Vuelta 2024 discussion

[yaco]

VWA can four win stages with such a suitable parcour.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Van Aert confirmed to be at the start

Great news! Updated. He can win stage 2, 3 and 5 from the bunch, and then there are infinite opportunities for him on the lesser harder break days. I'd go 3-4 stage wins for him this race.

 

[tobydawq]

Great news! Updated. He can win stage 2, 3 and 5 from the bunch, and then there are infinite opportunities for him on the lesser harder break days. I'd go 3-4 stage wins for him this race.

Hopefully, he will win 6 stages.

There was a remarkable symmetry between the Giro and the Tour. Pogacar won 6 stages in each race. Two sprinters both won 3 stages in either race. And 9 riders won 1 stage in either race.

It's hard to see two sprinters winning three stages in a race with around two sprinting opportunities, though, so this will probably not happen again in the Vuelta.

 

[yaco]

VWA can win on of the sprint stages and he can win others from the break. He'll be lucky more than one flat sprint, as he will have to deal with Groves and the Alpecin train.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Van Aert has unfortunately developed a bit of a Roglic-style aura of tragedy around him. Even yesterday he arrived in a great moment, finally had to form to face his big rival as equals but due to race tactics wasn't able to reach the front, he even managed to fall off and not be able to compete for the minor placings behind. Hopefully he can use this race to turn things around, the Vuelta is historically a redemption race.

 

[Peter von]

So do Guillen and RTVE really not have 2 mil. euros to pay to Pogacar and UAE to show up at the Vuelta? ASO won't give a single cent because they think they are bigger than the sport and it is bellow their level to pay an appearance fee. If the Vuelta organisers give money to Pog to go to their race they will make 5 times that in revenue because the whole world will be watching Tadej's attempt to go in the history books.

I think all the big tv deals and sponsorships have already been negotiated. Tough to squeeze 10 mill euros out of the last minute markets.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Am I completely in the wrong here or do I just have insanely bad memory - isn't this the first time Euskatel-Euskadi is back at the Vuelta? Only two PCT spanish teams can be invited with the new rules, so the break fodder this year will be Euskaltel and Kern Pharma and Burgos and Caja (two teams with countless of participations) are snubbed.

Which riders are worth keeping track of on these team anyways? Maybe Pablo Castrillo, but the depth of talent really isn't great at all on those teams anymore at all, unfortunately. Gone are the days of Xacobeo Galicia and Kelme, thats for sure.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Am I completely in the wrong here or do I just have insanely bad memory - isn't this the first time Euskatel-Euskadi is back at the Vuelta? Only two PCT spanish teams can be invited with the new rules, so the break fodder this year will be Euskaltel and Kern Pharma and Burgos and Caja (two teams with countless of participations) are snubbed.

Which riders are worth keeping track of on these team anyways? Maybe Pablo Castrillo, but the depth of talent really isn't great at all on those teams anymore at all, unfortunately. Gone are the days of Xacobeo Galicia and Kelme, thats for sure.

Euskaltel also rode the Vuelta in 2021 and 22.

 

[Netserk]

Am I completely in the wrong here or do I just have insanely bad memory - isn't this the first time Euskatel-Euskadi is back at the Vuelta?

Insanely bad memory. They also received a wildcard in 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022.

Euskaltel also rode the Vuelta in 2021 and 22.

Was the previous Euskadi team unrelated to the current team? I thought they merged.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Well, my bad. Couldn't be that bothered to actually look it up. Such a shame that teams like Burgos and Caja Rural are not allowed in their home Tour

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Well, my bad. Couldn't be that bothered to actually look it up. Such a shame that teams like Burgos and Caja Rural are not allowed in their home Tour

Burgos had already been fortunate to ride 6 Vueltas in a row. It was definitely their time to miss out.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Burgos had already been fortunate to ride 6 Vueltas in a row. It was definitely their time to miss out.

It was, but in a perfect world all four PCT teams would have ridden IMO.

 

[FroomeWagon]

Initial odds are out. I only included the top 10. Not sure if all these guys are confirmed, but one can bet on them.

