Sprinters and stage hunters in the Vuelta

[Pauwel]

Who will the main men be in the Vuelta, apart from the GC guys?

 

[BigMac]

Lawson Craddock.

John Degenkolb.

Tom Dumoulin.

Giant domination.

 

[Gigs_98]

It depends if purito or valverde is in the better shape, but I think one of them will take quite a few stages.

Ps: Is it possible that Sagan rides the vuelta? If yes he will either dominate the sprints or dominate the second spot of the podium.

 

[42x16ss]

Puncheurs. Gilbert, Gerrans/Albasini/Impey, Dan Martin, Purito, Valverde, Kristoff (if he rides), Haussler (one can hope)

LL Sanchez, Mezgec/Degenkolb, Viviani to race well

Txurruka to celebrate his new contract with an epic breakaway win

 

[Asero831]

Gerrans will NOT ride the Canadian classics?

 

[42x16ss]

Re:

Gerrans will NOT ride the Canadian classics?

No idea. I just thought that Orica's 3 puncheurs are relatively fresh and at least one would ride the Vuelta.

I wouldn't be surprised if Gerrans rides the Vuelta over the Canadian races, to try and get form for the Worlds. He's only got a couple of chances left to win it.

 

[Nirvana]

Gilbert will skip Vuelta, i think he will ride Vattenfall Cyclassic and Plouay before Canadian races in preparations for the Worlds http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/gilbert-in-perfect-place-as-worlds-bid-takes-off/

 

[TMP402]

Re: Re:

Gerrans will NOT ride the Canadian classics?

No idea. I just thought that Orica's 3 puncheurs are relatively fresh and at least one would ride the Vuelta.

I wouldn't be surprised if Gerrans rides the Vuelta over the Canadian races, to try and get form for the Worlds. He's only got a couple of chances left to win it.

That would mean he started all three GTs this year. Fair enough he's only raced about 10-15 days of the Giro and Tour put together but he surely can't have a huge peak for the Vuelta.

 

[dpm1991]

Re:

Txurruka to celebrate his new contract with an epic breakaway win

Avsum Txurruka win would be an instant avsum
Sadly, there's no Mosquera anymore (I called him El Diablo because of his avsum first name - Ezequiel). Arroyo as a stage hunter? Bilbao for shorter climbs? Maybe he will try for top 20 GC? I wonder how Van Poppel will fare.

 

[Tonton]

Nacer has a HUGE chip on his shoulder. He'll win 2-3 stages. Chavanel will try: two times second at the Giro iirc, couldn't get the right breakaway at the TdF, he'll try.

 

[Billie]

Pelucchi will be good matchup with Bouhanni for the sprints.

 

[Billie]

Also would love for Igor Anton to win a mountain stage.

 

[Ricco']

Re:

Also would love for Igor Anton to win a mountain stage.

I don't believe that Antón is doing the Vuelta.

 

[jaylew]

Dan Martin riding, will probably look to win a stage

 

[Arredondo]

Re:

Puncheurs. Gilbert, Gerrans/Albasini/Impey, Dan Martin, Purito, Valverde, Kristoff (if he rides), Haussler (one can hope)

LL Sanchez, Mezgec/Degenkolb, Viviani to race well

Txurruka to celebrate his new contract with an epic breakaway win

Gilbert will ride the Canadian classics.

 

[KyoGrey]

Caja Rural youngsters can also pose a serious threat in this Vuelta's breakaways.

Fantastic seasons of Barbero, Bilbao, Mas, Fraile etc...

 

[yaco]

Re:

Gerrans will NOT ride the Canadian classics?

Doubt Gerrans or Albasine have recovered from their injuries in the TDF - Gerrans has a complicated broken wrist and Albasini broke a bone in his arm - Impey may recover from his broken collarbone but OGE will have a weakened team.

One stage win will be a bonus.

 

[Richeypen]

Would be nice to see Heano go stage hunting but he will probably be either used as Froome fodder or end up lower top ten on GC racing for himself.

 

[42x16ss]

Re: Re:

Puncheurs. Gilbert, Gerrans/Albasini/Impey, Dan Martin, Purito, Valverde, Kristoff (if he rides), Haussler (one can hope)

LL Sanchez, Mezgec/Degenkolb, Viviani to race well

Txurruka to celebrate his new contract with an epic breakaway win

Gilbert will ride the Canadian classics.

This leaves a huge gap. Hilly stages could go anywhere, this could be an opportunity for someone to make a name for themselves.

 

[TMP402]

Re: Re:

Puncheurs. Gilbert, Gerrans/Albasini/Impey, Dan Martin, Purito, Valverde, Kristoff (if he rides), Haussler (one can hope)

LL Sanchez, Mezgec/Degenkolb, Viviani to race well

Txurruka to celebrate his new contract with an epic breakaway win

Gilbert will ride the Canadian classics.

This leaves a huge gap. Hilly stages could go anywhere, this could be an opportunity for someone to make a name for themselves.

As has been pointed out in another thread, if Froome is on Huy form, it would be best for his GC bid to get bonus seconds from the first three hilltop finishes.

 

[TMP402]

IMO MTN played the wrong hand. EBH should have gone to the Vuelta instead of the Tour, since the opposition will be weaker at the Vuelta, and EBH didn't really do anything at the Tour, but they got the good publicity of Cummings' win and the polka dot jersey without him (and one imagines the latter was a pretty sure thing).

They're bring Sbaragli and I hope he wins a stage but he's a real outsider.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/meintjes-cummings-and-berhane-headline-for-mtn-qhubeka-at-vuelta-a-espaa/

 

[yaco]

It appears that Gilbert is out of favour at BMC - Rode well in the Giro, but strangely left out of the TDF - Gilbert is always a chance to win a stage or two at a GT - And it appears that Van Avarmaet is favored for the classics.

Could Gilbert move on.

 

[Lance Armstrong]

It depends if purito or valverde is in the better shape, but I think one of them will take quite a few stages.

Ps: Is it possible that Sagan rides the vuelta? If yes he will either dominate the sprints or dominate the second spot of the podium.

He will ride. But very likely abandon after Stage 13.

 

[TMP402]

Re:

It appears that Gilbert is out of favour at BMC - Rode well in the Giro, but strangely left out of the TDF - Gilbert is always a chance to win a stage or two at a GT - And it appears that Van Avarmaet is favored for the classics.

Could Gilbert move on.

He was injured.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Nacer will clock up 4 wins.
Gimme some old fashioned sprints please.