Yet Another Cycling Forum

General Category => Freewheeling => Racing => Topic started by: Nuncio on 30 August, 2013, 08:42:00 am

Title: Vuelta 2013
Post by: Nuncio on 30 August, 2013, 08:42:00 am
Given that we're nearly a week in I'm a bit surprised we didn't have a thread on this.  But I had to start one after yesterday's stage.  Was there anyone who wasn't urging Tony Martin on over those final few metres? I know I was, and not only because he's in my fantasy Vuelta team. Even those few sprinters who beat him seemed a bit apologetic, with a couple seeking him out to commiserate.
Title: Re: Vuelta 2013
Post by: Riggers on 30 August, 2013, 09:02:06 am
Was it only about 10 metres he had left till the finish? Solo break for 170 kilometres? Amazing ride. Feel so sorry that he couldn't hold them off.
Title: Re: Vuelta 2013
Post by: Toady on 30 August, 2013, 04:55:17 pm
Another corking finish!  I would add a spoiler but I'm not sure of the result!
Title: Re: Vuelta 2013
Post by: Lordy on 30 August, 2013, 05:29:03 pm
Tony Martin is the kind of rider making the sport great again.  Utmost respect for him.
Title: Re: Vuelta 2013
Post by: LEE on 30 August, 2013, 07:36:40 pm
Was it only about 10 metres he had left till the finish? Solo break for 170 kilometres? Amazing ride. Feel so sorry that he couldn't hold them off.

He must have looked over his shoulder 20 times in the final 2km.

I bet he's regretting that now.  He should have just stayed tucked down and pedalled.

I found myself pedalling the sofa during the final 100m, trying to help him (I do the same with Team GB on the track.  I think I'm partly responsible for some of Hoy's and Pendleton's narrow victories).
Title: Re: Vuelta 2013
Post by: Nuncio on 30 August, 2013, 10:16:40 pm
And a ruined sofa?
Title: Re: Vuelta 2013
Post by: Ham on 30 August, 2013, 10:23:36 pm
I can't think of another finish which I felt was quite so unjust. Although tbh, if the peleton hadn't been arseing about a bit they probably would have caught him earlier. I would live to say I felt for him, but looking at the way he was shifting about earlier on, he clearly didn;t have a brooks  and I wasn't going to feel THAT , thank you.
Title: Re: Vuelta 2013
Post by: Biff on 02 September, 2013, 07:15:56 pm
Since I criticised him I have to say Graham Jones' commentary has perked up a lot in the past few days. Perhaps he prefers working with Liggett.
Title: Re: Vuelta 2013
Post by: Dibdib on 07 September, 2013, 07:31:50 pm
"There is a lone Movistar rider bridging the gap, and he's sitting on the wheel of his teammate..."

guess who  :facepalm:
Title: Re: Vuelta 2013
Post by: clifftaylor on 08 September, 2013, 07:56:13 am
Anyone else LOL at *41* year old Chris Horner bounding away up the big climb........
Title: Re: Vuelta 2013
Post by: Biff on 08 September, 2013, 12:03:55 pm
Anyone else LOL at *41* year old Chris Horner bounding away up the big climb........

Any LOLer than 41 year old Jens Voigt hammering away hour after hour on the flat?
Title: Re: Vuelta 2013
Post by: clifftaylor on 08 September, 2013, 01:59:10 pm
Hadn't thought about it particularly.
Title: Re: Vuelta 2013
Post by: citoyen on 08 September, 2013, 05:02:04 pm
There are a lot of factors that could explain why Horner is doing so well but... Occam's razor, and all that.
Title: Re: Vuelta 2013
Post by: Toady on 08 September, 2013, 10:13:49 pm
"There is a lone Movistar rider bridging the gap, and he's sitting on the wheel of his teammate..."

guess who  :facepalm:

There was a good one in the ITT.  One of the riders (Roche I think), had completed the main climb and started to descend. "He's over the hill ... not literally of course."
Title: Re: Vuelta 2013
Post by: vorsprung on 09 September, 2013, 07:12:56 pm
Quote
Cyclisme Vuelta Barguil remet ça !
Warren Barguil est bluffant ! Le Français de 21 ans remporte sa deuxième victoire d'étape en quatre jours...
Après Warren Barguil le puncheur, Warren Barguil le grimpeur et même le sprinteur !

http://www.lequipe.fr/Cyclisme-sur-route/Actualites/Barguil-remet-ca/399776

I love equipe when a Frenchie has won, it's fabulous.
Title: Re: Vuelta 2013
Post by: Peter on 09 September, 2013, 08:09:16 pm
Yes, "Maggie Thatcher, your boys sure took a beating!"
Title: Re: Vuelta 2013
Post by: Nuncio on 10 September, 2013, 07:45:51 am
There was a good one in the ITT.  One of the riders (Roche I think), had completed the main climb and started to descend. "He's over the hill ... not literally of course."

