Vuelta 2015

[biker jk]

So the TT specialist turns into a mountain goat. Puts JRod, Froome, Chaves to the sword.

Impressive effort to turn into a mountain goat considering the Vuelta hasn't hit a mountain yet

Yes, 3.9km at 9.6% is a pancake flat TT route.

[Strydz]

So the TT specialist turns into a mountain goat. Puts JRod, Froome, Chaves to the sword.

Impressive effort to turn into a mountain goat considering the Vuelta hasn't hit a mountain yet

Yes, 3.9km at 9.6% is a pancake flat TT route.

What's pancake flat got to do with it? I was just saying that he hasn't turned into a mountain goat as the race hasn't hit the mountains yet and the finish yesterday was no MTF, Dumoulin for one isn't just a pan flat TT rider, he's shown himself in hilly TT's with an example being Pais Vasco this year, final TT at last years Tour. He's also shown promise in the hills, 5th on Willunga, 4th into Mulhouse again at last years Tour on hilly parcours and then we had that good showing on the Queen stage at Suisse. It's not surprising seeing him doing well on a finish like yesterday going full gas to take the leaders Jersey against GC who's form is unknown at this stage and again before we have hit any real climbs. He will crack once the race heats up

[MichaelB]

Has been interesting to watch so far with some unusual suspects winning stages and performing well.

Doumolin (sp?) has been showing some of them how to do it, and that's great. Plenty of stacks which is not good, hopefully Boeckmans is OK.

[Joel Bohorquez]

Does anyone know a site where it can be streamed in Aus? The only ones I can find say 'not available in your country'. I'm so disappointed that SBS aren't even streaming it online!!

Rojadirecta.me

[MichaelB]

It seems that no stage is telecast by SBS which is a bugger, as tonight's stage would be a very interesting one to watch.

Will it be a slow burn or there is a brave attack by someone/team to dislodge a few favourites ???

[find_bruce]

The stage will be that tough with 6 major climbs packed into 138km, I don't expect that any of the contenders / pretenders will go on the attack until the last climb.

I would like to be wrong about that

[biker jk]

The stage will be that tough with 6 major climbs packed into 138km, I don't expect that any of the contenders / pretenders will go on the attack until the last climb.

I would like to be wrong about that

Forecast is for rain so perhaps some of the GC contenders don't make it to the final climb given the numerous descents in the wet? A good test for disc brakes in any case. 5,000m of climbing over 138km is insane.

[BenGr]

http://www.cyclingfans.com/vuelta-a-espana/live" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Links for streams down below the stage profile. English stream works for me.

[biker jk]

Yes, 3.9km at 9.6% is a pancake flat TT route.

What's pancake flat got to do with it? I was just saying that he hasn't turned into a mountain goat as the race hasn't hit the mountains yet and the finish yesterday was no MTF, Dumoulin for one isn't just a pan flat TT rider, he's shown himself in hilly TT's with an example being Pais Vasco this year, final TT at last years Tour. He's also shown promise in the hills, 5th on Willunga, 4th into Mulhouse again at last years Tour on hilly parcours and then we had that good showing on the Queen stage at Suisse. It's not surprising seeing him doing well on a finish like yesterday going full gas to take the leaders Jersey against GC who's form is unknown at this stage and again before we have hit any real climbs. He will crack once the race heats up

Stage 11 was clearly a mountains stage and Dumoulin didn't crack, he actually climbed surprisingly well and finished with a group of strong climbers. I'm still not buying his transformation.

[RonK]

Seems likely Froome is out of contention.

Wasn't looking where he's going (as usual) and ran into a barrier apparently.
Now 7.5 minutes down on Aru.

And yet another Tinkov rider hit by a motorbike and forced to abandon.

[MichaelB]

Stage 11 was clearly a mountains stage and Dumoulin didn't crack, he actually climbed surprisingly well and finished with a group of strong climbers. I'm still not buying his transformation.

Sadly I'm a bit suss as well, but it would be interesting to note his recent racing results leading up to the Vuelta.

I haven't seen the stage highlights yet, but he is certainly being a bit of a ninja so far .....

Looking fwd to see what happens from here on in. Whilst I don't like to see riders injured, I wont ,miss Froome if he abandons.

[RonK]

Froome is out - broken foot.

[just4tehhalibut]

Don't forget that SBS starts broadcasting and livestreaming the Vuelta stages for the final week from Saturday night on. In Perth that's 9:25pm for tomorrow, stage 14, mountains.

[Xplora]

We should reserve judgment on the guy, it's not even close to over, and my observation of Australian performance (OGE, Cadel and Porte) as well as Uran at the Giro is that indomitable only lasts for so long before reality takes hold. He's up against a lot of very tired riders out there...

[Chuck]

Seems likely Froome is out of contention.

Wasn't looking where he's going (as usual) and ran into a barrier apparently.

Have you seen the incident ?

[newie]

Great to see the smiling Chaves still riding well. A podium possibly?
Not sure Quintana can make back the time he lost when he was sick. Will Domoulin lose any more before the ITT?
Hopefully interesting racing in the days ahead.
I don't really want to see an Astana rider in red at the end, so I'll be cheering those three on for the remaining days. And maybe Rodrigues too.

[DavidS]

It would be nice to see Rodriguez win, he's come close in a few Grand Tours hasn't he?

DS

[MichaelB]

Have loved seeing some different people up the head of affairs.

I'd love Purito to win, and Chaves take a podium spot.

The finish the other night in the pea soup was great (DeMarchi's win), but will be interesting over the next few nights to see who cracks and who doesn't.

Can't say I'm disappointed to see Piti sliding down the order.

[DavidS]

Last night was fabulous and tonight should also be great. I'll certainly need the rest day on Tuesday.

DS

[AUbicycles]

Movistar hiding a bike - as Matt Keenan tweeted.

This is the video (small ad in front):
http://video.gazzetta.it/vuelta-quel-ca ... resh_ce-cp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


I am also curious about this.

[biker jk]

Movistar hiding a bike - as Matt Keenan tweeted.

This is the video (small ad in front):
http://video.gazzetta.it/vuelta-quel-ca ... resh_ce-cp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


I am also curious about this.

Apparently they were trying to hide the broken frame of the 2016 Canyon Aeroad. Might have been a bit embarrassing for Movistar's bike sponsor.

[biker jk]

Hail the new Indurain.

[CKinnard]

Boeckmans cycling career will certainly be over after this accident.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/boeckma ... uced-coma/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
So many racing cyclists I know have a very unrealistic cavalier attitude, bleating that crashing is part of racing.
It's an attitude fueled by gross ignorance of what can happen in a crash.

IMO, Froome's injury is also likely to see him never reach his previous peak performance. The navicular bone he has fractured is critical for force transference into the forefoot, and he has no doubt torn supporting joint capsule and ligaments.

What can be said about the 2 motorbike incidents...just more proof pro racing is controlled by self important boofheads.

[MichaelB]

OK, back on track.

Some really interesting TT performances tonight - impressed by Chaves. Needs to keep his nose clean in remaining stages and to finish well to get a great result.

The last few stages will be really interesting to watch as 1st Astana try and get back in Red and Katusha try and do the impossible.

[Xplora]

Yeah the moto accidents have got to stop. Wasn't an issue for years, suddenly a death trap!