Vuelta - Stage 8, Sat Aug 31, Jerez de la Frontera - Estepona , **Unmasked Spoilers**

Darkglasses

Back to summit finishes we go!





After a relative hiatus, the GC battle returns to the fore tomorrow. A lumpy stage, ending in a cat 1 summit finish, Alto de Peñas Blanca (14.5 km @ 6.6%, max 12.5%).

Normally, one would simply expect there to be a solid breakaway which will be able to get themselves a lengthy gap. However, the Vuelta this year seems less predictable than that. I would not be surprised to see multiple groups break apart. The GC riders will probably be hoping this is not the case, as they will want to spare themselves' and their team mates' efforts for the difficult days to come. We're now into the far south of Spain, extreme temperatures are absolutely guaranteed.

The first 2 kilometres of Alto de Peñas Blanca are very steep, with sections above 12%. Movistar will be licking their lips at numbers like this, they will be well able to turn on some serious pace early on to shed the weaker climbing threats to Valverde. The climb is more steady and less brutal after that, with just one section at 9% roughly mid-way.

If there is just one strong breakaway, they have a fair chance of going all the way to the line. If so, we could be treated to two races in one - one for the stage, followed by the GC men squaring off on the Alto.

Betting: Valverde 11/4, Rodriguez 11/2, Moreno 7/1, Nibali 10/1, Henao 16/1, Roche 18/1, Pozzovivo 18/1

Live on Eurosport at the usual 3.00 pm. Estimated finish time 4.40 pm.

Darkglasses

Dan Martin's out of the vuelta.

gordongekko

Darkglasses wrote: »

Dan Martin's out of the vuelta.

ah balls. I hope he's ok

pelevin

Pity about Dan.

On form, for today would it be fair to say Moreno looks maybe the real man in form?

Dr. Bre

hope Betancur can do sumtin cos in my fantasy team. wishful thinking prob ha

pelevin

Dr. Bre wrote: »

hope Betancur can do sumtin cos in my fantasy team. wishful thinking prob ha

I do too cos I put a fiver on him for KOM, but then minutes later found out he was moaning about even having to ride the Vuelta . . . was sick . . . looks more likely to abandon than do much else. . . .

So all in all I'm very hopeful.

Darkglasses

And we're live. Started on the Jerez former Formula 1 track, looked like fun.

Only 40km to go, 4 minutes is the gap.

Darkglasses

Big numbers in the breakaway, including Intxausti, Hupond, Meier, and Cataldo.

manafana

i went for konig and mollema for today myself.

Itziger

It'll be interesting to see if Nico can hold on here, it's a fair bit of climbing.

Darkglasses

Itziger wrote: »

It'll be interesting to see if Nico can hold on here, it's a fair bit of climbing.

He's in the form of his life IMO, I think he'll manage the pace well.

Darkglasses

The break have begun the final climb, the peloton are about 45 seconds behind. Cancellara's setting the pace up front, the peloton is being broken to bits.

Itziger

Saxo don't seem to have much of a presence near the front afaics.

mistermatthew

Cancellara is a beast

retalivity

kreuziger struggling?

Glass Prison 1214

Go on Mollema! My pre race prediction!

Edit: S***e I thought he went off the front not the back!

Glass Prison 1214

retalivity wrote: »

kreuziger struggling?

hopefully means Roche can become the main leader for his team.

Darkglasses

Nico's in the polka-dot jersey rather than the white jersey, I presume?

Glass Prison 1214

Darkglasses wrote: »

Nico's in the polka-dot jersey rather than the white jersey, I presume?

Correct.

Moreno is in the white jersey.

Darkglasses

Ah yeah, just saw him in the lead group. Go on Nico!

Darkglasses

Old man Horner having a big go, way too early I'd say.

Igor Anton has made a big attack and gain 12 seconds over all the rest.

Darkglasses

Nico patient in the main body of the lead group. 15 left and more dropping off all the time.

Glass Prison 1214

This lead group is getting very small but Roche is still there. Go Roche!

Darkglasses

Nico and a very elite group have went ahead of the main group. Basso and Moreno also in this group.

buffalo

The DS will be "eating lightbulbs" - I've never heard that phrase before, what's the meaning?

Darkglasses

Ooh this could be golden...

Glass Prison 1214

Roche could take the red jersey if he can get a time bonus.

Darkglasses

Nico's going to gain A LOT of time!

Darkglasses

THIRD! Time bonus!!

Surely into the red!

wanderer 22

Nico 3rd!

retalivity

is roche into red now????

Glass Prison 1214

Roche takes 3rd! That means he's in the lead! :eek::eek::eek::eek:

Itziger

Was that Roche 3rd??

JacksonHeightsOwn

Glass Prison 1214 wrote: »

Roche takes 3rd! That means he's in the lead! :eek::eek::eek::eek:

he will take the red jersey wont he???

Darkglasses

Yes I'm pretty certain Nico's in red. Pretty weak showing by Nibali.

DDC1990

Wow! Wonder what the splits will be.

Nico in Red?

mistermatthew

Yeah!!!!!!!! Class work by roche

pelevin

I called Moreno who got second but congrats on who called Konig. Great by Roche - close to going into 1st?

letape

Definitely in red by about 30 seconds

Joe Exotic

SUPER ROCHE !!!!

Darkglasses

I would estimate Nico's going to take red by about 3 or 4 seconds. No official results just yet.

luapenak

Roche has to be in red, great ride. Great to see NetApp getting a win too

pelevin

Darkglasses wrote: »

Yes I'm pretty certain Nico's in red. Pretty weak showing by Nibali.

Don't really think Nibali not being in peak form yet is really any surprise.

Carpenter

Nico nico nico :D:D:D:D

Darkglasses

WOW!

Nico's in red by 17 seconds

Itziger

Roche 1st by 17 secs to Horner and 18 to Oops, meant Nibali.

Darkglasses

GC 1 Roche 2 Horner +17 3 Moreno +17 4 Nibali +18 5 Konig +29 6 Zubeldia +30 7 Valverde +31 8 Uran +42 9 Majka +52

Darkglasses

Source - http://www.lavuelta.com/13/en/resultados/index.html

Joe Exotic

The question now is can he hold on can't wait to read his diary

Darkglasses

Stage 8 - 1 Konig 2 Moreno +1 3 Roche +5 4 Pinot +5 5 Basso +5 6 De Clercq +8 7 Anton +13 8 Valverde +19 9 Rodriguez +19

Darkglasses

Just amazing, world class performance by Nicolas. Gutted that the program was cut off!