Vuelta a España Stage 16 – Sep 8th, San Martin - La Farrapona **Unmasked Spoilers**

Darkglasses

Queen stage of the Vuelta! San Martin del Rey Aurelio is mining country in Asturias, should be some fantastic scenery on show tomorrow.

Climb profiles:

Alto de la Colladona:


Alto de la Cobertoria


Puerto de San Lorenzo

La Farrapona:



Weather looks absolutely appalling, heavy rain and thunderstorms forecasted.

Oddschecker: Rodriguez 7/1, Contador 7/1, Valverde 9/1, Froome 9/1, Aru 18/1, Martin 18/1

Darkglasses

Contador

I think this one is more likely to go to a GC contender, and of the three I think Rodriguez looks the best bet for this profile. Have a free fiver voucher to spend on PP, so I've put it on J-Rod.

pelevin

Valverde

Think I'll throw five big ones - euros, not cents - on Contador & maybe Navarro gets a random euro or two in case some meaningful break gets away.

bazermc

To me this is a make or break stage for Valverde. I have a feeling he has been busting his gut keeping with Bertie the last few stages.

Froome could also do well, provided he doesnt go off the edge of the mountain cause he is to busy staring at his power meter.

ThisRegard

Faith, given the name of the departure point, says it's Dans day.

Pudsy33

If the 3 amigos look at each other Dan might be allowed to go for it. Aru is likely to try similar.

Ultegra

Valverde

Valverde to cling to Contadors wheel again?

ROK ON

Given the weather I think that this stage has Nibali written all over it:)

Dan won't win this. Froome or someone other than the three Spanish lads.
They way this tour is going, Contador is due a bad day. I can see the curly haired one wheel sucking his way to a Vuelta title.
Maybe Aru, but wouldn't rule out a bid for glory from someone need to het into top ten.
Evans usually thrives in this weather - but perhaps a big ask for the old man.

Pudsy33

Garmin get a man into the break, could be good for Martin later on.

Vuelta Fernandez, Gaudin, Armee, Malori, S Clarke, Kennaugh, Rovny, Popovych, Ten Dam, Dennis, Gilbert, LL Sanchez & Bennett. 14" gap

Sanchez will presumably pick up the mountains points. Interesting to see Kennaugh there.

TheBlaaMan

Pudsy33 wrote: »

Garmin get a man into the break, could be good for Martin later on.

Vuelta Fernandez, Gaudin, Armee, Malori, S Clarke, Kennaugh, Rovny, Popovych, Ten Dam, Dennis, Gilbert, LL Sanchez & Bennett. 14" gap

Sanchez will presumably pick up the mountains points. Interesting to see Kennaugh there.

And Samu has two guys in there - he's only 7 seconds behind Dan. Its going to take a serious turn around in the fortunes of those ahead of Dan to see him move up on GC. Uran is 2 minutes ahead.....

....but todays is that sort of day. Hoping that Dan can keep the steady improvement going today.

Pudsy33

TheBlaaMan wrote: »

And Samu has two guys in there - he's only 7 seconds behind Dan. Its going to take a serious turn around in the fortunes of those ahead of Dan to see him move up on GC. Uran is 2 minutes ahead.....

....but todays is that sort of day. Hoping that Dan can keep the steady improvement going today.

Didn't realise Sammy was that high in the GC. Presumably the break will be kept on a short leash then?

With regards Dan, I don't think he will be able to move up the GC baring a disaster from ones of the others. Considering Uran is a strong TTer, the gap is likely to grow. However if he can hold off Sanchez and Barguil and the likes, I'll be happy.

Top 10 is nothing to be sniffed at. Considering Contador, Froome, Valverde, Uran and Rodriguez are all here, he could realistically aim for a podium in a less stacked grand tour in the future.

blobbie

Cycling News update..

14:42:11 CEST
A remarkable scene near the summit of the day's opening climb. The top three on general classification - Alberto Contador, Alejandro Valverde and Chris Froome - have broken away from the main peloton and have set off in pursuit of the front group.

Pudsy33

What the absolute ****

simonrooneyzaga

Valverde

Pudsy33 wrote: »

What the absolute ****

:eek:

I've stuck a few euro on Aru, Martin and Contador for today.

ThisRegard

blobbie wrote: »

Cycling News update..

