Vuelta Espana > [WT] Stage 6: Tarazona

jobiwan · « **on:** August 22, 2012, 17:02 »

Stage 6 of the Vuelta a Espana is all about Aragorn.

This mightly historical figure is the namesake of the area in which we will be riding. The autonomous community of Aragorn, formerly the Kingdom of Aragorn, was conquered by the mighty king during the War of the Ring in the Third Age, and it's capital Zaragoza, still serves today as a beacon of hope for all man-, elf-, and dwarf-kind. However, we will not be riding in Zaragoza today, we are starting from the historical city of Tarazona.

It was here that the initial skirmishes of the War of the Ring broke out, where mighty Aragorn first encountered the evil orcs and started to drive them not only out of the kingdom but out of Middle Earth entirely. Much of today's tourist attractions in Tarazona are memorial's in his great name. The Cathedral of Aragorn, in the middle of town, is a grand reminder of the piety and awesomeness of the great king, whereas the great stadium of Tarazona, which was built on the site of first Orc bloodshed, now serves as the bullfighting arena.

From here the riders will follow the Route of Conquest, the route which Aragorn used to drive out his enemies from the land. This historical route is so narrow, the support cars and caravan cannot even coexist with the riders. They must travel on the modern highways, notably not built in honor of Aragorn (bunch of heathens). The day's route is not too hard, because as Aragorn was in such a hurry to drive the Orcs out, he ran so fast he trampled the ground in the kingdom (now the province of Aragorn) into flat, hardly a challenge for today's riders.

See, not too hard. UNTIL we get to the Pyrenees. The day's profile presents two challenges. Two category 3 climbs are on tap for the riders at the end of the stage. The climbs themselves are not overly challenging, as that is not their purpose. These two climbs are the sites of the final battles in the War of the Ring. After an initial mauling on the Puerto de Oroel (12 km @ 2.80%), the Orcs descended into their fortress city of Jaca.

It was then that Aragorn feigned defeat, drew the Orc armies out of their starry fortress of San Pedro (who must have been an important Orc) and slaughtered them once and for all on the slopes of the Fuerte de Rapitan (3.8 km @ 5.40%). Not content at simply destroying the city, Aragorn instead renovated the city and made it the capital of the province, which served as the capital until a group of Aragornians decided Zaragoza would make a better capital simply because it was in the middle (bunch of heathens). Now Jaca serves as a popular tourist destination, which should have been host to a Winter Olympics, had the IOC not awarded the '98 games to some island in Asia! (They also robbed Jaca of the '02 and '10 games, so clearly they are heathens and descended from Orcs.)

However, putting aside all bitterness, the Vuelta wants to pay tribute to the great conquests of Aragorn and as such the winner of today's stage will receive Anduril, the sword of Aragorn.

The standings in the race should not be changed too much after this stage, as the climbs serve more as memorials to the great king's legacy than as major challenges to modern cyclists. Joaquim Rodriguez will look to defend and perhaps extend his lead on Alberto Contador and Chris Froome, while everyone else will simply thank their lucky stars that they didn't have to climb Mount Doom (now called Aneto).

Poor Frodo.
------------------------

jobiwan · « **Reply #1 on:** August 22, 2012, 17:11 »

Standings After Stage 5

General Classification:
1 Joaquim Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Katusha Team 17:29:22
2 Christopher Froome (GBr) Sky Procycling 0:00:01
3 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Saxo Bank - Tinkoff Bank 0:00:05
4 Bauke Mollema (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team 0:00:09
5 Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team
6 Rigoberto Uran Uran (Col) Sky Procycling 0:00:11
7 Daniel Moreno Fernandez (Spa) Katusha Team 0:00:14
8 Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La Mondiale 0:00:24
9 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Movistar Team 0:00:36
10 Laurens Ten Dam (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team 0:00:46

