Vuelta a España 2011

[icefire]

well since the vuelta has his first big GC shake-out on the forth stage i think those 2 can forget about their GC aspirations if they don't bring any sort of form.

Don't expect a big shake out in Sierra Nevada. They're riding up a motorway at 6%.

Anyway those who broke their collarbone in the Tour and go to the Vuelta with GC aspirations should know what to expect. Schleck the elder crashed last year earlier in the Tour and the Vuelta started one week later.

 

[Bag_O_Wallet]

Canadian coverage of 2011 Vuelta a Espana confirmed

I just received confirmation from Sportsnet, they will be providing live daily coverage for all stages on Sportsnet One in Canada.

 

[phanatic]

A bit off-topic, but:

... the only thing better than someone born into the cause, is someone who joins the cause from the outside comes to truly believe in it and make sacrifices for it.

Paul the Apostle is the most revered Christian saint.

Perhaps the most read and studied, and seen as the most fervent even of the Apostles, and a prime example of the zeal of the convert, but by most measures, the most reveredChristian saint is not a convert but the one who, in a way, gave birth to the cause. It seems so to me at least.

 

[Escarabajo]

A bit off-topic, but:


Perhaps the most read and studied, and seen as the most fervent even of the Apostles, and a prime example of the zeal of the convert, but by most measures, the most reveredChristian saint is not a convert but the one who, in a way, gave birth to the cause. It seems so to me at least.

You think?

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Don't expect a big shake out in Sierra Nevada. They're riding up a motorway at 6%.

Anyway those who broke their collarbone in the Tour and go to the Vuelta with GC aspirations should know what to expect. Schleck the elder crashed last year earlier in the Tour and the Vuelta started one week later.

So he had a two week advantage on Brajkovic, Wiggins, JVDB... and managed 5th place. Interesting.

 

[Gubby Allen]

So how many, if any of the TDF top 10 GC guys will likely line up in this? Or even apply it to the top 20, you'll be able to count them on one hand won't you?

 

[Libertine Seguros]

So how many, if any of the TDF top 10 GC guys will likely line up in this? Or even apply it to the top 20, you'll be able to count them on one hand won't you?

More than likely. But then again, there's not much time in between them and with so many TdF walking wounded lining up it still looks like a good lineup.

 

[Parrulo]

So he had a two week advantage on Brajkovic, Wiggins, JVDB... and managed 5th place. Interesting.

5th 5 minutes behind the winner. it will be very hard for brajkovic, wiggins and VdB2 imo

 

[El Pistolero]

5th 5 minutes behind the winner. it will be very hard for brajkovic, wiggins and VdB2 imo

VDB2 is better than Frank Schleck

Wiggo probably too if his performance in the Dauphiné is anything to go by(climbing at the same level as Cuddles and being better in the time trials)

Brajko, I don't see him as a GT rider for some reason...

 

[l.Harm]

Brajkovic is indeed no rider for a Grand Tour. He's better at stage races who're during one week, not three weeks. Will be hard for him to ride top-15, his best performance in a GT was actually two years a go in the Giro (18th).

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Brajkovic is indeed no rider for a Grand Tour. He's better at stage races who're during one week, not three weeks. Will be hard for him to ride top-15, his best performance in a GT was actually two years a go in the Giro (18th).

disagree.

I think he could crack the the ten here. To be fair Braj. rarely had freedom in a GT. Hard to judge him as such.

hoping machado can do a good ride.

 

[l.Harm]

He'll need to be very lucky for top 10. He will only reach that if riders like Menchov and Vdb disappoint.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

He'll need to be very lucky for top 10. He will only reach that if riders like Menchov and Vdb disappoint.

this vuelta he probably will not, I meant more in general.

If he didn't break his collarbone I think he could've managed it.

 

[gregrowlerson]

Does anyone know if Andreas Kloden is still riding the Vuelta or whether he is on the outer with Radioshack after his move to Quickstep?

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

5th 5 minutes behind the winner. it will be very hard for brajkovic, wiggins and VdB2 imo

Well there is good news for Jurgen of Pine Broeck

Translation here. He can start his preparation for the Vuelta.

 

[Michielveedeebee]

5th 5 minutes behind the winner. it will be very hard for brajkovic, wiggins and VdB2 imo

yeah but Frank was out pretty long I guess... Jurgen got on his rollers/fitnesstraining after a week. He can resume full training already. I don't think his level dropped as much as Frankyboy's

 

[El Pistolero]

yeah but Frank was out pretty long I guess... Jurgen got on his rollers/fitnesstraining after a week. He can resume full training already. I don't think his level dropped as much as Frankyboy's

Plus VDB2 won't do second hand drinking like Frank.

 

[dlwssonic]

I still cant believe that such a high profile rider like VDB only just got his first win in the dauphine.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

I still cant believe that such a high profile rider like VDB only just got his first win in the dauphine.

He doesn't ride enough races for that and he lacks the punch in those he does ride. He only enters the TDF in top form. The Dauphiné is preparation, the Ardennes is purely in favor of Gilbert (and not in top form). He got sick in Paris-Nice... There isn't much left really.

 

[theyoungest]

I still cant believe that such a high profile rider like VDB only just got his first win in the dauphine.

His strength is probably consistency in a GT, he can't really shine on a single day.

 

[DenisMenchov]

I think you're smart enough to realize that the only real difference between the Serbs and Croats was religion. Both countries made their own identity by destroying everything in their borders that they didn't consider theirs. There really is no distinction to be made in the 2 countries except in religion before nationalism spread across the Balkan.

Oh, really. It seems that you know history off our on better then than we do.

 

[Angliru]

5th 5 minutes behind the winner. it will be very hard for brajkovic, wiggins and VdB2 imo

Frank was psychologically devastated by his brother's betrayal and lack of support.

 

[Angliru]

Brajkovic is indeed no rider for a Grand Tour. He's better at stage races who're during one week, not three weeks. Will be hard for him to ride top-15, his best performance in a GT was actually two years a go in the Giro (18th).

It's a bit early in his career to be saying what he is or isn't. What can be said is that he really hasn't had the opportunity to show what he's capable of when riding for himself with the exception of the year that he held the leader's jersey for a time in the Vuelta. He could prove to be a grand tour gc contender and was being groomed as such by Bruyneel. His injuries though in this year's Tour seemed to be too serious for him to expect to be in top form or even mentally prepared for the Vuelta. 2012 will be when we really get see what he's capable of in the grand tours.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

It's a bit early in his career to be saying what he is or isn't. What can be said is that he really hasn't had the opportunity to show what he's capable of when riding for himself with the exception of the year that he held the leader's jersey for a time in the Vuelta. He could prove to be a grand tour gc contender and was being groomed as such by Bruyneel. His injuries though in this year's Tour seemed to be too serious for him to expect to be in top form or even mentally prepared for the Vuelta. 2012 will be when we really get see what he's capable of in the grand tours.

Well... time waits for no man. He'll turn 29 late next year.

 

[Angliru]

Well... time waits for no man. He'll turn 29 late next year.

He's had to stand in line for his grand tour opportunities while also having to ride in service of Armstrong, Leipheimer, Kloden and Contador. I'm not saying that he'll definitely turn into a grand tour contender for the gc, just that we should see next year, provided he stays upright and free from injury and sickness. His frailty seems to make him quite fragile and susceptiple to illness.