Rate the 2018 Vuelta

[Gigs_98]

Am I blind, or is there no such thread yet? Anyway, rate the Vuelta from 1 (worst) to 10 (best)

 

[YavorD]

I gave it 7. But I think is a bit too high. Was a good Vuelta, but not really memorable stages (for me). The battle for the Red was close til the very last stages but I think it would be better if Quintana was more agressive. He was looking the strongest on La Covatilla and La Camperona and could shake up the GC really hard. However, I'd give maybe 6,5. The GIro was 8-8,5 for me and had at least 2 really memorable stages.

 

[Red Rick]

7/10

The good

- KOM fight was very cool this year, and quite a few climbers kept animating the breakaways
- 'flat' stages overdelivered, with some very nice breakaway action
- Lack of a huge pre race favorite and huge performances in the first 2 weeks kept the race open until the penultimate mountains tage
- We saw some new faces breaking through. Yates didn't collapse this time. Mas was a very pleasant surprise for me

The bad
- The route. It was godawful so uninspired
- The coverage. Too many times did we see nothing of the GC action cause we have to see the break do their last 300m of the first 4 finishers, which takes ages at 20%. This is especially annoying if the GC guys finish exactly 2'38 behind (or thereabouts)
- The climbs. Steeper ain't better. It showed again this year.
- Movistar.

The ugly
- Nibali's mood
- TGBM's riding style
- Everything Juan Antonio Flecha does in front of a camera.

 

[The Hegelian]

4.

Not sure why, but it just lacked the zing it normally has. I suppose the reason was the lack of real GT champions duking it out; not wishing to undermine the final podium, but I feel like the level was a fair bit below the Giro and Tour.

 

[movingtarget]

It was weird without Contador and Froome. I gave it a 7. Some of the early mountain stages were non events. The last two were good and decisive to the overall. It was odd seeing so many breaks succeed but some of them very good stages. The sprint stages were quite dull and the route needed some work. The KOM battle was good but when Mate the leader became ill it was all over. Mollema tried hard but De Gendt was simply too good. The TT stages went to script with Dennis dominating. Another first time GT winner in Yates who rode very well but the race didn't quite reach the heights of other editions from the last six or seven years. The emergence of some of the younger riders also like Mas was interesting and Ben King's dual wins were good for his team and a great performance by him. Also good to see the performances by Pinot and Stephen K. Valverde tried hard but Movistar had to be disappointed with their overall results. Also the coverage especially of the finishes and the GC action was pretty mediocre. Lack of cameras or whatever but sometimes it looked amateurish.

 

[oldcrank]

I'll rate this Grand Tour by number of stages and final jerseys
won by riders that have a Team Pursuit win on their palmares

2--Rohan Dennis--won stages #1 & #16 (2008 World Jnr/2010&2011 World Elite TP Champ)
3--Elia Viviani--won stages #3, #10 & #21 (2018 European TP Champ)
1--Simon Clarke--won stage #5 (2004 World Junior TP Champ)
3--Simon Yates--won stage #14 plus overall and combination jerseys (2012 National TP Champ)
1--Alessandro De Marchi--won stage #11 (2007 & 2011 National TP Tchamp)
__
10 total=rate this Vuelta a 10.

NOTE: Rohan, Elia, and the Simons all have World Junior Team Pursuit medals
(Rohan 2008 Gold/Elia 2007 Bronze/Simon C. 2004 Gold/Simon Y. 2010 Silver)
-which makes some believe junior TP success may predict senior road success.

 

[Koronin]

I gave it a 5.
Highlights:
Valverde - 2 stage wins and the green jersey. (Apparently oldest rider to ever win the points jersey in any of the GTs)
De Marchi's stage win. A breakaway specialist, who would have realized it was his first win since 2015.
Mas becoming the youngest Spanish cyclist to get a GT podium since Valverde in 2003. More interesting both being 23 for their first Vuelta podiums.

Not as good:
Cameras: Um, some things are not necessary to be shown when stuff that is important is happening. Also can we actually see the riders cross the finish line? Whoever was directing the cameras for TV coverage did not do a very good job at all.
Some of the stages need some reworking
For me it was very hard to see Valverde suffer so much on stage 20.

 

[Laplaz]

I gave it a 6. Some stages were good but there was obviously no real queen stage. And no stage with a descent finish.

