2023 Vuelta a España

Brian?

Here’s a thread for it.

I’ll make a Velogames league soon and lose it badly.

It anyone is willing to do stage preview that would be gorgeous

Daroxtar

Cant wait. Flying out to Santander on the 10th, I'll be at the stages up to Bejes and the Angliru.

Mefistofelino

Draft start list for the race. Looks like a ridiculous number of potential challengers. I feel sorry for Eddie D - was probably hoping for top 5 based on his Giro showing and every week they announce another former GT podium-er rocking up.

For some reason, they are showing Vingo on the JV start list and Kuss will be riding his third GT of the year which may not be wise - I thought he was very flat at the TdF.

Sammy Be not listed on the Bora list

https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/vuelta-a-espana/2023/startlist

Melodeon

Here's the official roadbook:

https://storage-aso.lequipe.fr/ASO/cycling_vue/la-vuelta-23-libro-de-ruta.pdf

Brian?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120999133#Comment_120999133

That’ll be amazing! Make sure to post pictures.

Brian?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120999144#Comment_120999144

Remco v Vingegaard v Almeida for me.

Ayuso has a chance and so does Roglic.

Every Grand Tour he starts I predict Bernal is on his way back. So I think he’s ready to challenge again.

dahat

As with the Tour I hope Bernal wins a stage at least but I suspect this maybe too much for him.

Roglic overall for me as JV will need him next year so he will be on service for Roglic at this.

Mefistofelino

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120999761#Comment_120999761

There was an interview recently where JV's wife, Trine, said she was encouraging Jonas to go for all three GT titles in a year. Whether this was a calendar year or just a 12 month span, I don't know. Even if he is helping Roglic, I'd expect him to stay very close to the top of the GC in case Primoz falters. Or maybe Jonas is getting a taste for blood now and plans to wrap everything up by the Stage 10 TT.

Brian?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120999761#Comment_120999761

I don’t give Roglic much of a chance. L’Angilru is exactly the type of climb he loses on, long and steep. Same with the Tourmalet.

Both suit hollow bones Jonas very well.

Squidgy Black

UAE squad announced

🇵🇹 Joao Almeida

🇪🇸 Juan Ayuso

🇳🇿 Finn Fisher-Black

🇨🇴 Juan Sebastián Molano

🇵🇹 Ivo Oliveira

🇵🇹 Rui Oliveira

🇪🇸 Marc Soler

🇦🇺 Jay Vine

Brian?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121006547#Comment_121006547

Very strong team.

neris

https://twitter.com/GreenEDGEteam/status/1693675331477995917?t=bPnLb-d9yNrvdMGajs-A_Q&s=19

Eddie's going

Mefistofelino

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121008664#Comment_121008664

Great. Zana will piss off up the road every day and pretend he's working for Eddie again.

Dodge

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121008848#Comment_121008848

They both reached their goals in the Giro. I’m sure the team were delighted with both. Eddie has a fair bit to go to deserve a whole team working for him

Brian?

velogames.com league. All welcome.

669205427

Brian?

GCN preview up.

https://youtu.be/lGeKqUcdKqE

mewso

BORA start list is confirmed now without Sam and he is down for the Deutschland Tour which runs until Sunday. I assume Vlasov is their GC man but I'm very interested to see how Uijtdebroecks goes. All teams confirmed bar Alpecin. A lot of young talent (Martinez, Gregoire, Vauquelin, Poole) which is expected for the Vuelta but alongside an incredible list of established GC riders it has the makings of an enjoyable race.

MangleBadger

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121010662#Comment_121010662

Tough to pick a well rounded team this time.

Brian?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121015897#Comment_121015897

Yeah, I spent most of my budget on 2 GC guys and the rest is dodgy.

Im going to agonise over it

Dodge

I look forward to completing a hat trick of podiums in velo games without any wins this year.

Brian?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121016543#Comment_121016543

I thought you won the Giro?

eagle eye

I'll do previews as much as I can, maybe everyday.

I need a good result in the velogames, mid-table in both this year.

eagle eye

Gotta say I like Ayuso for this. He's trained for it all year and I've felt since last summer that this would be his breakthrough year.

Dodge

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121017533#Comment_121017533

I did actually. I forgot!

Podium is the aim here as it’s all over the shop

fat bloke

Good Lord, I just tuned into the new GCN preview programmes to get interested and excited in the race and zzzz..... Christ on a bike are the lads bohhhh - feckin - ring :(

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121018445#Comment_121018445

Haven't watched it yet but it's shocking how cycling seems immune to good podcasts. Any other sport I'm into I spend the season listening to at least 2 podcast shows every week.

Brian?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121018304#Comment_121018304

You make me sick! So successful you forgot.

