Vuelta Stage 19 Preview: Ávila - La Granja de San Ildefonso
Stage 19 :: Friday September 18, 2009
179.8km :: Ávila - La Granja de San Ildefonso
One more stage before the denoument of this tour, and it's a nice one. Several rated climbs including two trips up the Puerto de Nevacerrada. Now maybe it's just because I'm listening to The Rite of Spring in the background, but this has a feel of a highnoon showdown to it. I'm not saying someone looked at Samu and decided to make the last stage with climbs tailor made for him, because they didn't; it doesn't actually descend all the way to the finish line. Just most of the way.
When Caisse d'Espargne reached the new world, Valverde burned their bikes, as a result, his men were well motivated. It is also my understanding that Robert Gesink would have liked to have seen Montana.
Gavia's concentrating on finding the next Northwest Swell... so she's turned things over to "man on the scene, Juan" who, as far as I know, may or may not actually be a PdC member.
The last mountain stage in this year’s Vuelta a España starts where we left off. Ávila says goodbye to the race and the bunch heads east to get closer to Madrid. After almost 180 kilometers of really tough racing we will hit the finish line in the small town of San Ildefonso. The course includes three major climbs, and interestingly two of them are the same mountain climbed twice. It is truly the very last opportunity for the riders who are not good at flat time trials, so we expect to see the climbers struggling to drop their rivals in the steepest sections. The only difference between today and a mountain-top finish are a few kilometers of fast descent at the end of the stage.
Everything that could be said about the start town of Ávila has been said in last stage’s preview, so let’s skip to the end in…La Granja Fabrica de cristales? A glass factory? What’s that?... Let me explain: La Granja is the historical name for San Ildefonso, a town near Segovia created in the Middle Ages when a king decided it was the perfect place to stay on vacation. When the French Bourbons became the ruling dynasty in Spain (1700) they built a French style palace to be used as the summer residence for the Royal Family. This palace, and its beautiful gardens, is now an important tourist attraction in the region of Segovia. La Real Fábrica de Cristales (Royal Glass Factory) was a factory created personally by the King of Spain in the 18th century to provide Madrid with high quality glass. The winner today will surely be able to decorate his house with a fine crystal trophy.
Courtesy of
Gavia'sJuan's Stage 19 Preview at Steephill.tv
Frinky carries twenty-three great wounds, all got in battle. Seventy-five men has he killed with his own hands in battle. He scatters, he burns his enemies' tents. He takes away their flocks and herds. The Turks pay him a golden treasure, yet he is poor! Because he is a river to his people! Also, Bubble Boy fans might want to skip this next bit...
Nice to see the breakaway has his chance one's more this Vuelta. Strange acting of Euskaltel, VacansOleil and Astana but the fart of yesterday, I'm sorry that wasn't gentle, was Tom Danielson. How can you quit when you are in the top 10 of a freaking GC and have absolutely no chance on the World Champion. I'm sorry for this bashing but c'mon.. I would kick his ass when I had supported him this Vuelta.
Thank God there are real mans in cycling.... Gesink made it to the finish with a 1 sec lose! Chapeau Meneer Gesink. With that injury Danielson would have cried and screamed for his mommy, who is going to sell his teddy if he's not going to win the WC, or so I heard.
So nice day was it.. Tomorrow's day are the real mountains. The real and last mountains which only can lead to one option. The GC man are going to drive like madness to get the boni's and descending like daredevils, roadrunners and brainiacs to get them and frighten Valverde to dead, pure metaphorical. If Gesink can retain his position tomorrow it would be a miracle. There is going to be a, wrong, orange flash tomorrow. Samuel Sanchez.. And you've read it here first.. It's going to be a triple. Stage 19, 20 and the Amarillo, who's GOLD!
Greetings Monsieur Frinking.
It was my pleasure.
0 recs |
42 comments
Comments
Highnoon showdown, indeed (at least I hope)
“When Caisse d’Espargne reached the new world, Valverde burned their bikes, as a result, his men were well motivated. It is also my understanding that Robert Gesink would have liked to have seen Montana.”
-Love it, crashdan! And thanks for the preview.
by Spot of Bother on Sep 17, 2009 4:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Bravo to monsieur frinkster!
It’s been a true pleasure to read these frinking posts. And no need to apologize to td – he wasn’t a gentle fart, either.
by yeehoo on Sep 17, 2009 5:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Did Frinkster just show us the way to Amarillo?
by tedvdw on Sep 17, 2009 6:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
you got mail Ted...
