Vuelta 2010

[gatete]

That and I would love for AC to announce that he's decided to do the Giro/Vuelta double again. Snubbing the TdF might be the greatest move ever.

I see your point, trying to reinforce the other GTs would be great, but I want that 7 tour record to be smash into pieces.

 

[Beech Mtn]

Is it just me but why La vuelta terrain wise is always more exiting than Le Tour? it's a shame

The tour always has the most boring route. It's the fact that the TdF has such prestige and lots of heavy-hitters really want to win it, that makes the Tour special. Giro and Vuelta traditionally have much more interesting courses.

 

[ImmaculateKadence]

But this isn't about LA. I think it's good for cycling if the other GT's are treated as equals to the TdF.

Totally agree.

I'd also like to see the Vuelta become more of a race that riders strive for. It seems in recent years it has become a race whereby racers try to salvage a bad season....or maybe that's just how I perceive it.

 

[Publicus]

He only really did it with the Schlecks. And only because their contracts are up at the end of the season and he wants them on the team.

And truth be told, they've made all the noises typical of two guys about to skidaddle at the nearest opportunity.

Wasn't he making kissy-face with Cadel? Made up with Sastre, VdV and others. In any event, he needs that type of motivation and frankly I think it would be interesting to watch him and JB scramble for a new nemesis. Of course it won't happen, but a guy can dream.

 

[Cerberus]

He only really did it with the Schlecks. And only because their contracts are up at the end of the season and he wants them on the team.

And truth be told, they've made all the noises typical of two guys about to skidaddle at the nearest opportunity.

What noises? The last thing I heard out of Schlecklet was that he liked it at Saxo Bank. Not saying he won't leave, since Saxo Bank has some money problems, but I'm not getting the feeling that he desperately wants to.

 

[icefire]

Back on the thread topic, after looking carefully the stages I'm a bit disappointed:

There's only one ITT and very little high mountain. Riders behavior in mountain stages at the 2009 Vuelta have led the organizer to reduce the amount of long climbs and to increase the number of stages with a short and steep climb close to the finish. These traps will probably break the field and make for a spectacular finish, but I doubt they'll make significant gaps in the GC.

The first climbs come on stage 3, with two passes over a 1st category pass and the stage finish also on a short climb. It may be spectacular, but sprinters having made a good TTT will be wiped out from the GC very early. Then there are traps on stages 4 and 6. Stage 7 may be a surprise. Vuelta site says nothing but there were rumors in Spanish forums about the possibility of going through a road with 2km of cobblestones and a urban course with a tough climb close to the finish.

Then we have Xorret del Catí again, spectacular but a bit repetitive. I wonder if Rein Taaramae will be around this year. The stage after Catí should have been an ITT rather than another mid-mountain stage where nothing will happen.

The stage to Andorra is a joke even compared to what we saw at the 2009 TdF. The climb to Rat Penat the day before may be spoiled by the distance from the summit to the finish. And Peña Cabarga in stage 14 is a also a bit like Xorret del Catí.

Then having a flat stage to Lagos de Covadonga is just disgusting. They could have added something to break the field before the last climb.

There are only two real mountain stages: Cotobello and Bola del Mundo.
Cotobello is preceded by two hard climbs, but it looks to me that Cobertoria is not close enough to the last climb. We'll see if the race breaks in those climbs or a moderate size group gets together to the last climb. Bola del Mundo in the second last day looks like Ventoux on the 2009 TdF.

It looks that the organizer is just looking for the show during the last hour for the TV with very little wear in the preceding kilometers. The first half looks good, the second half not so much. If GC contenders allow breakaways and stay together as we've seen this year, it doesn't look too promising.

 

[Anonymous]

I've got a couple of questions. They're doing the TTT at night to beat the heat, and one of the riders mentioned early teams will ride in daylight while later teams aren't. Contador mentioned the lighting along the route will be really important. Will they give the teams the actual time differences, or will a maximum be in place? Also, will they have time bonuses this year? The mountain finishes take on even more weight if there's a bonus at the line.

The Vuelta will probably be even more competitive if the Tour doesn't hand out more invitations than usual. There would be maybe four more highly motivated teams willing to send their best squads with fresh legs.

 

[Skip Madness]

Then we have Xorret del Catí again, spectacular but a bit repetitive.

It's only two consecutive years, though. And as far as I'm concerned there is always room for a Xorret de Catí stage.

There are only two real mountain stages: Cotobello and Bola del Mundo.
Cotobello is preceded by two hard climbs, but it looks to me that Cobertoria is not close enough to the last climb.

