Vuelta a España stage 12: Pola de Laviana to Alto de l'Angliru (109km)

at1withmyself

A short and sharp stage today and after a bit of a damp squid yesterday from the GC guys then hopefully it will be fireworks today.

Also a lot of teams still without any stage wins/jerseys so expect a good fight for the breakaway.

https://racecenter.lavuelta.es/en

Thud

What time are they expected to hot the Angliru?

Mercian Pro

Thud wrote: »

What time are they expected to hot the Angliru?

About 16.45 according to https://www.lavuelta.es/en/stage-12

That's 15.45 Irish time as pointed out below!

retalivity

Thud wrote: »

What time are they expected to hot the Angliru?

Id guess in approximately 3 hours from now, so tune in about 3.30 (irish time)

at1withmyself

Mercian Pro wrote: »

About 16.45 according to https://www.lavuelta.es/en/stage-12

That's an hour off Irish time remeber!

at1withmyself

My pick for today is Mas, I thought he looked good at the end of yesterday so hope to see him in a bid for the podium today.

Dr. Bre

Roglic for me today . He’s getting better as it goes on

Daroxtar

With the rest day tomorrow and TT on Tuesday, today is the day the GC have to go balls out to put time into Roglic or kiss the red jersey goodbye.
Roglic looks impervious thus far but that could all change around the last 3-4km. I have a suspicion Dan's slight weight advantage could pay dividends when things get above 15%. I don't expect to see anyone going at the first hard ramp, las Cabanes with about 6km to go and there's a long enough section of a steady 12%ish after that where people will try to get a rhythm going but once they round Cobayos and hit Cuenas Las Cabres then anyone who can make progress should go because if anyone starts to crack there they could lose minutes in the space of less than a kilometer.

Raoul Duke

Looking forward to the Angliru today. This will probably decide if Roglic wins the GC or not.

This is the type of mountain that someone could put time into him. However, I don't think that there is another rider in the peloton that's in good enough form to push him. Except for maybe Dan Martin. He doesn't look as banjaxed as the others to me. I don't think that he will go from distance though and, of course, Roglic will have team mates to set an infernal pace (™Sean Kelly).

Prediction: Dan Martin for the stage - I think that he will be let away near the end.

Daroxtar

Forgot to mention the descent off the Cordal just before the Angliru starts. It's absolutely lethal. Narrow, twisty, bumpy, steep and probably covered in leaves now. Contador broke from the pack there last time out and Nibali, one of the finest descenders there is, ended up in the ditch. It could very easily be a deciding factor in the stage.

Doc07

Daroxtar wrote: »

With the rest day tomorrow and TT on Tuesday, today is the day the GC have to go balls out to put time into Roglic or kiss the red jersey goodbye.

I hope that happens but apart from maybe Carapaz as a GT winner ,the rest will merely be hoping to preserve their current positions and wouldn’t consider they have a hope of putting in the required minutes into Roglic to make up for TT and therefore won’t risk cracking.
Of course if Rog looks anyway weaker in the last 6km it could get interesting.
Hopefully Dan can nick some more comfort time ahead of the TT from the likes of Carthy and Mas

Raoul Duke

Doc07 wrote: »

I hope that happens but apart from maybe Carapaz as a GT winner ,the rest will merely be hoping to preserve their current positions and wouldn’t consider they have a hope of putting in the required minutes into Roglic to make up for TT and therefore won’t risk cracking.
Of course if Rog looks anyway weaker in the last 6km it could get interesting.
Hopefully Dan can nick some more comfort time ahead of the TT from the likes of Carthy and Mas

To be fair to Movistar, they do usually try something. It's unfortunate that 99% of the time their riders aren't up to the task of finishing their plans of.

CantGetNoSleep

They are looking good to get three riders in the top 10 again here

Itziger

Raoul Duke wrote: »

To be fair to Movistar, they do usually try something. It's unfortunate that 99% of the time their riders aren't up to the task of finishing their plans of.

Yeah, but jesus, at least they try. And are setting a high pace right now. You have people moaning that teams are too conservative and they're the first to criticise Movistar.

Couple of comments along those lines the other day.

at1withmyself

Itziger wrote: »

Yeah, but jesus, at least they try. And are setting a high pace right now. You have people moaning that teams are too conservative and they're the first to criticise Movistar.

Couple of comments along those lines the other day.

