2014 Volta a Catalunya (spoiler tags until midnight)

Darkglasses

7 stages, from Monday 24th to Sunday 30th. No TT, with a huge amount of climbing to be done. The sprinters will only really get a look in on Saturday's stage.

Seriously tough field, possibly even stronger than the Tirreno Adriatico. Froomey, Contador, Rodriguez, Quintana, Martin, Porte and Basso are all here. Should make for some quality racing

Stage 1 (Monday):


Stage 2 (Tuesday):


Stage 3 (Wednesday):


Stage 4 (Thursday):


Stage 5 (Friday):


Stage 6 (Saturday):


Stage 7 (Sunday):

MPFG

Good preview
How are you deciding which threads have spoiler tags and which don't ???...seems arbitrary ?

Froomy ???

Beasty

Forum rules make it clear - general thread requires spoiler tags, stage specific/one day race ones do not

Any more questions about rules PM a mod and don't take the thread off-topic

ZiabR

Nice preview, some of those stages look really really tough. An awful lot of climbing to be done.

Darkglasses

logik wrote: »

Nice preview, some of those stages look really really tough. An awful lot of climbing to be done.

Yeah at first I thought it was just that the profiles I could find weren't the best quality, but actually there's actually just a sick amount of climbing.

MPFG

Darkglasses wrote: »

Yeah at first I thought it was just that the profiles I could find weren't the best quality, but actually there's actually just a sick amount of climbing.

I guess Froomy will be happy

ZiabR

Have this on record now so cant wait to sit down tonight and watch it!

dastardly00

Eurosport coverage starts at 2.30pm today.

I'm not sure if Cyclingnews will have a text ticker.
Here's a link to one that's translated into English (quite hilariously).

Dr. Bre

is that finish on final stage in Barca the same one as last year's final stage ?

mcgratheoin

Don't forget spoilers folks....

Morrisseeee

What the foot is happening ?
How much of the race is left ?
Who's in the break ? How far are they ahead?
Who just won ?
ie. terrible TV coverage !!

dastardly00

Dr. Bre wrote: »

is that finish on final stage in Barca the same one as last year's final stage ?

yep, same one. It goes up around to where the Olympic Stadium is.

OT: It's a beautiful area with great views, it's well worth a trip if you're ever in Barcelona. Easy to get there on one of the hop on-hop off buses

Shedite27

Luka Mezgec won stage 1 (Giant-Shimano).....bunch sprint

Wilco Kelderman (Belkin) attacked late and survived the dissolution of the day’s long breakaway.....peloton drew him in inside 5km to go
Read more at http://velonews.competitor.com/2014/03/news/mezgec-tops-howard-stage-1-sprint-volta-catalunya_321090#lQkb2IgYzPBDtmlF.99

Darkglasses

Dan finished in the main bunch, only big name not to do so is Richie Porte, who finished in the grupetto at 2'58.

Darkglasses

Here's your stage 1 highlights. Broadcast quality is indeed awful.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUYzTKVv6Y4

buffalo

Just watched the highlights, possibly the worst tv feed since the Giro had nothing for a day. I understand when sometimes it's hard to get the gaps, but no distance markers - even with the town names would've been helpful. Instead I had to consult a map everytime a name flashed up. And last 5km seemed to be covered very quickly.

And then banner in the way of the sprint to the finish, and couldn't see the riders crossing the line. wtf?

letape

buffalo wrote: »

Just watched the highlights, possibly the worst tv feed since the Giro had nothing for a day. I understand when sometimes it's hard to get the gaps, but no distance markers - even with the town names would've been helpful. Instead I had to consult a map everytime a name flashed up. And last 5km seemed to be covered very quickly.

And then banner in the way of the sprint to the finish, and couldn't see the riders crossing the line. wtf?

If I remember correctly this was the same last year - you were always left guessing who had won!

Shedite27

letape wrote: »

If I remember correctly this was the same last year - you were always left guessing who had won!

Yeah it was awful last year too for Dan's win.

ZiabR

They did say on a number of occasions that the transponder was not working all day and all of this will be fixed for today. Good... because I hadnt a clue what was happening yesterday and the guy at the finish line with the camera should be shot!

happytramp

They could have at least panned the camera down so we could see who crossed the line first. Fairly embarrassing for the broadcaster.

