Vuelta a España 2011

[El Pistolero]

well vacs. said earlier in the year they were reluctant to give tour spot to riders whom haven't signed for vacs. So yeah, probably.

Vacansoleil's motto:

"Sign or I'll run you over with my car!"

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I think Saxo Bank got something like 5% out of Portes capacity when he got to be a domestique in two races.
Porte got white jersey and was the leader for the 2010 Giro and now, he get's to slave in two races because of uncertainty with Contador and CAS.
He got sold pretty short.

We will see how it goes in the Vuelta. Think Nuyens might do something on the flatter stages and maybe CAS either can go for a reasonable (20-30) placing in GC or try to get in a break away in the mountains.

Otherwise it's pretty much "Grupetto or bust" for the rest.

Porte wasn't the leader for the 2010 Giro. CAS was. But Porte's great showing in Romandie and his top form in the first week of the race and the amazing job he did (mostly thanks to Gustav Erik Larsson) to defend his white jersey to Montalcino forced a rethink. CAS lost a bunch of time then, but won the Terminillo stage the next day, so it was all OK in the end.

The full Movistar line-up is: Beñat Intxausti, David López, Sergio Pardilla, Pablo Lastras, Marzio Bruseghin, Ignatas Konovalovas, Ángel Madrazo, Imanol Erviti and Chente García Acosta.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/movistar-announces-vuelta-a-espana-line-up

Looks OK, but has the chance to be more like the Astana '09 squad - bogarting the spots from 11-20 but nothing above.

Movistar hasnt really had a "leader" besides Arroyo in the Giro this season

Well, they came into the season with 5 different riders who could lay a claim to leadership at a big race:
Arroyo (2nd in 2010 Giro, usually gets the Giro to ride for himself, 3 top 10s there)
Bruseghin (3rd in 2008 Giro, 3 other top 10s at the Giro and a top 10 at the Vuelta)
Plaza (5th in 2005 Vuelta, 12th in 2010 Tour)
Soler (11th in 2007 Tour and KOM)
Tondó (6th in 2010 Vuelta)

There's some decent options there, especially when you consider the strong journeymen like Kiryienka and David López (who's had a really good season) and the riders without much GT experience but with plenty of potential like Intxausti and Pardilla.

But Bruseghin was pulled from his season's goal (the Giro), and has looked unmotivated and withdrawn all year; he is now 37 though, so he could well have little left to give. Plaza had his leg near shorn in half at the Vuelta a Murcía and has only just started entering races again, clearly not ready to take on the Vuelta. Soler was just showing that he had become the rider we thought he could in the Tour de Suisse before his horror crash that left him in a coma, and of course Xavier Tondó paid an even higher price in a terrible accident.

Ventoso and Rojas have now spent a lot of time on the road, and are probably pretty tired; Intxausti has had a horrible season with injuries even notwithstanding the mental turmoil that he will have gone through from May. Arroyo focused on the Giro and had nothing left in the tank for the Tour; Kiryienka has been on the road pretty much constantly since March, and is now totally shot through with fatigue.

Oh well, I guess there's Valverde to look forward to.

 

[Markooo]

Bruseghin is a big question mark now... But he has similar season like last year when it comes to the starts. He also is very ambitous rider and i hoped that he should be in solid form. Last year he had big chances to be in top 5 of Vuelta, I'm predicting that now he will able to be on top 10 level. But if Italian disappointed, maybe Pardilla will show something in mountains?

In Movistar everything is prepared to hire Valverde again. Unzue and Piti are like father and son, despite good financial situation, for some reason Unzue didn't hire anything with ambitious to winning grand tours from two years. Valverde has to go Movistar, Movistar is waiting for Valverde. I don't see any other explanations.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Bruseghin is a big question mark now... But he has similar season like last year when it comes to the starts. He also is very ambitous rider and i hoped that he should be in solid form. Last year he had big chances to be in top 5 of Vuelta, I'm predicting that now he will able to be on top 10 level. But if Italian disappointed, maybe Pardilla will show something in mountains?

In Movistar everything is prepared to hire Valverde again. Unzue and Piti are like father and son, despite good financial situation, for some reason Unzue didn't hire anything with ambitious to winning grand tours from two years. Valverde has to go Movistar, Movistar is waiting for Valverde. I don't see any other explanations.

In 2010 he still had Valverde until May, and the season started with Valverde as leader.
In 2011 he got sponsorship late, so the proven GT winners like Menchov were already sold, and some of his best talent had moved on, like Urán and LL Sánchez. He got a very solid GC man in Tondó who'd just come off the back of the top 10 of the Vuelta without even being team leader, but fate intervened.