I was thinking the same, but where do you finish a Vuelta stage to avoid that? The Cobertoria itself like in 2006? The problem is Asturias has so many good climbs but it's not always easy to get them running one into the next.

It looks that the organizer is just looking for the show during the last hour for the TV with very little wear in the preceding kilometers.

This is what I was suspecting - knowing when the television audience will be watching seems to be behind a lot of this (hence the quite high number of mountain-top finishes but the fairly few and light multi-climb stages).

 

[icefire]

I've got a couple of questions. They're doing the TTT at night to beat the heat, and one of the riders mentioned early teams will ride in daylight while later teams aren't. Contador mentioned the lighting along the route will be really important. Will they give the teams the actual time differences, or will a maximum be in place? Also, will they have time bonuses this year? The mountain finishes take on even more weight if there's a bonus at the line.

The Vuelta will probably be even more competitive if the Tour doesn't hand out more invitations than usual. There would be maybe four more highly motivated teams willing to send their best squads with fresh legs.

TTT starts at 21:00 local time. Sun sets at approximately the same time at the end of August. I've seen no mention to limit time losses, but with just 16.5 km they should not be important even taking into account the different lightning. A time loss of 4 sec/km makes for 1 min 6 sec at the finish. It makes for a spectacular stage but not decisive.

I haven't read anything on time bonuses. I have mixed feelings about this. They can make for an interesting race the first days with GC leader changes. But we've seen too many breakaways allowed in the 2009 Vuelta just because the main contenders were close to each other and they didn't want to fight every day for a few seconds. The only exception was the day of Xorret del Catí, just because Silence-Lotto underestimated the toughness of the last climb, overestimated the breakaway advantage and Cadel Evans lost the leader's jersey to Valverde who won the sprint for 3rd place.

 

[icefire]

I was thinking the same, but where do you finish a Vuelta stage to avoid that? The Cobertoria itself like in 2006? The problem is Asturias has so many good climbs but it's not always easy to get them running one into the next.

They could perfectly start from Oviedo, climb the East (and toughest) side of Cobertoria, then San Lorenzo and then finish at the summit of La Farrapona. Just look at the following picture:

http://www.carlosvega.net/rutas/2008_01_19.png

There is less flat between the last two climbs in this stage (San Lorenzo and La Farrapona) than in the one they will ride (Cobertoria and Cotobello).

 

[Moondance]

Provided Contador doesn't show up, this could be Sastre's Vuelta to lose. Limited time trialing and a lot of those nasty, violent type of climbs Sastre can excel in.

All GTs next year really suit the climbers among the GT contenders..... I like.

 

[blaxland]

I like the course lots of mountains....if CONTADOR rides the vuelta no one can beat him....i would like to see him ride all 3 GTs this year ..Contador winning all three ..now that hasnt been done for a while?.....otherwise i think Sastre and Gesink(if he doesnt crash his bike again)both have possibilities of winning..

 

[Moondance]

I like the course lots of mountains....if CONTADOR rides the vuelta no one can beat him....i would like to see him ride all 3 GTs this year ..Contador winning all three ..now that hasnt been done for a while?.....otherwise i think Sastre and Gesink(if he doesnt crash his bike again)both have possibilities of winning..

Contador will obviously win any stage race he sets his mind to, but to take all three in one year seems a bridge too far. But I think with good planning he could definitely do the Tour/Vuelta double effectively every year.

I don't think Gesink has a serious chance of winning. He could place very well, but the challenges posed by a pancake flat 46km time trial will be too difficult for him to overcome in the mountains.

 

[auscyclefan94]

TTT starts at 21:00 local time. Sun sets at approximately the same time at the end of August. I've seen no mention to limit time losses, but with just 16.5 km they should not be important even taking into account the different lightning. A time loss of 4 sec/km makes for 1 min 6 sec at the finish. It makes for a spectacular stage but not decisive.

I haven't read anything on time bonuses. I have mixed feelings about this. They can make for an interesting race the first days with GC leader changes. But we've seen too many breakaways allowed in the 2009 Vuelta just because the main contenders were close to each other and they didn't want to fight every day for a few seconds. The only exception was the day of Xorret del Catí, just because Silence-Lotto underestimated the toughness of the last climb, overestimated the breakaway advantage and Cadel Evans lost the leader's jersey to Valverde who won the sprint for 3rd place.

Now I can get some sleep and then enjoy the TTT. Yeah!!!! Ususally i up till 2am in the morn.

