2016 Vuelta a España, Info & Discussion

[Oliwright]

Contador and Quintana will go in as favourites.

The following riders are either confirmed or likely to attend.
Chaves, Yates, Purito, Lopez, Uran, Kruijswijk, Rolland, Gesink, Talansky,Van Garderen, Poels, Konig, Aru, Pinot, Jungels, Amador, Porte and Barguil.

Froome will go as Sky have said for years that they see the best prep for the following season as riding the Vuelta. Hence why Geraint rode it last year.
I think Sky won't commit to any riders and will keep their cards open, with Poels, Konig, Roche and Froome all potential cards to play. Also it is easier to stay up high on GC in the Vuelta as the 1st week is less dangerous and flat than that of the tour for the GC guys. Also Froome would have no pressure on them and neither would Sky.
He rode it in 2012,14 & 15 so i expect to see him there even if he is out of shape.

The course is perfect for Froome, plenty of mountains and long flat time trials.
Out of those expected to turn up (if they are in form) Contador, Uran, Jungels, Kruijswijk, Talansky, TVG, Porte, Konig have all shown the best time trialling out of the GC contenders in grandtours.

I exspect nothing from Pinot but wouldn't be surprised if he performed. He just isn't mentally strong enough imo for the TDF and should focus on Giro and Vuelta.

I imagine Yates will have a point to prove and Chaves is constantly improving. Should be one of the best races of the year!

 

[Moviestar]

Pre-selection Movistar: Amador, Castro, Fernandez, the Herradas, J.Moreno, Ion.

Valverde will decide after Rio.
No news yet on the presence of Quintana. I think Valverde will go, if Quintana skips. Unfortunately no Soler in the pre-selection, would love to see how he performs in his first GT. Also no Visconti, maybe marking the exit at the end of the season..

 

[liamito]

Re:

Pre-selection Movistar: Amador, Castro, Fernandez, the Herradas, J.Moreno, Ion.

Valverde will decide after Rio.
No news yet on the presence of Quintana. I think Valverde will go, if Quintana skips. Unfortunately no Soler in the pre-selection, would love to see how he performs in his first GT. Also no Visconti, maybe marking the exit at the end of the season..

No Betancur

 

[Valv.Piti]

Could live without Jose Herrada and Javi Moreno. No Betancur or Soler, shame.

Hopefully both Quintana and Valverde will go again.

 

[Anderis]

The following riders are either confirmed or likely to attend.
Chaves, Yates, Purito, Lopez, Uran, Kruijswijk, Rolland, Gesink, Talansky,Van Garderen, Poels, Konig, Aru, Pinot, Jungels, Amador, Porte and Barguil.

Uran will not attend from what I've read on this forum.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Some of these riders, think Rolland, TJ and Kruijswijk, will be in for a surprise. La Vuelta punishes these diesels for a living

 

[Skoekeloen]

Re:

Some of these riders, think Rolland, TJ and Kruijswijk, will be in for a surprise. La Vuelta punishes these diesels for a living

Yeah, Kruijswijk will probably get top 10, but iirc he doesn't like heat. He wants long mountain stages and not those little steep climbs at the end of a flat stage. That makes two important disadvantages. Roglic (?) and Gesink should be good domestiques though.

 

[May0maniac]

Re:

Some of these riders, think Rolland, TJ and Kruijswijk, will be in for a surprise. La Vuelta punishes these diesels for a living

Yeah, You're probably right. A fresh Gesink on the other hand could do well, he has done well in the Vuelta before.
Felline could surprise people on a few stages, he's a good climber, has great recovery, is a good TT rider and has a great sprint.
I fear that people are overhyping Superman Lopez for gc, the first gt is usually mosty a learning experience, so you shouldn't expect too much from him.

 

[Gigs_98]

I just saw the profile of the last climb on stage 17. Holy s***

 

[El Pistolero]

Tim Wellens also on the preliminary start list. Hopefully he can pick up a stage win here as well. Him and Gilbert will be the Belgians to follow.

 

[Poursuivant]

Paddy power have Quintana favourite, Froome second favourite, Contador third. I would probably reverse it.

