Pre La Vuelta-thread

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Gigs_98

Gigs_98

Feb 18, 2015
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I think Nibali's chances are massively overrated. He is usually garbage when he isn't 100% prepared for a race. He often rides himself into shape but he'll lose big chunks in the first week
 
Dekker_Tifosi

Dekker_Tifosi

Mar 13, 2009
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yeah I can't see Nibali do much with this wonky prep. Best case scenario he rides himself into form for the WC

It's Porte vs ? now. Where ? Is unclear yet. And if Porte fa(i)l(l)s then it's totally open
 
Gigs_98

Gigs_98

Feb 18, 2015
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What about Aru? If he returns to his former self he is probably 2nd most likely to win next to Porte. Would be quite a story after what he went through
 
M

movingtarget

Aug 5, 2009
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Re:

Dekker_Tifosi said:
yeah I can't see Nibali do much with this wonky prep. Best case scenario he rides himself into form for the WC

It's Porte vs ? now. Where ? Is unclear yet. And if Porte fa(i)l(l)s then it's totally open
Click to expand...

Porte versus the Gods of Cycling ? His prep has also been less than ideal so I think he is getting a bit overrated for the Vuelta but missing the mountains and the cobbles in the Tour means he should do well in the second half of the race you would think. It's the most open grand tour for quite a while. Many GC riders taking part have either been out of form or coming back from injury or illness.
 
S

Salvarani

Oct 15, 2017
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Kruiswijk and Zakarin will be there. Wouldnt be surprised to see either on the podium.

Kruiswijk seem to be in 2016 form and Zakarin looked better and better as the Tour progressed.
 
Hugo Koblet

Hugo Koblet

May 9, 2010
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Porte does look like the massive favorite for sure. But let's see. We're talking about a guy who has DNF'ed two of his last three GT's and has a total of one top 5 in 12 GT's. Yates is being talked up as his biggest competitor, but he hasn't really established himself as a top GT contender yet and often has trouble with recovery. But we do have Quintana, Aru and Lopez starting as well (I think) and guys like Uran, Valverde, Nibali etc. whom we might hope to be competitive as well.
 
Dekker_Tifosi

Dekker_Tifosi

Mar 13, 2009
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Problem with Kruijswijk is that the Vuelta is least suited to him with many mono-MTF's or explosive finishes.

Plus while he is a real diesel, he's not that good in being in form in 2 GT's in a row. So I don't know what to expect yet
 
Oliver

Oliver

Jan 29, 2012
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Nibali is not even interested in winning the GC.
It won't happen. The route doesn't suit him also.
 
Carols

Carols

Mar 20, 2010
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Scarponi said:
Someone is going to do a Horner to Nibali
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Nibali will only be prepping for Worlds. After his fractured vertebra a stage win would be the most he could shoot for IMO.
 
S

Sestriere

Jun 24, 2017
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If Nibali is in any kind of shape to not lose too much time in the first week, I'm sure he will go for GC.
 
M

movingtarget

Aug 5, 2009
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Re:

Hugo Koblet said:
Porte does look like the massive favorite for sure. But let's see. We're talking about a guy who has DNF'ed two of his last three GT's and has a total of one top 5 in 12 GT's. Yates is being talked up as his biggest competitor, but he hasn't really established himself as a top GT contender yet and often has trouble with recovery. But we do have Quintana, Aru and Lopez starting as well (I think) and guys like Uran, Valverde, Nibali etc. whom we might hope to be competitive as well.
Click to expand...

The record for Geraint Thomas was even worse than Porte's and he just won a nice race............
 
Lequack

Lequack

Jul 10, 2014
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Why don't they send G to the Vuelta, in his current forms he might just win it and he hasn't ridden the Giro.
 
Escarabajo

Escarabajo

Apr 16, 2009
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Re:

Lequack said:
Why don't they send G to the Vuelta, in his current forms he might just win it and he hasn't ridden the Giro.
Click to expand...
Sure, because the Vuelta dynamics is the same as the Tour. Not to mention that he has to prove that he can do back to back GT's in good shape.
 
Lequack

Lequack

Jul 10, 2014
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Re: Re:

Escarabajo said:
Lequack said:
Why don't they send G to the Vuelta, in his current forms he might just win it and he hasn't ridden the Giro.
Click to expand...
Sure, because the Vuelta dynamics is the same as the Tour. Not to mention that he has to prove that he can do back to back GT's in good shape.
Click to expand...

Maybe Sky is afraid the mad lad could actually do it, now that would surely change the team dynamic for the future.
 
tobydawq

tobydawq

Nov 16, 2013
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I don't think GT will keep his shape. He has always said that long stints with focus on nothing but training was not his thing and why he would probably never win a GT.

So I assume he has been spending some time celebrating, perhaps drinking GTs and will be surprised if he does much more of note this year, to be honest.
 
RedheadDane

RedheadDane

May 5, 2010
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Re:

tobydawq said:
I don't think GT will keep his shape. He has always said that long stints with focus on nothing but training was not his thing and why he would probably never win a GT.

So I assume he has been spending some time celebrating, perhaps drinking GTs and will be surprised if he does much more of note this year, to be honest.
Click to expand...

So, GT won a GT and is celebrating by drinking GTs?
Got it.
 
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