La Vuelta Stage 10: Lugones - Lagos de Covadonga

neris

188.7KM today. One of the longest stages on this years race.

We return to one of the most legendary climbs of the Vuelta two years later. The climb up the Lagos de Covadonga never goes unnoticed in the race and, in this occasion, it could well make big differences to the general classification. The first part is a pleasant ride through the Asturian coast, departing from Lugones, that will become much less relaxed as we arrive at Fito Peak, a 6.2km climb with an inclination of 7.8%, 40 kilometres from the finish-line. After this, the main attraction will be the spectacular climb up the Lagos de Covadonga, one of the most iconic Vuelta climbs with a route of 12.2km and an inclination of 7.2%, including the famous La Huesera stretch, with a slope of 13%. If the weather is good, this stage could provide some spectacular images. Asturias, always a natural paradise...

Weather
Nice and chilly temperatures in the low 20's °C throughout the stage. Only on Lagos de Covadonga the temperature will be slightly under 20°C. Very small chance for an occasional shower so normally dry all day.

mloc123

Gotta hand it to the Vuelta... more interesting stages than TDF.

neris

big crash earlier 3 riders pulled out according to eurosport guy

irishrover99

This was a cracking stage two years ago. Hopefully it is today as well

neris

mloc123 wrote: »

Gotta hand it to the Vuelta... more interesting stages than TDF.

i think the racings far more better, the tours too big and too commercial now

mloc123

neris wrote: »

i think the racings far more better, the tours too big and too commercial now

Agreed. Not sure why the Vuelta doesn't get more love.. even on here very little interest compared to TDF.

MPFGLB

I always love the Vuelta More unpreditable But probably suffering from a loss of Irish riders in here Such a pity as course wud really suit Dan and Nico who had a great ride up cavodonga in 2010 and pretty good in 2012

velo.2010

Carlton Kirby on Eurosport. 'Dimension data... the African team... bringing something of a chocolate box selection of a team to the Vuelta'

Easy there Carlton, easy now.

GetWithIt

mloc123 wrote: »

neris wrote: »

i think the racings far more better, the tours too big and too commercial now

Agreed. Not sure why the Vuelta doesn't get more love.. even on here very little interest compared to TDF.

Unfortunately I think what you're seeing maybe a sign of things to come.

For all the bashing he gets Nico really brings a massive interest to racing, especially La Vuelta where he's always at the pointy end. In his absence there's just not as much, for us, to talk about.

Here's hoping he gets a few more years

pelevin

Well maybe the nature of the racing in the Tour turned off the fans it was so sterile & formulaic in the supposed big mountain stages!

Of course it adds a good bit to have a genuine Irish interest like Dan Martin or Roche - though tobh not really once he joined Sky as his days of freedom haven't been too numerous since. To watch cycling is though to accept it's very much to be in a minority compared to all-consuming monsters like soccer, and to a fair degree thank f... for that. There's a somewhat misanthropic quote from Nietzsche, "Where the rabble drinks, all wells are poisoned." Well that kind of world couldn't be much more poisoned imo.

pelevin

The break looked doomed coming down to 3 minutes but it's been pushed a minute further out again.

MPFGLB

Well nico will have alot more freeom at BMC Vuelta is one he rides very well and if he was there this year hed be up there in top 5 as was looking good Anyway thank god he is leaving Sky

neris

pelevin wrote: »

Well maybe the nature of the racing in the Tour turned off the fans it was so sterile & formulaic in the supposed big mountain stages!

it is sterille racing and becuase its perceived to be the top event the teams and riders are conservative when it comes to the overall.

pelevin

Froome being distanced early in the climb with 9 or 10kms to go. Of course he often comes back from slow beginnings on climbs but doesn't look like they're going so hard that this should happen.

pelevin

Froome being led by 2 Sky men, 30 seconds at least behind the main men.

retalivity

pelevin wrote: »

Froome being led by 2 Sky men, 30 seconds at least behind the main men.

Is konig with him or still ahead?

pelevin

Contador vs Quintana!

pelevin

retalivity wrote: »

Is konig with him or still ahead?

Last overhead shot looked like one Sky man further up the road. Was guessing myself twas Konig.

neris

go bertie

pelevin

Now Froome seems to have found momentum, though Quintana looks super-strong alongside Contador.

pelevin

Froome really strong now & Quintana distances Contador.

pelevin

Didn't look possible but Froome back to Contador. Stage looks Quintana's.

Contador dropped.

neris

10 seconds bonification for quintana says sean kelly

pelevin

Great comeback for Froome to lose only 30 seconds or so to Quintana. A downer for Contador.

godtabh

Quintana looked fantastic over the last 10km. Froome looked ****ed but got his legs back for third. Its between the two of them now.

Dodge

57 second lead now for Quintana over Valverde. 59 over Froome. Looks like it's his to lose at this stage. Bert is gone

godtabh

Dodge wrote: »

57 second lead now for Quintana over Valverde. 59 over Froome. Looks like it's his to lose at this stage. Bert is gone

Can froome make that up on the next TT?

MPFGLB

Froome can make up a lot of time on TT so Quintana will need to take time on each MTF Contador could have ridden smarter He has an air of desperation about him that I think makes him make mistakes both on climbs and with crashes He can't climb like Quintana in top form or TT like Froome in top form hence he needs to be smarter and limit his losses and wait and bide his time Yet he bleeding time Won't win now u less there is disaster at Movistar or SKY.

