Vuelta 2014 super hype!!

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Who wins the Vuelta?

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staubsauger

staubsauger

Jul 27, 2009
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Barguil may surprise everyone. He was very strong last year when it was his first ever grand tour.

He peaked all season long for the Vuelta and eventually has improved a lot since last season. Could as well be a top 5 spot with a bit of luck.
 
Arredondo

Arredondo

Aug 16, 2013
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staubsauger said:
Barguil may surprise everyone. He was very strong last year when it was his first ever grand tour.

He peaked all season long for the Vuelta and eventually has improved a lot since last season. Could as well be a top 5 spot with a bit of luck.
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No Barguil can't top-5, even with a whole lot of luck.
 
ILovecycling

ILovecycling

Aug 4, 2010
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cineteq said:
Ha ha love it!, Thanks!
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Actually iirc I stole somebody's joke from his very thread,or it was something like that,nvm:D

I think he will either abandon,or will struggle trough 1st and 2nd week and then will come close to stage win in third week (16-20th stage).Hopefuly it will be the later,but I doubt his overweight is lot more serious than before PN.
 
Arredondo

Arredondo

Aug 16, 2013
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theyoungest said:
Why do you rate Chaves higher than Barguil or Kelderman? Because he's hip and Colombian?
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Because Chaves is way better then Barguil. People have been blinded by him due to his two stage wins last year (which were really good). But as a GT rider, he isn't a factor at all.

I think Kelderman will have some bad days. Most of the climbs doesn't suit him anyway.
 
Arredondo

Arredondo

Aug 16, 2013
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ILovecycling said:
Actually iirc I stole somebody's joke from his very thread,or it was something like that,nvm:D

I think he will either abandon,or will struggle trough 1st and 2nd week and then will come close to stage win in third week (16-20th stage).Hopefuly it will be the later,but I doubt his overweight is lot more serious than before PN.
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Last year he didn't abandon, but he had even difficulty to follow a 20-guy break in the third week. I doubt his form is better now.
 
ILovecycling

ILovecycling

Aug 4, 2010
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Arredondo said:
Because Chaves is way better then Barguil. People have been blinded by him due to his two stage wins last year (which were really good). But as a GT rider, he isn't a factor at all.

I think Kelderman will have some bad days. Most of the climbs doesn't suit him anyway.
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thats true,I hope chavito will annihilate the field in some stage with epic climbing performance.People really dont know how great he is (nor bookies lol). I hope winner and carlos will do something too:rolleyes:
 
ILovecycling

ILovecycling

Aug 4, 2010
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Arredondo said:
Last year he didn't abandon, but he had even difficulty to follow a 20-guy break in the third week. I doubt his form is better now.
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rather worse,but he wants to be a leader in Ponferrada so he has to deserve it:D
 
Arredondo

Arredondo

Aug 16, 2013
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ILovecycling said:
rather worse,but he wants to be a leader in Ponferrada so he has to deserve it:D
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A 15-kilo overweight Betancur is still way better then Arredondo and Uran:rolleyes:
 
ILovecycling

ILovecycling

Aug 4, 2010
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Arredondo said:
A 15-kilo overweight Betancur is still way better then Arredondo and Uran:rolleyes:
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the funny thing is that his ideal weight (59 kg) is way better than Rigo and Julian's but he never had it :D (thats why im not sure if we should usem the term ideal weight)
 
Arredondo

Arredondo

Aug 16, 2013
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ILovecycling said:
the funny thing is that his ideal weight (59 kg) is way better than Rigo and Julian's but he never had it :D (thats why im not sure if we should usem the term ideal weight)
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With Carlos we have to use a margin of 20 k;)
 
T

theyoungest

Jan 11, 2010
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Arredondo said:
Because Chaves is way better then Barguil. People have been blinded by him due to his two stage wins last year (which were really good). But as a GT rider, he isn't a factor at all.

I think Kelderman will have some bad days. Most of the climbs doesn't suit him anyway.
Click to expand...
While all of that may be true, why should Chaves be any better?

The tendency is always to overrate those who haven't yet had the chance to fail.
 
Arredondo

Arredondo

Aug 16, 2013
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theyoungest said:
While all of that may be true, why should Chaves be any better?

The tendency is always to overrate those who haven't yet had the chance to fail.
Click to expand...

Because Chaves is a better climber. Barguil is more of a rider for steep shorter climbs. He can't sustain longer climbs in a three week effort.

Which doesn't mean Chaves will not fail. But based on capacitities, he's more of a natural GT rider (and climber).
 
slosada

slosada

May 29, 2013
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I don't think Betancur will stop at a Tapas Bar (or whatever is called), he's so attached to his hometown, that he would escape from the hotel to any Colombian restaurant to get a Bandeja Paisa and "media de guaro" (anise-flavoured sugarcane spirit).

