Vuelta 2014 super hype!!

[Netserk]

So you do agree that the route plays a role.

The 2012 route was bad, but not as bad as this one. The defining moment of the race was the Fuente Dé stage. What did that stage have? Two well-linked climbs, short but hard enough to make an attack possible. If that stage had been a trademark flat stage until the final climb, like 90% of the Vuelta "mountain" stages, we wouldn't have seen what we saw (or rather didn't see...).

But, but, but all those 2-3km sprints all the other days were SO awesome.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Despite the poor route this year there looks like there could be some good chances for Adam Yates to fight for a stage win. I doubt he'd have the legs for a 3-week GC battle although it was great to see him matching some of the best climbers at the Dauphine. Of course this will be a much tougher test.

 

[Afrank]

My arguments are simple. JV is not stupid. Talansky is the best rider Garmin has, and don't think his injuries are that bad. Also I don't believe he'll be supporting Hesjedal and/or Martin. I don't care what he or Garmin said to the media. On the other hand, I think Froome's injuries are going to prevent him from performing at a high level (similar to Contador's), thus resulting similar to Froome's 2012 Vuelta.

Much better argument. You seem to base it mostly on opinion though. I prefer to to look what the riders and team management say to come to a conclusion.

Talansky may be the best of them when on form, but he probably already peaked for the Dauphine/Tour period. Who knows how good form he'll be in after crashing out of the Tour. Hesjedal and Martin meanwhile have had plenty of time to rest and prepare optimally for the Vuelta.

Further more it's a bigger ask for a guy that's still pretty young at 25 to peak (for the 2nd time) for the Vuelta after crashing out of the Tour then it would be for a top rider like Froome.

Like I said before though, it wouldn't be a bad idea to have all 3 in a free role or even let the road decided.

 

[the sceptic]

I have to say that this GT has potential, even though the route sucks of course.

in the last GTs there usually only one rider climbing at mutant speeds, and thus pretty boring. But this time we can get 3-5 guys sprinting up the mountains.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

The best way to hype the Vuelta is for the favorites to go out and perform well in one of the "warm up" races.

Well done Quintana.

 

[Rollthedice]

I have to say that this GT has potential, even though the route sucks of course.

in the last GTs there usually only one rider climbing at mutant speeds, and thus pretty boring. But this time we can get 3-5 guys sprinting up the mountains.

It will be crowded in the last Kms.

 

[yespatterns]

I still can't understand so many being enthusiastic on RH's chances this year. The competition is too tough, and he's just not a contender anymore.

 

[cineteq]

Like I said before though, it wouldn't be a bad idea to have all 3 in a free role or even let the road decided.

Fair enough. Garmin is all set to flight under the media hype: Froome and Quintana.

 

[Amsterhammer]

Yes, leave it up to me

Wilco Kelderman

He dropped the man on the right just a month before that same guy won the Tour de France.
Can he now do the impossible and drop Froome, Quintana and Rodriguez and crash the CN forums as a result?

I would certainly like to think so.

 

[durtyfat]

I still can't understand so many being enthusiastic on RH's chances this year. The competition is too tough, and he's just not a contender anymore.

Not a contender? Give me the names of those who you think are stronger than him when he's is in top shape, apart from Quintana and Froome. Im not overestimated RH, but he was too unlucky in the last 2 years after his Giro's victory that now, almost everybody think that he can't be an outsider in a GT.

 

[hfer07]

For Overall GC:

Chris Froome (SKY)
Nairo Quintana(Movistar)
Alberto Contador(Tinkoff-Saxo)
Andrew Talansky(Garmin)
Joaquim Rodroguez(katusha)
Fabio Aru (Astana)
Chris Horner (Lampre)
Rigoberto Uran (OPQS)
Samuel Sanchez (BMC)
Thibaut Pinot (FDJ)
Robert Gesink (Belkin)
Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Lotto)
*Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin)
*Cadel Evans (BMC)
*Alejandro Valverde (Movistar)

 

[May0maniac]

For Overall GC:

Chris Froome (SKY)
Nairo Quintana(Movistar)
Alberto Contador(Tinkoff-Saxo)
Andrew Talansky(Garmin)
Joaquim Rodroguez(katusha)
Fabio Aru (Astana)
Chris Horner (Lampre)
Rigoberto Uran (OPQS)
Samuel Sanchez (BMC)
Thibaut Pinot (FDJ)
Robert Gesink (Belkin)
Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Lotto)
*Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin)
*Cadel Evans (BMC)
*Alejandro Valverde (Movistar)

Don't forget Cunego, he will ride the uelta and go full papy

 

[Anderis]

Not a contender? Give me the names of those who you think are stronger than him when he's is in top shape, apart from Quintana and Froome. Im not overestimated RH, but he was too unlucky in the last 2 years after his Giro's victory that now, almost everybody think that he can't be an outsider in a GT.

Contador perhaps.

I don't know what to think about Hesjedal. He was hugely unlucky from TdF2012 to TdF2013 period. I think he was a TdF podium level at his prime. If Purito could podium TdF, so should be Ryder capable of it, IMO, since he beat Purito in GC all 2 times in those GTs in which they were both going for GC.

But I'm not sure if Ryder is in his prime anymore. I don't think he has suffered much bad luck this year, but he has done nothing in classics and one week races, and his Giro was only decent but nothing more. He was really struggling in the last couple of days, and that was quite unusual for him, because 3rd week used to be his best in the past.

But maybe he is peaking for Vuelta for the first time in his recent career and that's why he was worse than ever in the Ardennes this year. I can only hope so. I had also some thoughts earlier this year that Danielson is past his best but he proved me wrong in Utah. Maybe Ryder will be able to do the same, but his constant crashes and ilnesses in 2012-2013 period could really disrupt his training and cause he will never be back to his 2010 or 2012 level.

It's also worrying how he has gone from kind of a TT specialist (I think pre-2010 it was even considered his biggest strength) to one of the worst TT-ers among potential GC contenders.

 

[Arredondo]

Contador perhaps.

I don't know what to think about Hesjedal. He was hugely unlucky from TdF2012 to TdF2013 period. I think he was a TdF podium level at his prime. If Purito could podium TdF, so should be Ryder capable of it, IMO, since he beat Purito in GC all 2 times in those GTs in which they were both going for GC.

Ever heard of a one day fly? Hesjedal just profited from the fact everyone in that Giro didn't thought he was a rival. He was weaker, and should have lost more time already on the stages to Plan del Resinelli, Lago Laceno, Stelvio etc if they attacked earlier But he deserved that victory, thanks to the cowardness of his opponents (and especially Purito).

And in Tour 2010 he rode super strong on the cobbles, but he got 2 minutes advantage because he was in the break. He lost like 5/6 minutes in the mountains on Purito.

 

[Dr. Juice]

This year there is only 1 decent mountain stage (16) where you can attack before the last climb. Stage 20 maybe, but the last climb is harder and longer. Still, if there is less than 2 minutes between first and second or third, and more so if it's Alberto chasing, there will be some action.
Nevertheless disappointing route regarding the mountains. The slightly hilly stages are not that bad.

 

[cineteq]

For Overall GC:

Chris Froome (SKY)
Nairo Quintana(Movistar)
Alberto Contador(Tinkoff-Saxo)
Andrew Talansky(Garmin)
Joaquim Rodroguez(katusha)
Fabio Aru (Astana)
Chris Horner (Lampre)
Rigoberto Uran (OPQS)
Samuel Sanchez (BMC)
Thibaut Pinot (FDJ)
Robert Gesink (Belkin)
Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Lotto)
*Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin)
*Cadel Evans (BMC)
*Alejandro Valverde (Movistar)

On paper looks good, but we know just few of them are prepared or fit to dispute the Vuelta. The others are either: too old, too tired, injured...

 

[ILovecycling]

So you do agree that the route plays a role.

The 2012 route was bad, but not as bad as this one. The defining moment of the race was the Fuente Dé stage. What did that stage have? Two well-linked climbs, short but hard enough to make an attack possible. If that stage had been a trademark flat stage until the final climb, like 90% of the Vuelta "mountain" stages, we wouldn't have seen what we saw (or rather didn't see...).

