I missed it and have seen it referred to here a few times.
What went wrong?
Not sure what you mean other than he was 2nd Wiggins was 3rd ?
I got the impression one or the other could have won, but that some team tactic backfired and they collectively lost the win.
I`m not sure on that one didnt know it was a tactical cock up ?
The belief is that if Sky had let Froome have some space he would have won the Vuelta, instead the team rode for wiggins. And Cobo won.
If you look at the time taken i believe that Froome actually completed the route faster, Cobo got a few time bonuses which got him the overall.
Froome was hauled back on a stage that Wiggins had chosen to ride with unsuitable gearing which meant that both lost enough time to lose Froome an almost certain GC win. .
Wiggins was the nominated leader. It turned out that Froome was stronger. if they'd backed Froome as team leader earlier he'd have probably won since he had had opportunities that he didn't take as he was working for Wiggins. bear in mind of course that Wiggins had broken his collarbone not long before and wasn't on top form, not to mention that Froome's form was a bit of a surprise.
Froome was hauled back on a stage that Wiggins had chosen to ride with unsuitable gearing which meant that both lost enough time to lose Froome an almost certain GC win. .
This. regardless of Wiggo being the team leader and Froome's performance being a surprise, they had the capability to change leaders on the road on that stage and tell Froome to go for it. Wiggins looked like he was close to getting off and pushing (apparently his Rotor elliptical rings cant be made in the smaller sizes the other guys were using).
end of the day it is whats, ifs and maybes.
I strongly suspect that Froome will be going to the Vuelta this year and he will be going as nominated Team leader.
I don't think there are any if's or but's about the 2011 Vuelta, it's clear that Froome was the stronger rider and was made to ride for Wiggins. Sky didn't appear to have that flexibility or what to have it, by changing their leader part way through the tour and as a result neither Brad nor Froome won. Hopefully Sky will repay all the work Froome has done in the TdF and allow him freedom and FULL support to win the Vuelta this year, assuming he isn't pooped from TdF.