La Vuelta a España - Stage 8 - Saturday 29th August *SPOILERS*

Melodeon

Type: Sprint/Rolling
Distance: 182.5Km
Start/Finish: Puebla de Don Fadrique/Murcia

Stage map:


Profile:


Main Climb - Alto de la Cresta del Gallo - Category 3:


Finale:


The General Classification after Stage 7:


Preview (© cyclingnews.com):

Two sharp climbs late on may well scupper the sprinters' chances

It may seem odd to describe a stage that descends most of the way to a shark-toothed finishing circuit as being hard for the sprinters, but Spain rarely offers anything that’s completely straightforward for the bunch finishers.

Many riders will know the finale from the Vuelta a Murcia, where the Cresta del Gallo’s appearance is almost de rigueur. Extending to 5.5km at an average of 6.8 per cent, it could be a launchpad for attacking climbers. But the 12 flat kilometres to the finish provide hope to those in pursuit. Norway’s Thor Hushovd won in Murcia in 2010 but that stage only crossed the Cresta del Gallo once. An intriguing contest is in store for us.

LIVE TV:
British Eurosport - 3.00pm

HIGHLIGHTS:
ITV4 - 7:00pm
TG4 - 8:30pm
British Eurosport - 10:30pm

fat bloke

Can I be unbelievably petty and ungrateful and ask that you include the day or date with the stage info?

Puhleeeze?

I keep getting mixed up with my multiple eurosport and tg4 recordings and replays and extras and live's :rolleyes:

stecleary

John Degenkolb

I honestly can't describe how much I'm looking forward to this stage. It's going to be completely it of the norm. There could be big gaps that could hold out before the first decent is even finished.

j0hn1

How many stage 8's are there in this years Vuelta?

pelevin

j0hn1 wrote: »

How many stage 8's are there in this years Vuelta?

I think the organisers were saying they're thinking of going down the Irish EU referendum path this year that if they consider the result of a stage to be really not at all the desired one, they'll make them re-do the stage. So if for example the Spanish lads Purito & Valverde get involved in a crash & lose 5 minutes each, in all likelihood there'll be a second stage 8. If something similar were to happen again, it's up in the air what they'll do as having a 3rd go at the same stage might, admitted Vuelta race director Javier Guillen, be "taking the piss."

Pudsy33

Have no idea tbh

Adam Hansen ftw

Darkglasses

Pudsy33 wrote: »

Adam Hansen ftw

I suspect a breakaway winner too. Don't see OGE, Giant, or any big GC team doing any chasing, so all down to Tinkoff Saxo (assuming Sagan isn't in the break himself, in which case game over)

Pudsy33

Have no idea tbh

Darkglasses wrote: »

I suspect a breakaway winner too. Don't see OGE, Giant, or any big GC team doing any chasing, so all down to Tinkoff Saxo (assuming Sagan isn't in the break himself, in which case game over)

Not sure it'll be a break but I reckon we will get an attacker from the final climb.

MPFGLB

This would be a great stage to put a leaders team under pressure . Controlling breaks will be nigh impossible ...(well it would be if any of the GC guys wanted to take on the current leader )

Also think a few roulers to have a go on the last climb ...like Dumoulin or Dan

Melodeon

John Degenkolb

fat bloke wrote: »

Can I be unbelievably petty and ungrateful and ask that you include the day or date with the stage info?

Puhleeeze?

I keep getting mixed up with my multiple eurosport and tg4 recordings and replays and extras and live's :rolleyes:

I've edited the thread title to include the day and date, does that work?
The start/finish towns are noted in the thread text near the top so having them in the title was a bit repetitive anyway.
Or would it be better the other way around: start/finish in the thread title and day/date in the text???

mirrormatrix

MPFGLB wrote: »

This would be a great stage to put a leaders team under pressure . Controlling breaks will be nigh impossible ...(well it would be if any of the GC guys wanted to take on the current leader )

Also think a few roulers to have a go on the last climb ...like Dumoulin or Dan

Personally, I think the likes of Dan would be mad to attack on the Cat3 climb. He'd never hold off a charging peloton for the remaining 15km, and that climb isn't enough to really string things out I don't think.

I'll probably get this horribly wrong, but i'm gonna back a bunch finish with Sagan for the win.

MPFGLB

Gosh that final downhill looks very tricky...could be an issue

stecleary

John Degenkolb

Very disappointed where eurosport have picked up coverage!
Didn't get to see any of the big decent

Eamonnator

Looks like Van Garderen is out

Eamonnator

Big crash

Eamonnator

I think Dan Martin has crashed

MPFGLB

Dan Martin on the ground ?

Nico Roche in group behind ?

Eamonnator

Dan still on the ground

MPFGLB

Nico is back on

But not sure about Dan ?

Inquitus

Have no idea tbh

MPFGLB wrote: »

Dan Martin on the ground ?

Nico Roche in group behind ?

No I see Nico at the front.

Pudsy33

Have no idea tbh

Is it definitely dan? This is beyond a joke at this point

Eamonnator

Pretty sure, it's Dan.

MPFGLB

Red Jersey having to chase back on

Wonder if Giant put down the hammer

MPFGLB

Red Jersey back

MPFGLB

That hill going down will be very messy

MPFGLB

Already a crash on downhill

MPFGLB

Is that not the same place Sastre came a cropper in 2001

Inquitus

Have no idea tbh

Any idea where Dan is at?

at1withmyself

Kris Beckmans [Lotto] is on the way on hospital and seems not too bad, looked horrific when he was on the ground under everything.

Van Gardener [BMC] is also out after the crash, no word on Dan yet...

MPFGLB

Reports that Dan has abandoned

Hop ethat is just twitter gone mad ...as no offical statement

Inquitus

Have no idea tbh

Bugger! Game over for Dan, hope he's ok.

https://twitter.com/Ride_Argyle/status/637639353385287680

godtabh

MPFGLB wrote: »

Reports that Dan has abandoned

Hop ethat is just twitter gone mad ...as no offical statement

confirmed on twitter by garmin

godtabh

https://twitter.com/Ride_Argyle/status/637639353385287680

at1withmyself

MPFGLB wrote: »

Reports that Dan has abandoned

Hop ethat is just twitter gone mad ...as no offical statement

Its official from the Team now :mad:

Eamonnator

Dan has abandoned, gone to hospital

spock.

I'm so gutted for Dan. He could have had a really good Vuelta

Its feels like it is gone beyond misfortune and unluckiness that Dan Martin has being involved in yet another crash. In such good form too.

Solobally8

John Degenkolb

Aaaagghh poor Dan. Feck sake!

Inquitus

Have no idea tbh

Is Roche in the front group?

Eamonnator

Inquitus wrote: »

Is Roche in the front group?

nearly sure, I saw him in front group.

Eamonnator

No, it wasn't him I saw, but he could be there.

MPFGLB

Nico in front group of GC guys

MPFGLB

Sagan crashes and goes mental

godtabh

sagan going mad

djemba djemba

Sagan not at all happy

MPFGLB

Sagan was run over by a bike!!! #lavuelta #LV2015

MPFGLB

Hansen on the attack now.

godtabh

roche about 10th?

Inquitus

Have no idea tbh

godtabh wrote: »

roche about 10th?

Yep

MPFGLB

I am so gutted for Dan Martin I can't bring myself to even think about it

stecleary

John Degenkolb

Segan looks like he has lost a lot of skin!