Vuelta a España 2019 General Thread

neris

Get this in before anyone starts to go Grand Tour Cold Turkey

Taking place between August 24 and September 15, the 74th edition will set off from Salinas de Torrevieja and finish in Madrid after 3,272.2km of racing.

The race will include eight uphill finishes, five of which are new to the Vuelta.

Route looks interesting with the longest stage at 196km and a lumpy looking route with some interesting stages on stage 5 which finishes just below 2000m & stage 9 which at 96km has 5 categorized climbs and finishes over 2000m and if you didnt get enough Pau in the TDF there's a 36km ITT on stage 10 finishing there.

Race kicks off on the Costa Blanca with an 18km team trial (and who doesnt love a team trial) and finishes as usual in Madrid

Stage 5


Stage 9


Usual WT teams plus 4 pro conti teams. Cofidis, Caja Rural (how many times will Sean Kelly butcher that one), Burgos & Euskaidi Basque. Hopefully we,ll see some more Irish participation. Movistar & Bora listings look interesting

Provisional start list

Lotto-Soudal
DE GENDT Thomas
CAMPENAERTS Victor
WALLAYS Jelle

Movistar Team
QUINTANA Nairo
VALVERDE Alejandro
CARAPAZ Richard
ANACONA Winner

Team Jumbo-Visma
ROGLIČ Primož
GESINK Robert

Ag2r La Mondiale
GENIEZ Alexandre
LATOUR Pierre

Astana Pro Team
LÓPEZ Miguel Ángel
IZAGIRRE Gorka
IZAGIRRE Ion

Bahrain-Merida

Bora-Hansgrohe
MAJKA Rafał
FORMOLO Davide
BENNETT Sam
SAGAN Peter
BODNAR Maciej

CCC Team

Deceuninck-Quick-Step
GILBERT Philippe
SERRY Pieter
ŠTYBAR Zdeněk

Groupama-FDJ

Mitchelton-Scott
YATES Simon
CHAVES Esteban
HOWSON Damien
NIEVE Mikel
BEWLEY Sam

Team Dimension Data
KING Ben

EF Education First

Team Katusha-Alpecin

Team Ineos

Team Sunweb

Trek-Segafredo
KIRSCH Alex
PEDERSEN Mads
DEGENKOLB John
THEUNS Edward

UAE Team Emirates
POGAČAR Tadej
FERRARI Roberto
RAVASI Edward
GAVIRIA Fernando
SUTHERLAND Rory
ARU Fabio

Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
EDET Nicolas
HERRADA Jesús
MATÉ Luis Ángel
HANSEN Jesper
ATAPUMA Darwin
TOUZE Damien
HERRADA José
LE TURNIER Mathias

Euskadi Basque Country-Murias
INTXAUSTI Beñat

Burgos-BH

Caja Rural-Seguros RGA

Past winners

2008 Alberto Contador (Spa) Astana
2009 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d’Epargne
2010 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas–Doimo
2011 Juan José Cobo (Spa) Geox–TMC
2012 Alberto Contador (Spa) Saxo Bank–Tinkoff Bank
2013 Chris Horner (USA) RadioShack–Leopard
2014 Alberto Contador (Spa) Tinkoff–Saxo
2015 Fabio Aru (Ita) Astana
2016 Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team
2017 Chris Froome (GBR) Team Sky
2018 Simon Yates (GBR) Mitchelton–Scott

And with stage 2 starting in Benidorm these lads will be there in prime position to cheer on team Ineos

Doc07

Ahh they do though don’t they though

c.p.w.g.w

Would love to see Eddie selected by ineos

MyDarkArts

neris wrote: »

Caja Rural (how many times will Sean Kelly butcher that one)

Whatever way Sean Kelly says it is correct and the Spanish speakers should adjust their pronunciation accordingly.

Galego

Stage 16 finishes in La Cubilla. Beutiful climb - one of my favourite in Asturias and first time that will.be used in La Vuelta. Hopefully stays dry and sunny in the day and riders have a good go at it.

Bennett and Sagan for Bora?

