Vuelta Espana

Bruce Wayne · August 21, 2014

Final grand tour of the season starts on Saturday. I'm not normally all that fussed by it, but it's got a cracking field this year.

Should get to see Froome and Quintana go head to head. Hopefully Contador will be fit enough to compete, and then you've got Valverde, Purito, Dan Martin, Talansky, Hejsedal et al too. Quite probably the strongest field of any race this year.

degsy · August 21, 2014

The tour is on TV, gets coverage on the news, people watch...a bit... well I do.
No TV coverage, no news cover = nobody gives a rats

Bruce Wayne · August 21, 2014

Kinda sad that people are so easily swayed by what television tells them though isn't it?

Wat Tyler · August 21, 2014

Bruce Wayne said:
Kinda sad that people are so easily swayed by what television tells them though isn't it?

That's just the way it is, there are worse sports than cycling that get well more viewers through mainstream media.

I am really looking forward to this Vuelta, it is hard to call a winner. I dont believe Contador for one minute- he is here for the win. Him, Froome and Quintana could be mouthwatering.

chicoazul · August 21, 2014

All of them are absolutely off their tits on complex steroids. Every last one of them.

Username · August 21, 2014

I have no idea what this thread is about.

Bruce Wayne · August 21, 2014

Wat Tyler said:
That's just the way it is, there are worse sports than cycling that get well more viewers through mainstream media.

I am really looking forward to this Vuelta, it is hard to call a winner. I dont believe Contador for one minute- he is here for the win. Him, Froome and Quintana could be mouthwatering.

Should be a belter. Valverde and Quintana are a strong pairing for Movistar. I think Horner is back too, but surely he can't repeat last years effort?

I'm quite keen to see how Pete Kennaugh does this year. Missed the Giro through illness and was unfortunate to miss out on Tour selection, but he won the Tour of Austria so obviously has reasonable climbing form. Will be good to see how Adam Yates does in his first grand tour as well, he's looked really punchy in his debut season.

sbbefc · August 21, 2014

It'll be a better contest than the Tour just the stages are a bit bland.

Wat Tyler · August 21, 2014

Bruce Wayne said:
Should be a belter. Valverde and Quintana are a strong pairing for Movistar. I think Horner is back too, but surely he can't repeat last years effort?

I'm quite keen to see how Pete Kennaugh does this year. Missed the Giro through illness and was unfortunate to miss out on Tour selection, but he won the Tour of Austria so obviously has reasonable climbing form. Will be good to see how Adam Yates does in his first grand tour as well, he's looked really punchy in his debut season.

Froome; Quintana, Contador, Aru, Horner, Rodriguez, Kelderman, Uran, all have reasonable expectations of podium. Then as you say, likes of Yates, and Gilbert, Pinot, Barguil who can all stage hunt.

Yes I really like Kennaugh, he was immense in last years Tour, but I have a feeling Deignan, and of course Nieve will be Froomes best allies. Sky meant to be signing Poels. Very shrewd, he was fantastic for Uran at the Giro.

Bruce Wayne · August 21, 2014

Wat Tyler said:
Froome; Quintana, Contador, Aru, Horner, Rodriguez, Kelderman, Uran, all have reasonable expectations of podium. Then as you say, likes of Yates, and Gilbert, Pinot, Barguil who can all stage hunt.

Yes I really like Kennaugh, he was immense in last years Tour, but I have a feeling Deignan, and of course Nieve will be Froomes best allies. Sky meant to be signing Poels. Very shrewd, he was fantastic for Uran at the Giro.

Cataldo also looked decent in the Giro. The Sky team looks much stronger than their Tour lineup, especially if Suitsou and Kyrienka arrive in any kind of form. They have some time trial power there too so it'll be interesting to see how they get on in the TTT prologue to kick it off. Shame it's only a short one though. Probably one turn for each rider, if that.

Wat Tyler · August 21, 2014

Bruce Wayne said:
Cataldo also looked decent in the Giro. The Sky team looks much stronger than their Tour lineup, especially if Suitsou and Kyrienka arrive in any kind of form. They have some time trial power there too so it'll be interesting to see how they get on in the TTT prologue to kick it off. Shame it's only a short one though. Probably one turn for each rider, if that.

Yer I am not too fussed on TTT's. I just think you could get someone like Andy Schleck getting a free ride from Cancellara, and gaining time while doing the bare minimum.

peteblue · August 21, 2014

Username said:
I have no idea what this thread is about.

Its the annual steroids race......

Bruce Wayne · August 21, 2014

Wat Tyler said:
Yer I am not too fussed on TTT's. I just think you could get someone like Andy Schleck getting a free ride from Cancellara, and gaining time while doing the bare minimum.

Aye, and over such a short course as well it all seems a bit pointless. I can't imagine each of the 9 members of a team will even do a turn on the front over a 9km course. I would think Schleck would need a tow from a motorbike to get anywhere near the front of a race these days. He's gone backwards very quickly.

Wat Tyler · August 21, 2014

Bruce Wayne said:
Aye, and over such a short course as well it all seems a bit pointless. I can't imagine each of the 9 members of a team will even do a turn on the front over a 9km course. I would think Schleck would need a tow from a motorbike to get anywhere near the front of a race these days. He's gone backwards very quickly.

He is finished, I think it has been something like 4 years since he won any race. He is so far behind likes of Froome and Contador now, I can see him retiring soon.