MPFGLB

Froome can make up a lot of time on TT so Quintana will need to take time on each MTF Contador could have ridden smarter He has an air of desperation about him that I think makes him make mistakes both on climbs and with crashes He can't climb like Quintana in top form or TT like Froome in top form hence he needs to be smarter and limit his losses and wait and bide his time Yet he bleeding time Won't win now u less there is disaster at Movistar or SKY.

MPFGLB

Froome can make up a lot of time on TT so Quintana will need to take time on each MTF Contador could have ridden smarter He has an air of desperation about him that I think makes him make mistakes both on climbs and with crashes He can't climb like Quintana in top form or TT like Froome in top form hence he needs to be smarter and limit his losses and wait and bide his time Yet he bleeding time Won't win now u less there is disaster at Movistar or SKY.

MPFGLB

Froome can make up a lot of time on TT so Quintana will need to take time on each MTF Contador could have ridden smarter He has an air of desperation about him that I think makes him make mistakes both on climbs and with crashes He can't climb like Quintana in top form or TT like Froome in top form hence he needs to be smarter and limit his losses and wait and bide his time Yet he bleeding time Won't win now u less there is disaster at Movistar or SKY.

velo.2010

Froome seems to ride these sorts of climbs in negative splits, especially when he is without a dominant team. Its simple but clever and a couple of pro riders on twitter have pointed that out.

Quintana is doing what he has to and take the time before the TT. The Vuelta may have many summit finishes but the time gaps are tight when looking back at past races, 2014 in particular.

Contador can't cope with two big hits to the body in consecutive GT's. Still no word on his signing with Trek. I wonder...

terrydel

velo.2010 wrote: »

Froome seems to ride these sorts of climbs in negative splits, especially when he is without a dominant team. Its simple but clever and a couple of pro riders on twitter have pointed that out.

Quintana is doing what he has to and take the time before the TT. The Vuelta may have many summit finishes but the time gaps are tight when looking back at past races, 2014 in particular.

Contador can't cope with two big hits to the body in consecutive GT's. Still no word on his signing with Trek. I wonder...

Hes not my cup of tea, but if hes doing that it must take tremendous discipline. To stick to the plan so rigidly (if that is the plan) in the face of huge pressure, is impressive and admirable.

Macy0161

terrydel wrote: »

Hes not my cup of tea, but if hes doing that it must take tremendous discipline. To stick to the plan so rigidly (if that is the plan) in the face of huge pressure, is impressive and admirable.

He's just following his power meter. I suppose it takes discipline, but it is it really all that different to what he does in the Tour when the skybots are doing the same in the postal train?

terrydel

Macy0161 wrote: »

He's just following his power meter. I suppose it takes discipline, but it is it really all that different to what he does in the Tour when the skybots are doing the same in the postal train?

No its not, but my point is the level fo discipline required is massive.
Its only human to panic (even slightly) and react to what others are doing instead of following what you yourself are doing.
Show me a cyclist who doesn't chase after the fella ahead of him or her on a climb and I'll show you a liar :P Its so difficult not to! That's gotta be amplified many fold at the level these guys are at.

Macy0161

terrydel wrote: »

No its not, but my point is the level fo discipline required is massive.
Its only human to panic (even slightly) and react to what others are doing instead of following what you yourself are doing.
Show me a cyclist who doesn't chase after the fella ahead of him or her on a climb and I'll show you a liar :P Its so difficult not to! That's gotta be amplified many fold at the level these guys are at.

Tell you when I save up enough for a power meter! Well it was probably in reverse yesterday - the others saw him dropped and went too deep going for the kill.

xxyyzz

Quintana looks imperious when he's climbing and on form, everyone else is gritting their teeth and gurning, he looks cool as a breeze. It must be soul destroying when you're giving your all and he's coasting along beside you.

Daroxtar

I really enjoyed that. I said at the start that I didn't know if Quintana had the raw power to put in big hits on the steep stuff but I'm delighted he has proved me wrong. It was great watching him and Contador slug it out yesterday until Bertie cracked.

Say what you will about Bertie but he makes great viewing when he just goes for it but it's also fascinating to watch Froome holding steady and gradually clawing back until he makes his own attack. Sky make cycling boring but Froome is exciting in a strange kind of way.

terrydel

xxyyzz wrote: »

Quintana looks imperious when he's climbing and on form, everyone else is gritting their teeth and gurning, he looks cool as a breeze. It must be soul destroying when you're giving your all and he's coasting along beside you.

Was he at one stage laughing at a dickhead looking for a selfie?
His interview after, it immediately struck me that he looked like he hadn't even got on a bike!

MPFGLB

Daroxtar wrote: »

I really enjoyed that. I said at the start that I didn't know if Quintana had the raw power to put in big hits on the steep stuff but I'm delighted he has proved me wrong. It was great watching him and Contador slug it out yesterday until Bertie cracked.

Say what you will about Bertie but he makes great viewing when he just goes for it but it's also fascinating to watch Froome holding steady and gradually clawing back until he makes his own attack. Sky make cycling boring but Froome is exciting in a strange kind of way.

But the power Quintana put out is probably less than Gesink who is probaby 20KG heavier ?

The race worked becasue of the differnt styles ...If they had the same style it would be boring

As for Froome staying cool...he can afford to ...He has won the Tour and if he goes well at the Vuelta he goes well and if he does not he does not
Easy to be cool when you have nothing to lose

Contador on the other hand was desperate in his need to win and that was his downfall

Quintanais is the best climber in the peloton at the moment imo