Vuelta a España 2011

[Fetisoff]

I missed a massive troll whilst out riding Oh noooeeeees

Yeah.. This one had a special thing for ACF and ElPistolero.

 

[PedalCastro]

Scarponi, Menchov, Nibali, JROD and Anton will make up the top 5, in what order.. who knows.. Nibali could well defend title

 

[Midnightfright]

I expect Anton, JRod,Scarponi and Tony Martin to attack and animate on the big climbs whilst Nibbles rides tempo and comes in around the same time but using a lot less energy and limiting losses to an extent he can make it back through TT although i dont expect him take to much time on Scarponi and maybe 2-3 minutes on Anton and if he is on real top form maybe only 8-10 minutes on JRod.

 

[Fetisoff]

I expect Anton, JRod,Scarponi and Tony Martin to attack and animate on the big climbs

BTW J-Rod is not gonna lose any more than 4 minutes in the TT

 

[Jamsque]

Serious question: is J-Rod the 2nd best climber in the world?

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Serious question: is J-Rod the 2nd best climber in the world?

Better than Contador!?

Anyhow, how many stages will it take for Brad to lose motivation and just trundle through to have a crack at the TT. Or will he have his **** together?

 

[hfer07]

Serious question: is J-Rod the 2nd best climber in the world?

well- there is also A Schleck & Rujano fighting for that spot too.....

 

[Fetisoff]

Serious question: is J-Rod the 2nd best climber in the world?

Probably not the 2nd best climber, but a 2nd most consistent at climbing well, if that makes any sense. As far as pure climbing ability a (motivated) Andy Shrek's better, I think Scarponi's better, and so is Basso.

 

[Midnightfright]

BTW J-Rod is not gonna lose any more than 4 minutes in the TT

Tony Martin was a joke. i dont really expect him to lose that much time but isn't there 50k of TT? I would expect him to lose about 1 minute every 10k.

 

[Midnightfright]

Probably not the 2nd best climber, but a 2nd most consistent at climbing well, if that makes any sense. As far as pure climbing ability a (motivated) Andy Shrek's better, I think Scarponi's better, and so is Basso.

He's had off days on climbs in most GTs I remember him being in. I would say Scarponi, Nibali, Samu are all more consistent.

 

[Fetisoff]

Yeah, there's a 47 km individual time trial, which i think he'll only lose 3-3.5 minutes to nibbles in. The team time trial is short enough that he might only lose 20-30 seconds, although it could be more as Katusha are not bringing Pozatto (who's strong in TTT), Karpets of Gusev

 

[Midnightfright]

Yeah, there's a 47 km individual time trial, which i think he'll only lose 3-3.5 minutes to nibbles in. The team time trial is short enough that he might only lose 20-30 seconds, although it could be more as Katusha are not bringing Pozatto (who's strong in TTT), Karpets of Gusev

I hope your right but he was dreadful last year altough if I remember correctly it was.very windy.

 

[Fetisoff]

I hope your right but he was dreadful last year altough if I remember correctly it was.very windy.

He was absolutely dreadful in last year's Tour AND Vuelta time-trials, however he worked on his time-trialing over the winter, and he wasn't horrible at the shorter one in Giro. Only lost 1.5 minutes to contador over 26km

 

[uphillstruggle]

Yeah, there's a 47 km individual time trial, which i think he'll only lose 3-3.5 minutes to nibbles in. The team time trial is short enough that he might only lose 20-30 seconds, although it could be more as Katusha are not bringing Pozatto (who's strong in TTT), Karpets of Gusev

Katusha are usually quite good in TTT's, all depends on who they bring of course but there are plenty of strong rouleurs at Katusha. J-Rod will have to hope Nibbles cracks in one of the mountain stages to beat him but he's getting much better at the whole ride at your own pace thing.

 

[Midnightfright]

He was absolutely dreadful in last year's Tour AND Vuelta time-trials, however he worked on his time-trialing over the winter, and he wasn't horrible at the shorter one in Giro. Only lost 1.5 minutes to contador over 26km

Yeah thats true. Except Gadret I don't think there's any GT guy who's TT o would have less faith in. Even if he does well I dont think he will make enough time on climbs to win. Actually this year I'm fairly confident he wont podium.

 

[Fetisoff]

Yeah thats true. Except Gadret I don't think there's any GT guy who's TT o would have less faith in. Even if he does well I dont think he will make enough time on climbs to win. Actually this year I'm fairly confident he wont podium.

I guess we'll have to wait and see

 

[Midnightfright]

I guess we'll have to wait and see

Very true.

 

[ferryman]

Serious question: is J-Rod the 2nd best climber in the world?

Over a whole season, yes I would say.

 

[rzombie1988]

Serious question: is J-Rod the 2nd best climber in the world?

When J-Rod is at his best, he's only second to Contador, however with J-Rod, there is always the next day where he blows up. He can't be the 2nd best as he is just not consistent enough. I wish he was though as he can unleash a crazy attack.

 

[ferryman]

Better than Contador!?

Anyhow, how many stages will it take for Brad to lose motivation and just trundle through to have a crack at the TT. Or will he have his **** together?

I'm hoping and expecting the latter from Wiggins. I think he now knows what it means and what it takes to be a top GC contender.

 

[maltiv]

Serious question: is J-Rod the 2nd best climber in the world?

Nope. But he's probably the 2nd best puncheur in the world, particularly when it's ridiculously steep. He's also the best in the world when it comes to hanging on for a while and then launching a jaw-dropping attack in the final kilometer when it comes to mountains, but he's not really that good in the big mountains as some would think he is.

 

[search]

to the spanish members:

is there a printed roadbook/guide for the Vuelta available for sale in spain?

 

[ferryman]

Nope. But he's probably the 2nd best puncheur in the world, particularly when it's ridiculously steep. He's also the best in the world when it comes to hanging on for a while and then launching a jaw-dropping attack in the final kilometer when it comes to mountains, but he's not really that good in the big mountains as some would think he is.

Agree with all of that but that it is why I think he is the 2nd best climber over a season. The Vuelta will hopefully prove he can mix it in the big mountains to cement my argument

 

[Libertine Seguros]

The steeper a climb is, the more it becomes J-Rod's playground.

I would love to see him and Gilbert take each other on on Montelupone. That's J-Rod's yard.

 

[Ferminal]

So, HTC are taking four sprinters.