2012 Vuelta. The Return of the King.

[LaFlorecita]

What did I just say? Nice Andy picture? They really do exist?

Yes, they do.

 

[virandociclista]

What did I just say? Nice Andy picture? They really do exist?

Yes, they do.

Are you losing your mind? Wake up girl!

 

[airstream]

It's ridiculous to read how smart and kind, I hope, guys react on the posts of the forum member with Schleck avatar as on a red rug and forget about anything besides writing that Contador is stronger than Schleck, even if a conversation is not about that. Apparently it is most of Contador's fans' fate - coming cycling down to his greatness and nothing more.

 

[Fetisoff]

I think I should get a Schleck avatar myself, just for the trolling purposes.

 

[Havetts]

I think I should get a Schleck avatar myself, just for the trolling purposes.

I've been contemplating this for so long now..

 

[Fetisoff]

I've been contemplating this for so long now..

Probably a good idea to add "My avatar is not a result of me losing an avatar bet" in the signature too, that would almost make it double trolling

 

[Dancing On The Pedals]

It was strong by the names, but mediocre by competition. Do you accept this democratic formulation?)

But that has more to do with Contador than with the competition.

If you take out Contador, you'd have had a very close battle between Scarponi and Nibbles for the win at last years Giro - not their fault that Contador was at his very best. There'd also have been quite a good scrap for 3rd.

Assuming that he keeps himself in shape over the next 6 months, I don't see any reason why he won't be able to be competitive right from the word go. His racing instinct won't diminish over the duration of his ban, and over the 3 weeks he should be able to get fully up to speed as well.

 

[Granville57]

After hastily speed-reading my way through the 26 pages of this thread, quite frankly, I am shocked, appalled and saddened...
















How is it possible that so many forum members seem to be unaware of The Hitch's age or what he looks like?

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

Personally, I believe the 2012 edition of La Vuelta a España will be the greatest event in the history of cycling.

 

[SiAp1984]

Sigh not this again. You might want to take a look at who was at the giro rather than just assume the competition was weak.

Obviously, the Tour-competition was much stronger. At least too strong for him.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

On the plus side, this might make the anemic Arrate and Ezkarai stages a lot better, as people like Antón have to try to make some time on Contador before he gets back into form - we saw from his return at the start of 2011 that he took a bit of time to get up to speed, then once he got there he was unstoppable. They're going to need to make the most of those stages.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Obviously, the Tour-competition was much stronger. At least too strong for him.

Or alternatively, he'd just raced another Grand Tour with 7 mountaintop finishes in it. The Tour competition was not that strong, don't kid yourself. Half the major contenders crashed out before they'd even seen a mountain, and then Thomas Voeckler came 4th. I have too much respect for you to consider that you think Thomas Voeckler is a stronger Grand Tour GC rider than Alberto Contador when all things are equal.

 

[airstream]

The competition got rarified in general because of crashes, but it didnot get weaker in terms of best 3-4 guys' strength (in reference of tired Contador). No one says Voeckler is stronger when other things being equal.

Libertine, could an ordinary rider lose to fully juiced up Armstrong only 5min on Plateau de Beille?

 

[Angliru]

Or alternatively, he'd just raced another Grand Tour with 7 mountaintop finishes in it. The Tour competition was not that strong, don't kid yourself. Half the major contenders crashed out before they'd even seen a mountain, and then Thomas Voeckler came 4th. I have too much respect for you to consider that you think Thomas Voeckler is a stronger Grand Tour GC rider than Alberto Contador when all things are equal.

Additionally if you want to look at the effects that last year's Giro had on it's participants look at all the Giro riders that took part in the Vuelta with high hopes and their ultimate results. Each and everyone had a much less than stellar performance and that was on a bit more rest than Contador had for the Tour.

 

[The Hitch]

Great way to dismiss someones post by calling him Andy Schleck, very classy too mr Lawyer..

It would be jokes if we were actually talking to Andy

Im guessing he's impersonating Ushi though

 

[Froome19]

Or alternatively, he'd just raced another Grand Tour with 7 mountaintop finishes in it. The Tour competition was not that strong, don't kid yourself. Half the major contenders crashed out before they'd even seen a mountain, and then Thomas Voeckler came 4th. I have too much respect for you to consider that you think Thomas Voeckler is a stronger Grand Tour GC rider than Alberto Contador when all things are equal.

Indeed you're right but Voeckler isn't a good example as he only came 4th due to his break on stage 9. Disincluding that Contador would have overtaken him and remember that Contador also lost time on stage 1 which would have made him otherwise overtake Voeckler (can't remember whethet Voeckler lost any time on the early stages but even so it would've been minimal).
And also however many riders crashed out of the tour it had a by far stronger lineup than the Giro.

 

[The Hitch]

lol what a great pic.

No one says Voeckler is stronger when other things being equal.

But Frank Schleck, Cadel Evans and Andy Schleck are?

 

[airstream]

lol what a great pic.




But Frank Schleck, Cadel Evans and Andy Schleck are?

Yeah, they were in the TdF. The final result is the best indicator we can build on or you have other opinion?

 

[The Hitch]

The confusion might be in your use of "other things being equal". What does that mean?

 

[Publicus]

Yeah, they were in the TdF. The final result is the best indicator we can build on or you have other opinion?

Just to be clear, in 2011, all things being equal, you think Andy, Frank and Cuddles were stronger than AC? And for clarity, all things being equal, means setting aside crashes and Giro-fatigue (otherwise, things wouldn't be equal across the 4 cyclist).

Or are you simplying saying that Andy, Frank and Cuddles were better than Contador at the 2011 TdF?

 

[airstream]

I mean, initially they are not comparable as GT riders.

 

[LaFlorecita]

I mean, initially they are not comparable as GT riders.

You can compare them as in "Alberto is better than all of them."

 

[LaFlorecita]

lol what a great pic.

People are going to wear that mask cycling through Pinto to support Alberto...

 

[Fetisoff]

OK, people seriously. A little more of this, and I will get a Schleck avatar and start trolling people.
Then register under a different name, get a Contador avatar and proceed to self-trolling, and then self-trolling-back.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

 

[LaFlorecita]

OK, people seriously. A little more of this, and I will get a Schleck avatar and start trolling people.
Then register under a different name, get a Contador avatar and proceed to self-trolling, and then self-trolling-back.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Calm down bro.

 

[airstream]

Or are you simplying saying that Andy, Frank and Cuddles were better than Contador at the 2011 TdF?

Right.
And I just wanted to underline a bit that Voeckler is not average rider. If he focused on GTs in the fullness of time, he would achieve Moreau's level, for instance. In general, I think, there have been significant changes in the peloton over the last 4-5 years, looking at Voeckler, Froome and the others. Everyone got, fighting for the GC is not scary.