2012 Vuelta. The Return of the King.

[Pricey_sky]

If contador is fit enough he should beat Froome easily to be fair. Froome's main plan was the tour and im not sure he will have a great deal left in the tank come Vuelta week 3.

Will be great to see them go for it next summer in the tour when both should be 100%.

 

[Gloin22]

If contador is fit enough he should beat Froome easily to be fair. Froome's main plan was the tour and im not sure he will have a great deal left in the tank come Vuelta week 3.

Will be great to see them go for it next summer in the tour when both should be 100%.

Pretty much this. Froome will be too tired to challenge fresh Contador.

Anyway, should be great spectacle nonetheless.

 

[theyoungest]

Pretty much this. Froome will be too tired to challenge fresh Contador.

Anyway, should be great spectacle nonetheless.

Even a fresh Froome wouldn't be able to handle Contador, certainly a Contador with something to prove. Just look at how Contador made a fool out of Nibali in the Giro last year, Froome isn't nearly that far ahead of Nibali.

 

[El Pistolero]

Even a fresh Froome wouldn't be able to handle Contador, certainly a Contador with something to prove. Just look at how Contador made a fool out of Nibali in the Giro last year, Froome isn't nearly that far ahead of Nibali.

Nothing would surprise me anymore from Sky.

Bradley Olympic time trial, Cav Olympic road race, Froome Vuelta, etc

 

[T-Rav.]

Nothing would surprise me anymore from Sky.

Bradley Olympic time trial, Cav Olympic road race, Froome Vuelta, etc

I agree. Everyone has been questioning Wiggins for months regarding whether or not he peaked too early, and he's done fine. And given what seems to be a very structured training program by Team Sky, nothing really says that Froome couldn't be in great form come the Vuelta, although it would be a really difficult task.

If Sky sent a really strong team to the Vuelta to work for Froome that would also count for a lot, as it kept Wiggins out of the wind almost the entire Tour. But I don't think Froome's team at the Vuelta will be as good.

In the end, I think Froome would put up an admirable fight, but a fresh, motivated Contador is going to be very difficult, if not impossible to beat. Even so, if Froome were to podium in the Vuelta, I think that it itself would be highly impressive - 2 GT podiums in a single year, with the Olympics sandwiched in between.

 

[Publicus]

If contador is fit enough he should beat Froome easily to be fair. Froome's main plan was the tour and im not sure he will have a great deal left in the tank come Vuelta week 3.

Will be great to see them go for it next summer in the tour when both should be 100%.

Only problem is that Wiggins will want to defend his title next year. That's going to complicate things for Vroome

 

[Altitude]

Too bad Mosquera won't be there to show Froome how to climb.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Only problem is that Wiggins will want to defend his title next year. That's going to complicate things for Vroome

Thats true however Wiggins is a very level headed guy and I think he realised this year was his best chance to win. He had his major GC rivals covered this time as there was no way they would put major time into him. In fact Wiggins ended up not only matching Nibali, VDB ect but stretching his lead. Next year with Contador and A.Schleck (maybe) back it will be much tougher as Wiggo will have to raise his climbing to a whole new level.

Froome is proving that when it comes to the higher mountains he can be slightly better then Wiggo so Brad's comment about helping Froome win a tour was a sensible move.

 

[T-Rav.]

I don't know. It's tough to take seriously the idea that the defending champion will be working for someone else in next year's race. I think it more likely that one goes to the Giro and the other the Tour, or something like that. The only way I could honestly see Wiggins working for Froome at the Tour is if in the first week or so he lost significant time to Froome due to getting dropped on a climb or having a crash/mechanical.

But hey, these guys get paid a lot to know their roles, so it is entirely possible that I could be wrong.

 

[movingtarget]

Even a fresh Froome wouldn't be able to handle Contador, certainly a Contador with something to prove. Just look at how Contador made a fool out of Nibali in the Giro last year, Froome isn't nearly that far ahead of Nibali.

You mean Froome not looking better than Nibali on every mountain and time trialling better ? Froome would have blitzed this race and Nibali if he was team leader. Next year's Tour should be something special. Contador should win the Vuelta but Froome's performance will be interesting to watch after his frustrations in the Tour. He will be as motivated as Contador for different reasons but the third week will probably test him against fresher riders.

 

[Michele]

Only problem is that Wiggins will want to defend his title next year. That's going to complicate things for Vroome

Also TJ had to ride for Evans till he realized Evans wasnt as good as last year.
Many things can happen in 1 year.

 

[jmspinto]

.

The title of this thread couldn´t be better: The return of the King!

King, indeed.

I just can´t wait to see Contador fire up the mountains, full of rage and willing to show everyone that he needs no steak to perform, on his homesoil, in front of his fans, well only a disgrace would prevent him to trash each and every other rider!! This could be interesting for the 2nd place anyway ...

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

Uran is scheduled to, Henao not afaik.

Ah alright.

I like Henao, so I'd like to see him to well at the Vuelta, but two GT's in your first year in the WT might be a bit much, and I'd hate to have to watch him only working for Froome.

 

[icefire]

Only problem is that Wiggins will want to defend his title next year. That's going to complicate things for Vroome

Wiggins will defend like Evans or Riis. Perhaps even like Sastre.

 

[Michele]

Nice one.

 

[richwagmn]

So what kind of form do people expect Contador to have when he returns to the Vuelta?

 

[Forunculo]

So what kind of form do people expect Contador to have when he returns to the Vuelta?

Before the Tour a win, after the Tour curious of what Sky can do

 

[Cimber]

So what kind of form do people expect Contador to have when he returns to the Vuelta?

About 90%. But that should do it.

 

[Duartista]

Ah alright.

I like Henao, so I'd like to see him to well at the Vuelta, but two GT's in your first year in the WT might be a bit much, and I'd hate to have to watch him only working for Froome.

Yes, I agree. I think he will do Burgos, the Canadian races, the Worlds and the Italian classics, which is a good programme for him.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

About 90%. But that should do it.

agreed, no giro 11 or tour 09. Perhaps something like tour '10?

 

[richwagmn]

About 90%. But that should do it.

I can't wait. Especially after this year's TDF.

No one can animate a race like AC.

 

[Bobby G]

ENECO isn't exactly ideal build up, but beggars can't be chosers.

I really hope he's in some sort of form as even if not at 100% he will leave everything on the road. Hopefully Froome has enough in the tank after the TDF as I can see this being a classic duel. With Gesink, Purito, Sanchez etc. there's a great back up cast as well. I think AS will either be unfit to start or fail so badly early on due to lack of recoevry he'll pull out after the first week.

If everone who is rumoured to be starting does, and in good condition, this will be the best GT GC line up of the year by far.

 

[Cimber]

agreed, no giro 11 or tour 09. Perhaps something like tour '10?

Ye in the Tour 10 he was getting stronger and stronger during the race. I reckon the same will happen in the Vuelta. He will get better and better

 

[richwagmn]

ENECO isn't exactly ideal build up, but beggars can't be chosers.

I really hope he's in some sort of form as even if not at 100% he will leave everything on the road. Hopefully Froome has enough in the tank after the TDF as I can see this being a classic duel. With Gesink, Purito, Sanchez etc. there's a great back up cast as well. I think AS will either be unfit to start or fail so badly early on due to lack of recoevry he'll pull out after the first week.

If everone who is rumoured to be starting does, and in good condition, this will be the best GT GC line up of the year by far.

Sounds like Andy might not make it. Shame with the course this year.

http://blogs.bettor.com/Andy-Schleck-might-end-his-2012-season-a169828

I haven't seen much of Froome on the attack on a mountain. Does he have the ability to attack like Contador. Or is he more of seated climber like Wiggins?

 

[Bobby G]

Sounds like Andy might not make it. Shame with the course this year.

http://blogs.bettor.com/Andy-Schleck-might-end-his-2012-season-a169828

I haven't seen much of Froome on the attack on a mountain. Does he have the ability to attack like Contador. Or is he more of seated climber like Wiggins?

From what I saw in his Barloworld days, he was a punchy climber and seems still to have a similar style now, although at a much higher level. Although he wasn't allowed to demostrate it too much at this years Tour, the infamous waitgate showed he has a violent turn of speed. He also accelerated well at the end of stages. Seems to like to get out of the seat when he can as well which bodes well for the sharp undulating climbs of the Vuelta. Will be interesting to see how he copes on a beast of a climb without having to look after Wiggo. Last year he spent so much time waiting for Wiggo on the Angrilu he couldn't show his best. Hopefully the Bola del Mundo will be class this year.