Points Classification:
1 John Degenkolb (Ger) Argos-Shimano 50 pts
2 Allan Davis (Aus) Orica - GreenEdge 29
3 Simon Clarke (Aus) Orica - GreenEdge 27
4 Elia Viviani (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale 27
5 Daniele Bennati (Ita) Radioshack-Nissan 26
6 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Movistar Team 25
7 Gianni Meersman (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team 24
8 Joaquim Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Katusha Team 20
9 Tony Martin (Ger) Omega Pharma-Quickstep 20
10 Assan Bazayev (Kaz) Astana Pro Team 18

Mountains Classification:
1 Simon Clarke (Aus) Orica - GreenEdge 16 pts
2 Pim Ligthart (Ned) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling Team 11
3 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Movistar Team 10
4 Luis Angel Mate Mardones (Spa) Cofidis Le Credit En Ligne 10
5 Tony Martin (Ger) Omega Pharma-Quickstep 8
6 Joaquim Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Katusha Team 6
7 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) BMC Racing Team 6
8 Assan Bazayev (Kaz) Astana Pro Team 5
9 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Saxo Bank - Tinkoff Bank 4
10 Jesus Rosendo Prado (Spa) Andalucia 4

Combination Classification:
1 Joaquim Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Katusha Team 15 pts
2 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Movistar Team 18
3 Christopher Froome (GBr) Sky Procycling 26
4 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Saxo Bank - Tinkoff Bank 27
5 Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La Mondiale 35

killswitch · « **Reply #2 on:** August 22, 2012, 17:39 »

The riders have to be careful, even after the destruction of the ONE ring some Orcs still lurk in the mountains. Those of the Movi-hai kind from Navarra patrol the mountain roads at night and throw tacks to stop the unsuspecting cyclists and drivers and steal away their metallic belongings.

Arwen and Galadriel to be the podium girls?

just some guy · « **Reply #3 on:** August 22, 2012, 18:34 »

I am a bit confused though Frodo is riding towards Valhalla in Denmark I thought

Havetts · « **Reply #4 on:** August 22, 2012, 18:54 »

You have too much time AND creativity..

;D

florry · « **Reply #5 on:** August 22, 2012, 19:21 »

Alberto!!

froome19 · « **Reply #6 on:** August 22, 2012, 20:40 »

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/rodriguez-predicts-sparks-will-fly-on-vueltas-third-summit-finish

Purito pretty upbeat about his chances...

Quote

"We sent my teammate Angel Vicioso”- who lives in nearby Zaragoza - “to take a look at it, and he says it's good for me,” Rodríguez said.

“I think it’ll be possible to open up a gap on my rivals there. I would like to gain time on them. And it’ll make a big difference if you’re fourth or 45th at the bottom on a claim with such a narrow start.”

florry · « **Reply #7 on:** August 22, 2012, 21:40 »

Quote from: froome19 on August 22, 2012, 20:40

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/rodriguez-predicts-sparks-will-fly-on-vueltas-third-summit-finish

Purito pretty upbeat about his chances...

""We sent my teammate Angel Vicioso”- who lives in nearby Zaragoza - “to take a look at it, and he says it's good for me,” Rodríguez said"

But Alberto looked at it himself

The Hitch · « **Reply #8 on:** August 22, 2012, 23:08 »

So Father Vicioso rides for Katusha now.

Who knew.

But yeah this is what is known in cycling in recent years as a Rodriguez finish. Contador could challenge him if he really wanted to, but he is playing the long game. A few attacks, countless looks around, some fireworks no doubt, but no bang bang just yet.

Havetts · « **Reply #9 on:** August 23, 2012, 00:24 »

Mini L'Alpe tomorrow it seems:

Seems like it is going to be a constant acceleration climb, short and steep. First section at 12 - 14% and last few hundred meters at the same gradient too, positioning will be important. Hairpins take out all the speed. I fear at least one of the Raboboys will lose some time, although Gesink doesnt have a too bad uphill sprint, I doubt he can hold on to Purito, Valverde, Contador, possibly Froome, their accelerations.

Anyways.. This gun' be good!

Havetts · « **Reply #10 on:** August 23, 2012, 00:39 »

P.S. 27th on stage will be Kessiakoff!