Morrisseeee

4 Pro's to follow on Strava:
Lauren's Ten Dam :
and from his ride you are linked into the other 3:
Roy Jérémy
Carlos Verona
Romain Bardet

dastardly00

Apparently Richie Porte has abandoned.

dastardly00

Two in a row for Mezgec. It finished in a bunch sprint. It was very wet and there were a good few roundabouts close to finish. Tommy V was out in front but he was caught with a few kilometres to go.

MPFG

happytramp wrote: »

They could have at least panned the camera down so we could see who crossed the line first. Fairly embarrassing for the broadcaster.

Kirby's view on communication "We are relying on a crackly radio..its about as good as 2 cups and a piece of string"

Darkglasses

dastardly00 wrote: »

Apparently Richie Porte has abandoned.

Not surprised, read some quotes from him after the first stage and he sounded sick as a dog.

Darkglasses

Last 4km of today's stage here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQOA80QxTIA

Darkglasses

There's really something going around, Trek racing have lost Zubeldia and Hondo to sickness too. Arredondo has some stomach issues but is soldiering on

gordongekko

Just a gentle bump. Anyone got any updates?

Diggabot

gordongekko wrote: »

Just a gentle bump. Anyone got any updates?

Yeah, Carlton Kirby is still talking rubbish!

dastardly00

No major updates so far.

A 9-man breakaway has a lead of around 7 minutes and they are ascending the 2nd climb of the day. It's sunny, but cold.

MPFG

That La Molina is bloody steep ...they are on it now but come around and go up it again to finish

MPFG

Beencur looks like he is feeling those extra 4kgs today

dastardly00

I've learned that Magnus Backstedt doesn't like knee or leg warmers.
That's about all that has happened so far.

MPFG

Purito is dressed like a bandit ...Purito Bandito .... you can't see his face

Magnus Backstedt also likes Haribo
and cheese and jam rolls

Carlton has said alot today so don't pull him up for saying expresso rather than espresso

That's the news for now

MPFG

picture of Purito ...but it could be anyone

Purito.png

tomdempsey200

it's cold apparently..

dastardly00

Carlon Kirby:

Carlos Betancur ................ the man who never smiles ...................... probably because he has braces.

MPFG

17 km to go ...break almost caught ....Katusha chasing

Darkglasses

Just in the door...Looks like the break is just about to be caught, 37 seconds the gap with 8km to go. Thomas De Gendt working hard for Uran and OPQS. Not particularly steep...yet!

MPFG

5km to go ...break caught ...Movistar leading the peloton

Darkglasses

All the big names loitering at the front, 4km to go. Time to go for a long one

MPFG

3km to go...big pack still ...no attacks yet...all favs there still

MPFG

Fulsang goes

Darkglasses

That was Atapuma being dropped there in BMC colours

Darkglasses

Froomey goes but Purito, Contador and Quintana are locked to him

dastardly00

Well that was a bit of a let down. When the GC guys didn't bother to attack until the last kilometre, then there was only going to be one winner: Purito.

Darkglasses

Devastating attack by Purito with 300m to go and he takes the stage, Contador the only one who looked to have any hope of going with him. Froomey a relatively distant third and Quintana fourth

EDIT:

Sorry I'm all wrong, Quintana was third, Tejay Van Garderen?? was fourth and then Froomey

happytramp

As someone on cyclingnews forums pointed out, Purito's winning a MTF with no attacks is about as exciting and unexpected as Cavendish being towed to the finish line and winning a bunch sprint.

MPFG

They all left it too late to attack ...wary of each other...Purito had an explosive finish as per ....Dan not in top 10 afaik ...Contador kept looking for Froome who didn't seem match fit...or maybe not long enough climb for him

Darkglasses

happytramp wrote: »

As someone on cyclingnews forums pointed out, Purito's winning a MTF with no attacks is about as exciting and unexpected as Cavendish being towed to the finish line and winning a bunch sprint.

That's racing mate!

MPFG wrote: »

They all left it too late to attack ...wary of each other...Purito had an explosive finish as per ....Dan not in top 10 afaik ...Contador kept looking for Froome who didn't seem match fit...or maybe not long enough climb for him

Chris Froome has had more training time than anybody, but I think you're right, he's not race-fit as such. Also a bit lost without Porte maybe.

MPFG

Looking at the end of the race reminded me of the 2012 Vuelta.........alot of rider are sick it seems or at least on antibiotics