Inferno7
Posts:344
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| 09/13/2013 11:16 AM |
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Defending the red jersey on the final HC climb of the race. Holy cheese, it doesn't get anymore exciting. Most crucial stage for any American since LeMond TT? |
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bobswire
Posts:304
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| 09/13/2013 11:32 AM |
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I know there are more than a few skeptics in the crowd but I'm giving Horner a pass I would imagine RS/TREK giving him the third degree that he'll pass all controls and is riding clean. No way does TREK want another black eye.
Should be a down to the wire climb tomorrow. |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 09/13/2013 11:50 AM |
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Irrespective of the skeptisism (heck you need to look at any sporting event with a high degree of skeptisism if you want to be consistent), the Vuelta has been quite entertaining.
No team dominance, that is the magic formula. |
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bobswire
Posts:304
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| 09/13/2013 02:06 PM |
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Posted By Orange Crush on 09/13/2013 11:50 AM
Irrespective of the skeptisism (heck you need to look at any sporting event with a high degree of skeptisism if you want to be consistent), the Vuelta has been quite entertaining.
No team dominance, that is the magic formula.
Yeah OC, skeptic was not the right word. Hell I'm skeptic just about everything having to do with humans, I should have said "absolute,die hard, non believers in human capacity to achieve great feats of athletic endeavors".
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billygoat
Posts:14
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| 09/14/2013 01:36 AM |
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I'm on Horner's side too. I hope he wins. It's not as if he's winning by 7 minutes or something like that. The only question is his age but his performances are not out of this world compared to everyone else with a chance to win the race.
One thing I've noticed is that there haven't been many crashes in the Vuelta and I'm glad about that. I hate it when racers are taken out by crashes...especially the contenders.. |
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Inferno7
Posts:344
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| 09/14/2013 09:06 AM |
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I just hope the guy wins. Of course everyone is going to think he's doping, but no more than Froome (well maybe a little more....lol). It's been a great race, and again this year the Vuelta,and the Giro were WAY better than the Tour. As long as you're not a total jerkoff like Lance or Rico let the chips fall where they may.
There was near-universal incredulity at Horner’s record-breaking time of 16:44, some 16 seconds faster than Joaquim Rodríguez’s time of 2010. Horner was 32 seconds faster than Chris Froome and Juanjo Cobo in their epic duel up the climb to decide the 2011 Vuelta a España.
La Gazzetta dello Sport ran the leading headline, “Exaggerated,” and all but accused Horner of going too far. Antoine Vayer, the French trainer who estimated Horner’s effort at 481 watts, wrote on Twitter, “watts mutants.”
Moments after retaking the red leader’s jersey on Friday, Horner shot back at his critics.
“It’s amazing some of the things I’ve read in the press,” Horner said. “The media has been irresponsible. I keep reading that that Horner is in the best form of his career. This is not the best form of my career. There have been many previous occasions that I’ve had good form. Maybe this is the best form I’ve had at the best moment.” |
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Inferno7
Posts:344
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| 09/14/2013 09:39 AM |
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| These pics of from 2011, check out the fourth pic............#ibewalkin'
http://www.steephill.tv/2011/vuelta-a-espana/photos/stage-15/ |
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Yo Mike
Posts:338
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| 09/14/2013 10:12 AM |
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| I don't know how Horner has been 'fueled' in the past, or what he's running on now, but he's for the most part flown under the radar, and either by choice or by contract, it has suited him. He's a 'survivor' to be sure. This is situation is different, for a lot of the reasons mentioned above. |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 09/14/2013 11:48 AM |
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| Whatever it was, that was an excellent race to watch. Some of the best action of the year. |
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bobswire
Posts:304
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| 09/14/2013 11:52 AM |
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Posted By Orange Crush on 09/14/2013 11:48 AM
Whatever it was, that was an excellent race to watch. Some of the best action of the year.
Yes it was.
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Pits
Posts:6
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| 09/14/2013 11:59 AM |
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| Loved the look back at the finish.... and then... the trademark smile.... Great great racing in this Vuelta. |
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Ride On
Posts:537
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| 09/14/2013 12:08 PM |
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Agreed. That was great entertainment. Great setting. Great drama. Great efforts.
