Vuelta a España 2015 discussion thread

godtabh

Just saw it on the BBC. N Roche may not be to pleased with that

bazermc

When its starting - last week in August?

crosstownk

bazermc wrote: »

When its starting - last week in August?

Yep. Sat 22nd.

happytramp

Bring it on!.... In all it's SKY training, marginal gaining, name calling, Roche hating, Pi$$ throwing, Nibali attacking, Movistar failing, Dan Martin stage winning, glory!! Can't wait.

MPFGLB

Well guess who ?


Anyway CyclingNews also saying Thomas & Henao riding and they (maybe home bias as lets face it they don't see Froome as British) there is a question of Thomas maybe having leadership (co leadership)

Poor Nico as in April he was hoping for at least protected rider status..Cannot see that with Thomas & Froome ...And no way Froome is riding not to win so all team will be at his full disposal

(strange part of Roche article in Indo yesterday where he said that in the middle of planning his wedding he was on the phone to Team SKY trying to persuade them to let him ride in a race ???

But I guess if you takes the money you pay the piper (or some such saying)

I think Quintana could win this one though

Eamonnator

Welcome back.

odyssey06

Strange that only three names from Sky's provisional fourteen is being circulated... no mention of anyone else, Nico, Deignan etc etc

godtabh

MPFGLB wrote: »

Well guess who ?


Anyway CyclingNews also saying Thomas & Henao riding and they say(maybe home bias as lets face it they don't see Froome as British) there is a question of Thomas maybe having leadership (co leadership)

Poor Nico as in April he was hoping for at least protected rider status..Cannot see that with Thomas & Froome ...And no way Froome is riding not to win so all team will be at his full disposal

(strange part of Roche article in Indo yesterday where he said that in the middle of planning his wedding he was on the phone to Team SKY trying to persuade them to let him ride in a race ???

But I guess if you takes the money you pay the piper (or some such saying)

I think Quintana could win this one though

Sounds like something someone else would say.

MPFGLB

godtabh wrote: »

Sounds like something someone else would say.

??? Which part .

all of it ?

godtabh

MPFGLB wrote: »

??? Which part .

all of it ?

Just the first 100%

I wonder will Froome have it in him. Contador didnt. Will the others? I wonder will there be any outside bets? TeJay?

MPFGLB

Can't see TJVG wining it tbh

Strongest team will be Astana by a clear mile so Aru/Landa & Nibali would need to mess up big time to not have the podium covered if not the win but I think Quintana is the best climber and stages 11, 14, 15 & 16 look brutal enough for him to kill the race

Of the Astana guys I think Nibali for me as he was just coming to form as Tour ended and he has a point to make and as the say hell hath no fury like a Sicilian scorned

Puriot & Valverde will be up there

Froome may make podium but probably top 5

Dan Martin will need to go for an early stage but there are quite a few options for him ...hope other Irish (if riding) get a chance for at least a stage

Stage 8 is a seriously different stage and will be very fast ....

Guess Froome will need Deignan, Nieve , Boswell , Lopez & Henao

I think Thomas would be better riding ToB as prep for the Worlds and he would be very popular choice for that race but another tough GT may not help his chances later

pelevin

Well doing the Tour Vuelta double isn't all that comparable in terms of difficulty to the Giro Tour double as, obviously enough, the main contenders are all in the same boat; i.e. the big guns who have primarily focused on the Tour as their season's goal like Froome, Quintana & Nibali. So I think the Giro Tour double for Contador was always going to be at the far reaches of attainable, but with the hardness of the Giro this year it went more or less into the realms of impossible. The ones presumably with the advantage now for the Vuelta are the comparably lesser lights of Aru & Landa. If the Giro was a genuine statement of Landa's stature now in cycling, then if he was given a freer rein than the at times ludicrous shackles imposed on him by Astana in the Giro - particularly on the last mountain stage where he had to sit up to hand the glory over to Aru - it wouldn't be surprising for me to see him as the standout rider. Then again, who knows, maybe he'll be nowhere. It'd actually make for some amazing racing if Astana really handled well their possible 3-card options of Aru, Landa & Nibali to hopefully shake up the comparable dullness of all-together-till-the-final-climb racing.

