Vuelta a España 2012 (with spoilers)

[Monsieur Remings]

Great show today and I wonder whether Sky were doing the right thing by setting the pace? Around halfway up the last climb it seemed to be working as rider after rider peeled away but the other three lads - Valverde, Rodriguez and Berty - realised they could draft Chris all the way up to the top! And then wait for the last few hundred metres. As Barry Norman would say...'and why not?'

I was seething at Contador, not helping out when a small gap appeared possible on Rodriguez, but that's the professional, experienced rider for you and Berty did his job well today. Perhaps a lesson in tactics for some of the Sky lads?

I'd like to see less of Sky on the front and let Katusha and Saxobank force the issue. Froome's gap is nothing in the grand scheme of things but I agree with others that too much energy was used today dragging the other GC contenders up to the top of the climb for no overall gain.

 

[perplexed]

Yep. Can't understand why Sky insist on dragging everyone else up the hill. I don't know why they don't let the other teams do some graft, then use their numbers in chasing anyone who tries to get away. The onus is on Katusha in particular to try and get away from Froome for the TT, not the other way round.

 

[lukesdad]

Yep. Can't understand why Sky insist on dragging everyone else up the hill. I don't know why they don't let the other teams do some graft, then use their numbers in chasing anyone who tries to get away. The onus is on Katusha in particular to try and get away from Froome for the TT, not the other way round.

The reason they do this is to stop the pace being too slow. Youve seen how the 3 Spaniards can attack off a high pace. So you can imagine what they'd do off a slow one. Froome would be toast.

 

[lukesdad]

I know Froome obviously had Valverde and Rodriguez ride away from him, but it seemed to me rewinding the footage of the last few corners that Contador and Froome seemed to struggle on the same bit coming into the finish (obviously with a time gap as contador had rode away). I just thought this was interesting.

Also probably not how other people see it because it looks scary - an unfit Contador attacking at the end of the stage and getting a psychological advantage even if he struggled on a bit shortly before the line.

On the last corner bertie was on the steep line on the inside, as Rodrigeuz said in his pre race interview he knew the finnish well I think he used that knowledge well. Only problem was he took Valverde with him.

 

[Jon Baines]

The reason they do this is to stop the pace being too slow. Youve seen how the 3 Spaniards can attack off a high pace. So you can imagine what they'd do off a slow one. Froome would be toast.

This. If Sky hadn't set the pace Froome would have been getting attacked much earlier on the climb and would have lost a ton of time no doubt, Sky used up their men early because once you get to the final few km having a whole team setting the pace is largely useless given how steep the finish was.

 

[smutchin]

The same tactic worked in the TdF to completely nullify the opposition. It didn't work quite so well yesterday partly because it was such a difficult climb, and the constant variations in gradient would have made it hard to set a steady pace.

Wasn't a complete failure though - only the very strongest riders were left to contest the finish. The likes of Gesink, Mollema, Talansky and Igor Anton were blown away.

d.

 

[raindog]

Gilbert at last!
And superb canny riding from Rodriguez - rare to see that kind of thing these days from a GT leader. Suddenly I want him to get this.

 

[Tomi]

Exciting finish and nice to see Gilbert back on the podium! He did purito a great favor too. Are Froome and Albert consentrating too much on each other?

 

[smutchin]

Great move by Rodriguez. And who better could you want to go with you on a move like that than Gilbert? He's still got it! Very pleased for both of them.

Good sign for Gilbert with the World Championships coming up...

d.

 

[thom]

Nice to see Gilbert getting some form again.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Froome lost a few more seconds to Valverde too.

 

[Monsieur Remings]

The reason they do this is to stop the pace being too slow. Youve seen how the 3 Spaniards can attack off a high pace. So you can imagine what they'd do off a slow one. Froome would be toast.

Fair enough mate, good points.

But, and I'm not stating but posing the question, wouldn't Froome have had a bit more left than being left for 'toast' had he not 'shown his hand' so early on? I think the points about keeping the pace high are good ones by the way...

 

[rich p]

At this rate JRod may garner enough enpough seconds to mullifythe 40km TT

 

[lukesdad]

Fair enough mate, good points.

But, and I'm not stating but posing the question, wouldn't Froome have had a bit more left than being left for 'toast' had he not 'shown his hand' so early on? I think the points about keeping the pace high are good ones by the way...

By keeping a relatively High pace (and I dont want to get too technical here) Froome may be able to stay out of the red zone for longer, A vicous attack from one of his adversaries could well put him straight into it, he could loose minutes in just a few Kms. Sky know exactly what he is capbale of and ride accordingly.

 

[lukesdad]

The same tactic worked in the TdF to completely nullify the opposition. It didn't work quite so well yesterday partly because it was such a difficult climb, and the constant variations in gradient would have made it hard to set a steady pace.

Wasn't a complete failure though - only the very strongest riders were left to contest the finish. The likes of Gesink, Mollema, Talansky and Igor Anton were blown away.

d.

Quite so and mainly here because the opposition is a whole different kettle of fish, these 3 are not followers.