 

[Gigs_98]

I gave it a 6 but I'm starting to think I should have given it a 5. There were some obvious good things about the race like it being close almost to the end, the last two stages were really good, we had some very interesting breakaway action with lots of attempts to take over the leaders jersey (which is something I always find interesting), there was a crosswind stage and there were some new names who showed big potential for the first time. Still it feels like this gt was missing something. Especially the first 2/3 felt were completely boring and I had the feeling the stage only really started on the penultimate weekend. Shortly before we still thought Buchmann was a contender I thought Mas wouldn't finish in the top ten and Quintana was the outstanding favorite. Now at first it may seem like something positive if there are some big twists in the last week but those weren't really twists but rather a sign for how little we knew about the race at that point. The race was so boring thus far that we were completely clueless. That Ofc also has something to do with only two mountain stages in the first 12 stages of which the first can even hardly be called a mountain stage which is the next thing I have to criticize, the route. Especially for the race that always boasts about having so many mtf's and so little flat stages this route was appalling. No murito until stage 13 which is complete nonsense (if you use a murito use it early in a gt) too many boring stages and most importantly once again lack of good mountain stages. Stage 20 showed perfectly while multi mountain stages are simply necessary for a good race and this vuelta had one. It's fine if stages are always decided on the final climb but at least give us hope and excitement with early climbs where an attack could be launched or where a team could isolate a leader. Those are the stages I watch gt's for and this vuelta just ignored their existence.
So as I wrote above 5/10 for me, it just felt completely unspecial

 

[Cance > TheRest]

Torn between 6 and 7.

On the positive side, I really liked the "new" climbs, Les Praeres and Monte Oiz, even if the action was limited on the former.

I think the first 10 days were kind of boring, except for the stage Molard won. Stage 11 (De Marchi won) was better than stage 1-10 combined.
More importantly, compared to last year, I missed the 'epic' factor in the race. I suspect it has something to do with Contador missing. I just don't really find riders like Simon Yates, MAL or Kruijswijk spectacular.

 

[SafeBet]

I gave it a 5. The route was so gargantuanly bad that riders couldn't do much anyway.
Interesting battle for the KOM jersey. Yates was a gracious and entertaining leader. Third week brought some nice surprises.

 

[OlavEH]

Re:

I gave it a 5. The route was so gargantuanly bad that riders couldn't do much anyway.
Interesting battle for the KOM jersey. Yates was a gracious and entertaining leader. Third week brought some nice surprises.

Same here. 5 when not taking the route into consideration. 7 considering the awful route design. Unipublic really need to do something about their route design next year.

 

[Flamin]

Re:

Torn between 6 and 7.

On the positive side, I really liked the "new" climbs, Les Praeres and Monte Oiz, even if the action was limited on the former.

I think the first 10 days were kind of boring, except for the stage Molard won. Stage 11 (De Marchi won) was better than stage 1-10 combined.
More importantly, compared to last year, I missed the 'epic' factor in the race. I suspect it has something to do with Contador missing. I just don't really find riders like Simon Yates, MAL or Kruijswijk spectacular.

Maybe my memory fails me already (it's not getting any better, that's for sure), but as I remember it, the first 10 days were not that bad.

A decent uphill finish to start with (Caminito del Rey), echelons, another uphill sprint (Valverde vs Sagan), the finale in the stage Gallopin won was nice as well...

Overall very meh. A 5 seems accurate.

 

[Flamin]

I gave it a 6 but I'm starting to think I should have given it a 5. There were some obvious good things about the race like it being close almost to the end, the last two stages were really good, we had some very interesting breakaway action with lots of attempts to take over the leaders jersey (which is something I always find interesting), there was a crosswind stage and there were some new names who showed big potential for the first time. Still it feels like this gt was missing something. Especially the first 2/3 felt were completely boring and I had the feeling the stage only really started on the penultimate weekend. Shortly before we still thought Buchmann was a contender I thought Mas wouldn't finish in the top ten and Quintana was the outstanding favorite. Now at first it may seem like something positive if there are some big twists in the last week but those weren't really twists but rather a sign for how little we knew about the race at that point. The race was so boring thus far that we were completely clueless. That Ofc also has something to do with only two mountain stages in the first 12 stages of which the first can even hardly be called a mountain stage which is the next thing I have to criticize, the route. Especially for the race that always boasts about having so many mtf's and so little flat stages this route was appalling. No murito until stage 13 which is complete nonsense (if you use a murito use it early in a gt) too many boring stages and most importantly once again lack of good mountain stages. Stage 20 showed perfectly while multi mountain stages are simply necessary for a good race and this vuelta had one. It's fine if stages are always decided on the final climb but at least give us hope and excitement with early climbs where an attack could be launched or where a team could isolate a leader. Those are the stages I watch gt's for and this vuelta just ignored their existence.
So as I wrote above 5/10 for me, it just felt completely unspecial

The Andorra stage was pretty mediocre imo. There was one (semi-cautious) attack from a top-10 rider (López) near the top of Beixalis 2, that's it. Then López went (a bit less cautious) again on Comella, and Mas got triggered by the race leader, of all people, who attacked because he got bored. Else Mas would have also waited until Gallina.

