2016 Vuelta a España, Info & Discussion

[staubsauger]

Re: Re:

An interesting point is also the 3 pure sprinter stages all are in the 3rd week, should be a good incitement to stay for as long as possible. Then again, not many pure sprinter will want to attend this race.

At this point it feels like most Vuelta sprint stages are won by sixth-tier sprinters. Last year Sbaragli, D van Poppel and Stuyven all won.

Hopefully Cav will turn up to use the first week as prep for the worlds as well as closing in on Cipo and Merckx's tallies of total GT stage wins

Degenkolb and Bouhanni certainly gonna do this. And at least one of them should even finish it to save his season a bit there. Degenkolb more likely to do that as he ain't got no chance to lead Germany at the world championships. But you never know with Bouhanni. After he missed the Tour he might be eager to demolish the field at the Vuelta and get a taste of green.

 

[staubsauger]

Re: Re:

Why not? Canadian classics instead?

It's known for a while that Uran will not ride Vuelta.

I don't know why but I can only guess that he had 2 big goals for the season- Giro and Olympics and perhaps he feels he wouldn't have enough in the tank for a good Vuelta.

Dombrowski might co-lead after his Utah peak instead. Might be successful this year. He ain't been to bad in the mountains during the Giro d'Italia!

I'm looking forward to it. At least more than to see Uran failing and confirming he ain't got it anymore at this point of his career.

 

[CheckMyPecs]

In preparation races they should force Dombrowski to get into breakaways in flat stages. He needs to work on not getting dropped on the flat!

 

[staubsauger]

Yeah. But I guess he wants to win the Tour of Utah once again. It's a major race in America after all.

 

[HelloDolly]

Why is everyone going on about Quintana and this Vuelta

Has he said for definite he is doing it ?

For one thing the parcours do not suit him at all
Secondly he will also be targeting the Olympics so maybe be past his peak
And if he wins the Tour he won't do it
If he wins the Olympics he won't do it
He never looks happy at the Vuelta

Froome also is not a definite ...again dependent on his Tour/Olympics results
There are several SKY riders who want freedom or chances to lead at this Vuelta . Froome/SKY need to give doms a chance if they want to keep them...nothing worse that Froome insisting on leading only to not go well or drop out as he did in last few years ...Give the others a chance

Its a course for Purito/Valaverde ...Valverde obviously having 2 GTs in his legs will not be up for it
Love to see Purito do it and take on Contador as a swan song for both at the Vuelta...esp if a contest like 2012

Of course riders like Chaves ,etc will be in the mix now

 

[Isaak-Gabriel]

Re:

Why is everyone going on about Quintana and this Vuelta

Has he said for definite he is doing it ?

For one thing the parcours do not suit him at all
Secondly he will also be targeting the Olympics so maybe be past his peak
And if he wins the Tour he won't do it
If he wins the Olympics he won't do it
He never looks happy at the Vuelta

Froome also is not a definite ...again dependent on his Tour/Olympics results
There are several SKY riders who want freedom or chances to lead at this Vuelta . Froome/SKY need to give doms a chance if they want to keep them...nothing worse that Froome insisting on leading only to not go well or drop out as he did in last few years ...Give the others a chance

Its a course for Purito/Valaverde ...Valverde obviously having 2 GTs in his legs will not be up for it
Love to see Purito do it and take on Contador as a swan song for both at the Vuelta...esp if a contest like 2012

Of course riders like Chaves ,etc will be in the mix now

Yes : http://eldeportivo.com.co/notiInt.php?id=23837&name=Por_primera_vez

 

[LeSensei]

Re: Re:

I have to say I am ashamed of "our" race this year. Should be renamed to Vuelta a Galicia. Countless 1-climb-2kms-20% stages, one only real Mountain stage, and its in France. Come on. When Cavendish first said the Vuelta had become stupid I was angry, now I can see he was probably right.

Not sure why there are so many complaints about the route not covering enough of Spain. It goes through 9 of the 15 mainland communities as well as France. Last year only went through 11 communities. I don't think anyone is going to miss the lack of stages in La Mancha or Extremadura anyway, and Andalucia/Murcia have hosted about 30 stages in the last five years, so no shame having a break from there either.

You are okay with it because it has a fair amount of stages in Valencia i guess. I am ashamed, everyone I know is ashamed, you too should be ashamed.

 

[DFA123]

Re: Re:

I have to say I am ashamed of "our" race this year. Should be renamed to Vuelta a Galicia. Countless 1-climb-2kms-20% stages, one only real Mountain stage, and its in France. Come on. When Cavendish first said the Vuelta had become stupid I was angry, now I can see he was probably right.

Not sure why there are so many complaints about the route not covering enough of Spain. It goes through 9 of the 15 mainland communities as well as France. Last year only went through 11 communities. I don't think anyone is going to miss the lack of stages in La Mancha or Extremadura anyway, and Andalucia/Murcia have hosted about 30 stages in the last five years, so no shame having a break from there either.

You are okay with it because it has a fair amount of stages in Valencia i guess. I am ashamed, everyone I know is ashamed, you too should be ashamed.

I don't really see what there is to be ashamed about. The Tour de France this year misses out the entire north-east - the cycling heartland and about 40% of the country. It's kind of normal for GT's to be focused on specific regions each edition. Especially the north in Spain, which has by far the best terrain for cycle racing and also by far the most suitable climate for racing in August and early September. And it's the most populated and has the biggest cycling regions so you get loads of fans on the road - rather than riding through the empty plains of La Mancha or Extremadura.

