Vuelta a Espana 2009

07Lapierre

So who's going to win? Cadel Evans? (Nah) Andy Schlek? (Maybe?) Valverde (My moneys on him), What about Vino?

crashoveroid

I would love to see Evans do it i think he might just be that bit better in the TT over Schleck but that is all based on his climbing being good.

redmenace1

What date does it start ??

ednwireland

29th august in holland

http://www.lavuelta.com/09/ingles/recorrido/mapa.html?e=p

LCD

Imagine it will be someone with the motivation to win it more so than the ability. Evans and Schelk (either of them) are good enough but after a long season and tour do they really want to "go to the well" on a daily basis as the great Phil "I love Lance" Liggitt would say. On the other hand Sanchez, Vino, Valverde, Basso will probably all be keen as mustard to win it. Apologies for all the incorrect spelling of surnames.

Westcorkbiker

u would have to fancy andy on the form he showed in the tour, but then maybe he will be way off the pace like menchov strangely was in the tour, despite dominating the giro.?!
I would love to see evans win as he seems to be one of the cleanest guys in cycling. The spaniards always seem to do really well, so Valverde might challenge but he never seems to do it when the chips are down. Anyway far more interesting is whether philip deiganan can win a stage and if Dan Martin can get a top 10 in the GC, he was quoted as saying that he is in the form of his life. I normally dont pay that much attention to the vuelta but this time i will. exciting times to be an Irish cycling fan. wonder what price the bookies have martin for a top 10 overall?

RobFowl

LCD wrote: »

Imagine it will be someone with the motivation to win it more so than the ability. Evans and Schelk (either of them) are good enough but after a long season and tour do they really want to "go to the well" on a daily basis as the great Phil "I love Lance" Liggitt would say. On the other hand Sanchez, Vino, Valverde, Basso will probably all be keen as mustard to win it. Apologies for all the incorrect spelling of surnames.

Sean Kelly agree's with you !
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/28082009/58/vuelta-espana-kelly-predicts-open-race.html

Captain Havoc

Is there any reason why Cancellera is 500/1?

Chips Lovell

jerseyeire wrote: »

Is there any reason why Cancellera is 500/1?

Is there any reason why he shouldn't be?

Captain Havoc

el tonto wrote: »

Is there any reason why he shouldn't be?

"First of all the Schleck brothers, Andy and Frank for Saxo Bank, must be mentioned as obvious contenders after their efforts in the Tour and their team-mate Fabio Cancellara also joins them as a danger, especially in the time-trials," said Kelly

I know he's not Andy Schleck but I thought he'd be better than 500/1.

petethedrummer

I'll go with my pre-TDF assessment:

petethedrummer wrote: »

Not this year(Sastre), Nor Cadel Evans, Nor Christian Vande Velde. A rumoured doper will win.

Perhaps Contador, who Bradley Wiggins finished second to in the Paris-Nice opening time trial. As Phil Harmon noted - [Paraphrase]'Sean is beside me shaking his head in disbelief'.[/paraphrase]

Just change a few of the names around. Hmmmmm, I dunno. Valverde for the win.

Chips Lovell

jerseyeire wrote: »

I know he's not Andy Schleck but I thought he'd be better than 500/1.

He's a potential stage winner as Kelly says, but wouldn't threaten for the overall.

07Lapierre

Nah still think Valverde has the Motivation and the team to do it. Andy Schlek has a good team, but he's had a long season and its his first Vuelta. Its starts in Holland (?) tomorrow. The rute looks savage, a real "leg breaker" as SK would say. Time will tell..
Maybe one of you who knows how will set up a poll and we can have a vote on it?

eggie

Backed Basso to win.

Valverde & Gesink as savers.

Sanchez is an obvious danger although I think he'll be the nearly man again.

Orizio

jerseyeire wrote: »

Is there any reason why Cancellera is 500/1?

His inability to climb mountains probably has something to do with it.

Are Roche and Diegnan racing?

Prediction:

1. Valv.piti *spit*

2. Samuel Sanchez

3. Roman Kreuziger

Captain Havoc

Orizio wrote: »

His inability to climb mountains probably has something to do with it.

Are Roche and Diegnan racing?

Martin 80/1, Deignan 125/1 no Roche

Fernando1

Really looking forward to this. Especially to seeing Martin once things kick off in the second week. Might have to sign up for the Eurosport player for it.

Running Bing

So is anybody actually bothering with the Vuelta?:p


I've been following it but tbh I always find it hard to muster much enthusiasm for the Vuelta. Maybe its the time of the year its on, maybe its the depleted field, maybe its the blandness of a lot of the Spanish countryside but I can just never get into it the way I do the Giro or Tour.


Has been some good sprint finishes though....hopefully things will get a bit more exciting once they hit the mountains.

DirkVoodoo

I agree Running Bing, maybe I'm just more in a US Open mood, but it's my first Vuelta and it's really, really boring.

Running Bing

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

I agree Running Bing, maybe I'm just more in a US Open mood, but it's my first Vuelta and it's really, really boring.

I dont think the stages in Holland helped.


