Vuelta - Stage 2, Sun Aug 25, Pontevedra - Baiona, **Unmasked Spoilers**

Darkglasses

Will try to fill in for dastardly as best I can!



Not a remotely simple start for the Vuelta 2013. TTT stage 1, summit finish stage 2. The riders will be riding south along the Galician coast, firstly up the Cat 3 Alto de San Cosme. Not particularly stressful with an avg gradient of just 3.4%. Expect the breakaway to be allowed a sizeable gap before being reeled back in. There are 2 intermediate sprints, but the breakaway will mop up any bonus seconds on offer. Finally, the peloton will reach the Cat 1 Alto de Monte da Groba, 11km with an avg gradient of 5.6%. It is steepest early on, with the steepest parts up to 10%.

Very possible that a breakaway will make it all the way to the finish, but J-Rod will be very interested in this as a way of making up for Katusha's poor performance in the TTT. Valverde will also be very interested in putting a bit of pressure on Nibali early on.

Betting: Valverde 11/4, Joaquim Rodriguez 3/1, Sergio Henao 9/1, Vincenzo Nibali 14/1

Darkglasses' dubious tip: Carlos Betancur at 20/1. Betancur and Ag2r were massively distanced in the TTT. Already, it seems to me that his Vuelta GC hopes are well gone. His explosive climbing talents cannot be doubted, and the main GC riders may well let him away for a stage win in order to save their legs for the many more difficult summit finishes to come. Dubious tip at best, but for me it's him or a breakaway winner.

Brian?

Nibali at 14/1 is tempting.

serendip

Nah, surely not. Did he not say that he's coming into the Vuelta at about 75%? If so, it seems unlikely that he would dig so deep so early. Or, rather, there will be others who will be willing to dig deeper.

gordongekko

Garmin had such a bad day yesterday surely they will try to get some some time back today

Reginald P. DuM

Betancur has been sick in the lead up and didnt actually want to ride this race, basically under team orders... He'll start slow and might squeeze out a good position in week 3... Like Dan the worlds are his aim, this he rides to prep and win a stage.. I like Pozzivivo today!!

dastardly00

Looking forward to see how Nico gets on today.

Darkglasses

Aramendia, Henderson and Rasmussen have had a successful breakaway. They crossed the first KOM in that order, and in reverse order over the first intermediate sprint.

They were allowed to go as much as 13 minutes ahead of the main bunch according to Pelotonwatch, but have now been reeled back to just 2 minutes ahead. 57km to go.

BQQ

Darkglasses wrote: »

Aramendia, Henderson and Rasmussen have had a successful breakaway. They crossed the first KOM in that order, and in reverse order over the first intermediate sprint.

They were allowed to go as much as 13 minutes ahead of the main bunch according to Pelotonwatch, but have now been reeled back to just 2 minutes ahead. 57km to go.

I think it's 12 minutes, not 2.
They could have the stage between them at this stage.

Darkglasses

BQQ wrote: »

I think it's 12 minutes, not 2.
They could have the stage between them at this stage.

It's 2 minutes now, but it was definitely over 12 minutes about 30 minutes ago, confirmed by Brian Smith.

Pudsy33

On Eurosport they're 11 minutes ahead?

Darkglasses

Pudsy33 wrote: »

On Eurosport they're 11 minutes ahead?

Yep, not sure where they got 2 minutes from a while ago.

BQQ

Darkglasses wrote: »

It's 2 minutes now, but it was definitely over 12 minutes about 30 minutes ago, confirmed by Brian Smith.

I'm not doubting you, but the official website has them still 12 clear 5 mins ago.

Darkglasses

BQQ wrote: »

I'm not doubting you, but the official website has them still 12 clear 5 mins ago.

Yes sorry I was wrong it's still at around 12 minutes now. Not sure why Eurosport was showing it as having coming down to 2 minutes.

Actually I very probably mis-read it

Darkglasses

And Greg Henderson takes the 2nd intermediate sprint points. It's nice to share.