I thought I was done watching bike racing. If you didn't enjoy that there is zero chance you'll ever enjoy bike racing again.
Horner can retire now.
Wow what a stage. |
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Entheo
Posts:317
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| 09/14/2013 12:58 PM |
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video of last 2k...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGCVlfW4Viw
bit of a freudian slip by sean kelly...
commentator: "Elissonde for the victory, and 20 years separating them Horner for the overall win."
kelly: "yeah, it's unbelievable, and eh..." |
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huckleberry
Posts:824
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| 09/14/2013 01:06 PM |
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Really exciting finish.
Good for Horner!
If I was him, I'd retire. |
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CERV
Posts:151
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| 09/14/2013 01:40 PM |
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best bike race i've watched this year I'd say. so much more entertaining when it's a close race.
I'm not sure if the eurosport camera motos losing sight of nibali and horner near the top was frustrating, or if it just made it all more exciting to watch
I gained even more respect for Nibali. He is a true champion, put it 100% on the line, rode to win, and gave it everything he had. |
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Inferno7
Posts:344
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| 09/14/2013 03:37 PM |
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| I mean c'mon, did that just happen? Could not have shot it for a movie any more dramatically. The battle, the kill, the parade.
+1 Cerv |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 09/14/2013 05:10 PM |
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Posted By CERV __ on 09/14/2013 01:40 PM
I gained even more respect for Nibali. He is a true champion, put it 100% on the line, rode to win, and gave it everything he had.
Absolutely agree. Until today I was lukewarm on Nibali but he's won me over as a fan.
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Ride On
Posts:537
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| 09/15/2013 08:26 AM |
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Nibali's attack was great. Made for a great last stage but from a tactics don't seem sound. He of course had good legs yesterday. He only needed 3 seconds. He has proven he can out sprint Horner. Why not have the team pull in everyone and go for the time bonus for first? Sure sure it would have been a non manly way to win.
His attack got him lots of fans but not the win. If he had attacked with 1K to go he probably would/might have gotten the win.
I applaud his attack from far out, but he acted like he needed to make up 1 min not 3 sec. If you are going to win I respect the way you win. Style points count. |
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Inferno7
Posts:344
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| 09/15/2013 09:48 AM |
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| He didn't have the entire team pull because they would have slowed him down. He had two teammates and they couldn't hang either. What makes you think the guys on the team who can't climb, could suddenly climb the steepest climb in a GT? The stage came down to the final 5 K and no "team" was going to be at the front pulling at that point. |
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Master50
Posts:340
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| 09/15/2013 11:23 AM |
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| Chris has earned my unqualified praise. I have always seen him as a top rider under the clean heading. He did have an odd career path but the talent was always there. A credible if long time coming victory. He was also very luck that race profile so suited his talents. Another TT and different result. |
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jacques_anquetil
Posts:245
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| 09/15/2013 08:53 PM |
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| what master said. youse guys are too cynical. there's no way he'd resort to preparation, given the risk. |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 09/15/2013 09:07 PM |
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I dunno, Jacques.....I think you can argue that the risk was too great not to "prepare".....last year of his contract with no significant results the last 2 years and spending almost all of this year injured.
It was "all or nothing" for Horner. If he didn't get a result, he was out of a job. H had nothing to lose and a whole lot to gain.
He will now get a contract for at least another year, and should be a fairly decent paycheck. |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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RNDDUDE
Posts:78
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| 09/16/2013 10:04 AM |
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| I have to agree with Master and Jacques also....with one caveat: IF we are talking the known PED protocols from the past, way too risky for him to use, so I must disagree with the Kid that he had nothing to lose, recent history shows quite the contrary. BUT, given that new substances are constantly being developed, I cannot rule out the possibility of a relatively test-free, risk-free, new protocol that might be very enticing to use. But until such substances are exposed and linked to him, I have to give him the benefit of the doubt, and say this Vuelta was the perfect set of circumstances for CH to excel. |
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| Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistant one. -Albert Einstein |
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