I'd of course not be surprised to see Froome flying but seeing as he does seem to fade in the TdF compared to stratospheric form on the earlier climbs, & where Quintana seems to gain on him on that front, & with zero knowledge of the Vuelta route, I'd probably if pushed bet on Quintana ahead of him - not that I'd feel strongly enough to actually bet unless it was a good push.

Hope Dan stays healthy & gets maybe even a couple of stage wins.

RobFowl

The tour vuelta double has never been done since the vuelta moved from spring to its present slot. Suspect if Froome is looking for a legacy then this might be a good way to go for it..

MPFGLB

I think the Tour Vuelta double is very hard given how difficult the Tour this year

Stage 11 alone is mental

Team SKY should be

Froome
Deignan
Nieve
Kiryenka
Henao
Boswell
Lopez


with 2 from Thomas, Roche, Poels,Sitisou, Viviani

MPFGLB

I think the Tour Vuelta double is very hard given how difficult the Tour this year

Stage 11 of Vuelta alone is mental

Team SKY should be

Froome
Deignan
Nieve
Kiryenka
Henao
Boswell
Lopez


with 2 from Thomas, Roche, Poels,Sitisou, Viviani

Zzippy

MPFGLB wrote: »

I think the Tour Vuelta double is very hard given how difficult the Tour this year

Stage 11 alone is mental

Team SKY should be

Froome
Deignan
Nieve
Kiryenka
Henao
Boswell
Lopez


with 2 from Thomas, Roche, Poels,Sitisou, Viviani

:eek:

Man, you've changed! Where's the love for Nico???

Andy Magic

Is there a list of confirmed riders available anywhere?

Based on Astana's confirmed riders alone and how interesting the Giro was this year I think we're in for one hell of a race.

happytramp

Who will be sky's plan B? I think they'd be foolish to go into this with out having an option in the eventuality that Froome's efforts in July catch up with him. Although that would basically imply one of the team best riders not pulling in the train for Froome.

MPFGLB

happytramp wrote: »

Who will be sky's plan B? I think they'd be foolish to go into this with out having an option in the eventuality that Froome's efforts in July catch up with him. Although that would basically imply one of the team best riders not pulling in the train for Froome.

First of all SKY never have a plan B

Second of all my love of Nico is still there !!! but I don't think he is guaranteed a place in the team based on the need to give other riders a chance in GTs . If SKY, as they seem to be, are pushing towards being a hilly puncheur rider then maybe he wonlt be at the Vuelta

I actually think he should be picked but not sure ...and given his 'slip' in the Indo article about ringing the team to convince them to let him ride a race my doubts were increased

As he is in very good form and fresh from not riding a GT Henao may be there second rider but then if Thomas rides who knows

If Nico rides I hope he is let off the leash in the first 10 stages and he could get a stage and will be flying but as is the case with other years (and other riders) will be tired in final week
(but I doubt he will be let off the leash as SKY will ride dedicated to Froome as they tend to do)

I am learning to be pragmatic . Funnily enough I didn't want Nico to go to SKY . Being Irish I wanted him to continue to lead in a GT like the Vuelta and knew that would no be the case at SKY but would be at IAM, TREK, etc or any other team besides Movistar, Astana, Katusha & TCS)

(sorry about the double post earlier as cannot edit or delete at present)

Koobcam

Great looking line-up for the Vuelta, looks like maybe an even stronger field of contenders (on paper anyway) than the Tour-apart from Bertie, all the big guns are there plus Astana will have Landa and Aru to go with Nibali. Is there a Boards velogames league for this one?

Daroxtar

Stages 11 and 16 are absolutely balls out insane. No warm up, just straight up the mountain from the start.

Can't.
Fking.
Wait.

chanelfreak

Any idea if this will be televised on ITV? I have become (sadly) addicted to watching cycling and this sounds like it will be great! Except if its on Sky Sports or something

Pudsy33

chanelfreak wrote: »

Any idea if this will be televised on ITV? I have become (sadly) addicted to watching cycling and this sounds like it will be great! Except if its on Sky Sports or something

It's on eurosport, you can subscribe online cheaply enough.

chanelfreak

Pudsy33 wrote: »

It's on eurosport, you can subscribe online cheaply enough.

