Vuelta a España 2011

[Fetisoff]

Talansky isn't even in my CQ team
Bole and Madrazo are, but they also happen to be among my favourite riders.
I'm becoming fond of Galimzyanov, but yeah that's mostly because of the CQ thing.

He survived long enough last year, and the Vuelta isn't the Tour.

I hope you are right, however if my memory serves me correct, last year's Vuelta didn't have ANY real high mountains until late (at which point Denis HD'd or DNS'd). I like the guy as much as anyone, but let's face it in the mountains he's not even in KR VanHummel league, he's in there with Guardini

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Odds now up at Sportingbet:

Igor Anton 4/1
Joaquim Rodriguez 4/1
Michele Scarponi 4/1
Vincenzo Nibali 4/1
Denis Menchov 6/1
Jurgen Van Den Broeck 11/1
Bradley Wiggins 16/1
Andreas Kloden 20/1
Janez Brajkovic 20/1

Looks pretty reasonable to me actually.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

No odds for Love Boat?

 

[Fetisoff]

Odds now up at Sportingbet:

Igor Anton 4/1
Joaquim Rodriguez 4/1
Michele Scarponi 4/1
Vincenzo Nibali 4/1
Denis Menchov 6/1
Jurgen Van Den Broeck 11/1
Bradley Wiggins 16/1
Andreas Kloden 20/1
Janez Brajkovic 20/1

Looks pretty reasonable to me actually.

No Velits?

 

[Hugo Koblet]

No Velits?

Velits isn't doing the Vuelta. Well, Martin is, but I assume you meant Peter..

Rest of the odds:

Andrey Kashechkin 80/1
Carlos Sastre 80/1
Christophe Le Mevel 100/1
Fabio Duarte 100/1
Juan Jose Cobo 100/1
Nicolas Roche 100/1
Steven Kruijswijk 100/1
Bauke Mollema 150/1
Daniel Martin 150/1
Mikel Nieve 150/1
Thomas Lovkvist 150/1
Tiago Machado 150/1
Jakob Fuglsang 200/1
Kanstantsin Siutsou 200/1
Marzio Bruseghin 200/1
Chris Anker Sorensen 250/1
Daniel Moreno 250/1
David Blanco 250/1
Kevin De Weert 250/1
Luis Leon Sanchez 250/1
Peter Sagan 250/1
Ruben Plaza 250/1
Tony Martin 250/1
Alexandre Geniez 500/1
Benat Intxausti 500/1
Dario Cataldo 500/1
David Lopez Garcia 500/1
David Moncoutie 500/1
Eros Capecchi 500/1
Fredrik Kessiakoff 500/1
Haimar Zubeldia 500/1
Kevin Seeldraeyers 500/1
Matteo Carrara 500/1
Nelson Oliveira 500/1
Stijn Devolder 500/1
Antonio Piedra Perez 1000/1
Barredo, Carlos 1000/1
Cyril Dessel 1000/1
Sylvain Chavanel 1000/1
Taylor Phinney 1000/1
Vasili Kiryenka 1000/1
Mark Cavendish 10000/1
Oscar Freire 10000/1

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Andrey kashechkin winner of the vuelta 2011. Yes thats right. Andrey Kashechkin.

 

[Escarabajo]

Provisional start list now issued by the aso
http://www.lavuelta.com/11pr/en/noticias/index.html#0

Why was I thinking that Uran was going to go to La Vuelta? where did I get that from?

Anyway, must be tired from Tour.

 

[Fetisoff]

Velits isn't doing the Vuelta. Well, Martin is, but I assume you meant Peter..

Lol, yeah I saw a Velits in the startlist, so I assumed it was the good one

 

[icefire]

...
Marzio Bruseghin 200/1
...
Vasili Kiryenka 1000/1

So they are taking bets for these two who are just listed as backup in case some of the first 9 is not able to start?

 

[Hugo Koblet]

So they are taking bets for these two who are just listed as backup in case some of the first 9 is not able to start?

It seems so...

 

[maltiv]

Hushovd confirms that he is not allowed to race the vuelta. Way to go, Vaughters, some real class there. Not bitter or anything.

 

[roundabout]

I was wondering what was up with Hushovd, Haussler and Farrar all down to ride the same race.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Hushovd confirms that he is not allowed to race the vuelta. Way to go, Vaughters, some real class there. Not bitter or anything.

It's him or Haussler. Thor got the Tour, doesn't Haussler deserve the consolation prize of the Vuelta?

 

[kurtinsc]

Hushovd confirms that he is not allowed to race the vuelta. Way to go, Vaughters, some real class there. Not bitter or anything.

Does it necessarily have anything to do with anything other then picking the best team for the race?

I'm assuming Haussler has been building form for the Vuelta. Farrar is better in the flat sprints. Is Hushovd a better option from a pure racing perspective?

