Vuelta 2010

[icefire]

Another thing - climb classifications in all three GTs can be daft at the best of times, but how is Pal a special-category climb yet San Lorenzo only 1st-category?

Pure nonsense. They promote MTFs to special category to sell the stage to uninformed audiences and advertisers. And San Lorenzo was announced as 1st category in 2006, and then promoted to special category one month before the race. It's by far the hardest mountain pass in the race, but it is the first in a stage with three tough climbs. We won't even see it on TV.

 

[craig1985]

The Xorret Del Cati looks like a nightmare of a climb.

 

[issoisso]

The Xorret Del Cati looks like a nightmare of a climb.

It is. It was used this year.

 

[icefire]

The Xorret Del Cati looks like a nightmare of a climb.

Here are the detailed numbers:
http://www.altimetrias.net/Alicante/Xorret1.gif

And here is a video from the first time it was climbed (1998):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1F2txM3TTA

 

[Mellow Velo]

The Xorret Del Cati looks like a nightmare of a climb.

Yeah, just ask Rein Taaramae, or Fabio Roscioli!

 

[craig1985]

Are there any climbs like that in France that ASO could use for the Tour?

 

[blaxland]

with all the MTFs and not very much TT.I think Pellizotto or Rasmussen(if hes allowed to start) will be major players in the Vuelta 2010?Top 3 maybe?

 

[craig1985]

I don't think Miche-Silvercross will have Pro Continental status, and if they do, they are not applied for Wildcard status into the GT's and Pro Tour races.

 

[issoisso]

Are there any climbs like that in France that ASO could use for the Tour?

Puy de Dôme

 

[craig1985]

Puy de Dôme

Isn't that now getting turned into a rail road? I know the local government is doing something that will stop the Tour from ever going back. WHat is Mont Faron like? Too bad it is too small for such a big race.

 

[Tangled Tango]

I love the vuelta this year, I'm going to be there for all the mountain top finishes and the finale in Madrid and I will be on the bola del mundo with my son which will be his first vuelta so I hope he gets to see contador.

I will be there for the two mtn stage finishes in Asturias (Los Lagos & Cotobello) I live in Oviedo the capital of Asturias so if you want to try and hook up, let me know. I´ll be at those stages on my bike, but could certainly work out a rendevouz in town or on the road.

Unfortunately I don´t think Contador will hit the Vuelta even though it suits him to a tee. After what looks like a good and tough Tour, he´ll probably want to sit it out and watch it from the beach.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Are there any climbs like that in France that ASO could use for the Tour?

Mende is the closest that springs to mind, that is still in use and in fact, is in next year's edition. However, it's a bit shorter and not quite as steep.

Mont Faron? The road is narrow and the top wouldn't be an option for the Tour.
6 or 7 kms at a decent gradient, but not a ramp, like Cati.

 

[derailleur]

But we still have 72 days until the opening of the season at Het Nieuwsblad

Pitchers and catchers, grasshopper. Pitchers and catchers.

 

[derailleur]

Here are the detailed numbers:
http://www.altimetrias.net/Alicante/Xorret1.gif

And here is a video from the first time it was climbed (1998):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1F2txM3TTA

Seriously? It's 4 km long. Is that even an HC climb?

 

[A.Rabadan]

I'm Spaniard, and I think that the route is so bad.

In one hand; for the time trial's kilometres. Only one ITT and the first TTT only over 16 kilometres. But the worst new is that's not the only GT route wich have very little time trial options. La Grande Boucle only have one ITT, and there's a prologue without TTT's. La corsa rosa is deceptive. People says "four TT's", but one is climbing the Corones, and two of this only have 15 and 8 kilometres.

In the other hand; there are two stages really wasted. The 11st (you go to the Pyrenees and you only put Pal?) and the 15th (where's Fito, the traditional climb before Los Lagos?).

Finally, I don't know if you know about Rat Penat, but it's really hard. There are people who talks about Rat Penat like 'the catalan Anglirú'. It's in the Vilanova stage. Remember this climb.