Thanks a million, I'll ask himself if we have it already fingers crossed

MPFGLB

Its on ITV4 also

MPFGLB

Well Poels is NOT riding the Vuelta as he is at another race so my new Nico campaign lives on !!


Will be interesting to see if Landa will attack Froome or if when both he and Froome are just the only 2 left on a climb (a good possibility) will he take time/bonus seconds from Froome given where he is headed next year and if he did what would the Kazakhs do

pelevin

I think it'd be a very sad indication of any rider & their lack of personal drive to win if Landa did ride in the manner of that scenario, i.e. subserviently to Froome! If he did clearly do such a thing - and I'd be pretty certain he wouldn't unless he's a total lickspittle - Astana should obviously if allowed just pull him from the race.

pelevin

RobFowl wrote: »

The tour vuelta double has never been done since the vuelta moved from spring to its present slot. Suspect if Froome is looking for a legacy then this might be a good way to go for it..

Though apparently Sastre in 2008 is the only reigning Tour champion to have even ridden the Vuelta in the same year, when he came 3rd, in the 20 years since it switched to the autumn.
It would give real kudos to Froome but for the reasons given already where the very top riders are all in the same boat of having already ridden the Tour, it should be much more doable than the Giro Tour double.

MPFGLB

If Landa were to conceed to Froome in a race he would hardly do it obviously like pulling up and getting off his bike

I am talking about not trying as hard ..and this does happen...not just idle specualtion

Brian?

I'm still not convinced Froome will ride the Vuelta. If he does it would be some feat to win it. My money is on Nibali, give how he finished the tour.

pelevin

MPFGLB wrote: »

If Landa were to conceed to Froome in a race he would hardly do it obviously like pulling up and getting off his bike

I am talking about not trying as hard ..and this does happen...not just idle specualtion

I'm not saying there's anything wrong with the speculation, & sure, maybe it could even happen. Speculation gives us something to talk about for starters! But I'm saying for me it'd reflect very badly on Landa if he did ride in such a manner. Maybe only few riders have the attitude of a champion but for me the willingness to put oneself beneath someone else is far from necessarily a virtue, and ultimately in this scenario particularly would reflect a real lack of self-respect.

dastardly00

I wonder if TG4 have live coverage of La Vuelta like they did last year?

Leroy42

dastardly00 wrote: »

I wonder if TG4 have live coverage of La Vuelta like they did last year?

They do, saw an ad for it the other day

MPFGLB

pelevin wrote: »

I'm not saying there's anything wrong with the speculation, & sure, maybe it could even happen. Speculation gives us something to talk about for starters! But I'm saying for me it'd reflect very badly on Landa if he did ride in such a manner. Maybe only few riders have the attitude of a champion but for me the willingness to put oneself beneath someone else is far from necessarily a virtue, and ultimately in this scenario particularly would reflect a real lack of self-respect.

Yeah but the thing is I don't see Froome being that strong. I was just 'alludin' as the Tailor would say

Brian? says he cannot see Froome riding the Vuelata ....but he has made the announcement and I think he wants to do it as mud in the eye to Contador's double aspirations. These guys are so competitive

Morrisseeee

Just reading about Froome's doctor : Dr. Stephane Bermon
I found it interesting.

godtabh

Morrisseeee wrote: »

Just reading about Froome's doctor : Dr. Stephane Bermon
I found it interesting.

Not a hint of doping speculation there

Beasty

If you guys wish to discuss Froome's participation in the Vuelta go ahead

If you continue with the current line of discussion this thread will go the same way as the last one (with it's resultant bans).

Any questions PM me - do not respond in-thread

godtabh

I wonder what froomes program will be over the next 3 weeks? I assume he has just recovered and is doing a last block? No races like condtador did before the tour

odyssey06

godtabh wrote: »

I wonder what froomes program will be over the next 3 weeks? I assume he has just recovered and is doing a last block? No races like condtador did before the tour

If the Team Sky website is accurate, between TDF and La Vuelta, he'll have only ridden post-TDF exhibitions.
http://www.teamsky.com/teamsky/2015#august-accordion-content

helimachoptor

Nico was in our office (Sky) last week, he was very keen to ride in Spain, but also stressed he's part of a team and the team comes first

happytramp

helimachoptor wrote: »

Nico was in our office (Sky) last week, he was very keen to ride in Spain, but also stressed he's part of a team and the team comes first

He's always ridden fantastically at the Vuelta. It's his race, so to speak, tour or no tour he's usually goes great there.