That time trial around the racing track was awful. Like I said though once it hits the mountains the likes of Schleck, Valverde and Gesink should come into their own and things will get a bit more interesting.


PS. Were exactly is Dan Martin in the GC? Im scanning through it but cant find him.

Dura Ace

It seems like Deignan is suffering in a big way with the heat.

_________________________________________________________

Intense heat leaves me in a spin

Stage 6 - Xativa to Xativa
176.8kms
I had to pinch myself when I crossed the finish line in Xativa yesterday to make sure it wasn’t a mirage.
I came about as close as you can to getting sunstroke and I was dizzy and nauseous when we hit the last climb with 20 kilometres to go.
It was a frightening experience made all the worse because it occurred during what is known as ‘go time’ on what was a relatively flat stage.
The peleton has just caught a four-man breakaway and everyone was trying to position themselves for the rapid descent to the finish.
It was over 40 degrees for much of the day and I suffered big time as I worked to come to terms with the heat.
I’ve already explained the importance of rehydration to those of you reading my race diary but the problem yesterday was that I was sweating water out quicker than I could replace it.
I went through ten litres of water and everyone on my Cervelo Test Team took turns to drop back to the team car to fetch fresh water bottles.
Sweating is the body’s attempt to cool down but you need a constant supply of water to keep sweating and there was nothing I could do to get the balance right.
There is a lot or discussion in cycling at the moment about the use of race radios and whether or not they are making riders lazy.
Every rider in the peleton wears an earpiece which allows them to communicate with their team vehicles and their Director Sportif.
This allows the team director to tell you when a climb is coming up, how long it is, when you need to be at the front and how far you have to go to the finish.
The only other alternative is to study the race manual and to memorise the terrain for the day.
A lot of the directors were riders themselves who never had the benefit of race radio and their argument is that the radios stop us from thinking for ourselves.
I was certainly thankful for having that earpiece yesterday and the advice in my ear was just what I needed to hang on.
You have no choice in circumstances like that but to concentrate and to deal with the problem.
The peleton is at full tilt during the last ten kilometres and that is when you’re really switched on and when you need your wits about you.
Yesterday’s stage crossed three third category climbs and there was a real sting in the tail with the final accent of the Serrgrosa close to the finish.
It was the type of climb that can split the bunch very quickly and it only takes a few seconds to find yourself losing time in a chasing group.
The final 5 kilometres were all down hill and the drop to the finish was seriously technical as we hit speeds of over 70 kph with concrete crash barriers in every corner.
Some riders lost their concentration and nerve a bit and started to let wheels go in the last 2 kilometres and I had to work hard to stay in contention.
Borut Bozic from the Vacansoleil team stole a march on the big sprinters to take the stage and I was relieved to cross the line just nine second behind him.
I was still sweating half an hour after the stage finished as everyone made for a cold shower on the team bus.
The water tank on the bus is located close to the engine and the cold water was actually hot because the engine had been turned on to run the air conditioning. I was too tired to curse.
Today’s stage is a 30 kilometres time trial. I’m not particularly fond of time trials and my goal today is to limit my time losses. There is still a long way to Madrid but the real race starts today.

ednwireland

if there were daily highlights on a free tv channel i would watch them but i'm struggling to find a decent highlights package anywhere free ( i will not pay sky for stuff)

so i watch very short highlights where i can but its not conducive to getting a following going.

JacksonHeightsOwn

the problem is even eurosport arent showing highlights, its just the US open, sure we`re all in work till at least 5, so how can it be followed

looking forward to the stage tomorrow(sunday), should be interesting

pity Cancellera cant clim though, comes across a really cool fella, and my god is he quick in the time trials :eek:

Raam

Anyone who has Eurosport: you guys should get yourselves a hard disc recorder. I record all the stages and then watch them in the evening.

titan18

I've been keeping an eye but the first week of the Vuelta is always shocking,every year without fail.It'll get better when the mountains come up next week.

niceonetom

Grand tours; it's all about the mountains for me. A week of flat stages and second tier sprinters, meh.

One day with 4500m of climbing and a mountain top finish. Oh yeah. Two in a row. Now we're talking.

And I'll accept a start list lacing in superstars if we get some plucky young riders who re prepared to give it everything.

Johnny Hoogerland: Hero of the day I think.



Edit: the blogosphere ate my picture!

Raam

niceonetom wrote: »

Grand tours; it's all about the mountains for me. A week of flat stages and second tier sprinters, meh.

One day with 4500m of climbing and a mountain top finish. Oh yeah. Two in a row. Now we're talking.

And I'll accept a start list lacing in superstars if we get some plucky young riders who re prepared to give it everything.

Johnny Hoogerland: Hero of the day I think.

He must be totally wrecked. He hasn't even noticed that he has an STI lever stuck in his ear.

Edit: where the hell did that picture go?

