🔎 Here's today's profile! Not a single bit of flat. The final fight in the mountains. 📈 ¡Aquí el perfil de hoy! Ni un metro llano... la batalla final en la montaña. ¿Qué va a pasar? #LaVuelta24
Alberto Contador previews 'really scary' queen stage of La Vuelta: "Anything can happen"
CyclingSaturday, 07 September 2024 at 11:13
Alberto Contador has analyzed and given his opinion on what can happen in the penultimate stage of the Vuelta a España 2024. The three-time winner of the Spanish race speaks of a beastly day that has numerous climbs and where strategy will be key. He has no doubt that many things can happen, although he recognizes that the men fighting for the general classification are very fatigued at this point of the race.
To Eurosport, he said the following: "And then comes the twentieth stage of the Vuelta a España between Villarcayo and Picón Blanco, which is really scary. We are talking about a completely different stage from the previous one with 7 mountain passes, 2 of third category, 2 of second category and 3 of first category. On a tactical level, anything can happen for the teams, from putting riders in front, from putting riders who are well placed in the general classification to get on the podium and of course with the final ramps of the Picón Blanco".
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It is clear that the final pass will generate differences and spectacle among the men in the general classification: "Very hard pass that will make differences (7.8 km at 9.1% with ramps and kilometers maintained above 11%, ed.). The favorites are very close and there are riders who will have to gamble to make a difference. The show is assured".
After his clear triumph in Moncalvillo, Primoz Roglic is the new race leader with almost 2 minutes ahead of Ben O'Connor, 2:20 ahead of Enric Mas and 2:54 ahead of Richard Carapaz. Considering that we have a time trial on Sunday in Madrid, it will have to be very bad for him today not to leave on a plate his fourth victory in the Vuelta, thus equaling Roberto Heras. However, it is still a very difficult challenge that he has to tackle today and it has been seen that on days with many long climbs in this race the Slovenian hasn't been able to really take time on the competition.
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- He was supposed to race Tour + Vuelta, but since Pogacar and Vingegaard are going there, he changed to Giro + Tour (just to try to win the yellow jersey at the 1st week and the ITT probably). Against Roglic he has a bit more chances in Italy. Press will consider him as the favourite anyways, as usual. Other contenders not to underestimate will be Ayuso and Jorgenson. Now he's just waiting to see how many kilometers the ITTs will have. to formalize his participation.Acapulco07-11-2024
- Oh look. CUD leans into another doper for commentary. Hey guys - there are other people to talk to... You know... people who didn't leave the sport in a cloud of shame...critguy07-11-2024
- Its results will mainly depend on him, though.Acapulco07-11-2024
- He needs a team fully commited where he is the lone capable of winning. In RBB there is several men who can, he would have been in competition.Acapulco07-11-2024
- agreed. and in spite of his doping, his TDF win was validated by the UCI with the mere addition of an asterisk.OCexile07-11-2024
- He was always a great tactician. But he pushed doping on his riders from back in the CSC days big time. I read Tyler's book, it was dark...awp07-11-2024
- wow, this is a shock. this guy is a major talent on the MTB, and he just won the WC. I'm surprised he doesn't want to spend a year enjoying the rainbow jersey.mij07-11-2024
- This is true. But also, for some reason the amount of Athletes who are getting asthma related to sports is on a steady climb. Not in just cycling but around the world in seemingly every single sport. I don’t have any explanation for this. Could it be the changes in weather conditions and such compared to 20yrs ago? Or is something going on in relation to doping? I have not read enough on this to have a solid understanding or opinionmd197507-11-2024
- "Armstrong won his 7 wins. Fair and square. Doping was rampant during his time. He did was just to level the playing field" comment from KHWong. He cheated, he enticed/forced teammates to cheat, he affected other's families and tainted other's reputations, he sued those who factually accused him of cheating in their attempt to prove breach of contract, he got paid to admit to his lies. Nice guy; right? Anyone who has not been prosecuted for cheating per THEIR OWN SPORT'S RULES THAT THEY AGREE TO ABIDE BY and continues to deny in public or to themselves, and rationalizes the reasons for doing so is weak of mind and body, has no integrity or ethics and ahould find another job or form their own cycling federation where anything goes. The fans will not care if you screw up your bodies for their entertainment. Just take look at boxing and American football. Even worse when fans of the sport themselves make those rationalizations for the cheaters. There has been cheating of all types throughout the history of many sports; nearly 150 years in cycling itself since competitions started, and the gambling and revenue that came along with them. Cheat if you want, but lack any personal integrity. If that is what you to be, or want to emulate fine; but no one should expect or receive pity for a premeditated decision to cheat in any manner. You are deceiving yourself if competing, and also deceiving the fans. Cycling will soon be like "professional wrestling": choreographed and with the winner being known in advance. Oh wait; that is what already has happened this year. It has been found that many of cycling's "greats" (i.e. Coppi, Merckx, et al.) were cheating and possibly caused (did cause) one or more premature deaths in cycling. Go ahead and enjoy a sport that you cannot trust; I will not.BraneDed07-11-2024
- Remco's public pronouncements are careful and deliberate. He is laying the groundwork for an exit a year from now if his 2025 results don't match his ambition.Renz07-11-2024