My one complaint is that I'd love to see them go to the islands more, particularly Tenerife and Gran Canaria; I guess it's difficult logisitcally, but they have such a different character of climbs to most of the mainland.

 

[RattaKuningas]

Hoping for less controversy in Vuelta.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

Hoping for less controversy in Vuelta.

I like the controversy and the spectacle, for some strange reason, I embraced it. Apart from Cancellara obviously, boy, thank god he isn't racing here.

 

[Red Rick]

At least in the Vuelta the motors don't fall over due to people on the road but just by sheer gravity.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

At least in the Vuelta the motors don't fall over due to people on the road but just by sheer gravity.

Which obviously is a great thing as long as they don't hit the riders.

 

[ice&fire]

Re:

At least in the Vuelta the motors don't fall over due to people on the road but just by sheer gravity.

Sagan will tell you that motos don't fall over in the Vuelta: they ride you over.

 

[Puccini]

Alberto Contador takes part in the Vuelta a Burgos! Its Great!

http://www.diariodeburgos.es/Noticia/Z28C6D6F1-A3AC-B88B-653681A0F67FA553/Rico-cuenta-con-Contador-en-Burgos

http://www.vueltaburgos.com/5_etapa/

VUELTA A BURGOS is Surely it is the ideal race to be fit for the Tour of Spain.... :lol:

Date: 2016-08-02
Race class: 2.HC
Race category: Men Elite
UCI-Tour: Europe Tour

 

[Red Rick]

Re: Re:

At least in the Vuelta the motors don't fall over due to people on the road but just by sheer gravity.

Sagan will tell you that motos don't fall over in the Vuelta: they ride you over.

 

[May0maniac]

Re: Re:

At least in the Vuelta the motors don't fall over due to people on the road but just by sheer gravity.

Which obviously is a great thing as long as they don't hit the riders.

And you have the Guardia Civil to beat up stupid fans who get too close.

 

[Red Rick]

Re:

Alberto Contador takes part in the Vuelta a Burgos! Its Great!

http://www.diariodeburgos.es/Noticia/Z28C6D6F1-A3AC-B88B-653681A0F67FA553/Rico-cuenta-con-Contador-en-Burgos

http://www.vueltaburgos.com/5_etapa/

VUELTA A BURGOS is Surely it is the ideal race to be fit for the Tour of Spain.... :lol:

Date: 2016-08-02
Race class: 2.HC
Race category: Men Elite
UCI-Tour: Europe Tour

Awesome

 

[Gigs_98]

Re: Re:

At least in the Vuelta the motors don't fall over due to people on the road but just by sheer gravity.

Sagan will tell you that motos don't fall over in the Vuelta: they ride you over.

In the Vuelta it's not the riders who crash into the motos, but the motos which crash into the riders

 

[roundabout]

Paulinho crashed into the moto, regardless of all the whining from Tinkov after

 

[Valv.Piti]

Looking forward to see time gaps between the best rider on every second day

 

[Red Rick]

Me too. Don't want to see stuff like Mirador de Ezaro and La Camperona with a 20 man group finishing s.t.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

Me too. Don't want to see stuff like Mirador de Ezaro and La Camperona with a 20 man group finishing s.t.

Then I would have seen it all

 

[Miburo]

The countdown to the vuelta can begin.

The tour its greatest stage design was riden terribly but what would you expect with movistar as your only hope.

Just like nibali saved the giro, contador will save the vuelta.

 

[LeSensei]

Re: Re:

I have to say I am ashamed of "our" race this year. Should be renamed to Vuelta a Galicia. Countless 1-climb-2kms-20% stages, one only real Mountain stage, and its in France. Come on. When Cavendish first said the Vuelta had become stupid I was angry, now I can see he was probably right.

Not sure why there are so many complaints about the route not covering enough of Spain. It goes through 9 of the 15 mainland communities as well as France. Last year only went through 11 communities. I don't think anyone is going to miss the lack of stages in La Mancha or Extremadura anyway, and Andalucia/Murcia have hosted about 30 stages in the last five years, so no shame having a break from there either.

You are okay with it because it has a fair amount of stages in Valencia i guess. I am ashamed, everyone I know is ashamed, you too should be ashamed.

I don't really see what there is to be ashamed about. The Tour de France this year misses out the entire north-east - the cycling heartland and about 40% of the country. It's kind of normal for GT's to be focused on specific regions each edition. Especially the north in Spain, which has by far the best terrain for cycle racing and also by far the most suitable climate for racing in August and early September. And it's the most populated and has the biggest cycling regions so you get loads of fans on the road - rather than riding through the empty plains of La Mancha or Extremadura.

My one complaint is that I'd love to see them go to the islands more, particularly Tenerife and Gran Canaria; I guess it's difficult logisitcally, but they have such a different character of climbs to most of the mainland.

Have you ever seen the tour skip the Pyrenees? The Alps? In Spain we have the Cantabrian block and the Pyrenees in the north, and Sierra Nevada in the south. In Sierra Nevada we have one of the most amazing climbs in Europe, perfectly suited for a stage finish but of course the organizers have no balls to include it. My point is that the south has some worthy stuff too and deserves some love. Too much love for the north lately, Guillen must be fan of Jon Snow.

 

[LeSensei]

Re:

The countdown to the vuelta can begin.

The tour its greatest stage design was riden terribly but what would you expect with movistar as your only hope.

Just like nibali saved the giro, contador will save the vuelta.

Nibali didn't save the Giro - he made an already exciting Giro into a more interesting one. More like the Giro saved him. From Vino. :razz: