Vuelta a España 2011

[The Hitch]

Oh yeah and Gibo won both and he says Zoncolan is harder.

Angliru has some nasty hairpins yes.

I know but is that enough to make it so much harder. I would have guessed heat but then it wasnt sunny last time they climbed it and it was pouring when Millar did his protest years ago.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Oh yeah and Gibo won both and he says Zoncolan is harder.

Spaniard says Spanish climb is harder. Italian says Italian climb is harder. No surprises there.

Some sponsors to please, some national pride, some posturing (Gibo won Zoncolán twice of course, and Contador has only won Angliru of the two).

What we need is more the opinion of neutrals who've raced both. On paper I'd say the Zoncolán is harder, but Angliru doesn't have its reputation for nothing.

 

[goggalor]

Read today that BMC management have ruled out Evans riding in the Vuelta. It was on his schedule but he will not be doing it now. He will be riding in a couple of one day races over the next few months and looks like heading back to Australia in October.

Hm. That's a shame. I guess the Tour win was a massive weight off his shoulders. I think Kristoff said earlier in the season that Evans really wanted to do well in the Vuelta, so maybe even he wasn't expecting the Tour win? Maybe he'll focus more on winning Lombardia, or maybe show off in some non-European races/post-Tour criteriums (isn't there potentially big money in that racket?)

 

[Kopuliak]

I love Vuelta, it´s a pure test for the climbers with always very creative route... think it will be between Anton, Nibali and Menchov, but the field looks very strong so there can be many more involved
can´t wait for the start in Benidorm!!!

I like Vuelta 2011 stages setup much better than TdF 2011.First mountain stage is early as 4th, so I hope we shouldn't wait first 2.5 weeks for some fauvorite GC riders activity .... A.Schleck : "we'll try do something in Alps" etc...

 

[Parrulo]

machado posted today on his blog saying that he spent last week training at altitude in the serra da estrela (almost 2000 meters) and has been training his climbing a lot while not trying to ignore his itt.

he doesn't know his role for the race but since kloden appears to be leaving RS it will prolly only be him and brajkovic there so i can see him co-lead.

horner and bottle will prolly ride some american races like colorado. . .

not trying to fall into giro extremely high expectations again (i remember jens_attacks sying machado could top 5 ) i guess a top 15 high end of the top 10 would already be a good result for his second GT.

 

[Swede1]

machado posted today on his blog saying that he spent last week training at altitude in the serra da estrela (almost 2000 meters) and has been training his climbing a lot while not trying to ignore his itt.

he doesn't know his role for the race but since kloden appears to be leaving RS it will prolly only be him and brajkovic there so i can see him co-lead.

horner and bottle will prolly ride some american races like colorado. . .

not trying to fall into giro extremely high expectations again (i remember jens_attacks sying machado could top 5 ) i guess a top 15 high end of the top 10 would already be a good result for his second GT.

Since a lot of the hard stages come in the beginning he can at least show his potential before he starts to get tired, like in the Giro.

 

[staubsauger]

rob gesink already planned to start at la vuelta in 2010! so my thought is that he will ride there and after a weak tdf he will be back at his oman top level and fight for the overall win with anton and nibali just like he did in 2009 (when his tt skills have been much weaker). we've already seen mentsjov acting quite the same during his rabo years (05/07) and gesink himself in 09. so why there should be a change this year? kruijswijk already road the giro and suisse on top level i'll doubt that there's enough flue in his tank to go for a top5 position at la vuelta. he should try to win suisse next year. rob needs a overall or at least a podium in a gt now.

 

[the asian]

Anton should win this if he manages to stay on the bike unlike last year. Purito will struggle with the 45Km ITT. He was leading the race befor last years ITT and did a horrible one. Scarponi should also get a podium. 3rd podium place is really up for grabs between Nibali, Menchov, Sastre. Who will lead Movistar? Arroyo?

 

[jsem94]

Anton should win this if he manages to stay on the bike unlike last year. Purito will struggle with the 45Km ITT. He was leading the race befor last years ITT and did a horrible one. Scarponi should also get a podium. 3rd podium place is really up for grabs between Nibali, Menchov, Sastre. Who will lead Movistar? Arroyo?

Didn't Arroyo do both the Giro and Tour so far this year?

 

[auscyclefan94]

Anton should win this if he manages to stay on the bike unlike last year. Purito will struggle with the 45Km ITT. He was leading the race befor last years ITT and did a horrible one. Scarponi should also get a podium. 3rd podium place is really up for grabs between Nibali, Menchov, Sastre. Who will lead Movistar? Arroyo?

I hope and want Anton to win. He's my favourite Spanish rider.

I don't see Cadel winning as he'll be too tired though he hinted on TV this morning that he won't ride la vuelta so he may not be riding.

Gesink would be good to see. Hope he recovers well enough to count on the climbs. I don't want him him to win because the Dutch fans will go crazy

 

[auscyclefan94]

Read today that BMC management have ruled out Evans riding in the Vuelta. It was on his schedule but he will not be doing it now. He will be riding in a couple of one day races over the next few months and looks like heading back to Australia in October.

Can I ask where you read that?

Spaniard says Spanish climb is harder. Italian says Italian climb is harder. No surprises there.

