Vuelta a España 2012

[Eshnar]

Does this mean that there will be at least 2 ITT's or am I being too optimistic?

Even the Giro has two ITT's

 

[gregrowlerson]

Even the Giro has two ITT's

But technically one is a prologue

A 50km + flat one and a 10-20km mountain one would be great. I like the idea of a late MTT. Something a bit different.

 

[Eshnar]

A 50km + flat one

That will never happen.

 

[jens_attacks]

It seems the Bola Del Mundo stage will be a MTT, not a MTF.
http://www.eladelantado.com/noticia/deportes/140188/la_vuelta_a_espana_2012_decidira_su_ganador_final_en_las_carreteras_segovianas

it would be better.

 

[Eshnar]

AS has published the Vuelta route. Bola Del Mundo road stage
http://www.as.com/misc/recorrido-vuelta.pdf

 

[Eshnar]

For Marca it'll be a MTT.
Clearly Marca should be more reliable, let's wait and see.
http://twitter.com/#!/Zapa9MFS/status/156692621471916032/photo/1

 

[cineteq]

So 10 MTFs in this year Vuelta, I guess this is to counteract TdF's TTs. Are you happy now Libertine? Is this enough for you?

 

[hoerpi]

Two descent finishes, am I hoping for too much when I think that it might be good stages?

 

[Ferminal]

So 10 MTFs in this year Vuelta, I guess this is to counteract TdF's TTs. Are you happy now Libertine? Is this enough for you?

What is good about an MTF which is either or both:

(a) a weak, low gradient climb.

(b) not preceded by any difficult passes.

Why does everything have to be in absolutes?

 

[roundabout]

AS has published the Vuelta route. Bola Del Mundo road stage
http://www.as.com/misc/recorrido-vuelta.pdf

This map is amazing.

 

[Eshnar]

Two descent finishes, am I hoping for too much when I think that it might be good stages?

Which stages are you referring to?

 

[Eshnar]

This map is amazing.

And if it's right, the lenght of about half of the stages should be ridicolously low...

 

[craig1985]

Haha, I didn't think it was possible to have a GT and not go south of the nation's capital.

 

[Ferminal]

Haha, I didn't think it was possible to have a GT and not go south of the nation's capital.

Don't give the Tour any hints.

 

[will10]

yikes, look at the transfer from Barcelona on the rest day!

 

[airstream]

Wow. It seems like they dared to remember the previous successful editions, like 2004 one, for example.

 

[hoerpi]

Which stages are you referring to?

I had it wrong with two.

According to the AS-map posted earlier stages 6, 12 and 17 is labelled as Llegada en cuestas but Idon't know what they mean exactly by that.

 

[Eshnar]

I had it wrong with two.

According to the AS-map posted earlier stages 6, 12 and 17 is labelled as Llegada en cuestas but Idon't know what they mean exactly by that.

Llegada en cuesta means finish on a small ramp. The symbol they used is awful

 

[Descender]

Wow. It seems like they dared to remember the previous successful editions, like 2004 one, for example.

How was 2004 a successful edition?

It was bad and terribly designed, but even that route was a thousand times better than this joke. At least it had a stage with a good combination of climbs (Calar Alto) and a finish on descent after a hard climb (Granada after Monachil).

 

[Descender]

I'd like to hold my horses regarding the ITT to Bola del Mundo, it wouldn't surprise me if it ends up being a normal stage. There is not much space at the top and no evacuation route, an ITT there would be a nightmare logistically.

The start is certainly not more than 25kms from the top, and if they did an ITT it would probably be not too bad. It would have some hard terrain in the approach to Navacerrada, with constant up and downs, then the gradual classic climb to Navacerrada coupled with the hard last 3kms. A different ITT for a change.

 

[roundabout]

An ITT would be better than a road stage if they can figure out the logistics.

Maybe they'll do it in groups like the Kronplatz TT.

 

[airstream]

How was 2004 a successful edition?

It was bad and terribly designed, but even that route was a thousand times better than this joke. At least it had a stage with a good combination of climbs (Calar Alto) and a finish on descent after a hard climb (Granada after Monachil).

I estimate only mountainous part because there're a lot of opinions about how parcours should be designed in general. Yes, unlike most of subsequent editions, it was pretty good.

 

[Descender]

I estimate only mountainous part because there're a lot of opinions about how parcours should be designed in general. Yes, unlike most of subsequent editions, it was pretty good.

And why does this parcours remind you of 2004?

 

[roundabout]

I am curious, when was the last well designed Vuelta? 2006? 1999?

 

[The Hitch]

It seems the Bola Del Mundo stage will be a MTT, not a MTF.
http://www.eladelantado.com/noticia/deportes/140188/la_vuelta_a_espana_2012_decidira_su_ganador_final_en_las_carreteras_segovianas

Oh ****. I have to get to Madrid for that. MTTs always provide epic crowds. I really really hope the homertown hero can ride to make it an even better atmosphere.