The Hitch · « **Reply #11 on:** August 23, 2012, 01:27 »

Quote from: jobiwan on August 22, 2012, 17:02

Stage 6 of the Vuelta a Espana is all about Aragorn.

This mightly historical figure is the namesake of the area in which we will be riding. The autonomous community of Aragorn, formerly the Kingdom of Aragorn, was conquered by the mighty king during the War of the Ring in the Third Age, and it's capital Zaragoza, still serves today as a beacon of hope for all man-, elf-, and dwarf-kind. However, we will not be riding in Zaragoza today, we are starting from the historical city of Tarazona.

It was here that the initial skirmishes of the War of the Ring broke out, where mighty Aragorn first encountered the evil orcs and started to drive them not only out of the kingdom but out of Middle Earth entirely. Much of today's tourist attractions in Tarazona are memorial's in his great name. The Cathedral of Aragorn, in the middle of town, is a grand reminder of the piety and awesomeness of the great king, whereas the great stadium of Tarazona, which was built on the site of first Orc bloodshed, now serves as the bullfighting arena.

From here the riders will follow the Route of Conquest, the route which Aragorn used to drive out his enemies from the land. This historical route is so narrow, the support cars and caravan cannot even coexist with the riders. They must travel on the modern highways, notably not built in honor of Aragorn (bunch of heathens). The day's route is not too hard, because as Aragorn was in such a hurry to drive the Orcs out, he ran so fast he trampled the ground in the kingdom (now the province of Aragorn) into flat, hardly a challenge for today's riders.

See, not too hard. UNTIL we get to the Pyrenees. The day's profile presents two challenges. Two category 3 climbs are on tap for the riders at the end of the stage. The climbs themselves are not overly challenging, as that is not their purpose. These two climbs are the sites of the final battles in the War of the Ring. After an initial mauling on the Puerto de Oroel (12 km @ 2.80%), the Orcs descended into their fortress city of Jaca.

It was then that Aragorn feigned defeat, drew the Orc armies out of their starry fortress of San Pedro (who must have been an important Orc) and slaughtered them once and for all on the slopes of the Fuerte de Rapitan (3.8 km @ 5.40%). Not content at simply destroying the city, Aragorn instead renovated the city and made it the capital of the province, which served as the capital until a group of Aragornians decided Zaragoza would make a better capital simply because it was in the middle (bunch of heathens). Now Jaca serves as a popular tourist destination, which should have been host to a Winter Olympics, had the IOC not awarded the '98 games to some island in Asia! (They also robbed Jaca of the '02 and '10 games, so clearly they are heathens and descended from Orcs.)

However, putting aside all bitterness, the Vuelta wants to pay tribute to the great conquests of Aragorn and as such the winner of today's stage will receive Anduril, the sword of Aragorn.

The standings in the race should not be changed too much after this stage, as the climbs serve more as memorials to the great king's legacy than as major challenges to modern cyclists. Joaquim Rodriguez will look to defend and perhaps extend his lead on Alberto Contador and Chris Froome, while everyone else will simply thank their lucky stars that they didn't have to climb Mount Doom (now called Aneto).

Poor Frodo.
------------------------

Fuji: I cannot do this alone.
Miguel Madariaga: You are a team leader Anton. To lead a team is to be alone. This task was appointed to you, and if you do not win a gt for the basques, no one will.
Fuji: I know what I must do, it's just that... I'm afraid to do it.
Madariaga: Even the smallest person can change the course of the future.

Sergio Henao, I imagine this is just a ceremonial position. I mean, they don't actually expect me to do any work. Do they?
Uran Uran: You're in the service of a British Rider now. You're going to have to do as you're told!

Vincent Lavenu: Go to Montreal John.
Gadret: You think you are wise, Mithrandir, yet for all your subtleties you have not wisdom. Do you think the eyes of the Team Gadret are blind? I have seen more than you know. With your left hand you would use me as a shield against the Pro Tour system, and with your right you would seek to supplant me! I know who rides with Christophe Riblon. Oh yes! Word has reached my ears of this Nikolei son of Steven, and I tell you now I will not bow to this Stagiere from the West, last of a ragged house long bereft of lordship.

