Stage 18 La Vuelta
Well they've not started yet, another 20 mins or so, but thought i'd start because i go get cleaned up from this morning ride
http://skysports.html.infostradasports.com/asp/lib/event/tour/index.asp?...
Not happy with Eurosport this Vuelta and not been using ITV, but if the race hammers on like its been doing the last few days, before it goes live they might already be up the Cat 1 today 
Its only 53km from the finish, but its only a 174km stage, yesterday they caught it live with about 70km to go, but that was a 211km stage
I think its about time UCI/ASO whoever is in charge of the live feeds to the TV channels all over the world started an online live channel, no commentary needed, just give us a live feed we can watch for important bits before our home nation decides to start showing it on tv and for the likes of the 2 last sundays, it would be good 
Withdrawals
108 Zaugg (SUI, LEO), Did not start
Leader(s) - 17 riders
135 R. Kišerlovski (CRO, AST) +17:16
81 Joa. Rodríguez (ESP, KAT) +18:41
122 De Greef (BEL, OLO) +42:39
158 L. Sánchez (ESP, RAB) +1:21:17
139 Jufré (ESP, AST) +1:38:29
99 F. Gavazzi (ITA, LAM) +1:41:31
55 Oroz (ESP, EUS) +1:45:15
147 D. Malacarne (ITA, QST) +1:46:23
18 Montaguti (ITA, ALM) +2:08:44
163 Gustov (UKR, SBS) +2:18:20
46 Sijmens (BEL, COF) +2:21:28
193 Haussler (AUS, GRM) +2:40:03
208 Paulinho (POR, RSH) +2:42:38
32 Kohler (SUI, BMC) +2:54:29
126 J. Van de Walle (BEL, OLO) +3:23:05
171 Geniez (FRA, SKS) +4:26:55
176 Timmer (NED, SKS) +4:30:49
max. lead 07m55s
Glad i took Montaguti in again, but i left Sanchez out 
I agree about the live feeds and the way Eurosport show the race. If you record it on Sky+ the programme sometimes keeps going cos it started late and the recording stops as thats what the schedule says. Bloody annoying.
Stumpy
I have to record the following programme as well just to get the end of the race
Stumpy
193 Haussler (AUS, GRM) +2:40:03
turns out haussler's riding. Who knew? 
Time going out even further max. lead 09m24s
just montaguti for me too
Nearly 11 minutes, looking like some of the break may just stay away already
Seen as i know Dave has looking in here, you might wanna give Tony a nudge and tell him its Thursday
http://road.cc/content/news/42720-schwag-grab-tour-britain-official-t-sh...
First points of the day
Cat.3 Puerto de la Braguía 56.2 km
1 Montaguti (ALM) 3
2 Sijmens (COF) 2
3 De Greef (OLO) 1
I think Sijmens will be the only one trying to stop Montaguti trying to take all the mountain points
119 Madrazo (ESP, MOV), Abandoned
Another movistar out, leaving them with only 4 after this stomach bug
Only 8 out of the 22 starting teams have their full roster of riders left
Cat.2 Alto del Caracol 75.1 km
1 Sijmens (COF) 5
2 Montaguti (ALM) 3
3 De Greef (OLO) 1
More points and with 9.30 in hand, i think they can get to the Cat 1 aswell which could be 10. i dont know if they could make both Cat 3's after that, if they did and he won them both, it would put him joint top of the mountains
Sky tracker keeps switching between Sijmens and Montaguti for the Cat 2
J-Rod should be allowed the sprints as they are all that far behind the time bonus won't matter and he's only 11 points off the points jersey again
There we go, just as expected
1. Hermosa 101 km
1 Joa. Rodríguez (KAT) 4
2 R. Kišerlovski (AST) 2
3 Timmer (SKS) 1
This group seem to be working well, letting the points guys get the points and the mountains take them and with still 9.35 lead and only 68km to go with some good climbers in the break, i can see them staying away now because they are no threat overall
Another thing to add to my list of Eurosports crap coverage of La Vuelta after declaring they were showing EVERY stage live, they didn't do that, then they schedule it in, but never stick to it, yesterday was late and finished 30 mins early for snooker and its late today because of the snooker and i refuse to watch the crappy ITV coverage
Sijmens annoying me, sprinting like a demon to take the Cat 1 first place 
Joaquin to win this one
7 mins down??