Some sponsors to please, some national pride, some posturing (Gibo won Zoncolán twice of course, and Contador has only won Angliru of the two).

What we need is more the opinion of neutrals who've raced both. On paper I'd say the Zoncolán is harder, but Angliru doesn't have its reputation for nothing.

The only reason imo why the Angliru is easier because of that 1km where it is dead flat (?) makes it seem easier.

 

[Kwibus]

rob gesink already planned to start at la vuelta in 2010! so my thought is that he will ride there and after a weak tdf he will be back at his oman top level and fight for the overall win with anton and nibali just like he did in 2009 (when his tt skills have been much weaker). we've already seen mentsjov acting quite the same during his rabo years (05/07) and gesink himself in 09. so why there should be a change this year? kruijswijk already road the giro and suisse on top level i'll doubt that there's enough flue in his tank to go for a top5 position at la vuelta. he should try to win suisse next year. rob needs a overall or at least a podium in a gt now.

You should read the thread first. It's allready confirmed by Rabobank and Gesink that he won't ride the Vuelta. He will go to the US and his next race will be Colorado at the end of August.

 

[jsem94]

The only reason imo why the Angliru is easier because of that 1km where it is dead flat (?) makes it seem easier.

The last km is slightly downhill actually.

 

[the asian]

Didn't Arroyo do both the Giro and Tour so far this year?

Yr. I forgot. With Tondo dead who else is there to lead Movistar in their national tour?

 

[Woody22]

Can I ask where you read that?


It was in one of the Sydney newspapers, either the Daily Telegraph or the Sydney Morning Herald. Read them both at work this morning.

Wish he was riding but after what he just did, he can do whatever he wants as far as I am concerned.

 

[icefire]

Yr. I forgot. With Tondo dead who else is there to lead Movistar in their national tour?

Intxausti is their protected man.

 

[staubsauger]

You should read the thread first. It's allready confirmed by Rabobank and Gesink that he won't ride the Vuelta. He will go to the US and his next race will be Colorado at the end of August.

oh i'm sorry i actually really didn't know that. but what a poor decision of rabo and gesink. a season that begins that strong with his victory in oman turns into a wasted year know, because of no strong gt selut....

hope kruijswijk could improve again as much as he did in italy and suisse, but at least he isn't a man for the overall victory like rob would have been, yet. on the other hand after this season it's maybe a better prefer to say kruijswik will be the future dutch gt podium/overall finisher instead of gesink.

 

[staubsauger]

Intxausti is their protected man.

that was the reason he took the step away from euskatel to moviestar, wasn't it? He should fill the leadership gap at la vuelta that moviestar had in gt's since the abstinence of valverde

 

[icefire]

Euskaltel gets significant funding from the Basque regional government and they're on a tight budget. Last year they lost Intxausti and this year Castroviejo.

 

[dlwssonic]

Read today that BMC management have ruled out Evans riding in the Vuelta. It was on his schedule but he will not be doing it now. He will be riding in a couple of one day races over the next few months and looks like heading back to Australia in October.

Was looking forward to him riding the vuelta, I guess he might be too tired and he has already won the tour. But he hasnt raced a lot this season and its amazing that he can top the uci rankings. At least the other riders in BMC will get some freedom like GVA or Frank.

 

[hrotha]

Euskaltel gets significant funding from the Basque regional government and they're on a tight budget. Last year they lost Intxausti and this year Castroviejo.

It's a bit of a dilemma. As long as they keep Samu, they can't afford much else. But they can't let Samu go, since he's by far their best and most consistent rider, and they wouldn't be WT or get invited to half as many top races without him. But having him means letting young Basque talent go. And at the end of the day, Samu isn't Basque.

 

[just some guy]

Was looking forward to him riding the vuelta, I guess he might be too tired and he has already won the tour. But he hasnt raced a lot this season and its amazing that he can top the uci rankings. At least the other riders in BMC will get some freedom like GVA or Frank.

Pure speculation

Cadel and the team riders are not talking for the next 3 days

ie phones off get away enjoy so rest before they make a decision, wait for the official word rather than some Australian newspaper article written by someone whos seen 5 days of bike racing

 

[El Pistolero]

It's a bit of a dilemma. As long as they keep Samu, they can't afford much else. But they can't let Samu go, since he's by far their best and most consistent rider, and they wouldn't be WT or get invited to half as many top races without him. But having him means letting young Basque talent go. And at the end of the day, Samu isn't Basque.

Samu should leave to the same team as Contador. But the problem is, Igor Anton won't get to ride as many World Tour events then which would be a terrible shame as he's one of the best climbers... And Igor Anton leaving Euskaltel is out of the question I guess.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

It's a bit of a dilemma. As long as they keep Samu, they can't afford much else. But they can't let Samu go, since he's by far their best and most consistent rider, and they wouldn't be WT or get invited to half as many top races without him. But having him means letting young Basque talent go. And at the end of the day, Samu isn't Basque.

for basques samu is basque. he's been raciing in pais vasco since he was a novice and went through all the youth teams.

 

[hrotha]

Samu should leave to the same team as Contador. But the problem is, Igor Anton won't get to ride as many World Tour events then which would be a terrible shame as he's one of the best climbers... And Igor Anton leaving Euskaltel is out of the question I guess.

Why on Earth would Samu do that?