Brian?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121018467#Comment_121018467

Lance Armstrong has a podcast, doesn’t he?

Joke

Macy0161

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121018467#Comment_121018467

The Cycling Podcast; Escape Collective; Lantern Rouge; Radio Cycling?

mewso

I like the Lanterne Rouge lads although they may eventually go the way of GCN (be as inoffensive as possible):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQhhDaUuRHE

mewso

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121018218#Comment_121018218

So much depends on what version of Vingegaard turns up.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121020378#Comment_121020378

Used to listen to The Cycling Podcast but it is all over the place since the host died. Was never a big fan of the co-host Lional who now leads the show.

I might give that Escape podcast a go for the Vuelta.

Paddigol

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121020791#Comment_121020791

I'm the same. Only appreciated how integral Richard Moore was when he was gone. He really made everything gel and had a great light-touch approach to the output which made it very enjoyable. Lionel is hard to warm to - I'm sure he's a v. good journalist, he just doesn't have that natural dynamism you need in broadcasting - Friebe has also become hard to listen to since he took on a more front-and-centre role. His poshness used to be quite funny when contrasted with Moore's no-airs Scottishness... now it's just a bit grating.

I don't dislike the Cycling Podcast, I just find myself not really bothered. I'll think about sticking it on when I'm on the bus, but then I'll just listen to music instead.

Macy0161

Ah, I'm still giving them a chance to get over losing their pal. In a way it's a pity Caley wasn't brought on board, between CT implosion and placeholders kicking off. I personally think that TCP is the still the best of them.

eagle eye

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121020604#Comment_121020604

After doing the tour if he shows up here in the same condition there's going to be a lot of question marks. The time trial created question marks. I was shocked when I seen he was in the field.

Paddigol

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121021369#Comment_121021369

Let's be honest, if he's crap at the Vuelta the same people with doubts about him now will just as quickly point to his crapness as reason for question marks.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121021369#Comment_121021369

Peak Froome didn't help himself by "showing off" and trying to win Vuelta's right after TdFs

Daroxtar

Part of the entertainment of the Vuelta was seeing him fail. Formigal was one of the greatest days racing I've ever witnessed

eagle eye

Stage 1 TTT

A short very technical stage. Jumbo will be favourites for it but over such a short distance there shouldn't be much between the top teams. In fact I like that it's so short as it means none of the GC contenders will lose much time.

Anyway Jumbo with Vingegaard, Roglic, Tratnick, Kelderman and Van Baarle look very strong but I wouldn't rule out Soudal-Quickstep or Ineos with very strong looking lineups.

Gotta pick Jumbo though for the win.

2smiggy

so Vingegaard can't win or lose by too much ? it would be easier for him not to race !!

Macy0161

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121023837#Comment_121023837

That would also raise questions! There's no option that doubters will use to prove their theory.

mewso

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121024091#Comment_121024091

How dare anyone question a performance! Is that it? If I mention Lance are we verging on a new kind of Godwin? i.e. Lancing a cycling discussion.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121023837#Comment_121023837

In fairness it didn't start with him. WvA's incredible Tour across every sort of terrain raised eyebrows too.

And the (in my unqualified opinion) overblown concerns about keytones.

Paddigol

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121024152#Comment_121024152

I think, for people who just want to enjoy watching the sport for the spectacle it is (the same as fans of any sport) the problem is usually the lack of context or perspective in the insinuations thrown about. But then this is all probably a discussion for the other thread...

Macy0161

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121024152#Comment_121024152

That's not what I was getting at, which I thought was clear. Some will see any performance as proof he is doping now, or was at the tour but isn't now, or if he hadn't shown up he was hiding because of the doping. Personally, I prefer at least some dot joining rather than basing purely on performance, but would never be surprised, given it's professional sport.

CramCycle

MOD VOICE: Any speculation about any riders performances or casting doubt on their integrity, can be moved to the doping speculation thread. The same rules apply to the rest of the forum, doping and insinuations towards it are in that thread only, please leave it out of this race specific thread or I will start handing out bans for the length of the Vuelta.

Daroxtar

"Sawdoctors- Ayuso Love Her" already a strong contender for best Velogames team title 😂

Brian?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121010662#Comment_121010662

15 entries so far. Lads ye’re handing it to me on a platter.

eagle eye

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121025406#Comment_121025406

That would be my team. 😁

Johnners1878

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121025558#Comment_121025558

After a disastrous Tour caused by backing Poggy and selecting Alaphillipe & Van De Poel, I've backed heavily against Jumbo. It's a winning formula, I'm convinced..... 🙄

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121027177#Comment_121027177

"Even a stopped clock" and all that 🤣