07Lapierre

chrisbonnie wrote: »

the problem is even eurosport arent showing highlights, its just the US open, sure we`re all in work till at least 5, so how can it be followed

looking forward to the stage tomorrow(sunday), should be interesting

pity Cancellera cant clim though, comes across a really cool fella, and my god is he quick in the time trials :eek:

Highlights were on eurosport every morning about 7.30am. I think next week the highlights will be in the evenings. But check the day before as Eurosport are a bit "unreliable" when it comes to highlights. If they are showing something "Live", that gets priority over a highlights programme, so the start times can vary.

sy

niceonetom wrote: »

Grand tours; it's all about the mountains for me. A week of flat stages and second tier sprinters, meh.

One day with 4500m of climbing and a mountain top finish. Oh yeah. Two in a row. Now we're talking.

And I'll accept a start list lacing in superstars if we get some plucky young riders who re prepared to give it everything.

Johnny Hoogerland: Hero of the day I think.

+1 on that and don't forget Dan Martin was only dropped from the main group in the last 2km. Finished just behind Hoogerland. Great ride when you consider who he was riding with. Valverde Evans Basso Cunego Gesink etc. Well done Mr Martin . Might see him take a stage yet.

Diarmuid

Live video link with English commentary

Currently 52km to go in stage.

lukester

Spoilers please.

Captain Havoc

bought the star today for the first time since a long time, phillip deignan is writing a diary in there.

07Lapierre

I miss one day, ONE, and now I hear Cadel Evans is leading??. Valverde is still my man. Anyone know if its been broadcast live on the internet? (For Free that is)

petethedrummer

Anyone know of a decent text feed? The one on eurosport is not as good as it was for the TDF.

petethedrummer

Best I could find is this:

http://live.cyclingnews.com/5.html

07Lapierre

petethedrummer wrote: »

Anyone know of a decent text feed? The one on eurosport is not as good as it was for the TDF.

Cyclingnews have one..I have it on my phone
http://live.cyclingnews.com

Diarmuid

lukester wrote: »

Spoilers please.

Sorry ...

29km to go!

and I don't like making predictions but

I think we will be at 25km to go soon

Diarmuid

07Lapierre wrote: »

Anyone know if its been broadcast live on the internet? (For Free that is)

eh? how about 3 posts before your one?

RobFowl

http://www.fromsport.com/video-66736.html
In spanish though, The one a few back has stopped working.

Diarmuid

RobFowl wrote: »

The one a few back has stopped working.

Not for me it hasn't

07Lapierre

Diarmuid wrote: »

eh? how about 3 posts before your one?

Gee thanks Diarmuid....get out of the wrong side of the bed this morning did we?..Rob foul answered politely (Thanks Rob)..

Diarmuid

07Lapierre wrote: »

Gee thanks Diarmuid....get out of the wrong side of the bed this morning did we?..Rob foul answered politely (Thanks Rob)..

you poor delicate thing. I'll put on my kid gloves in typing any future replies

Esroh

Ladshttp://www.steephill.tv have the list of available links everyday. The universal link has english com. Has started at 3pm our time each day

jwshooter

its starting to heat up now some great cycling today,just looking at on sky

Captain Havoc

ha ha, I'm the rest of the week on my own at work, will be able to watch porn the rest of the weeks Vuelta after missing the two mountain stages but best of all I get to write more posts here

Acoustic

jerseyeire wrote: »

ha ha, I'm the rest of the week on my own at work, will be able to watch porn the rest of the weeks Vuelta after missing the two mountain stages but best of all I get to write more posts here

ffs

Captain Havoc

Well that was an exciting finish, only got to see the last 5km or so.

JacksonHeightsOwn

jerseyeire wrote: »

Well that was an exciting finish, only got to see the last 5km or so.

ive seen all the coverage this past week, thats actually been the best finish so far

Sean Kelly was saying the peloton where hitting 70kmh coming to the end, if thats true then HOLY **** :eek:

RobFowl

Irish interest in the veulta today

1. 15:01 CEST (132km remaining from 187km)
   
   Okay, the four have joined the 12, so we've not got a lead group of 16 riders. Apparently the peloton is satisfied with the composition of the group so they've let them got away to a two minute advantage. The leaders are now 2km from the summit of the Mijares.
2. 15:03 CEST
   
   The temperature at the top of the climb has dropped to 9 degrees C, this will be a big shock to the systems of the riders after a week of Spanish sunshine.

Situation
Jesus Hernandez (Astana), Philip Deignan (Cervélo TestTeam), Bingen Fernandez (Cofidis), Rein Taaramäe (Cofidis), David Moncoutié (Cofidis), Tadej Valjiavec (AG2R La Mondiale), Rémy Di Gregorio (Française des Jeux), Mikael Cherel (Française des Jeux), Igor Anton (Euskaltel-Euskadi), Manuel Vasquez (Contentpolis-Ampo), Roman Kreuziger (Liquigas), David Herrero (Xacobeo Galicia), Jakob Fuglsang (Saxo Bank), Matti Breschel (Saxo Bank), Jesus Del Nero Montes (Fuji-Servetto) and Philippe Gilbert (Silence-Lotto)
Peloton at 2.12

07Lapierre

Only a few days to go and Valverde's in Gold! I can't see him loosing it now. Damn I knew i should have put a few euro on him! :rolleyes:

petethedrummer

Cofidis' wheels and tyres look terrible.