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.