Vuelta a España 2011

[Skip Madness]

I'll take your word for it cause I never saw the Spanish nationals. Do they often have great courses there? I hate it when the nationals are poor to watch because of a ****ty parcours.

You can see the end of the 2007 course here.

Cuenca and the surrounding area is so beautiful, I wonder why they don't go there more often. LS is right about the finish on the climb up to the castle, much better and prettier than finishing lower down.

 

[The Hitch]

Good point, but some of them (notably the one in Belgium) I like to have a challenging course. I don't like it when "bad" riders take home the win.

DO they use cobbles in Belgian nat races?

I suppose in Belgium if the course isnt challenging then someone like Steegmans or even Boonen wins so its still a good representation.

Though i have no idea who has been the Belgian champ for the previous 12 months. Might prove my theory wrong.

 

[El Pistolero]

DO they use cobbles in Belgian nat races?

I suppose in Belgium if the course isnt challenging then someone like Steegmans or even Boonen wins so its still a good representation.

Though i have no idea who has been the Belgian champ for the previous 12 months. Might prove my theory wrong.

Devolder is.

 

[The Hitch]

Ah. That explains why i havent seen the jersey at all.

 

[El Pistolero]

Ah. That explains why i havent seen the jersey at all.

I've seen it in the Tour of Belgium. Last group, every single time.

 

[boomcie]

DO they use cobbles in Belgian nat races?

It happens. I'm not sure about this year. Details about the course are scarce, as far as I can tell at least.

I suppose in Belgium if the course isnt challenging then someone like Steegmans or even Boonen wins so its still a good representation.

Or Roelandts (almost Sven Vanthourenhout that year) or Ludovic Capelle. I was not so pleased with those. Even had some difficulties with Eeckhout, but at least he's a warrior. Steegmans would also be terrible.

Though i have no idea who has been the Belgian champ for the previous 12 months. Might prove my theory wrong.

You just proved how badly Devolder treated the jersey.

 

[gilbertador]

Am i the only one that really liked contadors 2009 spanish tt champion jersey? personally thought it was awesome

 

[The Hitch]

A gilbert and Contador fan. Jebus, there are El Pistolero clones around.

 

[auscyclefan94]

I hope someone other than Devolder will be the national champion. I much prefer to see guys wearing national/world championships jerseys at the front of the races.

 

[The Hitch]

I hope someone other than Devolder will be the national champion. I much prefer to see guys wearing national/world championships jerseys at the front of the races.

Thats a no to Greg Van Avermaet then

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Gilbert would be perfect for the jersey.

Maybe he attacks with a few km to go.

 

[greenedge]

GVA for the Belgian PR. No one to support him though. Think he does ride at the front like in Tour of Belgium putting in stupid attacks where he could get a good sprint finish. Bart De Clercq maybe???
Moreno for the Spanish one along with Rodriguez???
Has anyone got the French profiles up???? Sry

 

[boomcie]

You can see the end of the 2007 course here..

Thanks for the vid. Does look very nice.

Am i the only one that really liked contadors 2009 spanish tt champion jersey? personally thought it was awesome

I also think it looks better than the other Spanish champion outfits. I wouldn't call it awesome though...

Gilbert would be perfect for the jersey.

Maybe he attacks with a few km to go.

The rainbow will look better on him, but this year the tricolore will do fine, I guess.

 

[valentius borealis]

I hope someone other than Devolder will be the national champion. I much prefer to see guys wearing national/world championships jerseys at the front of the races.

When was the last time the Australian champions jersey has been seen in a road stage of a grand tour?

 

[auscyclefan94]

When was the last time the Australian champions jersey has been seen in a road stage of a grand tour?

For the RR it would be Matt lloyd 2008 when he rode la vuelta and giro. You generally get lesser known or young riders who take the nats jerseys in Oz so you rarely see them at the GT's...that's the problem with it being during January.

 

[El Pistolero]

Gilbert would be perfect for the jersey.

Maybe he attacks with a few km to go.

I doubt on this course, but he has gotten countless of second places before on all kinds of courses at the Nationals, so there's a chance I guess.

I hope either Boonen, Gilbert or Greg wins it. The first 2 would show it off at the Tour and the other one just deserves a victory after his good season this year. If it's Devolder I'll be ****ed.

 

[Michielveedeebee]

Am i the only one that really liked contadors 2009 spanish tt champion jersey? personally thought it was awesome

I did as well tbh

 

[El Pistolero]

I did as well tbh

Me too.

One of the better national jerseys. As long as he doesn't turn the road jersey into a skinsuit when he ever wins it I'm fine

 

[Descender]

And here I was thinking this was a thread about the Vuelta...

 

[just some guy]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/vuelta-director-doubts-contador-will-target-grand-tour-triple

The race director was happy to confirm several big names for the Vuelta, that starts in Benidorm on August 20. Cadel Evans, Mark Cavendish, Carlos Sastre, Denis Menchov, Mikel Nieve, Igor Antón, Oscar Freire and Robert Gesink have all been announced as riding.

Old news really but still..

 

[Parrulo]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/vuelta-director-doubts-contador-will-target-grand-tour-triple



Old news really but still..

eems like the vuelta will have a great field this year

 

[Sophistic]

Horner, Wiggins, Brajkovic might start now too

 

[Richeypen]

Gonna be one hell of a Vuelta line up if this carries on!

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

I'm sure most know but Gesink apparently is not riding this anymore.

However Steven Kruijswijk has this on his calender on his website and has said he is training for it also on his website.

He is currently in Switzerland training for two weeks.
He will then race at the Tour of Denmark (from 3rd of AUgust to 7th).
Then I assume he might train or prepare for the vuelta some more and ofc the Vuelta starts on the 20th.

Give's us dutchies someone to cheer

A very nice course btw.
I can't look past Anton.

PS:
I'm pretty sure Matti and Friere will also be there for rabo.
Other then that I'd take a pick from... The other spaniards, Slagter, weening, Tankink, Martens and a couple others.
Pretty sure they wont give Matthews his GT debut this year.

 

[maxmartin]

i think Nibali will be back to defend it too