Vuelta a Espana

IanH
IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
1000 Comments
edited July 2016 in Sports #1

Starts on Saturday 20 August, with a 29km time trial, followed by about 5 days of relatively flat stages, then into the mountains. And in typical Vuelta style, there aren't an awful lot of flat roads after that!

It's too early for teams to be announced, but a number if riders have already thrown their hats into the ring.

Anyone care to chose a rider now, before all the good ones go?  Wink

 

 

«1345

Comments

  • Goldie146
    Goldie146 Club Member Posts: 2,448 ✭✭✭
    1,500 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited July 2016 #2

    O.K.  Maybe only an outside chance, despite his comeback in Le Tour - but put me down for Richie Porte (if he enters)

  • Kennine
    Kennine Forum Participant Posts: 3,472
    1000 Comments
    edited July 2016 #3

    I suppose after their victory in le Tour---  the Sky team will put on their usual perfect performance and help Froome  win the Vuelta.  There is no other team as well organised.

    I'll go for Froome  Ian 

    K 

     

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
    1000 Comments
    edited July 2016 #4

    The early bidding has started......so I might as well join in.

    Goldie - Richie Porte

    Kennine - Chris Froome

    IanH - Nairo Quintana (ah well, give him a second chance)

    Who's next?

     

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,636 ✭
    1000 Comments Name Dropper
    edited July 2016 #5

    Last year's winner, Fabio Aru for me.

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,031 ✭✭✭
    10,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited July 2016 #6

    Well, I will go for Mr Contador, likely to be fresher than Froome, Quintana and Aru, given that he dipped early on the Tour. 

  • Pliers
    Pliers Forum Participant Posts: 1,864
    1000 Comments
    edited July 2016 #7

    I'll go for Valverde, I know he's past his best, but he always seems to do well in the Vuelta.

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
    1000 Comments
    edited July 2016 #8

    So then, we have so far:

    Richie Porte - Goldie

    Chris Froome - Kennine

    Nairo Quintana - IanH

    Fabio Aru - Nellie

    Alberto Contador - TtDA

    Alejandra Valverde - Pliers

    Any more takers? You can always change your selection if your first choice doesn't make the start....

     

  • Runrig
    Runrig Forum Participant Posts: 186
    edited July 2016 #9

    With the above big hitters all taken, I will go with Purito (Joaquim Rodriguez) maybe he can go out with a bang. 

    Although if Froome and others fully commit, maybe the best he can hope for is a stage win or two, even if they a gifted.

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,031 ✭✭✭
    10,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited July 2016 #10

    I am not a big fan of Contador, but this is his "home" territory. Depends on team with him I think.

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
    1000 Comments
    edited July 2016 #11

    I think Purito is a good bet, on his home turf and wanting to make a statement.....

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,636 ✭
    1000 Comments Name Dropper
    edited July 2016 #12

    Wonder why no-one so far has gone for one of the younger contendors? Three of them finished in the top 10 in the Tour.

  • Runrig
    Runrig Forum Participant Posts: 186
    edited July 2016 #13

    I would think Oreca will rest Yates, but they have Estoban Chaves too.

    Quick, someone nick Chaves.

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
    1000 Comments
    edited July 2016 #14

    According to Charley Wegelius, in his autobiography, the Vuelta is the race that none of the riders really want to enter, but their teams push them into it.

    Many of them are contracted to new teams for the following season by then (negotiations often take place during and immediately after the Tour) so they aren't fully committed to their old team (and may be tired after a full season).

    He tells of one rider who only took a small overnight bag with him to the 3 week Vuelta, tragically 'injured himself' on the first day and was on the next plane home.

    Hopefully, despite this slightly jaundiced view, it will still be a good race. I'm sure the Spanish riders will still put up a good fight (Robert Millar, according to Richard Moore's excellent biography about him, always felt agrieved about the way the Spanish
    riders ganged up against him - despite them being on different teams).

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
    1000 Comments
    edited August 2016 #15

    The runners and riders so far are:

    Richie Porte - Goldie

    Chris Froome - Kennine

    Nairo Quintana - IanH

    Fabio Aru - Nellie

    Alberto Contador - TtDA

    Alejandra Valverde - Pliers

    Joaquim Rodriguez - Runrig

    Any more takers?