 

[Penninepeddler]

Does seem a shame to come to Lisbon and ride a flat, sea-front TT.

I know there would be logistic challenges... but it would be so, so fun to see a bike race go through the middle of the city. Some nasty as hell cobbled hills with stunning backdrops.

And if want to keep it a TT could use some of those roads too that are not possible with a peloton.

You could for sure go something like:

Start in Belem
go under 25 de Abril Bridge
head up to Avenida da Liberdade
through Praca do Comercio
then cycle up to Castelo Sao Jorge for the finish

would create some nice gaps to start aha.

Ofc they want to avoid the tram lines, but you could do a whole route like that and only intersect them maybe once between Prace do Comercio and Sao Jorge.

Final 1km at an average of ~15% gradient on cobbles would be fun.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Initial odds are out. I only included the top 10. Not sure if all these guys are confirmed, but one can bet on them.

A certain basque flying under the radar 😍😍

 

[Mayomaniac]

A certain basque flying under the radar 😍😍

Aupa Pello!

 

[Samu Cuenca]

A certain basque flying under the radar 😍😍

Mikel for the win!

Spoiler

Bizkarra, of course

 

[Rob5091]

Both Lennys at the Vuelta? Surprised if Martinez is there but VE will be one to watch.

 

[carolina]

Does seem a shame to come to Lisbon and ride a flat, sea-front TT.

I know there would be logistic challenges... but it would be so, so fun to see a bike race go through the middle of the city. Some nasty as hell cobbled hills with stunning backdrops.

And if want to keep it a TT could use some of those roads too that are not possible with a peloton.

You could for sure go something like:

Start in Belem
go under 25 de Abril Bridge
head up to Avenida da Liberdade
through Praca do Comercio
then cycle up to Castelo Sao Jorge for the finish

would create some nice gaps to start aha.

Ofc they want to avoid the tram lines, but you could do a whole route like that and only intersect them maybe once between Prace do Comercio and Sao Jorge.

Final 1km at an average of ~15% gradient on cobbles would be fun.

Prologue in calçada da Glória would be fun.

 

[Penninepeddler]

Prologue in calçada da Glória would be fun.

Aha. Yeh... the tramlines there would be a problem though! Why I think up to the castle would make the most sense as there is a path there without any.

I believe they used to do a ride up it though and people just avoided the tram lines. It is brutal. Like 20% the whole way. Albeit short.

 

[RedheadDane]

Aha. Yeh... the tramlines there would be a problem though!

They'd covered the tramlines in Nice up quite nicely!

Pun not planned, but when the opportunity was there.

 

[Earns1985]

PCS now also has C. Rodriguez listed in the startlist. Anyone with a source for that?

 

[Ricco']

Does seem a shame to come to Lisbon and ride a flat, sea-front TT.

I know there would be logistic challenges... but it would be so, so fun to see a bike race go through the middle of the city. Some nasty as hell cobbled hills with stunning backdrops.

And if want to keep it a TT could use some of those roads too that are not possible with a peloton.

You could for sure go something like:

Start in Belem
go under 25 de Abril Bridge
head up to Avenida da Liberdade
through Praca do Comercio
then cycle up to Castelo Sao Jorge for the finish

would create some nice gaps to start aha.

Ofc they want to avoid the tram lines, but you could do a whole route like that and only intersect them maybe once between Prace do Comercio and Sao Jorge.

Final 1km at an average of ~15% gradient on cobbles would be fun.

I think it comes down to who pays for it. That option would mean only Lisbon municipality involved, while this way Oeiras and Cascais can also get in the party.

 

[Rob5091]

PCS now also has C. Rodriguez listed in the startlist. Anyone with a source for that?

Nothing official from the team, that I can see. Bernal also down for the Vuelta according to PCS.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Bernal is more sus. I'd very much expect Carlos Rodriguez to take part though, actually I'd be quite disappointed if he didn't. He should do like other Spanish GC-riders like him like Sastre, Mancebo and Mas did/do: Tour and Vuelta every year.