Vuelta a España 76th La Vuelta ciclista a España 2021 (August 14 - September 5)

[Kaptain Kool]

People overrate Bahrain-Victorious. That team isn't anywhere as strong as J-V or Ineos, or even Movistar for that matter.
Landa for the overall? A 31-year old who only 2 years ago was Carapaz's domestique? And the rest of the team is pretty average even for domestiques.

 

[ice&fire]

Just checked the details of stage 1.
They climb the castle hill in Burgos from a different side and they go higher up the hill than they go in the Vuelta a Burgos.
No garden pools around seen on google earth. That makes it a sure win for Roglic.

 

[Red Rick]

Just checked the details of stage 1.
They climb the castle hill in Burgos from a different side and they go higher up the hill than they go in the Vuelta a Burgos.
No garden pools around seen on google earth. That makes it a sure win for Roglic.

So hard to gauge on a profile. Only 3km is really flat?

 

[Finn84]

I was waiting to see Hänninen here but unfortunately his crash in Burgos has sidelined him.

 

[Froome]

People overrate Bahrain-Victorious. That team isn't anywhere as strong as J-V or Ineos, or even Movistar for that matter.
Landa for the overall? A 31-year old who only 2 years ago was Carapaz's domestique? And the rest of the team is pretty average even for domestiques.

Bahrain just need a undisputed leader. Imagine bahrain team with organization, and with a team like padun,landa,caruso,bilbao,mader,poels, haig with pogacar as a leader, or even roglic.... this team wouldn't be inferior to ineos and jumbo team. They're missing an undisputed leader. Maybe padun or mader can turn into that in the future.

 

[staubsauger]

I was waiting to see Hänninen here but unfortunately his crash in Burgos has sidelined him.

Initially he was fielded as co-captain aside Bouchard which was a bit surprising to me. Dunno what to expect from him really. Neither what his characteristics as a cyclist are.

 

[Pinot's goat]

People overrate Bahrain-Victorious. That team isn't anywhere as strong as J-V or Ineos, or even Movistar for that matter.
Landa for the overall? A 31-year old who only 2 years ago was Carapaz's domestique? And the rest of the team is pretty average even for domestiques.

Carapaz was Bernal's domestique at TDF last year, does not make Carapaz a non-GC contender in future races. Landa working for Carapaz was more due to Carapaz being very strong than Landa being weak. Landa could have got 3rd off Roglic if he didn't always have to sit on the wheels when Carapaz attacked.

 

[ice&fire]

So hard to gauge on a profile. Only 3km is really flat?

I've mapped the route on google maps and the end of the descent is more than 3.5km from the finish line. And the first half km of the descent is almost flat.

 

[Red Rick]

I've mapped the route on google maps and the end of the descent is more than 3.5km from the finish line. And the first half km of the descent is almost flat.

So not that little flat.

Still should heavily favor Roglic. Are there even any other good specialists there?

 

[Sciatic]

Meanwhile I'm interested to see what Pidcock does. I'm not him to be a GC leader or something but I don't think we've seen any climbing at all from him this year?

Agreed, as I mention elsewhere watching his progress (and also Padun’s) throughout the race adds even more interest to this Vuelta (for me at least).

 

[wheresmybrakes]

All the contenders (Roglic apart) need to gain time in advance of the ITT at the end anyway. He gonna gain quite a bit unless he doesn't put his helmet on properly again. They can't afford to be in arrears prior to it.

 

[johnymax]

I've just noticed Carapaz isn't even in the poll. He should defenitely be considered one of the top5 favourites, but then again, there would have been too many Ineos leaders to choose from.

What about Caruso? Is he already considered an aftertought or a one hit wonder? If he reaches his Giro form, he is absolutely a podium contender. I know Bahrain has Landa as a leader of the team and many here consider Padun the second coming. But Caruso should've still been getting more consideration IMO

 

[Earns1985]

That is a huge conclusion based on what you just said. We have no idea about trust here. Not even close. There could be many other reasons for doing what they did.

Well perhaps "trust" is not the correct word in this context.
But when they planned the season they didn´t know, if Bernal´s back problems would still be an issue. So they didn´t want to make the same mistake as in 2020, where Bernal as their sole leader struggled.
So it was the better option to send Bernal this year to the second most important stage race as their leader and not to the most important one..

 

[BlueRoads]

I've just noticed Carapaz isn't even in the poll. He should defenitely be considered one of the top5 favourites, but then again, there would have been too many Ineos leaders to choose from.

