La Vuelta a Espana *Spoiler*

[Pro Tour Punditry]

All three of my punditry picks were in the break. All three were good climbers. Result? Nothing

I got 4th but kicking myself for changing him after deciding earlier that I would stick with the same 3 picks as my breakaways

 

[smutchin]

I’ve not watched any of the race so far, been too busy, but I just checked the results and... WTAF? A Cofidis rider leading a GT?

 

[mjr]

FFS, I picked that nobber Rodriguez a couple of time in punditry and shipped him out for today's "my 3 climbers" to be replaced by Jan Hirt for today's stage as he'd been rubbish!

So does Rodriguez need to thank someone for his extra low gear selection or did Majka and Teuns have lower gears they weren't using for some reason?

 

[brommers]

It would be nice to see the GC men battling each other for the stage win.

 

[nickyboy]

It would be nice to see the GC men battling each other for the stage win.

Unlike (cos I'm punditing a breakaway day)

 

[Beebo]

Just watched the highlights. Yates looked very cool and calm.
Can he hang on for another week?

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

I'm going to become an academic so I can try my luck on academic singles; I'd need to get a divorce as well, obvs.

 

[themosquitoking]

That was quite good.

 

[brommers]

Great racing. Enjoyed it.

 

[rich p]

Quintana rides like a tit

 

[Adam4868]

Quintana rides like a tit

Makes you wonder if Movistar should have gone all out for Valverde.Almost feel sorry for Quintana,i feel like hes got the legs for it but not the head ?

 

[mjr]

Makes you wonder if Movistar should have gone all out for Valverde.Almost feel sorry for Quintana,i feel like hes got the legs for it but not the head ?

I'm not so sure. When he did finally run out of teammates and need to ride himself, it seemed like his legs weren't really there so all his talk in interviews at the start was a huge bluff. If that's true, yesterday was a very good day for him!

 

[cisamcgu]

I'm not so sure. When he did finally run out of teammates and need to ride himself, it seemed like his legs weren't really there so all his talk in interviews at the start was a huge bluff. If that's true, yesterday was a very good day for him!

When climbing a steep hill, like yesterday, do teammates really help or is it mostly psychology like - "I have a friend, the other riders don't..." ? They don't seem to be going fast enough for drafting to have any huge effect

 

[mjr]

When climbing a steep hill, like yesterday, do teammates really help or is it mostly psychology like - "I have a friend, the other riders don't..." ? They don't seem to be going fast enough for drafting to have any huge effect

Yesterday's hill had a couple of slight downhills where drafting may have helped, but it looks like it's as much help for pacing, plus if a teammate (Vala) is one of the ones people want to gain time on, if he catches an attack, the attack may pause before attacking again and that gives Quintana an easier chance to catch back on.

The other aspect is pacing. If teammates are on the front of a group, watching the power output and meaning any attacker has to "go into the red" for longer to overtake them, then the team leader can ride slightly further back and see attacks coming, choosing whether to go with it or try to let the train run them down.

 

[rich p]

I hope Yatesy doesn't have a día sin