Vuelta a España 2011

[just some guy]

Vuelta a España 2011

I Guess AFC already started this thread...

But if not

Wildcards announced today - Geox-TMC, Skil-Shimano, Cofidis and Andalucia Caja Granada

'

The route

Running from Saturday Agust 20th to Sunday September 11th 2011, the 66th Vuelta a España will be made up of 21 stages and will cover a total distance of 3,300 kilometres. These stages have the following profiless:
9 flat stages,
10 mountain stages
1 team time-trial stage
1 individual time-trial stage

Distinctive aspects of the race

6 summit finishes
2 rest days
14 km. team time-trial
40 km. individual time-trial stage

New stage towns

La Nucía, Petrer, Sierra Nevada, Úbeda, Almadén, Villacastín, Sarria, Villa Romana La Olmeda (Palencia), Faustino V and Noja

New finishes

Totana, San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Estación de Montaña Manzaneda, La Farrapona-Lagos de Somiedo and Noja

Also I think the ITT is now 46 kms long.

 

[Bavarianrider]

I Guess AFC already started this thread...

But if not

Wildcards announced today - Geox-TMC, Skil-Shimano, Cofidis and Andalucia Caja Granada

'



Also I think the ITT is now 46 kms long.

That would be good news. (Not that i would care about the Vuelta, but still)

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Skil!?!?!

Well, at least Kittel can maybe pick up some victories. And I'm sure after those 6 summit finishes Geniez will be the only Skil rider left in the race

 

[The Hitch]

Again, the pain at seeing some teams that shouldnt be given invites, getting in through pt while so many deserving teams miss out.

Would have loved to see Androni or Colombia es Passion here even though that was unlikely they would contribute a million times more than so many here.

And i dont think cofidis has the team for 2 gts but as a french team they get into TDF and Moncoutie fully justifies the Vuelta invite.

What are the chances that Mosquera will ride btw?

 

[just some guy]

Again, the pain at seeing some teams that shouldnt be given invites, getting in through pt while so many deserving teams miss out.

Would have loved to see Androni or Colombia es Passion here even though that was unlikely they would contribute a million times more than so many here.

And i dont think cofidis has the team for 2 gts but as a french team they get into TDF and Moncoutie fully justifies the Vuelta invite.

What are the chances that Mosquera will ride btw?

Small I would say

 

[roundabout]

Woohoo, Geniez gets to ride a GT.

Andalucia getting invited makes me sad though.

 

[nobilis]

I'm surprised that Caja Rural didn't get invited as well as Colombia Es Pasion instead of Skil and Cofidis because i thought that Moncoutié zould rather focus on the tour this year.

 

[hrotha]

This is a joke.

Skil are in because ASO likes them (but not enough to invite them to the Tour, I guess?), and Andalucía are in because of some shady business I cannot quite comprehend. Leaving Caja Rural out is a shame - nay, a scandal.

 

[theyoungest]

Jesus Christ, Skil in the Vuelta... beware of Kenny "Broom Wagon" Van Hummel.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Tough luck for the others, they have to wait 45 minutes every mountain stage again till Kenny finishes

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

not that they will light the race up, but I am happy for skil. they have stuck in there. Good for them, congrats to TR dean

 

[craig1985]

Ok, which one of the Wt teams would you have left out?

 

[TRDean]

I am so pumped up for Skil in the Vuelta! I don't care what other teams didn't make it. Skil have been working hard at improving the team...Geniez is going to put in a great showing...and a Kittel or van Hummel stage win is not out of the question. Very happy day for me!

 

[Duartista]

This is a joke.

Skil are in because ASO likes them (but not enough to invite them to the Tour, I guess?), and Andalucía are in because of some shady business I cannot quite comprehend. Leaving Caja Rural out is a shame - nay, a scandal.

Agreed. Between the UCI forcing weak World Tour teams into the GTs, and the organisers' misuse of wildcards, this kind of thing is one of the most frustrating aspects of being cycling fan.

 

[Duartista]

Ok, which one of the Wt teams would you have left out?

There are a few options - the more classics-oriented teams like Quickstep and Vacansoleil, AG2R who are unlikely to have much left after the Tour... Lotto if Gilbert doesn't go.

 

[craig1985]

If Gadret skips the Tour and opts for the Vuelta, along with Nico Roche who decides to race, as well Hubert Dupont (assuming he skips the Tour), then you have some decent riders right there.

 

[Frosty]

There are a few options - the more classics-oriented teams like Quickstep and Vacansoleil, AG2R who are unlikely to have much left after the Tour... Lotto if Gilbert doesn't go.

Is Greipel going to the Vuelta?

 

[Duartista]

If Gadret skips the Tour and opts for the Vuelta, along with Nico Roche who decides to race, as well Hubert Dupont (assuming he skips the Tour), then you have some decent riders right there.

If that happened, yes they would be decent. However, I think they want Gadret at the Tour.

 

[Descender]

Andalucia are in because the Andalusian government supports the Vuelta economically every year financing stages. They're still the weakest pro-continental team in Europe though.

I feel bad for Caja Rural, who obviously deserved it more.

 

[Duartista]

Is Greipel going to the Vuelta?

No idea, but even if he was, I don't think a sprinter should ever get a team a GT invite over teams full of climbers.*

* In a hypothetical situation where Lotto were fighting Caja Rural or CEP for an invite.

 

[luckyboy]

Well if they were complaining about transfers in the Giro, this Vuelta doesn't look too great. Couple of 300km+ ones there.

 

[roundabout]

Italy is much smaller than Spain in area though.

 

[Frosty]

And i dont think cofidis has the team for 2 gts but as a french team they get into TDF and Moncoutie fully justifies the Vuelta invite.

Yeah hard to leave out the guy who has won the KoM in the last 3 vueltas, taking a stage each time as well. Even though he is going for the tour this year he did that in 2008 and 2009. Maybe Taaramae could do quite well in the overall despite him riding the tour, similar to Roche last year? Has done well in some one-week races but i think is unknown over 3 weeks though (was injured last year in the TdF)?

 

[El Pistolero]

Again, the pain at seeing some teams that shouldnt be given invites, getting in through pt while so many deserving teams miss out.

Would have loved to see Androni or Colombia es Passion here even though that was unlikely they would contribute a million times more than so many here.

And i dont think cofidis has the team for 2 gts but as a french team they get into TDF and Moncoutie fully justifies the Vuelta invite.

What are the chances that Mosquera will ride btw?

Moncoutie's goal is the KoM in the Tour.

 

[Von Mises]

And i dont think cofidis has the team for 2 gts but as a french team they get into TDF and Moncoutie fully justifies the Vuelta invite.

Cofis has been sponsoring and still is bigg sponsor of Vuelta. They will get invite with or without Moncoutie.