Think you should look again, he's 18 minutes down..........Nice edit
Rodriguez to take the race lead?? Only 7 minutes down with the pack over 11 minutes back
He's 18+ mins down on lead with the peleton currently 11+ mins down on him on this stage. It still leaves him another 7 mins to make up.
Stumpy
But no, J-Rod wont win the stage if the break stays away, better sprinters, if they stay away, Sijmens will win
As long as J-Rod is in the top 10ish then he'll get his green back
The rest of the break are riding like twats, especially Montaguti and the Euskatel guy. If they win I reckon one of the others will throw a bike at them.
Is it about a bicycle ?
Gavazzi won, but its gonna be a while before i post any results as the pack are 11 mins down
Bit of a funny day, plenty of points for Montaguti but no sprinters getting points and I can't see many people being heavily loaded on Lampre guys. I think sticking mainly with GC guys was probably the best way to go.
Top 5 Points
1 Joa. Rodríguez (KAT) 106
2 Mollema (RAB) 101
3 J.J. Cobo (GEO) 92
4 Froome (SKY) 88
5 P. Sagan (LIQ) 75
Top 5 Mountains
1 Moncoutié (COF) 63
2 Montaguti (ALM) 56
3 J.J. Cobo (GEO) 42
4 Martin (GRM) 33
5 D. Moreno (KAT) 32
Thats all i'm sure off apart from the top 14
Good to see Wiggo smiling as he sprinted home with the peloton. Got Montaguti in the break and a few that picked up minor placings at the finish, won't be a huge score today though.
Stewie
Just wish i'd done what my heart told me last night, Fuglsang out and Kiserlovski in
Top 20 Stage
1 F. Gavazzi (LAM) 4:24:42
2 K. Van de Walle (QST) +0
3 Geniez (SKS) +10
4 Sijmens (COF) +10
5 Montaguti (ALM) +10 ✔
6 Gustov (SBS) +10
7 Oroz (EUS) +10
8 Joa. Rodríguez (KAT) +10
9 R. Kišerlovski (AST) +10
10 De Greef (OLO) +15
11 Paulinho (RSH) +1:08
12 Kohler (BMC) +4:03
13 Jufré (AST) +4:03
14 D. Malacarne (QST) +4:03
15 Geschke (SKS) +7:42
16 Wiggins (SKY) +7:42 ✔
17 D. Moreno (KAT) +7:42 ✔
18 J.J. Cobo (GEO) +7:42 ✔
19 Mondory (ALM) +7:42
20 Monfort (LEO) +7:42 ✔
Not so bad, picked up some points for the pack coming in
Top 10 GC
1 J.J. Cobo (GEO) 74:04:05
2 Froome (SKY) +13
3 Wiggins (SKY) +1:41
4 Mollema (RAB) +2:05
5 Menchov (GEO) +3:48
6 Monfort (LEO) +4:13
7 Nibali (LIQ) +4:31
8 Van den Broeck (OLO) +4:45
9 D. Moreno (KAT) +5:20
10 Nieve (EUS) +5:33
88 today, not bad considering the amount in the break 
91 I think. Good day to have Montaguti, and leave the rest as GC/Points/KM contenders. Did anyone have Sijmens by the way?
Stewie
86 for me i believe, think i will change my two allrounders in nieve and martin for 2morrow
49 for me.
Tell me is the last stage non cambativ in this GT. Its tomorrow for Wiggo or nothin I feel. What everybody else think?
Wiggo aint going anywhere now, He's working for Froome
I think thats it this stage has put me now 60 points down on first place in the South West and i think my chances have been dashed (58 points to the fourth in stage ). Damn held it all for the second week need to reconsider the team 
What does everyone think for tomorrow, can Montaguti get away in another break or has he burned his bridges today, or will Moncoutie just mark him out?
Bound to be interesting and likely another big break will get away but I can see some possible GC action too.
If Montaguti goes, Moncoutie will go with, so i think he's knackered now, If Anton is on form, he'll be away aswell
Mollema and Rabo wont be letting ANY breaks get away until after 20km cause thats where the first sprint is
Montaguti's only chance is stage 20 because there are 2 x cat 1, a cat 2 and cat 3
Tomorrow he might aswell just mark Moncoutie as even if he was to win all the climbs, thats only 16 points, leaving him only 9 points behind
105 for me, some how managed 2nd overall for the stage
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