Vuelta - Stage 6, Thu Aug 29, Guijuelo - Caceres, **Unmasked Spoilers**

dastardly00

Stage 6: Guijuelo - Caceres 177.3km

It's the easiest stage of the race so far with no categorised climbs, but it isn't pan-flat either. It's highly unlikely that a breakaway will manage to hold out on this parcours, as all the sprinters will be fancying their chances.

The route into the finish is very technical. Within in the final 4km, there are six tricky turns with a few roundabouts thrown-in for good measure. The last turn is a 90-degree left-hander and is only 400m from the finish line. It's going to be tough for any of the sprinters' teams to control the peloton, and things might get a little messy at the front of the bunch. If it was an easy run-in, it'd be very hard to look pass the in-form Michael Matthews from Orica-GreenEdge for the stage win. But with it being such a difficult finish (and the likelihood of a crash happening), there's potential for one of the lesser known sprinters to take the glory.





Last 4km:


Betting: M Matthews 9/4; G Meersman 8/1; L Howard 16/1.

Here's a link to the Irish rider's diary thread.

Live TV coverage on Eurosport2 from 2.45pm.
Highlights on Eurosport2 at 8pm, and on ITV4 at 10.30pm.

Live text-ticker will be here.

Darkglasses

Dubious tip is Nikias Arndt. Strong sprinter on a strong team, don't think Orica have the team to get their sprinter around all those twists and turns, unlike Nikias, and I don't think Matthews has the legs for two in a row. Maybe Greg Henderson will fancy this too.

at1withmyself

Tony Martin on a Solo attack today with a 3+ minute lead on the Peleton after a short distance.

This stage could really suit him today for his lone attack, although its hard to tell if he expected company

dastardly00

at1withmyself wrote: »

Tony Martin on a Solo attack today with a 3+ minute lead on the Peleton after a short distance.

This stage could really suit him today for his lone attack, although its hard to tell if he expected company

He's wearing a skin suit, so I'd say he wanted to go on a solo effort. Good training for the World Championships! It would be class if he won this stage.

pelevin

Just turned on Eurosport. Seems completely mad Martin to expect to have any chance on his own all day. Whatever the thinking behind it, an unbelievable effort. Some cyclist.

Darkglasses

pelevin wrote: »

Just turned on Eurosport. Seems completely mad Martin to expect to have any chance on his own all day. Whatever the thinking behind it, an unbelievable effort. Some cyclist.

Training for the World TT Champs, not really looking for a stage win. He's also got saddle sores apparently. He's a mentaller, in the best way possible.

AG2R

Martin is still holding this gap with 4 to go,madness

AG2R

The Argos train really has been impressive

Darkglasses

Argos Shimano are leading my boy Arndt into a good position, but Tony's still in front with 1.5km to go

Darkglasses

This is absolute madness...

AG2R

COME ON TONY!

AG2R

That is heartbreaking

Darkglasses

:eek:

NOOO!

check_six

Ton Martin Still going with 1km to go...

Dcully

OMFG so so unlucky Tony, what a beast of a man.

Inquitus

Harsh

check_six

Hmm, my information seems a little old...

cityman 18

Feel for Tony Martin there, that was cruel.

Darkglasses

That's unbelievable. Just sickening. How much closer can you get.

That'll be one of my big memories of the Vuelta this year, along with Roche's successes. What could have been

mahoo

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Gutted... but at the same time that was the most awesome of awesomeness. 44kph average solo!

edit: sorry 45kph average for 170km approx!

gordongekko

For the rest of us in work with no access to tv can I take it he was caught near the line?

pelevin

BOLLOXXXXXXX!!!!!!!!!!! Was roaring at the screen, thought he had it. Bastard peloton!

pelevin

gordongekko wrote: »

For the rest of us in work with no access to tv can I take it he was caught near the line?

About 15 metres from the line.

Dcully

One of the best solo rides ive ever seen.
If only if only that line came 5 meters earlier Heartbreaking stuff.

Darkglasses

gordongekko wrote: »

For the rest of us in work with no access to tv can I take it he was caught near the line?

30 metres maximum I'd say. **** all anyway. Finished 7th

dastardly00

GUTTED!

check_six

Tony Martin got caught by the sprint within 100m of the line. He had about 6 seconds advantage with 1km to go.

Morkov got the stage win. Tony Martin was out on his own for 160km+ getting up to a 7 minute advantage at one point.

He really needs to improve on his sprinting...

niceonetom

That might be the most inspirational 7th place performance ever.

Darkglasses

Further down the field, guess who's still well off the pace?

Carlos Betancur. Lost a full minute.

dastardly00

Nico and Dan safely home in 33rd and 93rd place respectively.

mahoo

poor old Michael Morkov. . possibly the least popular stage winner ever

Dcully

check_six wrote: »

Tony Martin got caught by the sprint within 100m of the line. He had about 6 seconds advantage with 1km to go.