Daroxtar

Galego wrote: »

Stage 16 finishes in La Cubilla. Beutiful climb - one of my favourite in Asturias and first time that will.be used in La Vuelta. Hopefully stays dry and sunny in the day and riders have a good go at it.

I'm heading over for a week with a few club mates for it. There's 3 stages in the vicinity of Oviedo but this is the big one as far as I am concerned.
It's a cracking climb. Gonna try and get a nice spot up on the last hairpins, should be able to see the race coming for miles.

Can.
Not.
Wait.

happytramp

Did anyone listen to Johan Bruyneel's podcasts during the tour? Have to say, his dubious past notwithstanding, they were really excellent. He's doing one for the Vuelta too.

Galego

Daroxtar wrote: »

I'm heading over for a week with a few club mates for it. There's 3 stages in the vicinity of Oviedo but this is the big one as far as I am concerned.
It's a cracking climb. Gonna try and get a nice spot up on the last hairpins, should be able to see the race coming for miles.

Can.
Not.
Wait.

I am climbing this one myself in a week's time and descending it from the other side. Doing Jitu the day before and Piedrafita/Gobernadas/Fonte da Cova at the wkd. Busy week :-)


Enjoy Asturies!

mr spuckler

I'm not sure about your 2011 winner :P

Daroxtar

Galego wrote: »

I am climbing this one myself in a week's time and descending it from the other side.

Are you doing it on a Gravel bike?
Actually, reading the spanish blogs and forums, you might need it for the climb as well. Seems like the road is in a right mess at the moment and the repair crews are under serious pressure to get it resurfaced.

dastardly00

I wonder why the feel the need to go into France? Didn't the race go to Nimes either last year or the year before?

Galego

Daroxtar wrote: »

Are you doing it on a Gravel bike?
Actually, reading the spanish blogs and forums, you might need it for the climb as well. Seems like the road is in a right mess at the moment and the repair crews are under serious pressure to get it resurfaced.

Nah I am doing it on a road bike. Done it before and no issues to do it this time of the year. La Cubilla road is grand. Some friends of mine did the sportive they run only a month ago and no bother. Way worse roads in Spain than La Cubilla and they are not a cul-de-sac.

This time of the year you can also ride Trobaniello in a road bike. Many people are calling for La Vuelta to use this climb but not sure if it'd ever happen! Amazing climb! Another of my favourite ones.

https://www.39x28altimetrias.com/trobaniello.html

Melodeon

Vuelta 2019 Rules & Regulations (in English):
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1VwkJRPjkvuYSEpfoCivxcL0kN5o7eHdd?usp=sharing

Vuelta 2019 Road Book (in Spanish):
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1VwkJRPjkvuYSEpfoCivxcL0kN5o7eHdd?usp=sharing
I'm sure it'll be available in English shortly...

Links stolen from velorooms.com.

Provisional/incomplete startlist https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/vuelta-a-espana/2019/gc/startlist

Roglic isn't riding it. Dumoulin is more than likely out for the rest of the year.

Ineos likely backing Thomas.

MS are hardly riding for Simon Yates are they, surely it'll be Chavez or stage wins for them.

Lusk_Doyle

I'd say that Movistar will have a winner in their team this year.

TheBlaaMan

Deleted User wrote: »

Provisional/incomplete startlist https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/vuelta-a-espana/2019/gc/startlist

Roglic isn't riding it. Dumoulin is more than likely out for the rest of the year.

Ineos likely backing Thomas.

MS are hardly riding for Simon Yates are they, surely it'll be Chavez or stage wins for them.

As of 5-6 days ago, Roglic is going to the Vuelta as team leader...

https://twitter.com/ammattipyoraily/status/1159191497901842434?s=19

Thomas now isn't racing la Vuelta and going to the German tour instead.

Pozzovivo suffered some serious injuries after being hit by a car while training http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/pozzovivo-theyve-ended-my-career/

MPFGLB

Dan Martin not riding the Vuelta ?? Strange as he needs a result this year

Sam Bennett should win a few stages

MPFGLB

MPFGLB wrote: »

Dan Martin not riding the Vuelta ?? Strange as he needs a result this year

Sam Bennett should win a few stages

Dan's down to do the Deutschland Tour which clashes with la Vuleta, maybe didn't want to do the 3 week tour in the run up to the worlds?

