick with him and if he loses contact he'll need team mates to pace him back up to Rodriguez on the descent. He's a handy enough descender and probably got a better sprint than Rodriguez. I'm quietly optimistic.

im equally optimistic.

Putting 8 seconds into Martin on the climb and then holding off whats likely to be a garmin train on the decent to win the stage with martin outside the top 3 is asking a lot.

Its not a done deal by any stretch but law of averages says Martin holds on.

D3PO

TheBlaaMan wrote: »

Just how many bonus seconds are on offer tomorrow? 10, 6 and 4 at the finish presumably, but otherwise?

three sprints with 3,2 & 1 on offer, The first after 16km another after just over 40km on finally one on just before the 5th accent of Mont Juic

buffalo

Hell of a sprint from Gerrans today, watching the overhead he came from about three rows back during the sprint and powered past them all.

Bukman13

D3PO wrote: »

three sprints with 3,2 & 1 on offer, The first after 16km another after just over 40km on finally one on just before the 5th accent of Mont Juic

The last sprint before the 5th accent has no bonus seconds, its for the tour 100 jersey points jersey, which is a good thing, one less thing for Dan to worry about that late into the stage.

Perfect scenario is a large breakaway getting away and Katusha unable to chase them down.

MPFG

dave_o_brien wrote: »

If I were Dan, I'd be phoning my cousin asking him to attack as soon as the flag is waved, and stay away for at least 20km.

I agree but maybe attack just before they hit the circuit....

TheBlaaMan

The two of them seem to get on, OK......

buffalo

^^ J-Rod must be confident he can get it back, looking so cheerful.

MPFG

buffalo wrote: »

^^ J-Rod must be confident he can get it back, looking so cheerful.

I see Buffalo you still belive all the media hype !

Loved this tweet from father to son

From NeilMartin99 -
"@DanMartin86 Gorey 2004. That is all. X"

TheBlaaMan

No panic for Dan this morning anyway...

https://twitter.com/DanMartin86/status/315764666091597824

"Bon dia catalunya. Nice way to start the day. Balcony time in the sun with a view. #calmbeforethestorm pic.twitter.com/lRJqDO3VHw"

Carpenter

Bradley could be a problem today BUT I hope not.

D3PO

Carpenter wrote: »

Bradley could be a problem today BUT I hope not.

at almost a minute back hes no threat at all. Route much more suited to Jrod and Martin than Wiggins anyway.

Carpenter

D3PO wrote: »

at almost a minute back hes no threat at all. Route much more suited to Jrod and Martin than Wiggins anyway.

I hope your right he can be an animal .

D3PO

Carpenter wrote: »

I hope your right he can be an animal .

Hes a deisel not really suited to this. And even then I can never remember wiggo blasting clear and taking a field apart in the moutains not to mind on a hill like Montjuic.

Sky have one tactic and it only works when they leading the race, they arent built to make up this kind of time in any race.