Grand Tour Elimination Game ( 2010s )

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Mar 13, 2009
3,852
2,363
16,680
Heal: 2019 Tour
Hurt: 2017 Vuelta

It has been long enough for the 2017 Vuelta. Thanks for the memories Contador.

2019 Tour I'm still working out my feelings for that one. The start of the third week, I had a spring in my step, anticipating the most exciting finish of that race since I started watching it. Then, Pinot's unfathomable abandon and the truncated stage(s) abruptly cutting off the drama just took the air out of it. Still, I think it's better as a whole than several that are still around.
 
Apr 15, 2016
4,227
659
17,680
Heal: 2012 Vuelta
Hurt: 2017 Giro ( in stages 18, 19 and 20 we had action with a long way to go but it did not continue due to stage design, stages 18 and 20 especially were sooo frustrating to watch )
 
Aug 6, 2010
6,884
6,216
23,180
Interesting to note that all 5 Contador victories from this decade are not only surviving, but thriving; holding down 5 of the top 10 spots.
 
Feb 20, 2012
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28,180
It's the nostalmagia effect. Very common among sport fans.
Except for the part that all his 5 GT wins were legit exciting and dramatic races.

If this were about 2000-2019 and the 2009 Tour finished Sky high then I think there's a big argument.
 
Nov 16, 2013
26,686
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Except for the part that all his 5 GT wins were legit exciting and dramatic races.

If this were about 2000-2019 and the 2009 Tour finished Sky high then I think there's a big argument.

The 2014 Vuelta and 2010 Tour weren't particularly good, though, yet they're still thriving for some reason.
 
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Aug 6, 2010
6,884
6,216
23,180
Except for the part that all his 5 GT wins were legit exciting and dramatic races.

If this were about 2000-2019 and the 2009 Tour finished Sky high then I think there's a big argument.

Yes and no. Was the 2011 Giro exciting? Certainly not from a gc (race not being in the bag) perspective.

And Contador was in control of the 2015 Giro for the most part, except for some panic moments on the final main mountain. This is rather comparable to Froome/Quintana at the 2015 Tour.

If you put Froome into doing what Contador did, many on here would say, "Oh, he only won it in the time trial, there was no panache."

Disclaimer: Contador fighting back against adversity on the Mortirolo was very exciting and dramatic.
 
Aug 6, 2010
6,884
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Well that 2014 Vuelta was the greatly anticipated Froome/Contador confrontation that we missed seeing at that year's Tour, and it was fairly close between the two. And Andy was kind of a case of not missing someone until their gone. Plus Tourmalet was pretty epic with those two.
 
Sep 2, 2011
17,543
13,767
28,180
2012 Vuelta was unexciting and undramatic until Fuente De. It was basically Purito and Valverde outsprinting themselves and Contador on muritos for 2 weeks and Degenkolb winning every stage in between. Not even the long ITT produced meaningful gaps.

But then Fuente De happened and all of that was suddenly forgotten.
 
Aug 6, 2010
6,884
6,216
23,180
2012 Vuelta was unexciting and undramatic until Fuente De. It was basically Purito and Valverde outsprinting themselves and Contador on muritos for 2 weeks and Degenkolb winning every stage in between. Not even the long ITT produced meaningful gaps.

But then Fuente De happened and all of that was suddenly forgotten.

The Vuelta version of the 2011 Tour?

Except that Schleck didn't win.