Vuelta a Espana 2012: 18 August - 09 September

[raptor]

His time trial was a little out of form? Actually, quite a lot out of form. Hid climbing I buy - even though I didn't expect him to ride as well on the long climbs, motivation must be pretty high right now. The TT, quite a big jump in improvmement in his worst discipline...

 

Only reason he did well in this tt was because of the cat 3 climb in it, if it was a flat route he would have lost time

['Dale]

Only reason he did well in this tt was because of the cat 3 climb in it, if it was a flat route he would have lost time

 

Yip.

He was fortunate with that.

 

Good for him though.

If it wasn't for the amazing Hesjedal, he would've claimed the Giro crown. So, Purito worked hard this year.

[Falco]

.......but what a race so far, whoever wins its been a spectacle of note.

+1

As much as I'd like to see Contador on the top step, whoever wins this one deserves it.

[koukie]

What happened today, I missed it.

[Cav']

What happened today, I missed it.

Yeah me too, just got home - and now there's moto x on SS 5

[Cav']

Cycling news is your friend :

 

Once again, the battle for the overall title raged on the final ascent. Alberto Contador's Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank team set a ferocious pace on the first half of the final ascent, shredding the peloton behind them. When Contador attacked with 6km remaining, only race leader Joaquim Rodríguez (Katusha) and Movistar duo Alejandro Valverde and Nairo Quintana could stay on terms with him.

In the final 500 metres, where most riders struggled to reach 10km/h, Contador launched the last of up to a dozen attacks, only to see Rodríguez shoot past him and gain some valuable seconds on the line, plus a four-second bonus for finishing third on the stage. Rodríguez now leads Contador by 28 seconds with Valverde third overall at 2:04.

[Cav']

General classification after stage 16

1 Joaquim Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Katusha Team 63:38:24  

2 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Saxo Bank - Tinkoff Bank 0:00:28  

3 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Movistar Team 0:02:04  

4 Christopher Froome (GBr) Sky Procycling 0:04:52  

5 Daniel Moreno Fernandez (Spa) Katusha Team 0:06:58  

6 Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team 0:07:28  

7 Andrew Talansky (USA) Garmin - Sharp 0:08:28  

8 Laurens Ten Dam (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team 0:09:00  

9 Igor Anton Hernandez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 0:09:11  

10 Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La Mondiale 0:11:44  

[kosmonooit]

Yowza that was a brutal climb!

 

Battle on the final climb (Spanish, 04:04)

[Cav']

Yowza that was a brutal climb!

 

Battle on the final climb (Spanish, 04:04)

Thanks,

 

That was a monster of a climb.

[crasher]

I couldnt believe the speed saxo bank hit that climb with they were maintaining about 33kmh for quite a while it wasn't the 20 percent they hit later but it was still steep I dont know how they manage that scary...

[T-Bob]

Wonder how Froome would have felt if both his colombian pacers had given him the 'hurry up' yesterday and today in the same famous way he gave it to wiggo...

 

There is only one word for todays climb: Brutal.

Edited September 3, 2012 by hellocolour

['Dale]

Yowza that was a brutal climb!

 

Battle on the final climb (Spanish, 04:04)

 

Roughly 20 kms at 6.8 degrees avg.

Mo*r!

[Tumbleweed]

Loving this Vuelta! The battles are epic!

[Squier]

When Contador attacks at 9km/h you know it's damn steep!

 

The Vuelta is essentially over IMO. Purito is a machine. He's had an answer for every attack that Contador has thrown at him... and there has been a lot! 28 seconds isn't much, but I don't see Contador dropping him. His last and only chance is on Saturday.

 

Purito is the deserved winner, no doubt, but Contador needs a medal or something for the way he spiced up the racing. He's clearly not as strong as he was in the "early days" but his tenacity and fighting spirit are second to none. This has probably been the best Grand Tour I have ever watched.

 

I feel sorry for Froome though. He just never really stood a chance after all the work he did in the Tour. If he had fresh legs this Vuelta would've been freakin' amazing! He only has one option really, and that option doesn't involve Team Sky.

[GrumpyOldGuy]

Yeah, it looks like Rodriguez has the measure of 'Berto this Vuelta, 'Berto had him on the ropes once on that wall with his constant attacking, but he just couldn't capitalise on it on the day and Rodriguez was able to recover, - but agree 'Berto just makes any race that much more exciting with his constant attacks, say what you like about the man, he is an incredible athlete and he never, ever says die.

 

......but all that said, Valverde also deserves a mention, he was always great on the steep sharp explosive climbs, but here he is pretty much duking it out with two of the best in the mountains, great to see racing like this, makes the 2012 Tour de bore look like a training run.

[Lucky Luke.]

this, makes the 2012 Tour de bore look like a training run.

 

Totally agree grumps, the Vuelta has been a hundred times more entertaining, especially this last stage with Contador throwing everything into that last climb. Last year was good too.