What about Caruso? Is he already considered an aftertought or a one hit wonder? If he reaches his Giro form, he is absolutely a podium contender. I know Bahrain has Landa as a leader of the team and many here consider Padun the second coming. But Caruso should've still been getting more consideration IMO

I thought Yates was the Ineos chosen one for this and then I put Bernal into it because I thought Ineos might like a Giro-Vuelta double... there really were just too many Ineos riders for me to decide properly. And actually all around way too many options which should make for a great race.

 

[roundabout]

Idk about Carapaz. ok, he doubled up the Tour and Vuelta last year, but that was a special occasion. it's not that I expect that he will fail, but I am guessing that he may be slightly worse than in the Tour

 

[Rackham]

And don't forget that last year Roglic was severely let down by Jumbo in that raining stage (9? the one put in place of Tourmalet).

I was going to post about this, i.e. the infamous rain jersey incident in the Formigal stage. After the split happened, Roglic did a solo chase behind the favorites group that day & lost 40+ seconds on Carapaz when he couldn't follow on the climb. That really put him on the back foot for the rest of the race.

As for Ineos this year, I'm really curious to see A/Who attacks first among the 3 leaders (Yates, Bernal & Carapaz) & B/Who will Roglic personally mark.

Last year he sat on Carapaz on the Moncalvillo & let the rest attack without blinking (he used Kuss to chase the others). I'm thinking Bahrain might force the issue this year & Padun/Landa could dynamite the race.

 

[yaco]

Meanwhile I'm interested to see what Pidcock does. I'm not him to be a GC leader or something but I don't think we've seen any climbing at all from him this year?

It may be limited viewing - Ineos don't allow their support riders to chase stages unless their GC rider is out of the picture.

 

[tobydawq]

Valverde has finally reached The Horner Age. There can be no doubt he will win.

 

[Finn84]

Initially he was fielded as co-captain aside Bouchard which was a bit surprising to me. Dunno what to expect from him really. Neither what his characteristics as a cyclist are.

His strengths are in the mountains and hills, U23 bronze in Innsbruck (where he rode alone against bigger countries). Surprised about co-captaincy role though, I would have expected better results from French .Pro or .1 races before he would get that.

Time trialling is the main part that needs improving.

 

[tobydawq]

Then again, the prologue (which they, thankfully, call stage 1) starts and finishes in a cathedral AND the race finishes in Santiago de Compostela so it could be that Jesus guides Padun to a GT win.

 

[Red Rick]

Valverde has finally reached The Horner Age. There can be no doubt he will win.

I do believe that around on the day of my funeral people will read a hologram about Valverde extending another year.

 

[Sciatic]

I've just noticed Carapaz isn't even in the poll. He should defenitely be considered one of the top5 favourites, but then again, there would have been too many Ineos leaders to choose from.

What about Caruso? Is he already considered an aftertought or a one hit wonder? If he reaches his Giro form, he is absolutely a podium contender. I know Bahrain has Landa as a leader of the team and many here consider Padun the second coming. But Caruso should've still been getting more consideration IMO

I was thinking the same. Bahrain have an awesome team in terms of their potential for making the race more fun to watch. They have 3 guys who can win or be in the final selection on big mountain stages (although there arent’that many of those), and who also can lose 5 minutes in a crosswind or in other mishaps in transition stages. I don’t think any of them can win, but I’m hoping at least two of them can stay up there in GC going into the final week.

 

[Escarabajo]

I've just noticed Carapaz isn't even in the poll. He should defenitely be considered one of the top5 favourites, but then again, there would have been too many Ineos leaders to choose from.

What about Caruso? Is he already considered an aftertought or a one hit wonder? If he reaches his Giro form, he is absolutely a podium contender. I know Bahrain has Landa as a leader of the team and many here consider Padun the second coming. But Caruso should've still been getting more consideration IMO

LOL. He is #3 in the bets!

 

[southwards]

On Bernal and Carapaz, I don't think they putting Bernal on the giro meant that much. Don't forget Bernal lived in Italy, speaks Italian very fluently, and in 2019 was scheduled to go to the Giro, so it may be Bernal's decision to go to the Giro.

 

[Red Rick]

On Bernal and Carapaz, I don't think they putting Bernal on the giro meant that much. Don't forget Bernal lived in Italy, speaks Italian very fluently, and in 2019 was scheduled to go to the Giro, so it may be Bernal's decision to go to the Giro.

I also think Ineos will have realised winning the Tour was a long shot against RoglPog and they didn't mind winning the Giro either.