 

[Red Rick]

Well, I can find a bookie that has Contador as more likely to win OG then Froome.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Contador at 4/1 is a very good price, however for Contador supporters sake I wont back him. I bet on him to win the Tour in 2014 and backed him in the spring to win this years too. We know how both those Tours turned out for him!

 

[Cannibal72]

Re: Re:

Some of these riders, think Rolland, TJ and Kruijswijk, will be in for a surprise. La Vuelta punishes these diesels for a living

Yeah, Kruijswijk will probably get top 10, but iirc he doesn't like heat. He wants long mountain stages and not those little steep climbs at the end of a flat stage. That makes two important disadvantages. Roglic (?) and Gesink should be good domestiques though.

Pinot is also a diesel who hates heat...honestly, he'll probably be in a similar position. :sad:

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

Paddy power have Quintana favourite, Froome second favourite, Contador third. I would probably reverse it.

And this is why bookies' odds mean absolutely nothing.

 

[Jspear]

Re:

Paddy power have Quintana favourite, Froome second favourite, Contador third. I would probably reverse it.

Lol, I could understand if they put Froome at first, but Quintana is mind boggling.

 

[52520Andrew]

Yeah don't understand how they could have Quintana above both Contador AND Froome.

 

[Poursuivant]

Re:

Yeah don't understand how they could have Quintana above both Contador AND Froome.

Only thing I can think is they think the Olympics for Froome and not ideal preparation for Bertie. Still think it's a bit weird but I reckon Quintana will have a good Vuelta.

 

[Oliwright]

The following riders are either confirmed or likely to attend.
Chaves, Yates, Purito, Lopez, Uran, Kruijswijk, Rolland, Gesink, Talansky,Van Garderen, Poels, Konig, Aru, Pinot, Jungels, Amador, Porte and Barguil.

Uran will not attend from what I've read on this forum.

Jonathon Vaughters said he would on the cycling podcast i think.

 

[Oliwright]

Re:

Some of these riders, think Rolland, TJ and Kruijswijk, will be in for a surprise. La Vuelta punishes these diesels for a living

Dumoulin & Wiggins have done well at the Vuelta

 

[vedrafjord]

Looking forward to this now. Strong field with unknown form in many cases, tons of opportunity for GC action, lots of medium mountain stages, no trains (probably).

 

[Gigs_98]

It's hilarious how contador is underrated since his tdf crash. Before the tour: "contador can win this, he had a great spring and a perfect preparation"
After the Tour: "contador is obviously past his prime he hasn't won the tour since 2009. froome and Quintana will beat him in the vuelta although they rode the tour."

 

[Valv.Piti]

It's hilarious how contador is underrated since his tdf crash. Before the tour: "contador can win this, he had a great spring and a perfect preparation"
After the Tour: "contador is obviously past his prime he hasn't won the tour since 2009. froome and Quintana will beat him in the vuelta although they rode the tour."

Who says that tho? Contador should be the favourite, but not by much against Froome.

 

[52520Andrew]

Re: Re:

Yeah don't understand how they could have Quintana above both Contador AND Froome.

Only thing I can think is they think the Olympics for Froome and not ideal preparation for Bertie. Still think it's a bit weird but I reckon Quintana will have a good Vuelta.

Quintana did make the podium last year after doing the Tour so I think he should put in a good showing even if he was bad at the Tour but I don't see him winning it.

I think Froome could very well win it if he goes for it but the preparation may not be there with the Olympics. With that said, I don't think the Olympics will wear on him too much and it isn't like he went too deep in the Tour. I don't think he will be the Froome we have seen in the Tour the past couple years but he should be a threat.

I see flashes of 2014 again with Contador here and I think he knows what he has to do in order to prepare for this race. I think he would be my favorite as things stand right now and he doesn't have a full Tour in his legs like the other riders.

Outside of those guys, I think there are some intriguing names out there although I will wait to see who is attending and who isn't before I get too deep.

 

[Miburo]

Contador is by far the biggest favorite, way way above Froome.

Not only did Froome do the tour, otherwise you have a point of course but he's gonna do the olympics in another continent! (and he's riding criteriums too).