2012 Vuelta. The Return of the King.

[EderShamir]

He replaced Arnold Jeannesson, IIRC.

 

[richwagmn]

So no Ryder?

 

[Pricey_sky]

Looks like a quality selection of GC riders will go to the Vuelta. Not many (if any) top class sprinters will make it though.

 

[SafeBet]

GC-wise, yes. I agree.

Is the sprinting field any good?

Cav (established he is an unlikely starter)
Goss??
Sagan??
EBH (I guess not)
Boonen (ditto)
Degnkolb (definite)
Kittel (I assume so)
Moser???
Ferrari???
Ventoso???

No Vuelta for Moser. He's going to Colorado then preparing for the Worlds.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Is contador popular in denmark? do people like him?

 

[Forunculo]

Is contador popular in denmark? do people like him?

I don't know but I guess being rival of Rasmussen in 2007, rival of Schleck's Saxo Bank in 2009 and 2010 and a positive when he just went to Saxo it's not the best way

 

[bjaelkesex]

Is contador popular in denmark? do people like him?

The casual fans will cheer for whomever is riding for Saxo Bank (Basso, Sastre and Andy before Contador). Doesn't hurt that he's actually quite good. The only criticism I've heard of him is about clinic stuff and not his style of riding or personality.

 

[Cerberus]

The casual fans will cheer for whomever is riding for Saxo Bank (Basso, Sastre and Andy before Contador). Doesn't hurt that he's actually quite good. The only criticism I've heard of him is about clinic stuff and not his style of riding or personality.

This is pretty much spot on, probably most of the less casual fans feel the same.

 

[therealtimshady]

Sky sports just reported that cav has said he will ride the tour of Britain - so no vuelta

 

[webvan]

Good, that means Sky can take a mix of strong guys for the plains and mountain goats with Uran or Henao to do the Froomey for Froome. Is Sioutsou back on his bike?

I have my doubts about Bertie just coming back like nothing happened...I wouldn't be surprised if we saw him at his TDF 2011 level...

 

[Parrulo]

Good, that means Sky can take a mix of strong guys for the plains and mountain goats with Uran or Henao to do the Froomey for Froome. Is Sioutsou back on his bike?

I have my doubts about Bertie just coming back like nothing happened...I wouldn't be surprised if we saw him at his TDF 2011 level...

this again? every time you say that some1 asks you if you think the 2011 giro and the crashes on the first week of the tour had nothing to do with contador's performance, yet you always ignore those questions.

i wonder why

 

[the asian]

this again? every time you say that some1 asks you if you think the 2011 giro and the crashes on the first week of the tour had nothing to do with contador's performance, yet you always ignore those questions.

i wonder why

Because they don't know what the Giro is.

 

[webvan]

this again? every time you say that some1 asks you if you think the 2011 giro and the crashes on the first week of the tour had nothing to do with contador's performance, yet you always ignore those questions.

i wonder why

Obviously it didn't help, as the suspension won't have helped either, psychologically, physically and preparation wise, as we have to assume it was justified. Besides there have been quicker than expected declines in the past, Fignon comes to mind, so I'm a bit surprised that everyone expects Bertie to come back and smash the competition as if we were back in 2009...

 

[Spaniard]

I have my doubts about Bertie just coming back like nothing happened...I wouldn't be surprised if we saw him at his TDF 2011 level...

Seriously, did you watch cycling last year?

 

[Kwibus]

Obviously it didn't help, as the suspension won't have helped either, psychologically, physically and preparation wise, as we have to assume it was justified. Besides there have been quicker than expected declines in the past, Fignon comes to mind, so I'm a bit surprised that everyone expects Bertie to come back and smash the competition as if we were back in 2009...

I definately expect him to come back and smash everyone yes.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Can the mod do anything with "the king" ****?

 

[Kwibus]

Can the mod do anything with "the king" ****?

Mods can you please ban Zam for heresy?

 

[movingtarget]

Mods can you please ban Zam for heresy?

The Tolkien estate may sue..........Contador fans you have to love them. The same fans that get hysterical over the Wiggins hype.

 

[Machu Picchu]

The Tolkien estate may sue..........Contador fans you have to love them. The same fans that get hysterical over the Wiggins hype.

Not really a valid comparison though is it? Contador could be considered as one of the greatest GT riders certainly in recent times, Wiggins has had a good season.

 

[movingtarget]

Not really a valid comparison though is it? Contador could be considered as one of the greatest GT riders certainly in recent times, Wiggins has had a good season.

If Wiggins has only had a good season what do you call an excellent season ? Wiggins win was a dominant one. Contador is the best grand tour rider at the moment I agree but I find it strange that during his periods of suspension he still gets hyped more than anyone else. It will be very interesting to see whether Contador is his former dominating self in next year's Tour. Lots of people don't sound too convinced.

 

[Machu Picchu]

If Wiggins has only had a good season what do you call an excellent season ? Wiggins win was a dominant one. Contador is the best grand tour rider at the moment I agree but I find it strange that during his periods of suspension he still gets hyped more than anyone else. It will be very interesting to see whether Contador is his former dominating self in next year's Tour. Lots of people don't sound too convinced.

Fair enough, Wiggins had an ‘excellent’ season, feel better now, my point was one excellent season does not a Contador make, yes it will be interesting to see how Contador returns, it will be interesting to see how Wiggins is next year, the people who don’t sound too convinced about Conti are often the people lashing out at the moment but if you have an axe you may as well grind it.

 

[Fidolix]

12 days to his return...

On day 13th all his haters will sit like

and the fanboys/girls like

enjoying the display of Albertos superiority

 

[Angliru]

Because they don't know what the Giro is.

Yes they do, they think its a sammich.

 

[Angliru]

Obviously it didn't help, as the suspension won't have helped either, psychologically, physically and preparation wise, as we have to assume it was justified. Besides there have been quicker than expected declines in the past, Fignon comes to mind, so I'm a bit surprised that everyone expects Bertie to come back and smash the competition as if we were back in 2009...

Why do I get the impression that this is based more on your own personal hopes and dreams than anything else? You're talking of a decline of some kind, based I'm guessing purely on a Tour performance that you keep bringing up while, as mentioned, ignoring some of the factors that would've effected that performance. You don't even bother to mention the 2011 Giro in your responses, nor the crashes and effects of those crashes on that performance.
You are, IMO, hoping that he fails and is in decline.

By the way Fignon's "decline" was due more to the start of a new era in the sport that I can't discuss here, not necessarily because he was on the downward slope of his abilities. At least that is what I've read.

 

[Kwibus]

The Tolkien estate may sue..........Contador fans you have to love them. The same fans that get hysterical over the Wiggins hype.

Why so serious? I obviously wasn't. Maybe I'm getting too serious now as well though...
I'm a Contador fan since I've started watching cycling all year long(not just the TdF), which is since the Giro 2010. Before that I didn't like him, but now that I consider myself a passionate cycling fan I can't but love Contador.
Attractive offensive rider that treats every race with respect. He won't show up just to ride along. Allthough I'm really curious if he will show himself in the Eneco Tour. That race doesn't suit him at all.

I have nothing against Wiggins. He won the TdF and totally deserved it, but it certainly wasn't attractive.