 

[hfer07]

finally I checked the parcours-Love it- some space between mountains & flats, which gives it a balance to motivate attacks in the key stages while keeping a continuous spectacle throughout the entire length of the race.
I'm glad that Lagos de Covadonga stage makes its return, and also I find stages 17,16, 11,8,4 & 3 very exiting to watch. the Parcours suits an All-rounder rider like Valverde, Samuel Sanchez, Alberto Contador, Cadel Evans (if participating) Ivan Basso (if Participating)but i hope Robert Gesink targets this one and get a well deserved result.

 

[phillop]

plenty of cool stages with some real exciting finishes! but not really alot of high mountain stages where they can create big gaps, as most have only one significant climb, or lots of smaller ones. Maybe a grand tour damiano cunego could have a go at targeting? route really suits valverde i think.
Will be interesting to see who decides to target this race.
not really a route for sastre or mosquera imo, not enough long hard mountain stages where they can open up time gaps, and i dont think the single climb MTFs will suit them, or the mid mountain stages with steep finishes.
Would love to see ricardo rico race this route!
i thought this might be a good race that levi leipheimer would be able to chase after being lances b***h for the rest of the season, but i dont think he'll have liked what he sees in this route.

 

[issoisso]

not really a route for sastre or mosquera imo, not enough long hard mountain stages where they can open up time gaps, and i dont think the single climb MTFs will suit them, or the mid mountain stages with steep finishes.

Quite rightly. Both these riders are the opposite of Contador: their best results have always come in long mountain stages with various climbs while their worst have come in short stages or stages with only one climb.

This Vuelta, just as the 2008 Vuelta, is not made for them at all.
It's made for Contador, or alternatively, Valverde.

 

[icefire]

Quite rightly. Both these riders are the opposite of Contador: their best results have always come in long mountain stages with various climbs while their worst have come in short stages or stages with only one climb.

This Vuelta, just as the 2008 Vuelta, is not made for them at all.
It's made for Contador, or alternatively, Valverde.

Vuelta organizers had very high hopes in the stages of Velefique and Sierra Nevada from the 2009 edition. Riders behaviour made them boring. Neutral support guys made it otherwise, but that wasn't their role

So it seems natural that something changes: they are actually making the course for the TV.

 

[issoisso]

Vuelta organizers had very high hopes in the stages of Velefique and Sierra Nevada from the 2009 edition. Riders behaviour made them boring. Neutral support guys made it otherwise, but that wasn't their role

So it seems natural that something changes: they are actually making the course for the TV.

I agree with you, but I honestly don't see what that has to do with my post. What am I missing?

 

[icefire]

I agree with you, but I honestly don't see what that has to do with my post. What am I missing?

I just think that the course design is not targeting any particular name. It's all about the show for the TV audience. But of course, some riders (those you mention) are more likely to give the kind of show that organizers expect.

 

[issoisso]

I just think that the course design is not targeting any particular name. It's all about the show for the TV audience. But of course, some riders (those you mention) are more likely to give the kind of show that organizers expect.

Oh I'm not saying they did it with a rider in mind. Simply any course turns out suits certain riders and not at all others. This one suits riders such as Valverde to a tee and is quite awful for Sastre, for example

 

[Skip Madness]

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?

 

[Anonymous]

TTT starts at 21:00 local time. Sun sets at approximately the same time at the end of August. I've seen no mention to limit time losses, but with just 16.5 km they should not be important even taking into account the different lightning. A time loss of 4 sec/km makes for 1 min 6 sec at the finish. It makes for a spectacular stage but not decisive.

I haven't read anything on time bonuses. I have mixed feelings about this. They can make for an interesting race the first days with GC leader changes. But we've seen too many breakaways allowed in the 2009 Vuelta just because the main contenders were close to each other and they didn't want to fight every day for a few seconds. The only exception was the day of Xorret del Catí, just because Silence-Lotto underestimated the toughness of the last climb, overestimated the breakaway advantage and Cadel Evans lost the leader's jersey to Valverde who won the sprint for 3rd place.

Thanks. On the TTT I was flashing back to summer with teams crashing on corners or going off-road into a field. Contador was concerned with shadows as riders try to get in ideal position, but I was wondering what happens if there's a bit of rain to go with the darkness. I have no idea what kind of TT riders the new guys on Astana are, and with the event not in the Tour, they'd be working on it just for the Vuelta.

 

[issoisso]

On a personal note, I don't like the vuelta's route simply because it's mucking up my vacations

I prefer the mountains all run up together so I can use consecutive vacation days there . I don't like using vacation days on bunch sprint days....but I don't like taking non-consecutive vacation days.

Decisions decisions...

 

[Boeing]

Lack of TT and the high altitude could favor a guy like Pellizotti