Vuelta a España 2011

[ericthesportsman6]

Does anyone know if Brajkovic is recovering well, and is training to do a good GC? Or is he just going to ride as a helper/try for a stage? I think he can podium like Velits last year if he trains for the Vuelta like he did for the Dauphine last year.

I have no idea, but even at 100%, no way Brajkovic gets on the podium without a number of riders crashing out. You really think he can beat any of Anton, Rodriguez, Nibali, VDB, Menchov, Scarponi, Wiggins...Field is much too strong.

 

[jsem94]

Brajkovic > Wigans

Just saying.

 

[Midnightfright]

Brajkovic > Wigans

Just saying.

Even if your right it certainly doesn't mean he will podium.

 

[Lance Armstrong]

9 stages has written Sagan all over it!

 

[Kwibus]

Think Daan Luijkx said they wanted to hear a ruling soon or they might let him start race again. So maybe he'll be at the Vuelta.

I really hope they will. It's a disgrace that a rider isn't allowed to race for over a year, because of a failing bureaucracy.

 

[Kopuliak]

9 stages has written Sagan all over it!

Will be Cav with his htc express on Vuelta ?

 

[TeoSheva]

Will be Cav with his htc express on Vuelta ?

Yes.. but there will be Degenkolb too

 

[goggalor]

http://twitter.com/#!/riccardo_ricco/status/95499293405872128

preparando la vuelta espana

Is this Riccò's real twitter? And if so, is he delusional?

 

[jens_attacks]

http://twitter.com/#!/riccardo_ricco/status/95499293405872128

Is this Riccò's real twitter? And if so, is he delusional?

LOL riccardo is on twitter?!gtfo!!!!!!!!!=))))))))and yes he is always delusional,insane in the brain.still i like him as a rider a lot

 

[Arnout]

Imagine Anton winning on the Angliru, which is far from a long shot.

Euskaltel winning major mountain stages in all three Grand Tours. What a season it would be. Finally back where they belong, crashing and losing time everywhere but winning in the mountains.

 

[Zoncolan]

http://twitter.com/#!/riccardo_ricco/status/95499293405872128

Is this Riccò's real twitter? And if so, is he delusional?

Poor guy needs some professional help. He almost killed himself this spring, then claimed retirement, and now this?! I have no doubt he will try something stupid again for the Vuelta, if it indeed is his account, naturally.

 

[LaFleur]

What about Klöden and Horner, participating?

 

[Sophistic]

Considering that Kloden is leaving RS, i doubt that he will start, they will rather send riders whose points will count for next years license.

 

[Finn84]

Will anyone try to go through all Grand Tours this year. Here's the 16 riders who completed Giro and Tour.

Hubert Dupont
Lars Bak
Fabio Sabatini
Sylwester Szmyd
David Arroyo
Sebastian Lang
Roman Kreuziger
Addy Engels
Jerome Pineau
Alberto Contador
Jesus Hernandez
Richie Porte
Daniel Navarro
Matteo Tosatto
David Millar
Johnny Hoogerland

Contador announced that he will not participate, but what about others from this list?

Recently we have one or two per year doing that: Sastre, Zabel, Bruseghin, Dean to name a few.

 

[Sophistic]

what about Peter Velits, he had a strong finish at the Tour.

 

[Descender]

Some of the stages have been modified. Notably, Ancares is now some 6km farther from the finish, apparently due to a request from the town of Ponferrada.

In the Peña Cabarga stage, La Sia and Alisas have been replaced by Lunada.

In the San Lorenzo del Escorial stage, the Mediano has been scratched and the last climb to San Lorenzo has been shortened.

The Cabeza de Manzaneda will now be climbed from its toughest side.

The Salamanca ITT has been lengthened, it is now 47kms long instead of 40.


All of those changes except for the last one are just meh... They fit in the general direction of GTs these days of leaving action for the last kms if possible.i

 

[theyoungest]

Imagine Anton winning on the Angliru, which is far from a long shot.

Euskaltel winning major mountain stages in all three Grand Tours. What a season it would be. Finally back where they belong, crashing and losing time everywhere but winning in the mountains.

Didn't he crash last time on the way to Angliru? But yes, Antón basically has to win that stage, maybe Rodriguez could offer some competition.

 

[Kopuliak]

what about Peter Velits, he had a strong finish at the Tour.

No, he will be on USA Pro Cycling Challenge, Colorado, USA, 2.1

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

what's up with duarte? still not back in competition...

 

[ericthesportsman6]

what's up with duarte? still not back in competition...

I thought I heard he would be back for the Vuelta, hoping to ride himself into form in the first week.

 

[Descender]

Can anyone explain to me why Gesink didn't pull out of the tdf and start preparing the vuelta?

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Can anyone explain to me why Gesink didn't pull out of the tdf and start preparing the vuelta?

he didn't want to I believe. also the vuelta is for kruiswijk

 

[Spaniard]

Didn't he crash last time on the way to Angliru? But yes, Antón basically has to win that stage, maybe Rodriguez could offer some competition.

No, I don't see Rodriguez beating Antón in Angliru, IMO Anton is a guy who in top shape can match Contador and Shcleck at climbing, Angliru is for pure climbers like Antón.

Contador was asked before the Giro about the Zoncolan and he said that Angliru was harder than the Zoncolan

 

[Duartista]

what's up with duarte? still not back in competition...

He was supposed to start hard training this weekend. He's been doing light training for a few weeks.

Link: http://www.eltiempo.com/deportes/ciclismo/ARTICULO-WEB-NEW_NOTA_INTERIOR-9862765.html

 

[K-0tic]

he didn't want to I believe. also the vuelta is for kruiswijk

Yes the team and Gesink himself wanted to finish and hoped he could do something in the final week. And if you're already at the end of the final week, quitting makes no sense anymore...