Vuelta a España Stage 12, Belorado to Obregón Parque de Cabár **Unmasked Spoilers**

Pudsy33

No thread yet so thought I'd start one.

Stage profile


Final kilometres


A hilly stage before we get into three days of climbing proper. This could be one for the breakaway if the GC boys decide to take it handy before things get serious over the weekend.

If things stay together, the uphill finish could suit classics men like Gillbert. Punchy climbers like Martin, Purito, and Valverde might try escape on the 20% ramps 2km from the finish. Might we see Sagan to the fore? Or can Degenkolb or Matthews surivive to contest a sprint?

Darkglasses

I've put a small bet on Sagan for this one, I reckon it's about time for him to get into form.

Pudsy33

You could well be right. I think he's in the break and everything.

Pudsy33

Odds courtesy of Paddy Power: Valverde 8/1, Sagan (break) 8/1, Lutsenko(break) 8/1, Purito 8/1, Gilbert, Martin 11/1, Matthews 14/1

godtabh

just watching sagan (just turned on). Does he have a problem?

MPFG

godtabh wrote: »

just watching sagan (just turned on). Does he have a problem?

Not in form...obviously took time off and celebrated after the Tour

godtabh

MPFG wrote: »

Not in form...obviously took time off and celebrated after the Tour

So he is mortal

MPFG

godtabh wrote: »

So he is mortal

he hasn't won much this year in comparison to other years plus he hasn't won a monument yet

He will have to pull his finger out next year or Tinkoff will give him whats not

godtabh

i just meant he is like us. Parties and struggles on a bike.

I wonder is his heart not in it at the moment given the move has been on the cards for a long time (I think I posted about it in April)

MPFG

He got himself a new girlfriend a few months ago it seems....has posted alot of photos with her (very pretty)....maybe his mind is elsewhere

flying11

Very tempted to stick a fiver on Degonkolb. 200/1 seems very generous as he can climb stuff like this fairly ok. The last climb is short and sweet and hopefully he will be up there. We will see in ~20 mins

Henlars67

Can't understand why FDJ rode at the front to reel in that breakaway.

Ruined my 50/1 bet on Cunego

MPFG

Kirby thinks Sagan is a genius ....sigh

retalivity

fair play to bouhanni for taking 5th, coming in with the gc guys

godtabh

stupid work. Missed the finish

lennymc

MPFG wrote: »

He got himself a new girlfriend a few months ago it seems....has posted alot of photos with her (very pretty)....maybe his mind is elsewhere

Look at mcilroy. Them oul girlfriends are just not worth it......

pelevin

retalivity wrote: »

fair play to bouhanni for taking 5th, coming in with the gc guys

Incredible for a sprinter to be right there with the various types of climbing specialists. He did it on a similar stage early on in the race too. Dan is experiencing the joys of being a marked man.

MPFG

lennymc wrote: »

Look at mcilroy. Them oul girlfriends are just not worth it......

You keep telling yourself that


Dan Martin unfortunaltely marked out of it

Matthews finished 1.35 down after all OGE work

Think if Katusha had woken up they could have had this with Moreno...ideal for him....waiting for J-Rod for bonus secs but he not able to get away

lennymc

I keep telling my wife that.

Dr. Bre

on a diff note. The Green Jersey comp to change at nxt years tour. http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/prudhomme-to-change-green-jersey-competition-for-tour-de-france

Pudsy33

Ugh that first week sounds awful

Paddigol

MPFG wrote: »

Dan Martin unfortunaltely marked out of it

Why did they bother marking him? He's well down on time, and was only ever going to take back 20 seconds or so if he was let loose to go for the stage at that point. It's not like he went with 10k to go, where he might have done real damage. Sure Navarro is just a few seconds further back on GC than Dan and they were happy for him to go.

I'm sure there's a reason, I just don't see it yet.

Pudsy33

I was thinking the same. They must reckon he has more staying power in the mountains. That's or he's poxed unlucky.

happytramp

Looks like he's going to have to do it it old fashioned way. He's not going to be 'allowed' to win one like Navarro and Aru.

Pudsy33

Tomorrows stage looks like an absolute beast

MPFG

Pudsy33 wrote: »

Tomorrows stage looks like an absolute beast

Mondays is the worst (or best )