2012 Vuelta. The Return of the King.

[Susan Westemeyer]

Come on folks. Stay on topic and away frm the personal stuff.

Susan

 

[scullster46]

Anyways, when is the first hard mountain finish in la vuelta? If there is a stage like this years to sierra nevada, its not inconceivable that he could use that to gain some form. Hopefully this dumb decision motivates him to train even harder. Plus after the vuelta their is the world's, which might suit him this year, and lombardia.

 

[El Pistolero]

Yes, he could do Eneco, but while it would be cool to see him give it a go, I see Ain and Donostia to be more likely and more suitable preparation for a Vuelta with 7 mountaintop finishes, no?

If Ain only has one MTF with a weak field, do you really think it will matter? I'd rather be in a strong field for 2 extra days then. There's also a team time trial in both the Eneco Tour and the Vuelta...

He can still do Donastia after Eneco. Gilbert rode a criterium in Belgium with Samu Sanchez the day before Donastia.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Anyways, when is the first hard mountain finish in la vuelta? If there is a stage like this years to sierra nevada, its not inconceivable that he could use that to gain some form. Hopefully this dumb decision motivates him to train even harder. Plus after the vuelta their is the world's, which might suit him this year, and lombardia.

Arrate isn't a super hard finish but it's probably at least as tough (in terms of how it will be raced) as the Sierra Nevada stage they had last year. Unfortunately they've made probably the weakest Basque stage imaginable before it.

If Ain only has one MTF with a weak field, do you really think it will matter? I'd rather be in a strong field for 2 extra days then. There's also a team time trial in both the Eneco Tour and the Vuelta...

He can still do Donastia after Eneco. Gilbert rode a criterium in Belgium with Samu Sanchez the day before Donastia.

A criterium is hardly relevant, unless you just wanted to mention Gilbert where he has no relevance to discussion, as is your habit.

It's the type of race day too. Eneco may be what you proscribe, but I'm just thinking, looking at the Vuelta's route this year with multiple MTFs, maybe a bit of climbing on some big mountains might help him more than the constant up and down of Eneco.

Neither of them are ideal preparation, and are probably actually a bit too close to the start of the Vuelta for a prep race (Burgos would have been ideal, it's the Vuelta warmup race du jour, like Trentino is for the Giro), but beggars can't be choosers.

 

[Eshnar]

I am so happy that the Vuelta will have alot of mountains in it. Will this be a copy of the 2011 Giro?

No way. The Giro had a few proper mountain stages while the Vuelta hasn't any.
As for Hitch's question, AC to win by no more than 4 minutes.

 

[El Pistolero]

It's relevant because he can still do Donastia after Eneco Tour. Gilbert arrived at 2 AM in the hotel and still won the race. Conti won't win, but I can't see why he would not be able to race in Donastia if he did the Eneco Tour(riding criteriums isn't easy by the way, it's hard, but earns a lot of money). I have seen no valid explanation of you as to why he wouldn't be able to ride Donastia if he did Eneco Tour especially because he has an extra day inbetween.

I'd go for the maxium number of racing days if I were him.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

It's relevant because he can still do Donastia after Eneco Tour. Gilbert arrived at 2 AM in the hotel and still won the race. Conti won't win, but I can't see why he would not be able to race in Donastia if he did the Eneco Tour(riding criteriums isn't easy by the way, it's hard, but earns a lot of money). I have seen no valid explanation of you as to why he wouldn't be able to ride Donastia if he did Eneco Tour especially because he has an extra day inbetween.

I'd go for the maxium number of racing days if I were him.

I didn't say he wouldn't do Eneco AND Donostia. I just said I thought Ain and Donostia was more likely than Eneco OR Eneco and Donostia.

All of those are logistical possibilities, sure. My reasoning for saying he'd probably do Ain instead of Eneco were not based on logistical possibility but more the style of racing relative to that expected of the Vuelta.

 

[scullster46]

No way. The Giro had a few proper mountain stages while the Vuelta hasn't any.
As for Hitch's question, AC to win by no more than 4 minutes.

Well he still showed in the Giro that he doesn't need proper mountain stages to leave everyone behind. He has shown that he can handle any type of climb that you can throw at him

 

[maltiv]

Most spanish riders are already out in the media defending Contador, because they know that's the only chance they have of winning a stage in their home tour - Contador has to let them win. I think that if he gifts a couple of stages to those of whom are faithful to him then he will only get a couple of stages (like 5) himself, but that's still a good revenge.

Even without the ban, Contador would've done (and won) the Vuelta. But the biggest positive in all this is that we'll get the chance to see a top motivated and fit Contador giving it everything to win the Worlds. It'll be a spectacle, that's for sure.

 

[Eshnar]

Well he still showed in the Giro that he doesn't need proper mountain stages to leave everyone behind. He has shown that he can handle any type of climb that you can throw at him

Sure, but he just won't win by 6+ minutes like he did at the Giro. There's no space to gain that gap.