The Great One.

This year there is only 1 decent mountain stage (16) where you can attack before the last climb. Stage 20 maybe, but the last climb is harder and longer. Still, if there is less than 2 minutes between first and second or third, and more so if it's Alberto chasing, there will be some action.
Nevertheless disappointing route regarding the mountains. The slightly hilly stages are not that bad.

Yeah,its very bad that only two stages are of this type.otoh stage 16 is very! good.Almost Giro standards (low altitude)

 

[Arredondo]

The Great One.

Yeah,its very bad that only two stages are of this type.otoh stage 16 is very! good.Almost Giro standards (low altitude)

And look how that stage went in 2011

 

[Ruudz0r]

Does anyone know if there are bonus seconds again? And if so is it 10-6-4 again, like last year?

 

[Anderis]

He was weaker, and should have lost more time already on the stages to Plan del Resinelli, Lago Laceno, Stelvio etc if they attacked earlier But he deserved that victory, thanks to the cowardness of his opponents (and especially Purito).

I don't think there was any more time loss for Ryder on a Stelvio stage. He was leading the group himself for many kilometers while others wheelsucked him. Yet, they were only able to attack him just before the summit and gain some tiny seconds. Had they attacked earlier, they wouldn't benefit from wheelsucking and I'm sure Hesjedal would be either able to counter them or ride his own pace and minimising loses, losing more or less what he actually lost at the end of the stage. He rode away from everyone a day earlier and didn't look like struggling compared to other riders on that stage.
He has shown some weakness in earlier stages, but nobody goes flat out on some medium mountain stages in the middle of the race just because one of riders who is expected to do well in GC, doesn't look particularly well (unless it's one of the 2-3 biggest favourites, perhaps, and the other guy has a strong team to make it happen).

And in Tour 2010 he rode super strong on the cobbles, but he got 2 minutes advantage because he was in the break. He lost like 5/6 minutes in the mountains on Purito.

Versatility and ability to gain time in various terrain, circumstances etc. is a part of being a good GT rider. Hesjedal also lost a minute on a stage to Mende, because he didn't expect to be so strong at the end of the race, still uncertain of his GC capabilities, so he got himself into an early break on that stage and it didn't pay off.

I'm not saying he is better climber than Purito, but he beat him in GC of GTs the only 2 times he tried. That shows, that in a top form and a bit of luck, the TdF podium would not be totally out of the question IMO. He is not in the top3 climbers of the world, but neither are Peraud or Pinot (yet) IMO, but they've managed it.

 

[Netserk]

Does anyone know if there are bonus seconds again? And if so is it 10-6-4 again, like last year?

I thought it was 12-8-4 last year.

 

[cineteq]

I thought it was 12-8-4 last year.

10-6-4
"Habrá bonificaciones en meta de 10, 6 y 4 segundos"
http://www.ritmodejuego.com/vuelta-a-espana-2014/

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

There is a guy here who has just finished in the top three of the Tour (I refuse to use the word 'podium' as a verb), and he isn't even getting a mention. I guess it is largely a reflection n the comparative strengths of the Vuelta field and that of the last half of the Tour, but is it just assumed that Pinot is too tired to do anything, or has he said that he has no ambitions for the race, or are people expecting him to finish in the top 8 or so?

 

[May0maniac]

There is a guy here who has just finished in the top three of the Tour (I refuse to use the word 'podium' as a verb), and he isn't even getting a mention. I guess it is largely a reflection n the comparative strengths of the Vuelta field and that of the last half of the Tour, but is it just assumed that Pinot is too tired to do anything, or has he said that he has no ambitions for the race, or are people expecting him to finish in the top 8 or so?

I like Pinot, i just think the french media hype and buzz around him right now is so strong that him arriving fresh an forcused at the Vuelta would be very unlikely.

 

[Netserk]

10-6-4
"Habrá bonificaciones en meta de 10, 6 y 4 segundos"
http://www.ritmodejuego.com/vuelta-a-espana-2014/

Ah, it was in '12 that it was 12-8-4, my bad