Vuelta a Espana

Well, the days are starting to tick down now. Today there is a single climb (cat3) but it's a relatively steady gradient and an equally steady roll down the other side, so maybe a sprinters day?

Unlikely to have any effect on the GC standings, then Tuesday is a (much needed) rest day.

Wednesday sees another lumpy stage with (yet another) mountain top finish, Thursday is probably another sprinter's day (although not flat). Friday is the time trial and Saturday is another climbers day with (guess what?) a mountain top finish. With Froome almost certain to close the deficit considerably in the time trial, it aint over yet as that last 'proper' stage on Saturday has a belter of a climb to the finish.

Youwere right again Ian, a sprinter's finish and yet another surprise stage winner, Luxemburg's Jean-Pierre Drucker. No change in the overall standings. Wonder what Sky and Tinkoff have up their sleeves for Wednesday & Saturday's stages.

Indeed, and what about Orica Bikexchange......I think Chaves is a reasonable time trialler. Contador certainly is, so there is still a lot to play for.

Well it is Quintana's race to loose, but definately still a lot to play for. Even with over 3 min lead the rest of the week should have more action than the TdF.

For the record, I think the time cut-off should have been enforced. Over half the peleton sitting up and taking an inpromptu rest day, expecting to be allowed to stay in, is a damn site more disrespectful to those who pushed on, than any sprinters retirement from the TdF.

Sky (or Oreca) should not be allowed a second chance to attack Movistar and Tinkov, having taken an extra rest day.
Yes it maintains the spectacle, but hardly equitable in sporting terms. 

I tend to agree, Runrig.

Do you think they planned it as a 'rest day'? Risky tactics, leaving poor old Froome to get on with it by himself.

Totally agree, Runrig.

No point in having the "cut off" rules if they are not applied.

I tend to agree, Runrig.

Do you think they planned it as a 'rest day'? Risky tactics, leaving poor old Froome to get on with it by himself.

They might not have planned it before the start, but I bet they made a conscious decision to do just that, very early on in the stage.

Having got away with it, it sets a very dangerous precedent unless the uci or aso make a statement clarifying the enforcement of the rule.

There was a spokesman from (I think) ASO, who now run the Vuelta, saying that they would need to "have a look at the rules" to prevent this happening again.

Not sure why, because the rules are very clear. It's the oprganisers application of the rules that seems to need looking into.

Fine climbing by Mathais Frank to hold on and win the stage after getting away from the breakaway. Leopold Keonig of Sky made a basic error in letting himget too far ahead before the start of climb to the finish, and just didn't have enough gas to catch him. The standings for GC remain the same as all the first 4 came in together, although at one point it did look as if Froome had been dropped by the other 3, but he managed to climb back to them just before the line.

Froome did slip back, but he's like a diesel engine isn't he? Just keeps chugging away and gradually catches them back up.

Good work by all the leading GC riders, not to let anyone steal a march on them.

So that just leaves a sprint day today, then the TT then the last big climbing day.

I would say that it's still all to play for. This has been a brilliant bike race!

Poor old Tejay didn't finish the stage - he's not had a good race at all (nor have the rest of BMC to be honest),