But talking GC, it's a bit unknown the form of several the main contenders: Froome has not race since his accident in TdF, same for Contador.
In the next tier, Uran has a chance if he gets his climbing legs back, Purito took TdF easy but failed to secure the polka-dot jersey when he wanted it and Valverde will likely race for a podium spot.
Others might do a great race but I don't see them winning.
 
gospina

gospina

Jan 8, 2013
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Nairo Quintana:
Nairo is the favorite, IMO. While the course is not ideal, he has shown to me that he can handle all terrains, all weather. Without Nibali (who he beat last year at Burgos easily, btw) he has had the best season of all riders. Overall prediction #1

Chris Froome:
Froome in-form is the best rider in the world. I don't believe he is in-form. He can win the whole thing if he is in-form, but will probably end up 3rd because he isn't 100%. Prediction #3

Alberto Contador:
Alberto owns the Vuelta...when he is in form. If he didn't JUST BREAK HIS LEG, he will have beaten everyone, including an in-form Froome. I think he isn't ready for a 3 week race, and will fade on week 3. Overall prediction #4

Rigoberto Uran:
I believe Uran has the best chance to upset Quintana.
Uran not in the top 4 will be a bit of a dissapointment. He is better than Nairo at TTs, better at rolling stages (or stages that are more like 1-day races, with all types of terrains, ending with a fast flat finish). Vuelta has more stages like this than Giro. It also has less crazy mountain stages, also to his favor.
Mind you, when I say better, the difference is less than Nairo to Uran on mountains. Nairo is MUCH better. Prediction #2

Chris Horner:
The "Dark horse" is Horner. Besides winning last year, he has both Serpa and Anacona to guide him in the mountains. Winner is in great form, Serpa is a very good domestique, a breakaway specialist (IMO). I see this being more important in team strategy in the Vuelta than in the other Grand Tours. Conti and Valverde have used that strategy before..teammates in different groups up front, use them as steps to the next group. No one is watching him. There are less mountains than last year, so Prediction #5

Esteban Chaves:
Chaves will not be contesting. He is too green. He hasn't even completed a grand tour, no way he can win this Vuelta. He may win the mountain jersey, he may win some stages, but no way he will be a GC contender. Top 15 will be a successful Vuelta for him. Prediction: A stage win

Joaquim Rodriguez:
I love purito. I don't know what to think. Purito always has an amazing end of season, with Lombardia, the worlds, the Vuelta. This season, he has been injured badly, but has continued on. Prediction: A stage win.

Betancur:
He will finish, hang out with riders from other teams, trying to figure out where he will race next year. Really hidden, but will do a bit better than he did at Burgos, say bottom 10%.
My prediction: He will help Uran in ONE or TWO stages and get himself a job at OPQS
 
Jspear

Jspear

Feb 23, 2014
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gospina said:
Joaquim Rodriguez:
I love purito. I don't know what to think. Purito always has an amazing end of season, with Lombardia, the worlds, the Vuelta. This season, he has been injured badly, but has continued on. Prediction: A stage win.
Click to expand...

I think Jrod will do at least a top 5. Yes he was injured earlier in the season but he has recovered from that and he said his goal was to win the Vuelta....He rode the Tour for racing miles and to build form (which he needed to do) and I think he'll be ready....this course also suits his characteristics more than last years course.
 
cineteq

cineteq

May 20, 2009
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This sounds like an except taken from a cycling magazine. Quintana, Rodriguez and Horner are the only ones 'sort of' ready for this. Froome and Contador are injured, and Uran and Betancur are very inconsitent. Btw, you failed to mention Talansky and JVB.

gospina said:
Nairo Quintana:
Nairo is the favorite, IMO. While the course is not ideal, he has shown to me that he can handle all terrains, all weather. Without Nibali (who he beat last year at Burgos easily, btw) he has had the best season of all riders. Overall prediction #1

Chris Froome:
Froome in-form is the best rider in the world. I don't believe he is in-form. He can win the whole thing if he is in-form, but will probably end up 3rd because he isn't 100%. Prediction #3

Alberto Contador:
Alberto owns the Vuelta...when he is in form. If he didn't JUST BREAK HIS LEG, he will have beaten everyone, including an in-form Froome. I think he isn't ready for a 3 week race, and will fade on week 3. Overall prediction #4

Rigoberto Uran:
I believe Uran has the best chance to upset Quintana.
Uran not in the top 4 will be a bit of a dissapointment. He is better than Nairo at TTs, better at rolling stages (or stages that are more like 1-day races, with all types of terrains, ending with a fast flat finish). Vuelta has more stages like this than Giro. It also has less crazy mountain stages, also to his favor.
Mind you, when I say better, the difference is less than Nairo to Uran on mountains. Nairo is MUCH better. Prediction #2

Chris Horner:
The "Dark horse" is Horner. Besides winning last year, he has both Serpa and Anacona to guide him in the mountains. Winner is in great form, Serpa is a very good domestique, a breakaway specialist (IMO). I see this being more important in team strategy in the Vuelta than in the other Grand Tours. Conti and Valverde have used that strategy before..teammates in different groups up front, use them as steps to the next group. No one is watching him. There are less mountains than last year, so Prediction #5

Esteban Chaves:
Chaves will not be contesting. He is too green. He hasn't even completed a grand tour, no way he can win this Vuelta. He may win the mountain jersey, he may win some stages, but no way he will be a GC contender. Top 15 will be a successful Vuelta for him. Prediction: A stage win

Joaquim Rodriguez:
I love purito. I don't know what to think. Purito always has an amazing end of season, with Lombardia, the worlds, the Vuelta. This season, he has been injured badly, but has continued on. Prediction: A stage win.

Betancur:
He will finish, hang out with riders from other teams, trying to figure out where he will race next year. Really hidden, but will do a bit better than he did at Burgos, say bottom 10%.
My prediction: He will help Uran in ONE or TWO stages and get himself a job at OPQS
Click to expand...
 
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