Admittedly the Tour de France was a lot more organised, but even there I found it quite stressful as a roadside spectator. For instance, I went to see the MTT (stage 13) and had done a lot of research into parking but found very limited information online until about 2 days before. Even that was a bit sketchy, and I set off outrageously early on the day with no idea as to whether there would be any parking still available. Only to find that a whole load of fields round Loudenvielle had been taken over as official, free parking for the TdF (with officials guiding you in). Yet none of those parkings had been marked on any of the online information I found, making it look like there would be very little parking for the general public. I searched in French too, so it's not like I missed it by just looking for information in English. It struck me as absolutely bonkers that I couldn't find any of this information until I actually arrived in Loudenvielle in my hire car.
I don’t understand why that would seem so bonkers to you. Hundreds of thousands of fans find their way to roadside to watch the race every year so Im not sure why they would feel the need to provide more detailed instructions to get people parked there. Also it’s France: ask anyone who had to pay a stiff on-the-spot fine for an improperly validated Metro ticket to verify that the country doesn’t hand out “how to” operator manuals to visitors. And I love going there.
ya they dont even mark the route of the alpe d'huez climb ffs. once you get up to the village there are streets going everywhere with no indication of the actual stage route. Its only the most famous climb in cycling and tackled by tens of thousands of enthusiasts annually!!
Because Loudenvielle is a very small Pyrenean town, completely surrounded by mountains, and the TT was only taking place across a 13km course, so completely different to normal stages. And if they had arranged all this additional parking (which they obviously had), why not a quick note somewhere online to say what was available and where?
I'm sure I would have found that frustrating too. That was probably arranged by the local community after the details went into the road book, so if it was communicated it would probably be in the regional paper or the town/region webpage (each town and subregion has a similar online info page).
- Aug 29, 2009
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I see very few contenders for the podium.
Vingegaard, who will win easily. Almeida, Ayuso, Carapaz (after illness) and Ciccone?
Could Ciccone go from not having a top 10 to a podium ? Almost like Kuss.
This time not even Enric Mas is there, who always performed better in the Vuelta. Landa is coming off a serious injury and he didn't look good in Burgos. The Red Bull team
Vingegaard, who will win easily. Almeida, Ayuso, Carapaz (after illness) and Ciccone?
Could Ciccone go from not having a top 10 to a podium ? Almost like Kuss.
This time not even Enric Mas is there, who always performed better in the Vuelta. Landa is coming off a serious injury and he didn't look good in Burgos. The Red Bull team
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GC Wise I don´t expect much from Red Bull. Hindley is out of form and Pellizzari is to young to be at his best at two GTs, even if that case a top 5 it´s not easy.
But if they are smart they have potential two win stages with this startlist and parcours. Sobrero and Aleotti looks in great shape for breakaways and Fisher-Black before falling ill in Poland was in a good level and he has a crazy punch sometimes in easy climbs finishes, I believe he can be a surprise in 1 or 2 MTF if the climbers don´t go full gas.
But if they are smart they have potential two win stages with this startlist and parcours. Sobrero and Aleotti looks in great shape for breakaways and Fisher-Black before falling ill in Poland was in a good level and he has a crazy punch sometimes in easy climbs finishes, I believe he can be a surprise in 1 or 2 MTF if the climbers don´t go full gas.
- Sep 20, 2017
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I was thinking exactly the same thing, although it is so erratic at times that I wouldn't bet anything on it.
La Vuelta may need to introduce changes in the routes of stages getting close to areas affected by large forest fires still active that have burnt more than 3000 km sq in different parts of Galicia, Asturias and León.
Ecologists have also requested the removal of the Bola del Mundo
www.marca.com
Ecologists have also requested the removal of the Bola del Mundo
LaVuelta, pendiente de posibles ajustes en etapas que pasan cerca de los incendios
Además, grupos ecologistas han solicitado que se recorte el ascenso final de la ronda española por su impacto en la Sierra de Guadarrama
www.marca.com
Can Jonas Vingegaard fill the power vacuum left by Primož Roglič? – Vuelta a España analysis
Final Grand Tour of 2025 set to be marked by Roglič's first absence from Vuelta since 2018
www.cyclingnews.com
It won't be the same without Rogla.
Pellizzari is too young to do two GTs. I don't expect much from him.
Hindley? We're talking in 2025, not 2022.
- Aug 13, 2024
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Sad situation that changing weather is likely to require plans being adapted on a regular basis.La Vuelta may need to introduce changes in the routes of stages getting close to areas affected by large forest fires still active that have burnt more than 3000 km sq in different parts of Galicia, Asturias and León.
Ecologists have also requested the removal of the Bola del Mundo
LaVuelta, pendiente de posibles ajustes en etapas que pasan cerca de los incendios
Además, grupos ecologistas han solicitado que se recorte el ascenso final de la ronda española por su impacto en la Sierra de Guadarrama
Hot weather protocol enforced changes will become more frequent.
Possible that in five/ ten years time current grand tour positions in the cycling calendar look very different,
Maybe Vuelta is back in it's old April start slot for example.
- Jul 8, 2017
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I don't believe this. La Vuelta won't let their spot in the calendar for nothing. The race benefits maaassively from being the 3rd GT, and I don't see any reason why would they be okay to move back to April.
They can go back to their early 00's spot in early September, however.
- Apr 16, 2009
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- Sep 20, 2017
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Four days to go and still nothing. It infuriates me almost as much as the route itself, and considering that I think this is the worst GT route in 13 years that's saying something.
Needless to say, posting a stage-by-stage analysis has become impossible at this point.
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It looks like Carapaz won't be at the Vuelta.
At the rate we're going, we're not going to have any podium candidates
View: https://x.com/EFprocycling/status/1957744636396458470
At the rate we're going, we're not going to have any podium candidates
View: https://x.com/EFprocycling/status/1957744636396458470
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- Jan 22, 2010
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Your best post ever.At the rate we're going, we're not going to have any podium candidates
And some said that this participation had nothing to envy the Tour.
Right now, Ciccone, a rider who has never been in the top 10 due to his inconsistency, is one more DNF awsay from a podium finish and be an alternative to winning the race.
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