That's really very good.  Liggett?

An exciting stage yesterday, what with the photo finish (a bit reminiscent of Frroome coming back to pip Cobo at the post a couple of years ago) and with Nibali looking a little less nailed-on.  I've been expecting Horner to fade away over this last week but he's doing the opposite.

Title: Re: Vuelta 2013
Post by: Biff on 10 September, 2013, 03:51:07 pm
What did Barguil say in his post-race interview to get bleeped? On Twatter his team-mate Koen de Kort said " about 10 months ago he could only say "how are you" in English. Guess we're to blame for the choice of words, we're his teachers".  ;D
Title: Re: Vuelta 2013
Post by: Dibdib on 10 September, 2013, 04:13:18 pm
I think it was "shit", although I don't recall the context. It wasn't bleeped on the live coverage :P
Title: Re: Vuelta 2013
Post by: Dibdib on 12 September, 2013, 04:37:18 pm
Comedy confusion between Carlton Kirby and Sean Kelly over the time gaps at the end of today's stage. Carlton should know better than to question Sean "make the calculation" Kelly's maths  :facepalm:
Title: Re: Vuelta 2013
Post by: mattc on 15 September, 2013, 07:33:08 pm
What a great race. I'd avoided this thread as I've been watching stages 2 days behind! Managed to catch up at 0750 today, to avoid spoilers on the club-run.

Chris Horner: you wouldn't invite him to dinner, but he does give good interview. One for the stattos - amongst all the "Oldest ever ..." stats; has the oldest rider in the race ever won a GT before?

(Despite all these silly climbs, my favourite moment was definitely the Tony Martin break.)
Title: Vuelta 2013
Post by: citoyen on 15 September, 2013, 07:39:27 pm
Highlight of the race for me was that great bit of acting from Horner at the top of the Angliru yesterday, getting his mates to carry him off. Almost had me convinced that he'd had to work a bit on the climb.  ::-)
Title: Re: Vuelta 2013
Post by: Hot Flatus on 15 September, 2013, 08:02:24 pm
It just seems like a bit of a farce really.
Title: Re: Vuelta 2013
Post by: Veloman on 15 September, 2013, 08:18:37 pm
Interesting that the Vuelta does not seem to capture the following of TDF or Giro judging by the fact this thread is only one page long (or a little over if this post puts it to two pages!).

I do think the incredibly steep last bits makes it akin to a circus show at times, but you can't take away the credit from Chris Horner; 42 next month and a Grand Tour winner.  Amazing performance IMO considering the other talent riding.
Title: Re: Vuelta 2013
Post by: Nuncio on 15 September, 2013, 09:01:09 pm
... he does give good interview.

I particularly liked this (http://www.rtve.es/alacarta/videos/vuelta-ciclista-a-espana/horner-gusta-esta-vuelta-porque-hay-equipo-domine-como-tour/2011724/) one.  Spanish language purists should probably not click on the link.

Title: Re: Vuelta 2013
Post by: LittleWheelsandBig on 15 September, 2013, 10:41:59 pm
Amazing (= ludicrous) performance. Not surprised people aren't that interested.
Title: Re: Vuelta 2013
Post by: TimC on 15 September, 2013, 11:46:19 pm
It was a hell of a ride. Was it real and unassisted? Well, the drug screening is supposed to be a lot better now than it ever was, but I was disappointed by Horner's reaction to the obviously-loaded question of what the spectators should thnk of it. Instead of a passionate defence of his drug-free status (as per Frome or Wiggins), he simply stated that the TV audience should remember what an amazing performance they'd just seen, and how they may never see its like again. I hope he's clean, but I don't like his attitude and I have serious doubts. None of which, of course, I can substantiate.
Title: Re: Vuelta 2013
Post by: Toady on 16 September, 2013, 09:59:41 am
Jens Voight and Liggett formed an interesting duo.  Jens was completely ignoring wittering Phil, and concentrating on the race.  While this is quite a sensible thing to do, it did lead to some odd exchanges, along the lines of:  PL:"You never rode the Vuelta Jens, why was that?"  (pause) JV:"They must have given him energy drink instead of water, or maybe the other way round."
Title: Re: Vuelta 2013
Post by: Biff on 16 September, 2013, 03:09:44 pm
I loved the look on Jens Voigt's face when Gary Imlach, after specifically asking him on his first appearance how to pronounce his surname, proceeded on every occasion to say 'Voyt'.
Title: Re: Vuelta 2013
Post by: mattc on 16 September, 2013, 04:20:28 pm
I loved the look on Jens Voigt's face when Gary Imlach, after specifically asking him on his first appearance how to pronounce his surname, proceeded on every occasion to say 'Voyt'.
My anglophone ears couldn't pick up what Jens was saying :( So although I know I'm saying it wrong, all I can ask is:
How should I be pronouncing "Voyt" ?!?

