Big stars entering the vuelta

[Train in Spain]

Menchov will be there or thereabouts - he wants another big win and five weeks should be enough to recover from the TdF, should it not? A couple of weeks on the beach, a couple of weeks training and he'll be ready to roll. For all intents and purposes this is his home Tour after all, he's lived in Spain most of his professional life.

Denis for me.

 

[ericthesportsman6]

Menchov will be there or thereabouts - he wants another big win and five weeks should be enough to recover from the TdF, should it not? A couple of weeks on the beach, a couple of weeks training and he'll be ready to roll. For all intents and purposes this is his home Tour after all, he's lived in Spain most of his professional life.

Denis for me.

Yea if he could find similar form to what he had at the tour, I don't think anyone in the field right now could top him.

 

[benpounder]

I'd think Andy, AC, SS, JR and DM are all likely tanked...

I dont know if LL Sanchez is planing on racing the Vuelta, but given his strong, but still lackluster Tour performance, I wonder if he, as defacto leader of Caisse d'Epargne might want to make a statement - Ruben Plaza as well. Last I heard, the team might fold next year, and as such, a high GC finish would certainly help future contract negotiations.

 

[Cerberus]

The question is if he has the time to recover his form in time. Anyone has any idea of how much time one has to to spend off-the-bike waiting for a collarbone fracture to seal?

That's definitely the question, unfortunately I don't know how much time it takes.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I dont know if LL Sanchez is planing on racing the Vuelta, but given his strong, but still lackluster Tour performance, I wonder if he, as defacto leader of Caisse d'Epargne might want to make a statement - Ruben Plaza as well. Last I heard, the team might fold next year, and as such, a high GC finish would certainly help future contract negotiations.

Arroyo, Soler and Cobo are all slated to race the Vuelta, though Soler is coming off injury and Cobo has been woeful this year. Marzio Bruseghin also crashed out of the Giro on day 3 so he could ride.

 

[The Hitch]

Arroyo, Soler and Cobo are all slated to race the Vuelta, though Soler is coming off injury and Cobo has been woeful this year. Marzio Bruseghin also crashed out of the Giro on day 3 so he could ride.

What about Uran. He had good form in the tds. Would have been a bit much to do the tour but surely he should do the vuelta/

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

What about Uran. He had good form in the tds. Would have been a bit much to do the tour but surely he should do the vuelta/

23 and riding 2 gt's in one year? I don't think/hope so.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Also, maybe they would have put Urán in there, but he broke his collarbone the other day trying to avoid a child who ran into his path when training in Colombia. So it's a moot point whether they should include him or not, because they can't.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

He can/ he'll be back training in 2 weeks they said. So in time for possible Vuelta. They said he was preparing for the Vuelta which would seem strange to me since he's so young and Unzue being famous for bringing major talent carefully.

 

[theyoungest]

Like I said. he's the best climber in the world, not the most succesful climber in the world.

Haha, by this standard even I could be the best climber in the world.

 

[roundabout]

Boonen has to wait 3 -4weeks after his operation till he may touch a bike again. After that he'll have to train/ride for another 3 weeks before even considering the Vuelta.

Now he was operated on July the 15th, so he can resume training again on let's say the 7th of August?

After that he'll need 3 weeks of training/riding races before he can enter the Vuelta. So he'll probably be back in the peloton somewhere around the end of August or start of September.

Uh, i know fully well from my own experience how much time is needed to recover from a knee operation. I wouldn't rule out the start just yet even if only to get the racing in the legs .

It's not like he had a chance fully fit anyway with Cavendish riding.

 

[El Pistolero]

Also, maybe they would have put Urán in there, but he broke his collarbone the other day trying to avoid a child who ran into his path when training in Colombia. So it's a moot point whether they should include him or not, because they can't.

What?

Real cyclists don't avoid the child while crashing on it...

 

[El Pistolero]

Uh, i know fully well from my own experience how much time is needed to recover from a knee operation. I wouldn't rule out the start just yet even if only to get the racing in the legs .

It's not like he had a chance fully fit anyway with Cavendish riding.

Boonen could have won 3 stages+ green jersey in this year's Tour.

Too bad Boonen has the worst kind of luck when it comes to the Tour.

 

[BroDeal]

Pound for pound the greatest climber in the world with contador and rujano.

Don't leave out Tommy D.