 

[Red Rick]

I gave it a 6 but I'm starting to think I should have given it a 5. There were some obvious good things about the race like it being close almost to the end, the last two stages were really good, we had some very interesting breakaway action with lots of attempts to take over the leaders jersey (which is something I always find interesting), there was a crosswind stage and there were some new names who showed big potential for the first time. Still it feels like this gt was missing something. Especially the first 2/3 felt were completely boring and I had the feeling the stage only really started on the penultimate weekend. Shortly before we still thought Buchmann was a contender I thought Mas wouldn't finish in the top ten and Quintana was the outstanding favorite. Now at first it may seem like something positive if there are some big twists in the last week but those weren't really twists but rather a sign for how little we knew about the race at that point. The race was so boring thus far that we were completely clueless. That Ofc also has something to do with only two mountain stages in the first 12 stages of which the first can even hardly be called a mountain stage which is the next thing I have to criticize, the route. Especially for the race that always boasts about having so many mtf's and so little flat stages this route was appalling. No murito until stage 13 which is complete nonsense (if you use a murito use it early in a gt) too many boring stages and most importantly once again lack of good mountain stages. Stage 20 showed perfectly while multi mountain stages are simply necessary for a good race and this vuelta had one. It's fine if stages are always decided on the final climb but at least give us hope and excitement with early climbs where an attack could be launched or where a team could isolate a leader. Those are the stages I watch gt's for and this vuelta just ignored their existence.
So as I wrote above 5/10 for me, it just felt completely unspecial

Route was a clear 0/10, with not having major balance issues being the reason it wasn't lower.

I don't think having more ITT would've changed the race that much, this race lacked an ITT GC threat to counter all the flyweights.

 

[Red Rick]

...

The Andorra stage was pretty mediocre imo. There was one (semi-cautious) attack from a top-10 rider (López) near the top of Beixalis 2, that's it. Then López went (a bit less cautious) again on Comella, and Mas got triggered by the race leader, of all people, who attacked because he got bored. Else Mas would have also waited until Gallina.

I was very surprised to see action on the Comella from that side.

I think Andorra stages like that can work, but there wasn't really one point to lay down the hammer. Beixalis isn't really hard enough for that.

If the stage had finished with Collada de Gallina/Cortals d'Encamp I think it would've been a lot better. Don't think you even need Comella in between.

 

[Gigs_98]

I gave it a 6 but I'm starting to think I should have given it a 5. There were some obvious good things about the race like it being close almost to the end, the last two stages were really good, we had some very interesting breakaway action with lots of attempts to take over the leaders jersey (which is something I always find interesting), there was a crosswind stage and there were some new names who showed big potential for the first time. Still it feels like this gt was missing something. Especially the first 2/3 felt were completely boring and I had the feeling the stage only really started on the penultimate weekend. Shortly before we still thought Buchmann was a contender I thought Mas wouldn't finish in the top ten and Quintana was the outstanding favorite. Now at first it may seem like something positive if there are some big twists in the last week but those weren't really twists but rather a sign for how little we knew about the race at that point. The race was so boring thus far that we were completely clueless. That Ofc also has something to do with only two mountain stages in the first 12 stages of which the first can even hardly be called a mountain stage which is the next thing I have to criticize, the route. Especially for the race that always boasts about having so many mtf's and so little flat stages this route was appalling. No murito until stage 13 which is complete nonsense (if you use a murito use it early in a gt) too many boring stages and most importantly once again lack of good mountain stages. Stage 20 showed perfectly while multi mountain stages are simply necessary for a good race and this vuelta had one. It's fine if stages are always decided on the final climb but at least give us hope and excitement with early climbs where an attack could be launched or where a team could isolate a leader. Those are the stages I watch gt's for and this vuelta just ignored their existence.
So as I wrote above 5/10 for me, it just felt completely unspecial

Route was a clear 0/10, with not having major balance issues being the reason it wasn't lower.

I don't think having more ITT would've changed the race that much, this race lacked an ITT GC threat to counter all the flyweights.

Where did I write something about ITT's?