MPFGLB

Nicolas Roche is included in the Vuelta Sunweb line up and up for giving it a good lash ...always better on his 2nd GT

CramCycle

MPFGLB wrote: »

Nicolas Roche is included in the Vuelta Sunweb line up and up for giving it a good lash ...always better on his 2nd GT

NIcolas Roche and GTs are like me and cups of coffee

neris

3 weeks of smiles on the Mitchelton bus

https://twitter.com/MitcheltonSCOTT/status/1162282255764475906?s=19

dastardly00

Super strong team for Jumbo-Visma: George Bennett (NZ), Robert Gesink (Ned), Lennard Hofstede (Ned), Steven Kruijswijk (Ned), Sep Kuss (USA), Tony Martin (Ger), Neilson Powless (USA) and Primoz Roglic (Slo).

Roglic is the leader. He has never ridden the Vuelta before so I wouldn't be too shocked if he didn't perform that well.

Mas not riding for DQS here this year after a fine 2nd place last year.

Ineos line up not complete yet and Eddie has nothing lined up according to procyclingstats.

Likely this will go down to to MS and Movistar. I'd love to see Carapaz do it over Quintana.

Highly unlikely Dunbar will ride two Grand Tours with this years Giro being his first.

Deleted User

Deleted User wrote: »

Highly unlikely Dunbar will ride two Grand Tours with this years Giro being his first.

Yeah had that in my mind likely ride the later Itallian classics in support of Moscon again.

MPFGLB

Lotto Visma v Movistar ....that is the Vuelta in a nut shell

Lusk_Doyle

CramCycle wrote: »

NIcolas Roche and GTs are like me and cups of coffee

Go on...

All going well Bennett will win two to three sprint stages & Roche usually performs well at the Vuelta, so a stage win is possible.

carltonleon

happytramp wrote: »

Did anyone listen to Johan Bruyneel's podcasts during the tour? Have to say, his dubious past notwithstanding, they were really excellent. He's doing one for the Vuelta too.

Yeah I did and they were excellent but I had to turn off when he started bigging up Valverde, tended not to listen to them much after that.

TheBlaaMan

Deleted User wrote: »

All going well Bennett will win two to three sprint stages & Roche usually performs well at the Vuelta, so a stage win is possible.

That's probably way over-optimistic. Possible, sure, especially for Sam, but there will surely be a lot of sprint competition - it is a GT after al.l

TheBlaaMan

TheBlaaMan wrote: »

That's probably way over-optimistic. Possible, sure, especially for Sam, but there will surely be a lot of sprint competition - it is a GT after al.l

I wouldn't say it's a packed field of top tier sprinters based on the startlist as it is at the minute especially in comparison with the Giro or the Tour.

Even Cavendish could be in with a shout at a stage.

Mezgec though for MS mugged a few big names in Poland recently and took 2 of the sprints so one to keep an eye on.

dastardly00

Stages 3, 4, 14, 17, 19 and 21 are all flat. All great opportunities for Sam

cunavalos

Was just looking at the expected lineups from Procyclingstats and Eddie has now been included in the provisional INEOS team which would be great to see especially as like in the Giro he will be able to ride his own race without a clear GC guy to domestique for.