 

[Señor_Contador]

I'm Spaniard, and I think that the route is so bad.

In one hand; for the time trial's kilometres. Only one ITT and the first TTT only over 16 kilometres. But the worst new is that's not the only GT route wich have very little time trial options. La Grande Boucle only have one ITT, and there's a prologue without TTT's. La corsa rosa is deceptive. People says "four TT's", but one is climbing the Corones, and two of this only have 15 and 8 kilometres.

In the other hand; there are two stages really wasted. The 11st (you go to the Pyrenees and you only put Pal?) and the 15th (where's Fito, the traditional climb before Los Lagos?).

Finally, I don't know if you know about Rat Penat, but it's really hard. There are people who talks about Rat Penat like 'the catalan Anglirú'. It's in the Vilanova stage. Remember this climb.

One thing I do not understand about the Vuelta is the reason why the organizers make it a point NOT to exploit the Pyrenees a lot more. I mean... they've got Navarre, they've got Aragon and Catalonia and now the Basque region... why do they keep doing that?

And how about the border regions of Galicia and León? I mean... Ancares, Pena Trevinca...

 

[Anonymous]

We fans would love to see great stages with tough climbs and beautiful scenery, but for the organizers, money helps determine the course. Cities pay to have stages start and finish there, and those along the way benefit from TV time and prospective tourism. I believe it was the Vuelta this year where the Universal Sports announcer at times read from what I assume was an official guide book. The helicopter would circle around some castle on cue, and he would read its history. I haven't seen it mentioned at the Vuelta, but at the Giro, a lot of people go out to watch the caravans, which are basically marketing caravans. Anyway, if a region is neglected, it's possible that not enough towns offered to put up money for the race to come their way. And I love mountain finishes, but if I want my town to make money, I'd rather have a stage finish downtown with hotels and bars and restaurants than on a mountaintop an hour away.

On the idea of Contador riding there, I don't think he wants to think a day past July 25 right now. He and the team will do everything they can to win the Tour de France, and then they have time afterward to see what they have left in the tank, and if they're satisfied with their results. But something in L'Equipe this morning ruined my breakfast. Proskurin has apparently suggested that it would be good to have six Kazakh riders on Astana's Giro squad, and four for the Tour de France. I don't care if they put the Kazakh national team in the Giro with Vino, but they need the best riders possible for Contador to have a shot. If the Kazakhs will be the best help, great. But to send a team with five Spanish cyclists and four Kazakhs is just too reminiscent of 2009. in with Alberto while you have him, and don't screw around so he wants to leave again.

Back on topic, though. If Contador is forced to use four Kazakhs, and he places anywhere but the top of the podium, I expect him in the Vuelta with Tiralonga and all of the Spanish riders. But I'd prefer to see the Vuelta as a bonus, not trying to salvage the year.

http://www.lequipe.fr/Cyclisme/breves2009/20091226_100550_les-kazakhs-annoncent-la-couleur.html

 

[icefire]

One thing I do not understand about the Vuelta is the reason why the organizers make it a point NOT to exploit the Pyrenees a lot more. I mean... they've got Navarre, they've got Aragon and Catalonia and now the Basque region... why do they keep doing that?

And how about the border regions of Galicia and León? I mean... Ancares, Pena Trevinca...

Most people does not realize that valleys in the Spanish side of the Pyrenees are not as deep as those on the French side. So climbs are usually shorter in Spain than in France for the same summit height, and it's more difficult to pair several hard climbs together. The exception to this is Catalonia, but it seems their winter resorts and towns nearby aren't willing to pay for a Vuelta stage, so there's nothing organizers can do about that.

Regarding the borders of Galicia and León, the climbs you mention are far away from everywhere. These are mostly unpopulated areas with no nearby winter resorts or important towns. So it's difficult to arrange a good stage through those regions, specially if the organizers want to see a lot of fans at the road side. Having a stage going through those climbs with the finish 60 or 70 km away is something we already saw with the Tourmalet stage in 2009.