It would be different if he were staying and he wanted to ride the race. Then you may need to soothe his ego. But I'm not sure this isn't just a pure racing decision.

 

[Havetts]

I'd put €1 on Freire for ****s & giggles, €10000 return if the stars align, five meteors crash into each other and the mountain stages are neutralized.

 

[kanari]

It sucks for him that he won't be allowed to race the Vuelta in preparation for the worlds. Especially as the reigning champ. However you can't really blame JV either when they have Haussler and Farrar there.

 

[ingsve]

Does it necessarily have anything to do with anything other then picking the best team for the race?

I'm assuming Haussler has been building form for the Vuelta. Farrar is better in the flat sprints. Is Hushovd a better option from a pure racing perspective?

It would be different if he were staying and he wanted to ride the race. Then you may need to soothe his ego. But I'm not sure this isn't just a pure racing decision.

Well, he's the world champion and obviously wants to race and was listed in the provisional team that lavuelta released so him not riding is a late desicion. If it was just a matter of who is best suited for the race then he would most likely not have been listed in the provisional squad to begin with.

 

[Mellow Velo]

For non-Sky subscribers in the UK, the news is good.
ITV 4 confirm that they will be showing full, live coverage:

http://www.touchline.tv/cycling/itv4-to-screen-2011-tour-of-spain

 

[kurtinsc]

Well, he's the world champion and obviously wants to race and was listed in the provisional team that lavuelta released so him not riding is a late desicion. If it was just a matter of who is best suited for the race then he would most likely not have been listed in the provisional squad to begin with.

I don't think that's necessarily true.

If they were trying to keep him, then soothing his ego would have perhaps overridden what would be best for the team at the race. Once he decided to leave, soothing his ego would be out the window, it would just be about what's best for the team.

 

[maltiv]

Does it necessarily have anything to do with anything other then picking the best team for the race?

I'm assuming Haussler has been building form for the Vuelta. Farrar is better in the flat sprints. Is Hushovd a better option from a pure racing perspective?

It would be different if he were staying and he wanted to ride the race. Then you may need to soothe his ego. But I'm not sure this isn't just a pure racing decision.

Yes he is. There are several stages that suit Hushovd perfectly. He's also one of the most valuable riders one can have for a TTT.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Well, he's the world champion and obviously wants to race and was listed in the provisional team that lavuelta released so him not riding is a late desicion. If it was just a matter of who is best suited for the race then he would most likely not have been listed in the provisional squad to begin with.

I don't think that this sort of decision is ever "just a racing decision". Garmin essentially had to choose between Haussler and Hushovd. There are racing arguments for either of them, but personally I think that Hushovd and Farrar complement each other's abilities more and tread on each other's toes less than Haussler and Farrar.

The thing is though that big name riders have egos, and either Haussler or Hushovd is going to have hurt feelings. Hushovd already rode the Tour, more importantly Haussler hasn't had the chance to ride either the Giro or the Tour. Crucially, Haussler's morale matters to the team because he's going to be an important rider for them next year, while Thor's morale is no somebody else's problem.

You'll get people whining on the internet that this was vindictive, but really, there are very good reasons why Garmin might want to keep Haussler happy and not really care either way if Thor is pleased. It would be pretty shoddy team management to ruffle the feathers of the rider you are keeping so you can smooth those of the rider who is leaving.

 

[Escarabajo]

Hushovd confirms that he is not allowed to race the vuelta. Way to go, Vaughters, some real class there. Not bitter or anything.

Business is business. Vaughters has to do what is better for the future of the team.

 

[Midnightfright]

Odds now up at Sportingbet:

Igor Anton 4/1
Joaquim Rodriguez 4/1
Michele Scarponi 4/1
Vincenzo Nibali 4/1
Denis Menchov 6/1
Jurgen Van Den Broeck 11/1
Bradley Wiggins 16/1
Andreas Kloden 20/1
Janez Brajkovic 20/1

Looks pretty reasonable to me actually.

Rodriquez joint favourite I would be very surprised if he even podiumed.

 

[hrotha]

Business is business. Vaughters has to do what is better for the future of the team.

Not sure screwing over your stars is good for the team in the long term. Might make potential signings think twice in the future.

 

[The Hitch]

For non-Sky subscribers in the UK, the news is good.
ITV 4 confirm that they will be showing full, live coverage:

http://www.touchline.tv/cycling/itv4-to-screen-2011-tour-of-spain

wow, that is MAJOR news. Never saw it coming. Good to see i guess.

Question though, who will be doing the commentary? The "voice of cycling" probably doesnt even know the Vuelta exists and i certainatly dont see him calling a race like that. Igor who?. Vincenzo Ni-ba-li, has he even heard of these guys?

I love Eurosport though so it would take a lot to win me over. Im willing to give it a try though.