 

[rxgqgxnyfz]

In today's interview Menchov said that he will compete in Vuelta and skip everything in between.
________
[url="http://arizona.dispensaries.org/]Arizona Medical Marijuana Dispensaries[/url]

 

[hrotha]

In today's interview [url="http://velolive.com/velo_news/1073-denis-menshov-dlya-moix-celej-eshhe-odna-razdelka-by-ne-pomeshala.html]Menchov said[/url] that he will compete in Vuelta and skip everything in between.

He did a great Tour and he's not riding anything in between? I've seen that movie before, it's called "losing 15 minutes in the first serious stage of the Vuelta and remaining out of contention for the rest of the race."

 

[pmcg76]

He did a great Tour and he's not riding anything in between? I've seen that movie before, it's called "losing 15 minutes in the first serious stage of the Vuelta and remaining out of contention for the rest of the race."

Yeah, I cannot see Menchove or A.Schleck contending even if it would be great to witness. The vuelta is like a consolation prize for many and a target for a few.

 

[icefire]

He did a great Tour and he's not riding anything in between? I've seen that movie before, it's called "losing 15 minutes in the first serious stage of the Vuelta and remaining out of contention for the rest of the race."

That might be stage 3! Oh, noooooo... they've changed the course of that stage removing one Cat1 climb

 

[Dedelou]

I know people love their big name riders but does anyone think that the lack of outstanding favourites will make the Vuelta more interesting. I mean everyone had Contador and Schleck as 1-2 at the Tour and thats how it finished, predictably. Who is the favourite for the Vuelta, so far we seem to have:

Nibali
Schleck.F
Vandevelde
Anton
Mosquera

and................... a host of potential newer names

It could be a real free for all.

As much as I dont like RadioShack, it is disappointing they are not at the Vuelta. Would liked to see what Tiago Machado could do.

we may actually see the real racing instead of the camera uselessly focussed on those ugly Retirement Shack Jerseys for hours on end

 

[Dedelou]

whenever soler doesn't crash even if he's not in good shape he's always a contender. just look at castilla leon this year.

rujano is arguably the greatest climber in the world. I base that on the vuelta colombia of last year and the giro 2005 when he was barely 23!! his wattage of 8,3 per kg is the highest ever measured in cycling. and like I said what he did in the vuelta colombia last year was unheard of. he was alone on his team, only 1 rider finished along with him, victor moreno and he blasted everyone!

like I said pound for pound the greatest climbers in the world. they have different problems. rujano often has motivational problems which keeps him from racing well, not to mention horrible manager he had on his first stint in europe. he'll be back though I'm sure of(still only 28). for soler his problems lay in the fact that he attracts bad luck. whenever he crashes he breaks something.

still being the best climber in the world doesn't mean you have to always show it. that's why they are the best climbers in the world and not the most succesful climbers in the world. that's a big difference

there should be a "Climber's Cup" allocating points all along the year on rated climbed and giving a cup (and a special jersey to wear like the world's champion of climbing) at some money at the end of the season.

 

[Mellow Velo]

From As. com

Hot off the press. Big names a plenty.

Andy Schleck, Menchov, Samuel Sánchez y Van den Broeck; más Purito Rodríguez (8º) y Kreuziger (9º) will ride the Vuelta this year. Also Frank Schleck.

Sastre, Igor Antón, Mosquera, David Arroyo, Pereiro y Nibali eill also ride.

But Contador will definitely not ride.
http://www.as.com/ciclismo/articulo...berto-contador/dasclm/20100728dasdaicic_4/Tes

 

[nvpacchi]

Sanchez and Anton will a be a very scary duo (provided that Sanchez is fully healed).

Its a shame to see Sastre run himself into the ground with another GT. Maybe he's good for a stage win at best?

 

[ericthesportsman6]

Sanchez and Anton will a be a very scary duo (provided that Sanchez is fully healed).

Its a shame to see Sastre run himself into the ground with another GT. Maybe he's good for a stage win at best?

I see Anton having a good race. He's rested, was in good form at Castilla y Leon, and the course suits him.

 

[roundabout]

http://www.nettavisen.no/procycling/article2952652.ece

Hushovd is also going

 

[ingsve]

http://www.nettavisen.no/procycling/article2952652.ece

Hushovd is also going

I wonder if he'll be working for Theo Bos then. Bos is probably the faster of the two these days and Hushovd is reportedly there mainly to build form rather than being in form.