 

[The Hitch]

Looks OK, but has the chance to be more like the Astana '09 squad - bogarting the spots from 11-20 but nothing above.

Movitar are obviously totaly excused from everything. They can come last in every race as far as im concerned and should still be allowed to keep their wt status.

I just dont see how its possible to have an unluckier season. They had 5 potential gc candidates that they could spread out accross the gts and in the end only Arroyo, perhaps the weakest of them, got to finish.

Then again even if they dont get a WT spot, who other than the Giro is going to reject Valverde.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Movitar are obviously totaly excused from everything. They can come last in every race as far as im concerned and should still be allowed to keep their wt status.

I just dont see how its possible to have an unluckier season. They had 5 potential gc candidates that they could spread out accross the gts and in the end only Arroyo, perhaps the weakest of them, got to finish.

Then again even if they dont get a WT spot, who other than the Giro is going to reject Valverde.

I didn't even get to Amador being mugged and left for dead in a ditch in January, breaking his collarbone in March and riding the whole Tour with an ankle the size of a medicine ball.

 

[Markooo]

@Libertine Seguros

You're right. But not without a reason Valverde trained with Movistar after dq, not without a reason now there are no rumors about hire anyone, who has skills to fight in Grand Tours with the best. Valverde will end up in Movistar.

Lulu Sanchez goes to Rabobank after official info, that Movistar will sponsor Unzue's team, as far as I remeber. Nevermind

 

[Markooo]

@Libertine Seguros

You're right. But not without a reason Valverde trained with Movistar after dq, not without a reason now there are no rumors about hire anyone, who has skills to fight in Grand Tours with the best.

Lulu Sanchez goes to Rabobank after official info, that Movistar will sponsor Unzue's team, as far as I remeber. Nevermind

 

[Havetts]

LS,

I know that they had so much potential leaders, but due things out of their control and extremely extremely bad luck they were reduced to Arroyo in the Giro. I havent seen Plaza do alot this year either, although I cant say I've followed him alot though.

 

[hrotha]

LS,

I know that they had so much potential leaders, but due things out of their control and extremely extremely bad luck they were reduced to Arroyo in the Giro. I havent seen Plaza do alot this year either, although I cant say I've followed him alot though.

Plaza just recovered from a serious injury. He didn't race from early March to late July, and his form is of course pretty abysmal right now.

 

[El Pistolero]

movitar are obviously totaly excused from everything. They can come last in every race as far as im concerned and should still be allowed to keep their wt status.

I just dont see how its possible to have an unluckier season. They had 5 potential gc candidates that they could spread out accross the gts and in the end only arroyo, perhaps the weakest of them, got to finish.

Then again even if they dont get a wt spot, who other than the giro is going to reject valverde.

ASO obviously

 

[Michielveedeebee]

ASO obviously

Why? Last time he wanted to do the Tour they went through Italy. He wasn't allowed to race in Italy. Not ASO's choice.

 

[El Pistolero]

Why? Last time he wanted to do the Tour they went through Italy. He wasn't allowed to race in Italy. Not ASO's choice.

Well, Hitch was talking about them not being WT. I don't think ASO would give a wildcard to Movistar at the Tour, that's all. Especially since they now have 2 French GT contenders The less competition, the better.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

LS,

I know that they had so much potential leaders, but due things out of their control and extremely extremely bad luck they were reduced to Arroyo in the Giro. I havent seen Plaza do alot this year either, although I cant say I've followed him alot though.

Nobody has seen him do a lot. Very hard to do much when you shear your leg nearly in half before the season proper begins.

 

[Michielveedeebee]

Nobody has seen him do a lot. Very hard to do much when you shear your leg nearly in half before the season proper begins.

I missed this I Was wondering why I didn't hear about Plaza. What happened?

 

[LaFleur]

Well, Hitch was talking about them not being WT. I don't think ASO would give a wildcard to Movistar at the Tour, that's all. Especially since they now have 2 French GT contenders The less competition, the better.

Movistar? Seriously? Cofidis is a certainty for the WC and no doubt in Europcar and FDJ either. and the 4th will go to Geox or Saur. Mark my words.

Edit: Besides, Movistar will be surely in the WT next season cuz they are 11th in the points and far clear of even GreenEdge.

 

[The Hitch]

Well, Hitch was talking about them not being WT. I don't think ASO would give a wildcard to Movistar at the Tour, that's all. Especially since they now have 2 French GT contenders The less competition, the better.

