Vuelta a España 2011

[King Of The Wolds]

Who will win...

Montaña classification?

Puntos classification?

Combinada Classification?

Difficult to predict for the Vuelta - who's in shape, what are their objectives and when will they bu**er off to prepare for the Worlds?

Mountains - J-Rod
Points - Hushovd
Combined (and GC) - Nibali

 

[Descender]

Difficult to predict for the Vuelta - who's in shape, what are their objectives and when will they bu**er off to prepare for the Worlds?

Mountains - J-Rod
Points - Hushovd
Combined (and GC) - Nibali

I bet you my mother he doesn't win.

 

[King Of The Wolds]

I bet you my mother he doesn't win.

Any Pics??

 

[virandociclista]

I bet you my mother he doesn't win.

Me too hehe!

I think that the ponts classification will not finish with a sprinter.. maybe a rider like Sagan/Hausller? What do you think?

 

[Michielveedeebee]

Difficult to predict for the Vuelta - who's in shape, what are their objectives and when will they bu**er off to prepare for the Worlds?

Mountains - J-Rod
Points - Hushovd
Combined (and GC) - Nibali

hushovd doesn't compete

 

[King Of The Wolds]

Is Hushovd riding? He's down on the start list, despite the Vaughters storm in a teacup. I'd agree that Sagan has an excellent chance, although is in unchartered territory.

 

[Fetisoff]

Mountains - J-Rod
Points - Hushovd
Combined (and GC) - Nibali

Contador
Cippolini
Valverde

 

[virandociclista]

So.. Who are the guys that have a chance in the "puntos" classification?

Sagan (maybe will need to work for nibali), HAUSSLER , CHAVANEL, BARREDO, Freire, CARRARA?

the pure sprinters will left the race before the finisher to prepare for the world's

 

[RedheadDane]

Is Hushovd riding? He's down on the start list, despite the Vaughters storm in a teacup. I'd agree that Sagan has an excellent chance, although is in unchartered territory.

He's definitely not riding!
He's riding the Tour of Britain...

No worries though... that list had me confused as well.

 

[LaFleur]

Who will win...

Montaña classification? - Taaramae

Puntos classification? - Taaramae

Combinada Classification? - Moncoutie

10 characters..

 

[LandEscape]

I bet you my mother he doesn't win.

You're mama will be proud. At least till Nibali wins this Vuelta singlehandledly

 

[Tank Engine]

As I have only watched the pros ride the two climbs in question I can't comment on how hard it would be to race on them as they do but my experience of climbing really steep stuff would vouch for this. If the steep stuff comes at the end you can build into it and empty yourself as you reach the top but if it hits you early on even relatively shallow stuff is purgatory after. I suppose it is harder to judge your effort. As good old Purito showed this year on Zoncolan.

I agree. From my own experience (mountain walking and cycle touring), given the same average gradient, when I know a climb I prefer the steep stuff at the top. However, I'm a big diesel without a turbocharger. It's a question of momentum and psychology. Road surface and altitude are also important (as well as weather, but that's variable). All in all, I would rate the Zoncolan as harder, but then I've never ridden anything higher than the Bwlch y Groes (545m , although I've walked up lot higher climbs).

 

[auscyclefan94]

So.. Who are the guys that have a chance in the "puntos" classification?

Sagan (maybe will need to work for nibali), HAUSSLER , CHAVANEL, BARREDO, Freire, CARRARA?

the pure sprinters will left the race before the finisher to prepare for the world's

Greg van Avermaet. Has said it is a target and there are a lot of stages that suit him.

 

[El Pistolero]

I bet you my mother he doesn't win.

Before I take that bet, how old is she?

(just kidding)

 

[The Hitch]

Before I take that bet, how old is she?

(just kidding)

Ha. Have to chapeau that one.

Nice

 

[gregrowlerson]

6.5 km at 13% (angirilu) vs 6km at 14.9% - (Zoncolan)

That is the clinching factor for me. The Zoncolan is a little harder than the Angliru.

I think that too many climbs are given the 'HC' rating (or perhaps this is only given at the Tour?) and would prefer it if climbs were judged by the sport as a whole and not by the event organiser. So these climbs, plus Mortirollo, Finestre, should be HC, but not too many others. I'd draw the line at Madeleine (side of 19km 8%) being HC, but PDB (16km 8%, very consistent gradient) just being Cat 1. Maybe make Luz Ardiden (about 13km 7%) a hard Cat 2, going down to the likes of AX3-Domaines (about 7km 7.5%).

 

[gregrowlerson]

On the subject of hard climbs (though not Vuelta related), does anyone know the exact stats of the Col de Agnel (which I think was the first climb in stage 18 of this years Tour)? I caught the end of it on the telly and it seemed like a total beast. It's final kms range around the 8-9% mark from what I've briefly seen. Wouldn't mind seeing this climb used as a MTF at some point in the future.

 

[auscyclefan94]

I am going to make a thread about the Angliru and Zoncolan so we can talk about the Vuelta and not about other stuff.

 

[cycladianpirate]

When are the riders with one eye on the Worlds likely to call it a day?

 

[Mellow Velo]

I am going to make a thread about the Angliru and Zoncolan so we can talk about the Vuelta and not about other stuff.

Better make a thread about Descender's mother too, since that one is still running, while the mountain debate seems to have run it's course.

Besides, I could have sworn the Angliru was a part of the Vuelta and in amongst that "other stuff", there is quite a bit of technical detail on the climb, itself. I'm pretty sure it's more relevant than the age of someone's mum.

In the meantime, yes, must mention BMC.
Greg van Avermaet has a good shot at the points classification. The course is one that suits his strengths.

When are the riders with one eye on the Worlds likely to call it a day?

After Stage 12 is when many will quit. It's followed by 3 mountain stages. However, there is the odd flat stage dotted throughout the final week or so....

 

[greenedge]

A real pity that Wurf cannot ride the Vuelta especially after the TDF disappointment.

 

[Gloin22]

Maybe Wiggins is talking Vuleta seriously... it seems.

http://www.teamsky.com/video/0,27287,,00.html

 

[K-0tic]

Maybe Wiggins is talking Vuleta seriously... it seems.

http://www.teamsky.com/video/0,27287,,00.html

I hope he does. The more GT's he manages not to succeed, the more he'll lose confidence from himself and the public. After his 2009 TdF it's time he's gonna show something again.

 

[Lexman]

JVDB said on sporza that he will take the Vuelta day by day since it's his first race since his crash at the TDF and he didn't went out and reconnoiter the stages like for instance the Angliru, things he would have done if it's the TDF...

On the other hand he went on high altitude training camp not for nothing i guess...

Did Wiggins ride a course before the Vuelta?

 

[cineteq]

Maybe Wiggins is talking Vuelta seriously... it seems.
http://www.teamsky.com/video/0,27287,,00.html

He looks really skinny...maybe he can defend better in the mountains than expected...