Pudsy33

Darkglasses wrote: »

Yes sorry I was wrong it's still at around 12 minutes now. Not sure why Eurosport was showing it as having coming down to 2 minutes.

Actually I very probably mis-read it

You didn't, eurosport were wrong. My and my ad were equally confused.

BQQ

Darkglasses wrote: »

Yes sorry I was wrong it's still at around 12 minutes now. Not sure why Eurosport was showing it as having coming down to 2 minutes.

Actually I very probably mis-read it

I thought 12 mins to 2 mins in the space of half an hour was a bit mad, alright.

Down to 9 and a half at the second sprint.

Captain Havoc

Why J-Rod is called purito, *downs pint*

Darkglasses

Gap now down to 5"34 (definitely!)

Brian?

serendip wrote: »

Nah, surely not. Did he not say that he's coming into the Vuelta at about 75%? If so, it seems unlikely that he would dig so deep so early. Or, rather, there will be others who will be willing to dig deeper.

Gamesmanship if you ask me. 75% me arse.

Darkglasses

Samuel Sanchez has been dropped out the back of the peloton on the final climb.

Brian?

Darkglasses wrote: »

Samuel Sanchez has been dropped out the back of the peloton on the final climb.

Sad to see. Possibly his last grand tour?

dastardly00

This should be a cracking finish!

dastardly00

Henao dropped!!!

Darkglasses

Henao :eek:

Brian?

The whole Movistar team appears to be at the front.

Just tried to put money on Nibali but betting is suspended. He looks very handy.

dastardly00

Is Nico #206?? If so, he's near the back along with Dan.

EDIT: never mind!

Darkglasses

Btw Nico is number 205, Dan is 111

Brian?

Nico away. Good man! Come on.

griffin100

Nico has it!!!!!!!!!

Brian?

Brilliant. Absolutely fantastic ride.

Darkglasses

Here comes Nico...

Beasty

Bloody hell!!! - well done Nico - fantastic result

Idleater

Marginal gains :-)

Captain Havoc

I did not see that coming, awesome.

Zzippy

Get in!!!!

Chapeau Nico!

Pudsy33

Cracking ride, delighted for him.

Darkglasses

Yeeeeeah! Get in!!

velopeloton

Bravo

Itziger

Roche win??? Jaysus, well done man! Pleasant surprise.

JacksonHeightsOwn

excellent finish by Nico.

he looked like he had a lot of strength there at the end as well.

Brilliant result, absolutely bloody brilliant!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

dastardly00

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LEGEND!!!!

Craig06

What a finish by Roche. Some very clever racing at the end.

Darkglasses

Finally!!

dastardly00

Dan finished a very good 11th place!

Beasty

Just a quick reminder - no separate threads on this, and please don't start posting in the Nico thread until tomorrow - normal spoiler rules continue to apply and anyone who has missed this will not be happy if someone inadvertently ruins it for them by posting about it other than in this thread

Thanks

nilhg

Delighted for Nico, great stuff from him, looked very strong all the way up the final climb.

AnotherView

I said he would surprise you and he did ....I never lost the faith that he would come good

Shows that he can win these kind of finishes ....steep but not high mountain

I was so nervous looking at it and I am so happy

RobFowl

Smiles

cunavalos

Am i right in thinking that Roche now has the KOM jersey and will likely hold onto it for the next few days as there is no major climbs in the next 2-3 stages.
While i know it is not the main goal for him but it is still nice to have him wearing a leaders jersey in a grand tour (plus it gives me extra velogames points).
Also clearly having good form at the moment and another slightly uphill finish tomorrow could see him contending for the leaders jersey

manafana

im often a critic of roche and his tactics etc, but he raced that really well, saw moreno and pozzovivo goe and stuck with them , then launched his attack at right time and made it stick.

Great year for ireland

manafana

also so has the poor guy who always bets on roche, did he have his money down today. first win since the nationals in 08