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,031 ✭✭✭
    10,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited August 2016 #16

    My OH fancies Esteban Chaves for GC. Put him down as TDA2, if that's ok? Happy

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
    1000 Comments
    edited August 2016 #17

    Whatever turns him on! Wink

    Richie Porte - Goldie

    Chris Froome - Kennine

    Nairo Quintana - IanH

    Fabio Aru - Nellie

    Alberto Contador - TtDA

    Alejandra Valverde - Pliers

    Joaquim Rodriguez - Runrig

    Esteban Chaves - TtDA2

  • Runrig
    Runrig Forum Participant Posts: 186
    edited August 2016 #18

    Whatever turns him on! Wink

    He has a nice smile Laughing

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,031 ✭✭✭
    10,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited August 2016 #19

    Cheeky!Kiss

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
    1000 Comments
    edited August 2016 #20

    Whatever turns him on! Wink

    Richie Porte - Goldie

    Chris Froome - Kennine

    Nairo Quintana - IanH

    Fabio Aru - Nellie

    Alberto Contador - TtDA

    Alejandra Valverde - Pliers

    Joaquim Rodriguez - Runrig

    Esteban Chaves - TtDA2

    Any more for any more?

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,636 ✭
    1000 Comments Name Dropper
    edited August 2016 #21

    Wonder if Richie Porte (or Niboli) will be fit to take part in the race following their crashes at the Olympics?

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
    1000 Comments
    edited August 2016 #22

    Whoops, nearly forgot in all the excitement......well, it started yesterday with the Team Time Trial.

    Team Sky and Movistar both finished on equal best times, followed by Orica Bike Exchange and BMC.

    Individual positions (although not really all that meaningful) after the first stage are:

    1st Peter Kennaugh

    2nd Salvatore Pucio

    3rd Michal Kwiatkowski

    5th Chris Froome (Kennine)

    5th Alejandra Valverde (Pliers)

    10th Nairo Quintana (IanH)

    15th Esteban Chaves (TtDA 2)

    50th Alberto Contador (TtDA)

    Rodriguez, Aru and Porte are not in their respective teams......so would Goldie, Nellie and Runrig like to pick someone else, before the first stage (proper) results are announced?

  • Goldie146
    Goldie146 Club Member Posts: 2,448 ✭✭✭
    1,500 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited August 2016 #23

    I'll have a look at the teams. I may have gone for Sagan, if he wasn't hurtling round a mountain hike course in Rio. . .

  • Goldie146
    Goldie146 Club Member Posts: 2,448 ✭✭✭
    1,500 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited August 2016 #24

    OK. Put me down for Van Garderen. (For no real reason !)

  • Pliers
    Pliers Forum Participant Posts: 1,864
    1000 Comments
    edited August 2016 #25

    OK. Put me down for Van Garderen. (For no real reason !)

    Well he's young and does look rather nice!

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
    1000 Comments
    edited August 2016 #26

    OK. Put me down for Van Garderen. (For no real reason !)

    Will do.....

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
    1000 Comments
    edited August 2016 #27

    Nellie and Runrig....you need to pick another rider - see above.

    Does anyone else want to join in? Final chance.......today is a 'proper' stage with a mountain finish.

  • Runrig
    Runrig Forum Participant Posts: 186
    edited August 2016 #28

    I forgot too, still recovering from the Olympics.

    Struggling with an alternate, Estoban Chaves would have been my second choice, but taken.

    Warren Bargeil perhaps.

    No, I will go with a wild card, the colombian Astana rider Miquel Angel Moreno.

    Hopefully qualifies before things get going, he is currently 56th, 1m down

  • Runrig
    Runrig Forum Participant Posts: 186
    edited August 2016 #29

    Well I have just put the moccas on Miquel Angel Moreno Lopez good and proper.

    Not an hour after I choose him, he bites the tarmac hard with just 10km of the stage to go. He has got back on his bike, but he will be minutes down.

    Ah well

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
    1000 Comments
    edited August 2016 #30

    Will do......

  • Pliers
    Pliers Forum Participant Posts: 1,864
    1000 Comments
    edited August 2016 #31

    What fantastic scenery in these early stages. A part of Spain we have yet to visit, next year maybe?

Categories