Vuelta Stage 13

After reading the description for today's stage I played safe

Alberto Contador
Joaquin Rodriguez
Elia Viviani
Daniele Bennati (for Froome)
Nacer Bouhanni
Mikel Astarloza
Andrew Talansky
Xavier Florencio
Gianni Meersman

Leaves me 4 transfers for the lummpy stages....

I'm happy that De Gendt is doing something as he's in my purist team and others with some sprinters have got a massive lead on me.

But I think i'm safe enough with my team and having some transfers in hand for the rest of the tour

I thought there was a chance of the break staying away today so didn't want to bring in 2 sprinters only to take them straight back out. So if its a sprint (looks fairly likely at the mo?) I'll only have Degenkolb and Bouhanni, but then at least I'll transfer them out and have a good set of potential breakaway guys for tomorrow. (Miles behind overall so may as well have some fun).

So currently...
Rodriguez
Valverde
Degenkolb (in for Froome)
De Gendt (just won the intermediate!)
Machado
Bouet (in for Talansky)
Astarloza
Bouhanni
Sarmiento

Gerdemann was my pick for breakaway points tomorrow, so might have to reassess that one now...

FDJ just tweeted that Bouhanni has abandoned, still suffering effects of yesterday's chute.

I'd best find another sprinter.

Bouhanni has just withdrawn!!!

And it looks as though I'm not the only one

Yeah most teams have Bouhanni I think

Bouhanni out, so with my transfers tomorrow he will be axed, today ive got

Valverde
Viviani
Degenkolb
Bennati

Bouhanni
Anancona
Marczynski
Meersman
Talanksy

Think I'll be leaving Bouhanni in for a couple of days, need to shift Degenkolb and Bennati first then possibly Viviani and Bouhanni in a couple of days depending on how I want to play the summit finishes.

1 44 CUMMINGS, Stephen BMC 4h 05' 02''
2 155 MEYER, Cameron OGE + 4''
3 182 FLECHA, Juan Antonio SKY + 4''
4 152 CLARKE, Simon OGE + 14''
5 175 GERDEMANN, Linus RNT + 14''
6 211 DE GENDT, Thomas VCD + 14''
7 191 DEGENKOLB, John ARG + 40''
8 151 DAVIS, Allan OGE + 40''
9 187 SWIFT, Ben SKY + 40''
10 15 MONDORY, Lloyd ALM + 40''
11 113 CIMOLAI, Davide LAM + 40''
12 213 LAGUTIN, Sergey VCD + 40''
13 93 FERNÁNDEZ, Koldo GRS + 40''
14 65 DUQUE, Leonardo COF + 40''
15 124 DALL'ANTONIA, Tiziano LIQ + 40''
16 66 GARCIA, Egoitz COF + 40''
17 173 BENNATI, Daniele RNT + 40''
18 136 MEERSMAN, Gianni LTB + 40''
19 82 BONNET, William FDJ + 40''
20 75 PÉREZ, Rubén EUS + 40''

J-Rod holds the points jersey. At least De Gendt got my purist team some points even though my transfer team is goosed

Not bad. Swapping Degenkolb for Valverde just about paid off, and not brining in Bennati also worked out. Now, three transfers to play with for tomorrow...

Bad day for both my teams, wasn't expecting much from my purist team but the guy behind me in 2nd has Clarke so he could well jump ahead of me again once the scores are up

Took De Gendt out for Viviani last night. Looked like it might all be OK until Viviani disappeared from the break. Does anyone know what happened?

I believe Bouhanni has abandoned. EDIT - sorry, you knew that. As you were.

My purist team is right behind yours now! as for my other team i need to use all for of my transfers tonight

What's your purist team called?

I'm hoping to have big jumps up the table soon as I had Froome, J-Rod and Contador, Plus De Gendt and Clement for breaks.

My failing was not having Bouhanni and star sprinter. Thats left me some distance behind the rest with big gaps to close. Alot ahead don't have the 3 big stars though

Tommytwodarts, well im not gonna be close behind you for long then....as I have J-Rod, De Gendt, Froome but no contador (ive got swift). I went for an expensive DS in cataldo which was a bad choice! and palomares hasnt been in enough breaks to warrant his price.

Ten dam is the man for today...i hope. Things might get spiced up with longer climbs...maybe... va va Froome!

My best stage in the Vuelta by some margin finishing 18th....although to be fair it's the first time I've been on the first page for a atage score

Now we go to 3 mountain stages in a row and the first chance to really improve the team rather than the constant Degenkolb/Bouhanni 'Hokey-Cokey'......and time for Froome and Sky to unleash the big diesel I hope.