I think the problem is "what is it they are trying to do?", other then getting the team prize I never understand their tactics. I do believe if they invested in one rider then they could challenge the GC but they never seem focused on the GC so makes their tactics always look strange.

at1withmyself

Carapaz just had 1 support rider left.

Edit, he has 3.

harringtonp

I know Kirby and Lloyd sometime get a bit of a hard time here but have to say I am enjoying the banter between them today

EC1000

at1withmyself wrote: »

I think the problem is "what is it they are trying to do?", other then getting the team prize I never understand their tactics. I do believe if they invested in one rider then they could challenge the GC but they never seem focused on the GC so makes their tactics always look strange.

Maybe their sponsor just likes having their brand to the fore for TV exposure? Definitely the most visible team in terms of brand.

happytramp

harringtonp wrote: »

I know Kirby and Lloyd sometime get a bit of a hard time here but have to say I am enjoying the banter between them today

He had a good one the other day in fairness when he talked about gadau trying to catch the guy out in front... "he's not waiting for gadau"

eagle eye

This getting insane already.

The last climb is a killer. It's about those than can dig deepest, nobody will look comfortable on this one.

I'll pick Poels due to his history.

dastardly00

Just tuned in properly now. Fingers crossed for Dan

velo.2010

I'll be interested to see how far Froome gets up the Angliru in the lead group. Definitely looking better each day.

dastardly00

Sep Kuss to win

velo.2010

velo.2010 wrote: »

I'll be interested to see how far Froome gets up the Angliru in the lead group. Definitely looking better each day.

Well, not very far.

Boscoirl

Froome turns on the motor to get back up the road after going back for bottles

dahat

Young rider from TJV in second wheel, he has had a savage couple of days.

dastardly00

Boscoirl wrote: »

Froome turns on the motor to get back up the road after going back for bottles

He seems to be trying to keep with the Marc Soler group rather than taking it 'easy'

Dodge

Boscoirl wrote: »

Froome turns on the motor to get back up the road after going back for bottles

Just tagged on to the Soler group. Wasn’t sprinting back to the peloton

8k to go. Fireworks please!

eagle eye

It's insane that TJV have five riders in this group this late on. It's ruining it for me. I want to see it down to contenders for the stage win and the Red jersey.

at1withmyself

Fantastic shot of the mountain there on eurosport, looks insanely hard

dastardly00

Dan is looking good

dahat

Kirby hasn't a clue who the rider is in front, shocking.

dastardly00

Riders are going out the back door as if they have fallen off a cliff

at1withmyself

at1withmyself wrote: »

Fantastic shot of the mountain there on eurosport, looks insanely hard

A lot of the time it's hard to gauge how steep the climbs are from the tv. No doubting it from these shots here

neris

Looked like the astana rider was trying to enjoy the view and not show his suffering as the Cabrera bike went by

dastardly00

Did George Bennett drop off without doing a turn on the front?

Dodge

dastardly00 wrote: »

Did George Bennett drop off without doing a turn on the front?

Yeah. Looked that way to me. They went from 5 to 3 almost instantly

Raoul Duke

New​ prediction - Dan Martin to ride into 2nd place today. Maybe even get enough time to hold off Carapaz in the time trial.

dastardly00

Raoul Duke wrote: »

New​ prediction - Dan Martin to ride into 2nd place today. Maybe even get enough time to hold off Carapaz in the time trial.

Carapaz does look like he's on his last legs (on this climb)

devonp

dahat wrote: »

Kirby hasn't a clue who the rider is in front, shocking.

Vingegaard...pale and sickly but doing a great job

dahat

devonp wrote: »

Vingegaard...pale and sickly but doing a great job

Doing a brilliant job for Roglic. Savage stuff.

Dodge

Pop goes Dan

Dan cracking

Raoul Duke

Raoul Duke wrote: »

New​ prediction - Dan Martin to ride into 2nd place today. Maybe even get enough time to hold off Carapaz in the time trial.

New prediction...

retalivity

Roglic wavering...

themandan6611

savage stuff, Dan fighting like hell to keep in

Paddigol

Dan biding his time well??

REBELSAFC

Christ on a bike....Go on Dan

Come on Dan, Jesus me blood pressure.

griffin100

Thank god there’s no fans on the mountains, gives the riders a much safer ride, especially on the very steep bits

neris

This is only a newish climb because the gearing in the 80s would have killed the riders