Vuelta a España 2014 - no current day stage discussion - see seasonal reminder sticky

godtabh · 14-08-2014 9:53am #1

I dont see a thread on this so maybe its time to start one?

I see that Contador is riding it

Alberto Contador ‏@albertocontador 3m
Hi all.I want to announce I will ride the Vuelta a España.Here you have a little video (English).See you all in Jerez http://youtu.be/LJNc8CEmqo4

ZiabR · 14-08-2014 9:55am

godtabh wrote: »

I dont see a thread on this so maybe its time to start one?

I see that Contador is riding it

Ohhhh great, I thought he would not make it back in time for it. Infact I remember him saying that the damage to the leg was worse than thought and that he would not make the Vuelta. Can't wait for it. Dan Martin is looking good too, so should be a great tour.

In saying that, if Bertie has any of the form he had entering the TDF he should win the Vuelta easily.

godtabh · 14-08-2014 9:57am

He twitted a while back that he had an infection in the wound. Maybe that was a ploy as he has been seen riding a lot recently.

MPFG · 14-08-2014 10:00am

I was just about to start a thread.....great minds eh ???

Vuelta is my favourite race of the year....The weather, scenery, MTFs, etc and of course always exciting racing

But this year with Froome, Quintana & Contador is looks uber exciting
then there are Aru, J-Rod, VDB, Kelderman, Talansky, Valverde, D Martin Hesjedal, Uran, Evans, Sanchez, Moreno,etc

Possibly the most exciting line up in a long time....guys at the Vuelta organising committee must be wetting themselves

P.S. I forgot Chris Horner who is according to reports confident he can win again :eek:

godtabh · 14-08-2014 10:05am

Its the first grand tour of the year that I'll be able to watch properly. Exams in May. Holidays in July. Nothing to do now

death1234567 · 14-08-2014 10:43am

could be one of the best grand tours of all time this. The top 3 GC cyclists in the world fighting it out.

simonrooneyzaga · 14-08-2014 10:44am

going to be an absolute cracker of a tour. Quintana for me.

Inquitus · 14-08-2014 10:45am

Hard to see how he doesn't get his arse kicked by Froome and Quintana given his clearly difficult preparation recovering from the broken femur. Is he being pushed into racing by Tinkoff, would he not be better off looking towards next years Tour at this point?

ZiabR · 14-08-2014 10:48am

simonrooneyzaga wrote: »

going to be an absolute cracker of a tour. Quintana for me.

I don't know, after Froome and Contador leaving the TDF I can see them trying to prove something to rescue their season.

simonrooneyzaga · 14-08-2014 10:56am

I reckon he's a stronger rider. A real joy to watch in the Giro this year.

Paddy has him slight the favourite. Perhaps some value with Bertie e/w there at 8/1?

Quintana 11/10 - Froome 13/8 - J-Rod 6/1 - Bertie 8/1

Inquitus · 14-08-2014 10:59am

simonrooneyzaga wrote: »

I reckon he's a stronger rider. A real joy to watch in the Giro this year.

Paddy has him slight the favourite. Perhaps some value with Bertie e/w there at 8/1?

Quintana 11/10 - Froome 13/8 - J-Rod 6/1 - Bertie 8/1

Only value is on laying Bertie, you'd don't break your Femur in mid July and win the Vuelta in late Aug / early Sep.

Darkglasses · 14-08-2014 11:02am

Inquitus wrote: »

Hard to see how he doesn't get his arse kicked by Froome and Quintana given his clearly difficult preparation recovering from the broken femur. Is he being pushed into racing by Tinkoff, would he not be better off looking towards next years Tour at this point?

He basically said in his interview he won't be riding for GC, instead he'll be aiming for stages in the last week. Probably hoping to replicate Joaquim Rodriguez's ability to ride into form during a Grand Tour during this year's TDF.

simonrooneyzaga · 14-08-2014 11:04am

Inquitus wrote: »

Only value is on laying Bertie, you'd don't break your Femur in mid July and win the Vuelta in late Aug / early Sep.

Sorry, meant to say for a place. I agree he won't win.

quozl · 14-08-2014 11:04am

He's talking about maybe competing for stage wins in the last week, not about GC contention.

I think we're getting a bit carried away here. It'll be good to have him there to try and wins stages anyway. Could make for some exciting days.

