Vuelta a España 2012

[auscyclefan94]

As good as Pena Carbarga has been the past two years using it for a third year in row just says that the Vuelta organiser don't have any better climbs to use at all or are too lazy to go find some new climbs to use.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

As good as Pena Carbarga has been the past two years using it for a third year in row just says that the Vuelta organiser don't have any better climbs to use at all or are too lazy to go find some new climbs to use.

The latter, not the former (though part of it is that Peña Cabarga is so easily accessible from Santander, which means good crowds easily).

I mean, rumours include a new Andorra climb and Vallter2000 which is seldom if ever used. There are lots of great climbs the Vuelta just doesn't use - Coll de Pal, Fuente del Chivo, Ventana, Collado Trevinca, Haza Del Lino, to name but a few. I'm going to be away for a few days but when I'm back I'll design a Vuelta for the Race Design thread.

 

[rantanplan]

Maybe one of the toughest Vueltas than could be designed:

http://plataformarecorridosciclistas.org/2009/09/27/la-vuelta-de-los-especiales-de-paso/

 

[Parrulo]

Maybe one of the toughest Vueltas than could be designed:

http://plataformarecorridosciclistas.org/2009/09/27/la-vuelta-de-los-especiales-de-paso/

that is without a doubt one of the best GT routes i have ever seen, absolutely perfect balance btw the mountains and itt's, the queen stage with its downhill finish is fantastic

 

[craig1985]

For me the ideal GT has to be a race that offers something for everybody. I personally loved the '08 TDF route.

 

[Descender]

I don't have time to expand, but many rumours are coming out and be warned: this is going to be the worst Vuelta route in living memory.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I don't have time to expand, but many rumours are coming out and be warned: this is going to be the worst Vuelta route in living memory.

Well, given the Tour and Giro routes, the Vuelta had to keep up. Maybe the ASO influence is determined to make sure it doesn't detract any attention from the awful Tour route.

 

[jens_attacks]

I don't have time to expand, but many rumours are coming out and be warned: this is going to be the worst Vuelta route in living memory.

also olano will probably come back to win it

 

[Descender]

The Tour and Giro routes are masterpieces compared to the monumental piece of excrement Unipublic are preparing.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

The Tour and Giro routes are masterpieces compared to the monumental piece of excrement Unipublic are preparing.

The Vuelta routes have always been crap when compared to the Tour and Giro.

It can't be that much worse than this year's edition, right?

 

[Descender]

The Vuelta routes have always been crap when compared to the Tour and Giro.

It can't be that much worse than this year's edition, right?

Trust me, it will be.

 

[roundabout]

Other than even more uphill finishes it's hardly going to be worse.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

The Vuelta routes have always been crap when compared to the Tour and Giro.

It can't be that much worse than this year's edition, right?

So quickly we forget the 2009 Tour...

 

[guncha]

So quickly we forget the 2009 Tour...

TDF 2012 could be even worse than TDF 2009...

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

So quickly we forget the 2009 Tour...

We are indeed quick to forget that the Le Grand Bornand stage design, as overrated as it may be, took a massive, pre-season Jan Ullrich-sized dump on that entire Vuelta.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

We are indeed quick to forget that the Le Grand Bornand stage design, as overrated as it may be, took a massive, pre-season Jan Ullrich-sized dump on that entire Vuelta.

One stage does not a GT make (though that was a good stage). Despite the relative impassé and the boredom of the final week, a lot more went on in that Vuelta actually ON THE BIKE than its preceding Tour. It's just that the Tour had a good stage in the final week and nothing but boredom and the break being allowed to go in week 2, whereas the Vuelta had all of its meagre action in the first two weeks and nothing but boredom and the break being allowed to go in week 3.

 

[airstream]

the '2011 route was very mountain by the Vuelta standarts. Probably 2007 one was the trashest, but next year parcours can overshadow that. The race developments predetermined a subsequent assesment of the route in the '09 TdF. It wasn't that bad apart from the Pyrenees.

 

[McLovin]

I liked a lot the stage with St. Bernards, finishing in Bourg St. Maurice.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

the '2011 route was very mountain by the Vuelta standarts. Probably 2007 one was the trashest, but next year parcours can overshadow that. The race developments predetermined a subsequent assesment of the route in the '09 TdF. It wasn't that bad apart from the Pyrenees.

It really was. The Pyrenees were totally neutered. The three MTFs were Arcalis, a very dull, gradual climb after a mostly flat stage, Verbier, a short climb after a mostly flat stage, and Mont Ventoux after a totally flat stage. The only multiple-climb stages were Bourg Saint-Maurice (with two tough but not especially steep climbs, similar to the Jausiers stage the year before in profile, but even less GC-relevant in outcome) and the much-loved Le Grand Bornand stage. The Colmar and Aubenas stages had the chance to be interesting on paper, but weren't.

 

[craig1985]

Trust me, it will be.

Oh come on man, you can't leave us hanging like this. Do spill the beans

 

[airstream]

It really was. The Pyrenees were totally neutered. The three MTFs were Arcalis, a very dull, gradual climb after a mostly flat stage, Verbier, a short climb after a mostly flat stage, and Mont Ventoux after a totally flat stage. The only multiple-climb stages were Bourg Saint-Maurice (with two tough but not especially steep climbs, similar to the Jausiers stage the year before in profile, but even less GC-relevant in outcome) and the much-loved Le Grand Bornand stage. The Colmar and Aubenas stages had the chance to be interesting on paper, but weren't.

It's quite relative actually. Yeah, the Verbier stage contained the only climb, but it gave unforgettable action and the gaps, comparable to the Pailhères - Ax-3-Domaine 2010 stage, for example. Sastre and Evans backed out on the stage via Saint-Bernards. I think it's enough to consider that important. Well, as far as I understand, Mont Ventoux stage сannot be different regarding previous climbs.

 

[McLovin]

as far as I understand, Mont Ventoux stage сannot be different regarding previous climbs.

They can climb it twice or more, and I think on different roads.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

It's quite relative actually. Yeah, the Verbier stage contained the only climb, but it gave unforgettable action and the gaps, comparable to the Pailhères - Ax-3-Domaine 2010 stage, for example. Sastre and Evans backed out on the stage via Saint-Bernards. I think it's enough to consider that important. Well, as far as I understand, Mont Ventoux stage сannot be different regarding previous climbs.

The Vosges stage also had potential, as Libertine Seguros already pointed out. It was just the weather and wind conditions (Arcalis, Colmar), and, of course, Lance Armstrong's presence, that made it into a bit of a snoozefest, save for a stage or three.

I don't see how the 2009 Vuelta course was better designed.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

Trust me, it will be.

Oh come on man, you can't leave us hanging like this. Do spill the beans

Yeah, Descender, please post more if you can.

 

[roundabout]

I liked a lot the stage with St. Bernards, finishing in Bourg St. Maurice.

They should have climbed the San Carlo on that stage.

And Planches on the stage to Verbier for that matter as that would have added 10km tops to that stage.

The rest was irreparably broken I'm afraid with the possible exception of the stage to Saint-Girons. A "mountain" stage finishing in Tarbes, pfft.