La Vuelta a Espana 22/8 - 13/9 2015 (here be spoilers)

[tug benson]

great fight from the breakway for the stage win

 

[HF2300]

Cat and mouse from the leaders, really - all a bit cagey. Aru was testing things but it didn't really look as though anyone wanted to seriously compete today?

Sensible, mature comments from Chaves at the end, as well, about not chasing everyone. OGE have a bit of a habit of taking first week stages then fading - be nice to see him stay up there in the overall.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

I didn't realise until just now that Cousin had a little off towards the end of the climb.

I'm sure I heard Millar say he was 100% sure that the breakaway would get caught....

 

[themosquitoking]

If the Astana management had noticed Froome off the back sooner it might have been.

 

[timbono5]

Looks like the guys who did the tour are really struggling. Could come down to another Landa Vs Aru battle.

 

[smutchin]

If the Astana management had noticed Froome off the back sooner it might have been.

Thing is, when you're wearing an Astana kit, Froome becomes invisible to you.

 

[mjr]

I'm sure I heard Millar say he was 100% sure that the breakaway would get caught....

Well, most of them did. Do you think he'll say that again? Is he the sort of person who learns from his mistakes?

 

[rich p]

Looks like the guys who did the tour are really struggling. Could come down to another Landa Vs Aru battle.

I was surprised that Froome and Thomas decided to do this race. Quintana too, I guess. They were both pretty much out on their feet at the end of the tour. Landa seems to be more human in this than he did in the Giro. Time will tell though. Maybe Chaves will still be there in the bigger mountains.
Not uninteresting but Aru could be the favourite now.

 

[Crackle]

Aru is going to need more time before the TT.

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

IAM Cycling's plan for today's stage has been leaked on twitter

 

[smutchin]

Tejay out! Collarbone, from the sound of it.

Boeckmans out too - didn't see the crash but it sounds like a fairly nasty one. Lots of riders involved.

 

[rich p]

Dan Martin too FFS

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

Bouhanni's out too.

 

[smutchin]

Is that Richard Virenque on the Festina ad? He seems to have turned into Paul Hollywood.

(Also, why on earth would Festina still want their name to be associated with him?)

 

[smutchin]

Ooh, Sagan not a happy bunny!