 

[Gigs_98]

I gave it a 6 but I'm starting to think I should have given it a 5. There were some obvious good things about the race like it being close almost to the end, the last two stages were really good, we had some very interesting breakaway action with lots of attempts to take over the leaders jersey (which is something I always find interesting), there was a crosswind stage and there were some new names who showed big potential for the first time. Still it feels like this gt was missing something. Especially the first 2/3 felt were completely boring and I had the feeling the stage only really started on the penultimate weekend. Shortly before we still thought Buchmann was a contender I thought Mas wouldn't finish in the top ten and Quintana was the outstanding favorite. Now at first it may seem like something positive if there are some big twists in the last week but those weren't really twists but rather a sign for how little we knew about the race at that point. The race was so boring thus far that we were completely clueless. That Ofc also has something to do with only two mountain stages in the first 12 stages of which the first can even hardly be called a mountain stage which is the next thing I have to criticize, the route. Especially for the race that always boasts about having so many mtf's and so little flat stages this route was appalling. No murito until stage 13 which is complete nonsense (if you use a murito use it early in a gt) too many boring stages and most importantly once again lack of good mountain stages. Stage 20 showed perfectly while multi mountain stages are simply necessary for a good race and this vuelta had one. It's fine if stages are always decided on the final climb but at least give us hope and excitement with early climbs where an attack could be launched or where a team could isolate a leader. Those are the stages I watch gt's for and this vuelta just ignored their existence.
So as I wrote above 5/10 for me, it just felt completely unspecial

The Andorra stage was pretty mediocre imo. There was one (semi-cautious) attack from a top-10 rider (López) near the top of Beixalis 2, that's it. Then López went (a bit less cautious) again on Comella, and Mas got triggered by the race leader, of all people, who attacked because he got bored. Else Mas would have also waited until Gallina.

It wasn't superb but still pretty good imo. Astana went to the front at the beginning of Beixalis and from then onwards there was always something gc related going on. Astana shredded the peloton, Lopez attacks halfway up the climb, Lopez gets caught at the top, Quintana attacks on the descent, Lopez attacks again at the beginning of the next climb, Yates attacks dragging Mas with him, the first two groups TTT'd on the flat before the final climb and then on the final climb it was just everyone giving everything he had left. There was never huge excitement but always something going on on the last three climbs which is rare enough these days

 

[Põhja Konn]

7. Not exactly a memorable race, but there were quite a lot of good emotions for me along the way. As was the case with the Tour, expectations were low to begin with, which contributed to the higher than average rating. Also, Sky being just a run of the mill team, instead of dominant and suffocating juggernaut, was a welcome change from the norm.

 

[Carols]

I gave it a 7. One of the things I really enjoy is seeing the little guys come through for stage wins and this edition Delivered! That plus the KOM was a worthy fight and after years of watching De Gendt work he finally gets a nice prize. Add in that it was stage 20 before we Really knew who would win. I Loved seeing fresh young faces standing on the podium and Mas gained a spot in my heart along with Roglic from the Tour. With my major favorite aging out it's great to have fresh blood to root for . All in all I found it satisfying!

 

[luckyboy]

Better than the other GTs this year, despite the lack of GC competition compared to expectations before the race. Probably a 7/10.

 

[IndianCyclist]

7 The third week was exciting but the other weeks were ordinary
2nd best behind the Giro

 

[Bot. Sky_Bot]

3. Shouldn't be rated higher than Giro or Tour.
For:
- fresh blood, amazing how young The Podium was;
- S.Yates win, really deserved, he wasn’t riding in such spectacular way as in Giro, but he proved he is one of the best Top-Five GT guys;
- Mas, yes, amazing and unexpected;
- not so many drunk spectators (?), but for sure not such visible;

Against:
- so many boring stages, only few memorable: Pinot’s win at Covadonga, 19&20 stages, but none of them was epic;
- no such marvellous win as at Finestre, zero of: so many brave attacks like Yates’s at Giro, close & so long fight as at Zoncolan, so memorable wins like Thomas at Huez and Quintana at Saint-Lary-Soulan;
- completely unbalanced route, I don’t remember any downhill finish, MTF? of course - but not so many, no TTT, only one multi-mountain stage!;
- so weak GT GC competition: absence of Froome, Dumo, Thomas, Nibali&Porte with no shape
- TV coverage.

 

[More Strides than Rides]

The race over-delivered on the route.

I really enjoyed the first week battle for Red. I like watching it go back and forth. I also like seeing breakaway riders take it for a day or two. Breakaway action in general was good.

I made a point to vote within a few seconds of seeing the thread, giving it an 8. I voted wrong. I think I gave the Giro a 7, and the GC narrative there was obviously way better, and I don't think this was better than the Giro. Maybe the same, but in a different way.

 

[Simurgh]

Gave it a 6. Yates, Más and Pinot's two stages were the highlights, but I feel that this Vuelta has been somewhat underwhelming. Perhaps because I've been used to some of the big 4 duking it out. A Vuelta without Froome and Contador, especially Contador feels weird. Last year's Vuelta was more exciting for me, but that might just be because it was Alberto's last race and the hype, that was built when he lead the favorites en route to Alcossembre and followed Froome up the Xorret. Thibaut's stages were great to watch, but this year's edition falls flat compared to the last years. Great for the young riders, that they had the opportunity and the strength to light the race up, I feel happy for them!