14:42:11 CEST
A remarkable scene near the summit of the day's opening climb. The top three on general classification - Alberto Contador, Alejandro Valverde and Chris Froome - have broken away from the main peloton and have set off in pursuit of the front group.

Nuts, top guys go chasing the breakaway !

Pudsy33

Everything back together now, and the break has 8 mins.

neris

is this on eurosport today?

simonrooneyzaga

Valverde

neris wrote: »

is this on eurosport today?

yep ES2 in 5 minutes. TG4 til then!

neris

thanks the schedule was showing american football

retalivity

uran off the back already

blobbie

Eurosport2 just commenced live feed

ThisRegard

blobbie wrote: »

Eurosport2 just commenced live feed

Follow immediately by an ad. WTF is that Puma one all about ?

simonrooneyzaga

Valverde

retalivity wrote: »

uran off the back already

if he's in trouble this early he could lose a heap of time... Dan up to 6th if he can hold it together??

Ultegra

Valverde

gap of breakaway now 4' 39

Ultegra

Valverde

Retirees from yesterday:

Lloyd Mondroy
Anthony Roux
Matteo Pelucchi
Tony Martin
Arredondo

for those with an interest in boards velogames league

MPFG

Valverde

Uran has been sick it seems for dasy and didn't sleep last night ...may lose alot of time today

Ultegra

Valverde

simonrooneyzaga wrote: »

if he's in trouble this early he could lose a heap of time... Dan up to 6th if he can hold it together??

Uran 52 secs off the back of peleton

MPFG

Valverde

Dan Martin to move up on GC .....See Kelly get straight to it

Dan Martin is doing very well ...kinda points to him only riding 1 GT a year IMO....he is very fresh and needs ot be as not the most robust riders health wise fro 2 many GTs

ThisRegard

Wonder who the ambulance is for.

Ultegra

Valverde

Spartacus rides off the front of the peleton. Would love to see footage of his descent!

MPFG

Valverde

Ultegra wrote: »

Spartacus rides off the front of the peleton. Would love to see footage of his descent!

Did you see SAMU yesterday ...went to the fornt on the treacherous downhill section...pointed the pitfalls to those behind while eating a gel :eek:

Ultegra

Valverde

From Vuelta Website

Dario CATALDO (192) is one of Christopher FROOME (191)'s most important teammates. "There aren't many occasions left but there's an important one today, so Froome will try to attack. We'll try to put the others in difficulty", he said this morning.

neris

fisticuffs there

Darkglasses

Contador

Brambilla and Rovny being complete goms

ThisRegard

Well that was entertaining.

Pudsy33

That was ridiculous! How can you throw digs while cycling uphill. My god.

neris

Pudsy33 wrote: »

That was ridiculous! How can you throw digs while cycling uphill. My god.

hardly throwing digs. bitch slapping more like. if your going to throw digs youve got to get off the bike and do it bernard hinault style

Pudsy33

Brambilla for the combativity award? :pac:

Darkglasses

Contador

neris wrote: »

hardly throwing digs. bitch slapping more like. if your going to throw digs youve got to get off the bike and do it bernard hinault style

I don't like to see it at all. At times like that, riders should ask themselves "What would Poulidor do?".

Uran looks absolutely wrecked, poor guy.

MPFG

Valverde

Like Uran alot ...so even though Martin will profit...prefer to see him riding well

blobbie

Handbags..... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PzYs1erIcs&feature=youtu.be


Or maybe not - copyright issues

Ultegra

Valverde

Keep your eyes on the road ahead Froome and dont take Deignan out of it

mhiggy09

Uran really suffering now. Hopefully Dan moves up into top 5 in GC

Pudsy33

Right, leaving the office to cycle home. Have the stage on record at home so hopefully I'll be able to watch deferred coverage of Martin riding into the top 5 when I arrive. Enjoy the show.

mhiggy09

I'm going for de marci to win if the breakaway stays away and if not alberto, Rodriguez, valverdae or froome should win. Or maybe dan might give it ago.

mhiggy09

Alberto has a problem and nearly crashes into a motorbike trying to get back to the peleton

ThisRegard

Ooooo, Red Card !

Darkglasses

Contador

Brambilla DQ'd, good decision (as long as Rovny is too)

neris

omega lad been booted off the race

simonrooneyzaga

Valverde

... Would not like to be rooming with him tonight

Ultegra

Valverde

Both deserve to go but they left it a long time to make decision