"Jens! is my favorite rider. I love watching him handing out plates of hot, steaming suffer!" - Mahatma Gandhi
by crashdan on Sep 17, 2009 6:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’m not sure this was just a reference to Frinkster saying that, sorry; so in case it wasn’t: no mail arrived.
by tedvdw on Sep 17, 2009 7:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
ha!
this frinkster character is muy funny.
by gavia on Sep 17, 2009 6:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
eh, apparently it was
bronchitis not a fart that sent danielson home.
by gavia on Sep 17, 2009 6:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Frankly I would have been shocked
If Danielson had finished. Nice guy Tommy is, well, a nice guy, but that is about all these many, many last seasons.
by Jimbo... on Sep 17, 2009 6:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
yep
He lasted longer than I expected, actually. I figured 10 days tops before he went home. Well, anyway, back to ignoring him. If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all, that’s what I always say.
by gavia on Sep 17, 2009 7:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
mum's the word here
No horn, watch for finger.
by sminer on Sep 17, 2009 9:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He lasted long enough to get a new contract
I’m sure I read somewhere that he’s just signed up with Garmin for another three years.
by Monty. on Sep 18, 2009 6:16 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Poor boy
now he’s got to find another nine excuses for screwing up a GT.
by Monty. on Sep 18, 2009 2:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
snort
What did I say about being nice? ;-)
by gavia on Sep 18, 2009 2:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
My mistake, it's only two
at least that’s what Tuttobici said a couple of days ago, but the odd thing is that they gave an interview in Cycling News as their source, and I couldn’t find that when I looked. Puzzling, but not so puzzling that you want to spend time working out what happened.
by Monty. on Sep 18, 2009 2:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Bronchitis would knock him out of the top 10 easy
Trying to complete a grand tour like that would be dumb. If he’s contagious, you’d have to take that into account as well.
Wenatchee Wonder FTW
by dees ees en drama on Sep 17, 2009 9:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Some people are just not cut out for riding grand tours.
Like me.
by brunopitton on Sep 18, 2009 12:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Aah well.. I made my point..
And if it’s real bronchitis.. Are we going to see him on the WC?
by Frinking on Sep 18, 2009 4:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
'at' the Wc would be better
‘on’ the WC. I hope not. WC =toilet for many English speakers ;)
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
by Seahorse on Sep 18, 2009 4:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Patato, Tomato..
Wc in Dutch is also WC btw as in toilet. The other is WK.
by Frinking on Sep 18, 2009 4:33 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't care how you called youself, frinkster
amarillo is not gold.
by rbjhan on Sep 17, 2009 7:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Ok a couple of sources:
“The overall leader wears the “Maillot amarillo” (Yellow Maillot) or “Jersey de Oro” (Golden jersey)"
Goudgeel which is yellowgold due
Dutch Wikipedia
Fabian Cancellara displays his time trial talents and claims the gold jersey
Source La vuelta
I’m glad the jersey i red next year
by Frinking on Sep 18, 2009 4:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Red?
Scarlet, you mean. Or vermilion. Crimson maybe? Ruby! Hehe.
Both the current and future jerseys are no doubt tailored after the flag colours and look what it says in the Spanish constitution:
La bandera de España está formada por tres franjas horizontales, roja, amarilla y roja, siendo la amarilla de doble anchura que cada una de las rojas.(Artículo 4 1 de la constitución española de 1978)
by tedvdw on Sep 18, 2009 5:27 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Who da man Frinking? You da mans ;)
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
by Seahorse on Sep 18, 2009 4:31 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Da mans?!?! What's that?
Ooh and the subject was too easy to let down..
by Frinking on Sep 18, 2009 4:33 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
'West Wing' reference between two much loved characters
it’s a compliment
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
by Seahorse on Sep 18, 2009 4:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Aah.. I get the sentence now.. It's early.. Let's blame that..
And thanks..
Surprisingly btw. I didn’t knoiw what to right and didn’t sense(????) it this time.
by Frinking on Sep 18, 2009 4:37 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Engagement is primary skill for a writer
Sense or not, we read you because you engage us – whether we agree with you or not ;)
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
by Seahorse on Sep 18, 2009 4:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It's alright...get it
The ‘sense’ part is harder to decode…
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
by Seahorse on Sep 18, 2009 4:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Back later...
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
by Seahorse on Sep 18, 2009 4:44 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Where you gone?
"If I were World Road Race Champion, I would wear black shorts. That probably has more to do with me being on the wiser side of 30 and understanding better that the decisions I make now never really go away. White shorts would not be something I'd be proud of...." - David Millar, in Rouleur.
by Albertina on Sep 18, 2009 4:51 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Still an hour til the race actually starts...this is going to be a loooong day
by Vlaanderen90 on Sep 18, 2009 5:51 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
just so you know
I’ve had a very loooooong day already!
by rbjhan on Sep 18, 2009 6:02 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

by 
