 

[luckyboy]

But the biggest positive in all this is that we'll get the chance to see a top motivated and fit Contador giving it everything to win the Worlds. It'll be a spectacle, that's for sure.

Hah, that'd be great

 

[Panda Claws]

Except that Contador will have to ride for Valverde.

 

[Dancing On The Pedals]

Bertie will kill it and I can not wait. Wasn't he always going to have a back ended season - racing quite lightly until the Tour, and then trying to maintain form through to the Vuelta, Worlds and Lombardy? So now he should be even fresher for the latter three

 

[maltiv]

Except that Contador will have to ride for Valverde.

Contador can attack every lap and he'd still be helping Valverde, whose only tactic will be to wheelsuck anyway. It'd be perfect for Valverde if Contador gets away and Gilbert has to chase, for example.

 

[Havetts]

This thread makes me want to barf, already.. Another 6 months to endure the so expected REVENGE of one of the biggest dopers in the cycling scene...

*PUKE*

 

[TeoSheva]

Come on folks. Stay on topic and away frm the personal stuff.

Susan

You are without hearth
Maybe a true love story was rising and you cut it

It was exciting like the argentina's Soap Opera of Canal 13 before the "live stream" of the Tour of San Luis


anyway, back on topic: king of what?

 

[maltiv]

This thread makes me want to barf, already.. Another 6 months to endure the so expected REVENGE of one of the biggest dopers in the cycling scene...

*PUKE*

You haven't paid much attention to cycling if you think 0,000000000000050g of clenbuterol corresponds to the biggest doper in cycling. In fact, I'm pretty sure he's the smallest doper ever in the history of sports to be punished

Obviously if there were actual proof I wouldn't be supporting him.

 

[Havetts]

You haven't paid much attention to cycling if you think 0,000000000000050g of clenbuterol corresponds to the biggest doper in cycling. In fact, I'm pretty sure he's the smallest doper ever in the history of sports to be punished

Haha, ok thats another way to look at it.

Sigh, 6 months to go to see the fangirls cry about the revenge of the almighty and the inevitable bashing of Andy Schleck. 6 more months of, IF ONLY CONTADOR WAS HERE.. 6 more months of BUT IT WASNT A JUST AND FAIR DECISION.. 6 more months of CONTADOR COULDVE CYCLED UP THE MOUNTAIN FASTER IF IT WERE HIS D*CK PUSHING THE PEDALS.. etc.

Guess ill stop here.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Cool, a Vuelta with Contador, Gesink, Valverde etc... brings me back to 2008

 

[auscyclefan94]

This thread makes me want to barf, already.. Another 6 months to endure the so expected REVENGE of one of the biggest dopers in the cycling scene...

*PUKE*

I agree. Just imagine if I or someone else made such a thread? This is wrong.

 

[The Hitch]

Most spanish riders are already out in the media defending Contador, because they know that's the only chance they have of winning a stage in their home tour.

Lol great theory.

 

[Duartista]

Burgos is August 1-5 this year, so no dice.

The Volta is too close for the Vuelta, and overlaps - August 15 to 26. They moved it later (a move I approve of) because it means they can pick up the Spanish Continental teams that don't do the Vuelta, who normally are in Burgos instead. But it means no Alberto, much as though it would be AMAZING to have Contador rock up and smash everybody on the Alto da Torre.

The calendar date change means he could probably do San Sebastián (it's on the 14th), but that's just a one-day race.

Probably the best race he can do is the Tour de l'Ain (August 7 to 11) - it finishes with a climb of the Col du Grand-Colombier so will at least give him the chance to stretch his mountain legs.

I'd suggest that Ain - Donostia - Vuelta is the way to go, giving him 6 days of racing to find his feet.

Whilst in general I agree with your reasoning, Grand Colombier isn't actually in Ain this year - http://www.tourdelain.com/organisation. The highest point is around 1160m (still 1000 metres higher than the Muur of course!)

The other thing is that Saxo, assuming Contador is still there in August, would need to get an invite. They didn't go last year, and the organisers may prefer to see a battle between Taaramae, Coppel, Pinot, Rolland etc than have Contador turn up and thrash everyone.

 

[jens_attacks]

I agree. Just imagine if I or someone else made such a thread? This is wrong.

you made enough of them in your enthusiastic "boo doper vino" age.it was ok.

to hype a rider is ok... to say things like this guy,havetts is saying is just sad.enjoy these 6 months mate.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Whilst in general I agree with your reasoning, Grand Colombier isn't actually in Ain this year - http://www.tourdelain.com/organisation. The highest point is around 1160m (still 1000 metres higher than the Muur of course!)

The other thing is that Saxo, assuming Contador is still there in August, would need to get an invite. They didn't go last year, and the organisers may prefer to see a battle between Taaramae, Coppel, Pinot, Rolland etc than have Contador turn up and thrash everyone.

They're only doing a few medium mountains? That makes it even better Vuelta prep!

While the organisers may prefer to see a battle, being Contador's first race back may see their eyes light up with € signs by way of attention for the race.

 

[Havetts]

enjoy these 6 months mate.

. Not one hell of a problem.