VeloVoices’ friend Roz Jones is out at the Vuelta with those trusty press credentials and she was waiting for the boys at the end of that gruelling stage 16 on Monday. We’ll let her pictures do the talking:
Over the line
The gradient near the summit of Cuitu Negru averaged in the mid-teens and touched 25% in places. Even the quicker riders were taking 15 minutes to do the last 3km. Don’t ever doubt how much this Vuelta hurts.
Stage winner Dario Cataldo conquered the mountain …
…and the mountain conquered him.
Thomas de Gendt weaved over the finish line
Joaquim Rodriguez crosses the line with the red jersey safe (until, of course, Wednesday…)
Contador looks cooked
Alejandro Valverde crossing the finish line
Faces of pain
If you want to know what ‘being in the red’ looks like, look no further …
AG2R’s Rinaldo Nocentini
Saxo-Tinkoff’s Jesus Hernandez
A spent Nicolas Roche (AG2R)
A shattered Contador
Even the best stage racer in the world is in a universe of pain at the end of a day like this …
Is this the dead eye or the beginnings of his audacious plan for Stage 17?
Stage 17
It matters. It always matters.
An iconic image for an iconic win
This is how much it meant to him …
All pictures copyright of Roz Jones Photography. Follow Roz on Twitter and check out her website here.
Those are some brilliant and very evocative photographs. Please don’t tell me you too cycled up to Cuitu Negru!
I love those pictures of Contador at the end in the red tent – just looks spent. Brilliant stuff from my talented friend!!! She’s definitely on the invitation list for the VeloVoices Christmas extravaganza!
Hmm.
*Checks the piggy bank to see how much cash is in there*
*Realises it’s all been spent on the VV drinks trolley. Again*
Christmas party at McDonald’s, then … 🙁
Don’t worry Tim, Kitty’s booked me to do the catering!
Saved! Phew!
Fantastic pictures !
Great photos as ever by Roz, capturing both the agony and the ecstasy of cycling. (Damn. And there’s the headline I should have used …)
Agree with the other folks, brilliant gallery – and thanks for letting us post them here! That photo of Bert’s beady eye almost looks like the famous thousand-yard stare – haunting…