Pro-cycling thread

Go on Simon!

That climb looked disgusting.

Well that was one hell of a day of racing, some of the best I've seen all year both at the ToB and Vuelta. Fantastic win by Yates, and Stannard's 10k solo was epic

Great one from Yates. Quintana seemed to say ‘sod dragging someone else to the line’.

I don't know why Quintana burnt so many matches attacking early in the climb and duelling with Lopez. Yates rode it perfectly, managed through the super-steep sections then attacked at the perfect time and had the legs. Cracking race.

Maybe Quinto’s better at chess

Strangest bit was when he attacked and got away from Yates, and then sat up.

Hackney's finest is in the break.

Proper sting break with Bennett and Roche among others. Hopefully they can stay away.

He talked about attacking to make something happen but he timed it wrong and couldn't shake Lopez, and seemed wary of taking him to the line so knocked it off and let everyone come to him

Geraint has signed a 3 year contract with Sky

King, Bennet and Conti also, all going well it seems. (edit: Mollema also)

This vuelta has been great for successful breaks (due to the GC situation) and today's final climb is looong.

This is an amazing opportunity if Tao is feeling good.

All on Tao now...

I only caught patchy coverage of week 1 of the Vuelta this year. I know Zacharin lost time but did he suffer an injury also? I'd expect him to be going for this type of stage.

Tao cooked

Great stage and loved yates working over valverde making him work to get back on . Quintana not working again !

Good ride by Pinot. Does Quintana under he is in a race?

Did kwiato finish?

It's odd he seems to have the legs to keep up with everyone but never wants to push on or be at the front. Maybe just tired.

Good race by Pinot and I was glad he got it after his failed go at a stage win the other day.

Yes in 73rd 23 minutes behind Pinot.

Bad luck after his crash in stage seven too. I haven't seen any news on his condition yet.

Good to know Kwiato finished hope his ribs aren't too bad, he's been a great animator of the race so far, plus I am sure I heard talk of him targeting the Worlds

Worlds profile isn’t really suiting him? He’s more of a classics rider, though I must admit he was pretty scary in this years TdF.

I think this Vuelta proves that he isn’t feeling at home in the mountains just yet.

Don’t like the Tour of Britain finishing with a crit but it does seem to bring the crowds out.

Vuelta shaping up nicely. About 45 seconds separating the top four.

There’s only two non-flat stages of the vuelta left. I hope Lopez can keep the pressure on.

At this rate ..... I can see Valverde on the podium.

I think he trying to ride into the form to tackle them, he's not a pure climber but he can climb.

I always feel it's ashame the ToB needs to finish in London but it does. Today's crit was surprisingly entertaining, Froome did well getting in a break and the battle for sprint points was epic, sorta shows how the points jersey can add to a stage race.

Also loved Kiriyenka's solo attack, a proper rage against the dying of the light. Hope we see him next season.

The main climb on the Worlds circuit won't pose Kwiatkowski too many problems, and that final climb, the comedy steep one, might suit a puncheur more than it suits a climber. No-one knows, that's part of the beauty of the worlds.

I've seen one well respected writer suggest that if it all came together for him on the day, then Sagan might still be in contention at the finish.