Unzue: You good to go today?
Valverde: They're thieves, they're thieves! They're filthy little thieves! Where is it? Where is it? They ssstole it from us

Valverde as Froome takes a pee: Ride now!... RIDE NOW !... RIDE! Ride to ruin and the world's ending! DEEEEEEEEEATH!!!!!!!!!!

Bjarne: [about Noval] You should not encourage him.
Contador: And you should not doubt him.
Bjarne: I do not doubt his heart. Only the size of his waist
Contador: Why should Benjamin be left behind? He has as much cause to go to war as you. Why can he not fight for his friends?
Bjarne: You know as little of dsing as that old timer. When the pain takes him, and the fatigue, and the gradient , and the horrors of a mountain take hold, do you think he would stand and fight? He would drop.

Mcgee: His strength returns.
Bjarne: That wound will never fully heal. He will carry it the rest of his life.
Mcgee: Bjarne, the enemy is moving. Bailsfords forces are massing in the East; his eye is fixed on Aragorn and Porte you tell me, has betrayed us. Our list of allies grows thin.
Bjarne: His treachery runs deeper than you know. By foul craft, Bailsford has crossed continental level riders with goblin men. He's breeding an army in the caverns of Tenerife. An army that can move in sunlight and cover great distance at speed. Bailsford is coming for the red jersey.
Fuentes: This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the clenbuterol. We do not have the strength to withstand both Sky and Katusha.

Voice of the Mountain: Mountains do not suffer the living to pass.
Vino: You will suffer me.

Eddy: From the ashes, a fire shall be woken. A light from the shadow shall spring. Renewed shall be blade that was broken. The crownless again shall be king

The Poster Formerly Known As Moondance · « **Reply #12 on:** August 23, 2012, 09:19 »

Íriman nyáre, Jobiwan.

killswitch · « **Reply #13 on:** August 23, 2012, 13:29 »

Quote from: The Hitch on August 23, 2012, 01:27

Mcgee: His strength returns.
Bjarne: That wound will never fully heal. He will carry it the rest of his life.
Mcgee: Bjarne, the enemy is moving. Bailsfords forces are massing in the East; his eye is fixed on Aragorn and Porte you tell me, has betrayed us. Our list of allies grows thin.
Bjarne: His treachery runs deeper than you know. By foul craft, Bailsford has crossed continental level riders with goblin men. He's breeding an army in the caverns of Tenerife. An army that can move in sunlight and cover great mountains at 450 watts. Bailsford is coming for the red jersey.
Fuentes: This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the clenbuterol. We do not have the strength to withstand both Sky and Katusha.

Voice of the Mountain: Mountains do not suffer the living to pass.
Vino: You will suffer me.

Contador: Benja, you will ride on the front of the climb's lower slopes to thin the ranks of our enemies
Noval: I am tired, Alberto. I don't look it, but I am beginning to feel it in my heart of hearts. Well-preserved indeed! Why, I feel all hungry, sort of stretched, if you know what I mean: like butter that has been scraped over too much bread. That can't be right. I need a cake, or something.

Bjarne: The Dark Lord Bailsford has Nine. But we have One, mightier than they: the White Rider from Pinto. He has passed through the fire and the abyss, and they shall fear him. We will go where he leads.

Bjarne: Gentlemen, we do not stop 'til nightfall.
Noval: What about breakfast?
Bjarne: You've already had it.
Noval: We've had one, yes. What about second breakfast?
[Bjarne turns and walks off in disgust]
Jesus: I don't think he knows about second breakfast, Ben.
Noval: What about elevenses? Luncheon? Afternoon tea? Dinner? Supper? He knows about them, doesn't he?
Jesus: I wouldn't count on it.