Beasty

Is there any hint he may be doing it to support anyone else in the team? Don't know how the hilly stages pan out, but might he do a couple of weeks with a view to dropping out (or if he is leading at that stage pushing on)?

Brian?

Beasty wrote: »

Is there any hint he may be doing it to support anyone else in the team? Don't know how the hilly stages pan out, but might he do a couple of weeks with a view to dropping out (or if he is leading at that stage pushing on)?

Froome will not ride for someone else. It nearly killed him to ride a for Wiggins.

Lusk_Doyle

helimachoptor wrote: »

Nico was in our office (Sky) last week, he was very keen to ride in Spain, but also stressed he's part of a team and the team comes first

Does he get free movies and sports on his subscription?

Beasty

Brian? wrote: »

Froome will not ride for someone else. It nearly killed him to ride a for Wiggins.

But he needs to consider himself part of the team to retain the respect of his teammates. Maybe one of the lessons he has learned over recent years (which applies across many aspects of life) is you need to put something in to get something out (and generally the more you do put in the more you get out). It's interesting to see how Cav tries to help out his teams in return for what they provide him when it suits him and indeed the team

godtabh

Beasty wrote: »

But he needs to consider himself part of the team to retain the respect of his teammates. Maybe one of the lessons he has learned over recent years (which applies across many aspects of life) is you need to put something in to get something out (and generally the more you do put in the more you get out). It's interesting to see how Cav tries to help out his teams in return for what they provide him when it suits him and indeed the team

I'd agree with what you say but tweets like this

https://twitter.com/chrisfroome/status/630754598647631872

would suggest otherwise

Brian?

Beasty wrote: »

But he needs to consider himself part of the team to retain the respect of his teammates. Maybe one of the lessons he has learned over recent years (which applies across many aspects of life) is you need to put something in to get something out (and generally the more you do put in the more you get out). It's interesting to see how Cav tries to help out his teams in return for what they provide him when it suits him and indeed the team

It's a hallmark of many great champions that they're selfish and have huge self belief. Cavendish rises for team mates in races/stages he knows he can't win in a bunch sprint. Froome may give someone a lead out for a sprint one day, but there's no way he'll ride a 3 week tour for someone else.

Leroy42

Brian? wrote: »

It's a hallmark of many great champions that they're selfish and have huge self belief. Cavendish rises for team mates in races/stages he knows he can't win in a bunch sprint. Froome may give someone a lead out for a sprint one day, but there's no way he'll ride a 3 week tour for someone else.

I assume you mean presently, as he has already done exactly this

godtabh

Leroy42 wrote: »

I assume you mean presently, as he has already done exactly this

Of course he has had to do it at earlier stages in his career but not likely to repeat it in spain

Brian?

Leroy42 wrote: »

I assume you mean presently, as he has already done exactly this

Did I really need to add "presently"? Everyone starts at the bottom.

MPFGLB

Froome will not ride the Vuelta for anyone else ...He is riding to do the double otherwise he would stay at home with his pregnant wife. He didn;t ride for Wiggo and he won't ride a 3 week race for a 'lesser' rider

As for Nico and team orders , etc , If he doesn't get to ride the one race in the year he actually does very well in one has to ask why did he go to SKY (besides the money though only 30K p/a more than TCS ). Every year we heard he was hoping to get better and hoped firstly TCS and then SKY would help him get that bit extra. Now looks lie he will spend the rest of his career never riding for himself again
Its disappointing (and I know you all will say he is only good enough to be a dom) but there are other riders leading at the Vuelta who don;t ride it as well as he does. He even talks now like he is a SKY DS rather than a rider wanting to win races

suppose on the bright side he may ride ToB instead but again probably as a dom for UK lads