(If anything, it sounded like Vocked. Sort of.)

[The even greater stupidity was deleting that recording  :facepalm: ]
Title: Re: Vuelta 2013
Post by: Peter on 16 September, 2013, 04:47:55 pm
I didn't hear Jens's explanation but I imagine the oi is a dipthong.  If you say "foe" for vo, then "igt" with a short i, as in "diction, though with a g sound instead of a c, I think you'll be about right.  Auntie Helen will know.
Title: Re: Vuelta 2013
Post by: TimC on 16 September, 2013, 04:54:53 pm
I heard it. Matt's "Vocked" is very close to what Jens said - perhaps the 'ck' was fairly soft, but in the right ballpark.
Title: Re: Vuelta 2013
Post by: Biff on 16 September, 2013, 05:15:15 pm
I've just replayed it and the nearest phonetic I can get is 'Foe-kt'. The V does sound soft.
Title: Re: Vuelta 2013
Post by: Toady on 16 September, 2013, 05:40:28 pm
I loved the look on Jens Voigt's face when Gary Imlach, after specifically asking him on his first appearance how to pronounce his surname, proceeded on every occasion to say 'Voyt'.
GI did go on to say to Jens that he was now so widely known as Jens Voyt in the anglophone world that it was too late to change it.  I could see the thinks bubble above JV's head.  I'm guessing that it said "So why did you bloody ask me then?"  But it was in German so I can't be sure.
Title: Re: Vuelta 2013
Post by: Jakob on 16 September, 2013, 07:06:27 pm
Instead of a passionate defence of his drug-free status (as per Frome or Wiggins)

You mean, like Armstrong did?.

Despite decent race coverage here (live in the morning, with the last hour repeated at night), it's mostly been ignored as the NFL season has just started and MLB is in the September stretch.
Title: Re: Vuelta 2013
Post by: Auntie Helen on 16 September, 2013, 09:35:48 pm
I didn't hear Jens's explanation but I imagine the oi is a dipthong.  If you say "foe" for vo, then "igt" with a short i, as in "diction, though with a g sound instead of a c, I think you'll be about right.  Auntie Helen will know.
I believe it's something like "Focht". A v in German is pronounced f.
Title: Re: Vuelta 2013
Post by: mattc on 17 September, 2013, 12:00:56 am
I didn't hear Jens's explanation but I imagine the oi is a dipthong.  If you say "foe" for vo, then "igt" with a short i, as in "diction, though with a g sound instead of a c, I think you'll be about right.  Auntie Helen will know.
I believe it's something like "Focht". A v in German is pronounced f.
Thanks!

And I've now found the relevant dialogue - hoorah! Jens sounds (to me) like he's saying "focked". Of course this isn't amusing at all.

(Sorry Peter, but i didn't understand a word of your post!)
Title: Re: Vuelta 2013
Post by: Peter on 17 September, 2013, 12:28:22 am
Sorry, to hear that matt, but I won't give up on you!
Title: Re: Vuelta 2013
Post by: Hillbilly on 17 September, 2013, 08:26:26 am
I too hope Horner rode clean. 

But if anything, it gives me greater confidence that the majority of the peleton is not enhancing performances.  All of those I would class as potential winners seemed to struggle in parts - no clearly superhuman feats.
Title: Re: Vuelta 2013
Post by: LEE on 18 September, 2013, 12:14:32 pm
I too hope Horner rode clean. 

But if anything, it gives me greater confidence that the majority of the peleton is not enhancing performances.  All of those I would class as potential winners seemed to struggle in parts - no clearly superhuman feats.

I just heard that Horner has tested positive for Werthers Originals