Havetts · « **Reply #14 on:** August 23, 2012, 17:20 »

Rabobank's positioning.

killswitch · « **Reply #15 on:** August 23, 2012, 17:42 »

Quote from: Havetts on August 23, 2012, 17:20

Rabobank's positioning.

Surprise of the day... not. Gesink was probably the second fastest (after Purito) in the final km...

Havetts · « **Reply #16 on:** August 23, 2012, 18:20 »

Seems with Contador cramping up, that once again the relentless heat is the main enemy each day. 35 degrees Celsius every day really really is hard on the body.

florry · « **Reply #17 on:** August 23, 2012, 18:50 »

Poor Alberto

Well we must be happy this wasn't a proper mountain

froome19 · « **Reply #18 on:** August 23, 2012, 20:15 »

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/uran-thinks-sky-is-on-the-right-track

Quote

He said he was not surprised that Contador lost time, “because he’s been such a long time away from racing, he’s going to take a while getting back. He fell back slightly today, but he’ll be up there in the rest of the Vuelta for sure.”

Asked if he would take over from Froome should the Briton crack, the 2012 Giro’s Best Young Rider laughed and said “Let’s hope he doesn’t crack.” In fact, Uran is confident that the race will be between Froome, the current leader, Joaquim Rodriguez - whom Froome congratulated at the finish “for racing very intelligently” and Alberto Contador.

It was a complicated stage today but we’ve shown that we’ve got a very strong team, and Chris is keeping a cool head and is in good shape,” Uran, who finished sixth on the stage and moved up to fourth overall at 43 seconds, said afterwards.

The Hitch · « **Reply #19 on:** August 23, 2012, 21:55 »

This stage sets up the race really good. Up until now i thought Contador would win but now i have no idea what will happen.

Froome looks good, but the logical answer is still that he will have trouble keeping the form through 3 weeks. Would that be enough to totaly eliminate him from the race, i dont think so, i still expect him to beat Valverde and purito at the least

Valverde is a bit weaker than Froome and in the same position, ok maybe wasnt top form for whole tour so that could be in his favor.

Rodriguez, i generally dismiss Rodriguez from gt contention just when i see his name, but he proved in the Giro he can keep it trhough 3 weeks afterall. Unlike 2010 when he had the Tour, and 2011 when he had an especially brutal giro in his legs, he might just piece it together for this one. Could lose 4 mins + in the tt but might limit it to say 2, and with no Tour nor ban in his legs, he could have that crucial advantage in the 3rd week. Might could take 1 minute on something like Bola, but i still dont see it.

As for Contador, i still think he is the favorite, just about, but he has shown weakness already, and i think there is more weakness in there yet

Caruut · « **Reply #20 on:** August 24, 2012, 00:13 »

Quote from: killswitch on August 23, 2012, 13:29

Contador: Benja, you will ride on the front of the climb's lower slopes to thin the ranks of our enemies
Noval: I am tired, Alberto. I don't look it, but I am beginning to feel it in my heart of hearts. Well-preserved indeed! Why, I feel all hungry, sort of stretched, if you know what I mean: like butter that has been scraped over too much bread. That can't be right. I need a cake, or something.

Bjarne: The Dark Lord Bailsford has Nine. But we have One, mightier than they: the White Rider from Pinto. He has passed through the fire and the abyss, and they shall fear him. We will go where he leads.

Bjarne: Gentlemen, we do not stop 'til nightfall.
Noval: What about breakfast?
Bjarne: You've already had it.
Noval: We've had one, yes. What about second breakfast?
[Bjarne turns and walks off in disgust]
Jesus: I don't think he knows about second breakfast, Ben.
Noval: What about elevenses? Luncheon? Afternoon tea? Dinner? Supper? He knows about them, doesn't he?
Jesus: I wouldn't count on it.

Bjarne: You're outnumbered, Alberto. You need more men.
Alberto: There are none.
Bjarne: There was Richie Porte.
Alberto: Murderer. Traitor. You would call upon him to fight? He believes in nothing. He answers to no one.

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[WT] Stage 6: Tarazona - Jaca, 175.4km

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