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Anyone have info on stage 7 particularly the finish ?
LADS IT LOOKS LIKE GIGS WILL SIT THIS ONE OUT, BEST GT EVERStarts horrible, becomes better and better just to get absoluely horrendous again when it matters. What on earth is that last week? It's not even like La Covatilla is that incredible of a climb to make up for the rest of it.
I usually accept the lackluster mountain stages of the vuelta because at least there aren't many flat stages either. This time however I count 9 flat stages which I think is bad even for tdf standards. In a gt where literally not a single stage profile truly gets me excited it is totally unacceptable. So all in all I have to say this is a really disappointing route
Route suits him to a tee but I think hes more dependent on who shows upApparently Valverde likes the Vuelta route. He seems to think it suits him well.
Vuelta a España: Alejandro Valverde: "Es muy exigente, pero me viene muy bien"
Alejandro Valverde (Movistar), ganador de la Vuelta 2009 y campeón del Mundo en 2018, considera que el recorrido de la edición 75 presentada en Madrid es "muy exigente" y espera como objetivo del año "llegar lo mejor posible a los JJOO de Tokio". "La Vueltawww.esciclismo.com
Route suits him to a tee but I think hes more dependent on who shows up
I think this one is marginally better for him too. However in this Olympic year I don't see the field being as good as the past 2 years.I agree he's likely more dependent on who else shows up and what kind of shape they are in. However between this year's Vuelta route and next year's route it appears la Vuelta organizers are going to make routes to fit him until he does eventually retire. Although last year's route looked better than this one.
The proposed Asturian stages are a dumpster fire.
Stage 4 doesn't look too bad - plus a couple of features I like: 1) Arrate given the correct appropriate categorization, and 2) Karabieta leading directly into it, which bizarrely is never even used in País Vasco as they always seem to like climbing Karabieta north. Would have liked to see Etxauri in stage 5, but that's generally a pretty well designed stage with a descent finish coming off the back of the opening MTF, so thumbs up for this. Unfortunately it's followed by a terrible mountain stage which overcategorises the MTF and doesn't use any of the not-spectacular-but-at-least-ok lead-in opportunities. As PRC shows, much more can be done with Urbión. Quite a lot more.
Stage 9 can die in a house fire. Aubisque AND Tourmalet - as an MTF - in a sub-140km stage, and emerging from their July homes to infect other races too? You may as well spit in my face. I could not possibly be less enthusiastic about a "queen stage". PS, if any race organiser tries to claim a stage less than 150km long to be a "queen stage", they should instantly be allowed to be pelted with fruit by cycling fans and personally slapped in the face for one final moment of humiliation by Angelo Zomegnan.
Stage 10 is a very stupid design but a good finale. Then we have another not-as-good-as-it-could-have-been stage to Moncalvillo, before two flat stages, then the dumpster fire of a weekend in Asturias, with a 109km Angliru stage. At least swap them round and create the pretence that something will happen on La Farrapona, you know? Every time they use it, they neuter it by putting Angliru the next day. The rest of week 3 is pretty meh, but at least they've gone back to trying to do something with La Covatilla.
I found another one.Valverde having a decent chance on such an easy route is literally the only positive I can find..
I assume this is why its the first route in years to suit sprinters as they know most of the GC guys will be wiped ot early this yearI think this one is marginally better for him too. However in this Olympic year I don't see the field being as good as the past 2 years.
To keep the four weeks gap with the Tour.Btw, regarding the Vuelta. Anyone who can enlighten me why it takes place so early next year? I thought it would rather later than usual due to the Olympics, but intead they move it one week forward. Is there any particular reason why they do that?
To keep the four weeks gap with the Tour.
Since they have a four weeks gap the number of Tour contender that went to the Vuelta has increased so I don't think they want to change even if initially the move was probably more oriented to add a week before the World and stop the planned retires parade.And why does it have to be a four week gap?
Okay, I can understand that. But still I think a Vuelta start in the middle of August is far too early. It can be freakin hot that time of year in Spain, and since it ends about 5th of September, the only races of real interesert after that time is the Worlds RR and Il Lombardia. That's pretty thin......Since they have a four weeks gap the number of Tour contender that went to the Vuelta has increased so I don't think they want to change even if initially the move was probably more oriented to add a week before the World and stop the planned retires parade.
I found another one.
They managed to skip Lagos de Covadonga a 2nd year in a row.
And I'm glad the Camperona rumour was fakeI found another one.
They managed to skip Lagos de Covadonga a 2nd year in a row.
Lol 6 sprints in the last 10 stages.
A drunk monkey would have done better.
What do we know about the Vuelta and what do you think about it? Will it take place? Does not look good, but has anyone from Spain an opinion how big the political will to push this through is? And if it does happen, it just dawned on me that the Tour has just finished and the Vuelta is at the door, who will still do it and who could do well?
Well, I appreciate any thoughts, opinions and news bits.