Morkov got the stage win. Tony Martin was out on his own for 160km+ getting up to a 7 minute advantage at one point.

He really needs to improve on his sprinting...

Its was no more than 5-10m from the line.

goose06

had €20 on him at 20/1 Tony's not the only one that's feeling sick now :-(

GetWithIt

check_six wrote: »

He really needs to improve on his sprinting...

He still bet the designated sprinter from his own team. I'd imagine that'll form an interesting conversation on the bus this evening.

7. MARTIN, Tony 161 OMEGA PHARMA-QUICK STEP CYCLING TEAM 3h 54' 15'' + 0''
8. MEERSMAN, Gianni 164 OMEGA PHARMA-QUICK STEP CYCLING TEAM 3h 54' 15'' + 0''

pelevin

mahoo wrote: »

poor old Michael Morkov. . possibly the least popular stage winner ever

Looked a bad joke him with his arms aloft all right.

"Aren't I amazing! I've won the stage!"
"Oh yeah, you're great."

check_six

Dcully wrote: »

Its was no more than 5-10m from the line.

I've no pictures to work from here just those minute by minute update dealies.
Incredibly unlucky either way, and a great effort from Martin.

Wonder if Kelly was impressed by the precision of the 'calculation' made by the sprinters teams?

check_six

GetWithIt wrote: »

He still bet the designated sprinter from his own team. I'd imagine that'll form an interesting conversation on the bus this evening.

Good stuff. Is there any kind of combativity award in the Vuelta?

dastardly00

Darkglasses wrote: »

Further down the field, guess who's still well off the pace?

Carlos Betancur. Lost a full minute.

He's in 173rd place overall, 9th from bottom.
That's pretty rubbish.

mahoo

dastardly00 wrote: »

He's in 173rd place overall, 9th from bottom.
That's pretty rubbish.

Any idea why he's being so particularly rubbish? think i read somewhere that he didnt want to ride the vuelta. is he on strike?.. wish i knew this before picking my velogames team!

Darkglasses

pelevin wrote: »

Looked a bad joke him with his arms aloft all right.

"Aren't I amazing! I've won the stage!"
"Oh yeah, you're great."

"Hey Mom! Were you watching? I won the sprint today!"
"Yeah yeah well done love. Can you put Tony Martin on the phone? He was amazing!"

BofaDeezNuhtz

Jayzizzzzz :eek:

Darkglasses

dastardly00 wrote: »

He's in 173rd place overall, 9th from bottom.
That's pretty rubbish.

Good old AG2R La Mondiale!

pelevin

check_six wrote: »

Good stuff. Is there any kind of combativity award in the Vuelta?

There is so Martin has a good chance on winning today's.

AnotherView

Tony Martin....awesome ( only time when that word should be used)

Cancelera reeled Martin in in the end...pure sprinters couldn't catch him

He had a lull at about 8km to go as he seemed to give up the ghost for a short while then he was off again.....if he hadn't that he would have won it

Would have been one of the greatest stage wins ever

Good job by Morkov to stay on Cancelera's wheel

what is also so impressive is that Martin appeared to have a saddle sore/rash for most of the race

check_six

pelevin wrote: »

There is so Martin has a good chance on winning today's.

Yes, a thorough analysis of today's stage would tend to lead one to that conclusion on the balance of evidence.

dastardly00

The daily combativity award is normally announced 10-20km before the finish.
And Martin obviously got it.

AnotherView

Betencur I think is having a sulk because he said he didn't want to race Vuelta and team made him......Also said he was sick a while before race so not in top form


Bet he comes out in final week and races ....he wants to win the Worlds and will be ready then...could win a stage or two in last week of Vuelta

I imagine he saw parade and president reception for Quintana and wants a bit of that for rainbow jersey !!!!....

Lepidoptera

Today is going to be the day to remember for me in this race I think. I started cheering for Martin when I saw he was going for a solo breakaway just for the guts factor, but watching him hold them off like that for the last 20km when everyone had said it was over for him...that was incredible. Going from only 7-8 seconds ahead to 17-18 seconds ahead when it looked like he was about to be caught, and then to come so close to winning it...

I'm gutted for him. I was out of my seat jumping around like a lunatic yelling for him and I can't believe they caught him What a heartbreaker

Darkglasses

Tony Martin gives the world of cycling a lesson on Rule 5.

Leads the peloton under the flame rouge with 6 seconds in hand after a 174.9 km solo breakaway.

Bugsy2000

I've never been so interested in a 'Refresh' button. I was stuck in work with just the CyclingNews ticker. Was riveted to the screen hitting refresh literally every second for the last 8k. Gutted

Dr. Bre

Tony Martin what a hero