Inquitus · 14-08-2014 11:05am

Darkglasses wrote: »

Probably hoping to replicate Joaquim Rodriguez's ability to ride into form during a Grand Tour during this year's TDF.

Jrod ended up winning nothing at the Tour no?

Darkglasses · 14-08-2014 11:07am

Inquitus wrote: »

Jrod ended up winning nothing at the Tour no?

Frankly that he finished at all amazed me. Made a pretty good fist of the KOM classification, all things considered. I'll be equally amazed if Contador completes the vuelta.

Solobally8 · 14-08-2014 11:18am

Love the Vuelta, has always been my favourite tour. Usually much more exciting than the Tour De France. I'm amazed Contador is going to ride it. Delighted but amazed. Very fast recovery.

Talib Fiasco · 14-08-2014 11:36am

It's incredible that Contador is going to ride this...he's surely not 100% going into it though. Should be a great tour though as Quintana, Froome and Contador should be well rested and the latter two didn't do much or any climbing in the Tour granted Bertie has a leg injury. I think if Contador can miraculously get back to 100% by the time I think he'll win it. I think Quintana is the man to beat right now. This will be bloody great though.

Brian? · 14-08-2014 12:01pm

I seriously doubt Contador is riding the Vuelta and not thinking of the GC. He may not have the form or preparation but he'll make it exciting.

I predict 1.Quintana 2.Froome 3.Contador.

Dcully · 14-08-2014 12:14pm

Cant wait,we were robbed of the Contador V Froome V Nibali scenario in TDF this year unfortunately, surely this will go some way to making up for that disappointment.

godtabh · 14-08-2014 12:28pm

Has there been any updates on Froomes injuries? Will his bike handling be any better?

Talib Fiasco · 14-08-2014 12:33pm

godtabh wrote: »

Has there been any updates on Froomes injuries? Will his bike handling be any better?

It would appear he's perfectly healed...he's been commenting on his training and there are numerous pictures of him training in Cali. Here he is with Levi Leipheimer of all people:

http://instagram.com/p/rDi4QbGsTd/

simonrooneyzaga · 14-08-2014 12:37pm

Talib Fiasco wrote: »

It would appear he's perfectly healed...he's been commenting on his training and there are numerous pictures of him training in Cali. Here he is with Levi Leipheimer of all people:

http://instagram.com/p/rDi4QbGsTd/

??? Why associate himself with Leipheimer? Doesn't look good.

Inquitus · 14-08-2014 12:37pm

simonrooneyzaga wrote: »

??? Why associate himself with Leipheimer? Doesn't look good.

Doesn't look as bad as being on a team run by Riis? or Vino?

Talib Fiasco · 14-08-2014 12:39pm

simonrooneyzaga wrote: »

??? Why associate himself with Leipheimer? Doesn't look good.

From a PR point of view and to Clinic mad cycling fans, certainly a shady move by Froome....

Inquitus wrote: »

Doesn't look as bad as being on a team run by Riis? or Vino?

Zing!!!

simonrooneyzaga · 14-08-2014 12:40pm

Inquitus wrote: »

Doesn't look as bad as being on a team run by Riis? or Vino?

Agreed. But he knows how this works now. Look at the Tour last year. Why bother go training with a cheat, for the sake of an easier life?

MPFG · 14-08-2014 1:13pm

When asked about Levi in the future .."Did you know Levi was a confirmed doper?" ....Mitchelle will say "No he didn't" ...while Froome will say "Not really, kinda...maybe ...not sure"

godtabh · 14-08-2014 1:15pm

MPFG wrote: »

When asked about Levi in the future .."Did you know Levi was a confirmed doper?" ....Mitchelle will say "No he didn't" ...while Froome will say "Not really, kinda...maybe ...not sure"

In his book he gives him a lot of credit for helping him get him where he is. I think. I think the relationship has been on going for a long time but not in public

velo.2010 · 14-08-2014 1:18pm

Time to re-subscribe to the Eurosport player so!:)

Great news.

el tel · 14-08-2014 1:48pm

A lot of the scenery in the Vuelta looks like the moon so I don't really like that aspect.

However, the Vuelta is awesome no-holds barred ultimate cycling where normal rules don't apply :pac:

richieg · 14-08-2014 1:51pm

Think Aru will go well. The team will be well motivated after TDF and he will want to stake his place in the team ahead of next year

Talib Fiasco · 14-08-2014 1:52pm

Fair play to TG4 as well getting the Vuelta live everyday....some going in fairness

dastardly00 · 14-08-2014 1:56pm

I can't see anybody stopping Horner from retaining his title.