The sprinting field has weakened somewhat from the earlier predicted squads with Bennett, Jakobsen, Degenkolb and Gaviria the biggest names.(Cavendish not selected again) One potential side effect is will there be enough teams interested in the sprints to control breakaways in the later stages during Weeks 2 and 3. This is why I think Stage 3 and 4 will be vital for Sam to get an early Stage win and take the pressure off. Worth noting that Richeze is likely to be in the DQS leadout train so expect a more physical approach to Sam hitching a ride on Jakobsen's leadout.

https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/vuelta-a-espana/2019/startlist

Gallant_JJ

No Dunbar in confirmed Ineos lineup;

Jonathan Castroviejo
David de la Cruz
Sergio Henao
Tao Geoghegan Hart
Michal Kwiatkowski
Salvatore Puccio
Pavel Sivakov
Dylan van Baarle

CantGetNoSleep

Don't think either Kwiatowski or Sivakov were expected to be there

cunavalos

Gallant_JJ wrote: »

No Dunbar in confirmed Ineos lineup;

Jonathan Castroviejo
David de la Cruz
Sergio Henao
Tao Geoghegan Hart
Michal Kwiatkowski
Salvatore Puccio
Pavel Sivakov
Dylan van Baarle

Team has changed again, in come Poels, Kiryienko, Stannard, Doull, Elissonde and neither of the Spanish riders make the cut for their home tour. Much better balance to the squad but still a little behind Movistar, Jumbo and EF

Not sure whats going on with David de la Cruz this year. I've a feeling he'll be out the door if a better offer comes his way but he's not had a great year. His program this year has a wiff of Deignan to it.

TheBlaaMan

Deleted User wrote: »

Not sure whats going on with David de la Cruz this year. I've a feeling he'll be out the door if a better offer comes his way but he's not had a great year. His program this year has a wiff of Deignan to it.

De la Cruz has been parachuted into the Ineos team for the Vuelta - apparently to quell significant flak that there was for his initial absence; Ellisonde is leaving Ineos at the end of the year, so - despite his great climbing-domestique role - he is the one to be sacrificed. Kinda sh1tty but thats pro sports I guess.....

Richard Carapaz is in doubt now following a crash at the weekend

TheBlaaMan

TheBlaaMan wrote: »

De la Cruz has been parachuted into the Ineos team for the Vuelta - apparently to quell significant flak that there was for his initial absence; Ellisonde is leaving Ineos at the end of the year, so - despite his great climbing-domestique role - he is the one to be sacrificed. Kinda sh1tty but thats pro sports I guess.....

Going on whats been reported in the last few hours Ellisonde was already in Spain told to head home with little by way of explanation.

Deleted User

Deleted User wrote: »

Richard Carapaz is in doubt now following a crash at the weekend

Now confirmed he won't start.

MPFGLB

Deleted User wrote: »

Going on whats been reported in the last few hours Ellisonde was already in Spain told to head home with little by way of explanation.

They could have left out one of the others ...Ellisonde has won in the Vuelta before and is a good climber
Its de La Cruz's home race

But Stannard or Doull or Kiryenka ??

Poor Kenny

TheBlaaMan

Deleted User wrote: »

Going on whats been reported in the last few hours Ellisonde was already in Spain told to head home with little by way of explanation.

Way to go, Team Sky.:rolleyes:

Deleted User

Deleted User wrote: »

Now confirmed he won't start.

Probably not a bad thing for Movistar if the rumours of a frosty relationship between rider and management are true.
They'll just have to focus on riding against Quintana now.

Bugsy2000

Didn’t see one anywhere else so I’ve set up a Velogames league, details below.

League Name: Boards Vuelta
League Code: 856332313

Fair play I'd completely forgotten about velogames.

Daroxtar

Flying out tomorrow morning. Five men with a litany of excuses for excess kilos, going to attempt plenty of stupidly steep climbing and watch 2 stages, Saturday and Monday. Any tips for a Vuelta first timer?

dastardly00

Daroxtar wrote: »

Flying out tomorrow morning. Five men with a litany of excuses for excess kilos, going to attempt plenty of stupidly steep climbing and watch 2 stages, Saturday and Monday. Any tips for a Vuelta first timer?

The Guardia Civil don't take too kindly to blokes in mankinis running alongside the peloton :pac:

Sorry, I've never been to the Vuelta, enjoy it!

Daroxtar

dastardly00 wrote: »

The Guardia Civil don't take too kindly to blokes in mankinis running alongside the peloton :pac:

Sorry, I've never been to the Vuelta, enjoy it!

It's OK, the mankinis are green white and gold so they'll know we're foreign and treat us better