Who are these French GC contenders? obviously 1 will have to be Gadret - AGR who have had a good season and should probably get a WT spot.

Then also at AGR - Dupont and Peraud.

I assume the other guy you mean though is Rolland and obviously Europcar will get an invite - duh, theres 4 other wildcards out there.

You think they reject a team that hasnt missed a Tour in 20 years and that wins a stage most years.

Though i guess this conversation is pointless because it looks like they will get in. I was just trying to make the point that they have been hugely unlucky is all.

 

[Damiano]

Porte wasn't the leader for the 2010 Giro. CAS was. But Porte's great showing in Romandie and his top form in the first week of the race and the amazing job he did (mostly thanks to Gustav Erik Larsson) to defend his white jersey to Montalcino forced a rethink. CAS lost a bunch of time then, but won the Terminillo stage the next day, so it was all OK in the end.

Chris Anker broke his collarbone in march and wasn't at his best in the Giro. He therefore lost time on purpose so he could chase a stage win instead.

 

[therealtimshady]

Surely movistar will get a wt license before greenedge

 

[El Pistolero]

Who are these French GC contenders? obviously 1 will have to be Gadret - AGR who have had a good season and should probably get a WT spot.

Then also at AGR - Dupont and Peraud.

I assume the other guy you mean though is Rolland and obviously Europcar will get an invite - duh, theres 4 other wildcards out there.

You think they reject a team that hasnt missed a Tour in 20 years and that wins a stage most years.

Though i guess this conversation is pointless because it looks like they will get in. I was just trying to make the point that they have been hugely unlucky is all.

Voeckler as well, if he raced smarter he wouldn't have bonked at Alpe. What I was trying to say was the French would love to have less competition in order to win their Tour again Doping past would be the perfect excuse for them

Though I'm not being 100% serious here.

 

[Thibaut Pinot]

Who will be the best rider of Rabo in this Vuelta? LL Sanchez, Kruijswijk, Mollema or maybe even Barredo? All of them should be able to ride top-10 (except Barredo probably, but in the Vuelta of last year with "weak participants", it would have been an option). Personally I hope Kruijswijk surprises with a top 6/7 classification.

 

[l.Harm]

Kruijswijk obv

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I missed this I Was wondering why I didn't hear about Plaza. What happened?

On a descent in the queen stage of the Vuelta a Murcía, Plaza hit a bump on a slight left turn and touched wheels with someone else. The others that went down in the crash were Juan Mauricio Soler and Mikel Landa (who broke his collarbone). Plaza was thrown into a ditch, and it was a no-earpiece race, he was apparently screaming for help but not being heard. Bjarne Riis, according to his story, actually had to radio the commissaires to ask for a number to call the Movistar car to let them know he was there.

He had sliced through his tibia and fibula, and it had caused some major ligament damage to his ankle, and due to an inflammation of his foot as a result they couldn't operate for more than a week; it was two months before he could even stand on it, let alone ride. Back when it happened, they said riding the Vuelta was the best-possible-scenario.

He came back in the Tour de Pologne, then started Eneco, but reportedly suffered blackouts and fatigue and climbed off in the feedzone on stage 1 - so doing a Grand Tour right now is simply not a feasible option.

http://webcache.googleusercontent.c...jury&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&source=www.google.com

 

[Ferminal]

Anyone have the rule book? How are the Points/KoM allocated?

 

[Parrulo]

On a descent in the queen stage of the Vuelta a Murcía, Plaza hit a bump on a slight left turn and touched wheels with someone else. The others that went down in the crash were Juan Mauricio Soler and Mikel Landa (who broke his collarbone). Plaza was thrown into a ditch, and it was a no-earpiece race, he was apparently screaming for help but not being heard. Bjarne Riis, according to his story, actually had to radio the commissaires to ask for a number to call the Movistar car to let them know he was there.

He had sliced through his tibia and fibula, and it had caused some major ligament damage to his ankle, and due to an inflammation of his foot as a result they couldn't operate for more than a week; it was two months before he could even stand on it, let alone ride. Back when it happened, they said riding the Vuelta was the best-possible-scenario.

He came back in the Tour de Pologne, then started Eneco, but reportedly suffered blackouts and fatigue and climbed off in the feedzone on stage 1 - so doing a Grand Tour right now is simply not a feasible option.

http://webcache.googleusercontent.c...jury&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&source=www.google.com

that story makes one hell of an argument for radios not being banned. I don't really have an opinion on the subject as i can't really make up my mind but is it really worth to MAYBE get some better racing and at the same time risking stuff like this happening?