MPFG · 14-08-2014 2:00pm

el tel wrote: »

A lot of the scenery in the Vuelta looks like the moon so I don't really like that aspect.

However, the Vuelta is awesome no-holds barred ultimate cycling where normal rules don't apply :pac:

Really....loved places in 2013 like

Monte de Groba
Cape Finisterre
Alto de Penes Blancas
L'Angliru

Talib Fiasco · 14-08-2014 2:10pm

dastardly00 wrote: »

I can't see anybody stopping Horner from retaining his title.

I will throw up if that happens tbh...

godtabh · 14-08-2014 2:22pm

Talib Fiasco wrote: »

I will throw up if that happens tbh...

Why?

quozl · 14-08-2014 2:28pm

MPFG wrote: »

Really....loved places in 2013 like

L'Angliru

Remember Nibali attacking Horner again and again in the mist on L'Angliru. That looked unreal. Amazing to watch.

Dcully · 14-08-2014 2:39pm

quozl wrote: »

Remember Nibali attacking Horner again and again in the mist on L'Angliru. That looked unreal. Amazing to watch.

It was the very definition of Epic in so many ways.

ZiabR · 14-08-2014 3:45pm

dastardly00 wrote: »

I can't see anybody stopping Horner from retaining his title.

You serious? He has no chance in my opinion this year.

death1234567 · 14-08-2014 4:09pm

quozl wrote: »

Remember Nibali attacking Horner again and again in the mist on L'Angliru. That looked unreal.

It was. An Extra-Terrestrial performance from Horner as they'd say in l'Equipe.

Pudsy33 · 14-08-2014 4:27pm

logik wrote: »

You serious? He has no chance in my opinion this year.

I think your sarcasm detector is faulty.

dastardly00 · 14-08-2014 4:27pm

logik wrote: »

You serious? He has no chance in my opinion this year.

No way I'm serious, he hasn't a hope!

ZiabR · 14-08-2014 4:28pm

Pudsy33 wrote: »

I think your sarcasm detector is faulty.

Yes, it does seem to be off today

Briando · 14-08-2014 5:23pm

dastardly00 wrote: »

No way I'm serious, he hasn't a hope!

Unless he see's a good Dr.

Dr. Bre · 14-08-2014 5:25pm

MPFG wrote: »

I was just about to start a thread.....great minds eh ???

Vuelta is my favourite race of the year....The weather, scenery, MTFs, etc and of course always exciting racing

But this year with Froome, Quintana & Contador is looks uber exciting
then there are Aru, J-Rod, VDB, Kelderman, Talansky, Valverde, D Martin Hesjedal, Uran, Evans, Sanchez, Moreno,etc

Possibly the most exciting line up in a long time....guys at the Vuelta organising committee must be wetting themselves

P.S. I forgot Chris Horner who is according to reports confident he can win again :eek:

How can I get them all into my fantasy team ha!

MPFG · 15-08-2014 7:26pm

Anyone have a link to fantasy team and which one are you all doing ???

neris · 15-08-2014 8:43pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8q4lesDhmEQ

stage 6 start could be an easy 1 to get to see not to far from Malaga airport

(BTW anyone know what your man Simon did to his neck before?)

Sinbad_NI · 15-08-2014 10:47pm

Really enjoyed last year's race and this one is all set up to be another step up.

Hopefully one person doesn't run away with it.

dastardly00 · 15-08-2014 10:51pm

MPFG wrote: »

Anyone have a link to fantasy team and which one are you all doing ???

The Velogames Fantasy Cycling competition (the usual one we do) isn't set up yet. Nothing on their website, Twitter, Facebook yet!

Solobally8 · 15-08-2014 11:14pm

neris wrote: »

(BTW anyone know what your man Simon did to his neck before?)

His twitter says he did a faceplant while on a cross bike in the woods

Darkglasses · 18-08-2014 4:58pm

No Mark Cavendish in Omega Pharma - Quick-Step's LaVuelta team: Uran, Boonen, Martin, Poels, Brambilla, Serry, Verona, Velits, Maes

Vuelta a España 2014 - no current day stage discussion - see seasonal reminder sticky

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