Nice win by El Pistolero. Great season on the mountains and hills up to know. I hope he'll develop his time trial for le Tour and be a real challenge for Froome.
Damn, wish I'd seen that live. Thanks for the footage. Contador is so great this year. Also, nice to see that on the first stage of Pais Vasco more stuff happens than in the entire Tour of Catalunya.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
It wasn't really sickness. He wrote on his blog that yesterday he arrived to the airport at 11.30 am but that the flight was late, then cancelled, so he was 12 hours on the airport and that his bike didn't arrive so he had to use another one. No time for massage or a proper rest so he was not feeling good today.
I suppose Contador isn't as tired as i predicted and also is tactic was great,fooling Valverde to think that he was suffering on his wheel and then go to the attack on the steepest part of the climb.
As for Rui Costa it's a shame that is out of the GC in the first day but no problem,the goal is Liege and i hope he puts the work in.
To finish a word to mention Cunego,nice to see him up there for a change.
Shonak wrote:
Izagirre vs. Martin & Bakelants. About 15 km left, 1 minute lead. It'd be awesome to see Izagirre take a stage win here in Basque Country.
Tony Martin obviously has a differing opinion. Time for the Panzerwagen to engage the massive diesel engine. The peloton going to have to hammer it home to have a chance of catching him.
Easily got over at least 40, probably about 50 really, seconds over peloton still. With so few kilometres remaining it would take something special to deny Tony Martin now.
Edit #1: Transponder disagrees with me, but I timed it from the 2km to go banner.
Edited by Malkael on 08-04-2014 16:00
That was quite a superior performance by Martin, keeping the peloton in such a way in check. Nice to see Gilbert with a late attack, hopefully he'll show more in the coming days.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
Also, nice to see that on the first stage of Pais Vasco more stuff happens than in the entire Tour of Catalunya. 
