Vuelta a Espana - who's going to win?

[issoisso]

Garmin is replacing a yet-unnamed rider from the original startlist.

If it's Danielson I'm going laugh very hard, then cry, then laugh again.

 

[ladyvader]

I'm going to be completely generic. Someone from Spain.

 

[lagartija]

I think Basso should take it. Valverde migh seriously give him a headache or or two.

yeah.... i agree this looks like the likely podium , im thinking sammy sanchez may make the second or third step also

 

[lagartija]

Garmin is replacing a yet-unnamed rider from the original startlist.

If it's Danielson I'm going laugh very hard, then cry, then laugh again.

do you like TD.....i never have , i always thought it was ridiculous him being touted as the next great young american rider a few years back, especially considering DZ was a year younger

 

[dblueroom]

I am glad to see Evans and A. schleck are catching up in the poll.

 

[auscyclefan94]

According to the poll the podium is
1. Valverde
2. Sanchez
3. Evans/Basso

I unsure why so many people think valverde's going to win. he's never really been consisten over 3 weeks in a GT

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

he has always rode well in the vuekta though, and has never skipped the tour (even if he had no say in it) for the vuelta.

 

[danyela]

I really do hope that the Schlecks and Evans race to win, because they will all be up there for sure. It's kind of sad when the real GC contenders only use the Vuelta as training for Worlds. What a waste of a GT...

 

[CycleViking]

I hope either Kreuziger or Gesink wins, but it's more likely that Valverde, Sanchez or possibly Basso does.
Evans seems to be a little too defensive and too little confident to win. Probably top 10 and maybe podium. But I would like it if he proved me wrong.

A. Schleck has most likely planned the season for TdF, and I don't see him as any more than a possible top 10 rider for the Vuelta. This will be his first Vuelta, and I actually got the impression that Saxo would ride for Fuglsang in the Vuelta - at least according to some press releases right after TdF...

I pray to all gods and other forces that both Basso and Vino makes a ride totally not worth writing about. Just plain and really uninteresting, because I don't want to see them getting ANY coverage. I know they served their time, but still they just come back as if nothing bad happened. They disgraced the sport on the expense of other riders; not just getting a speed ticket!
I don't know if this applies to Valverde too, but some of the headlines he's made during the last years haven't been very favorable for cycling...

So GO GESINK! GO KREUZIGER!

 

[surelars]

I voted for Valverde. I have my doubts on his stability for three weeks, but of the top guys he's the one who's focused here. Basso looks like a good option, too - but like Evans, mostly out of a need to make amends for a not-very-good season. That's not the best motivation.

Theoretically, Evans should be the stronger, but with his fading motivation and lack of trust in his own team(management), it's hard to see it happening.

Personally, I'm rooting for Schleck, but he's really there to prepare for the worlds; he'll take a stage if the opportunity is there, and if he suddenly finds himself at the top, he'll defend it - but, again, I don't think the motivation is 100%.

 

[issoisso]

I voted for Valverde. I have my doubts on his stability for three weeks, but of the top guys he's the one who's focused here.

That's my vote as well. Only Sánchez is as fresh as him

Basso looks like a good option, too - but like Evans, mostly out of a need to make amends for a not-very-good season. That's not the best motivation.

Not at all. At the start of the season he left it extremely clear that the Giro and the Vuelta are his main goals this year.

Theoretically, Evans should be the stronger, but with his fading motivation and lack of trust in his own team(management), it's hard to see it happening.

Also, he's aiming for the Worlds, not the Vuelta.

Personally, I'm rooting for Schleck, but he's really there to prepare for the worlds; he'll take a stage if the opportunity is there, and if he suddenly finds himself at the top, he'll defend it - but, again, I don't think the motivation is 100%.

He's there to work for Fuglsang.

 

[DJ Sprtsch]

I unsure why so many people think valverde's going to win. he's never really been consisten over 3 weeks in a GT

He placed second in 2006, isn't that consistent enough?

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

He placed second in 2006, isn't that consistent enough?

And lost to a guy who was obviously doped up to his eyeballs.

 

[Deagol]

......Though he served his suspension, I'm hoping Vino gets a DNF.

Wondering if Tom Danielson will ride well,.........

+1. I also hope Evans does well. I don't like his personality, but he "seems" clean and if that's true, the stress of competing against riders you you are doped could explain a lot of his "quirks". I think Evans deserves some slack.....
Also hope TD does well. I've seen him race and it was impressive. I also talked to his (now ex) wife and she was very friendly. He seems like a reasonably nice guy from what I can tell. I would hate to be labeled the next LA even if I had that kind of talent, talk about being set up to fail....

 

[mambo#5]

what has more panache? A vuelta winner or a world cycling champion? 'Cause I don't understand the people that say they are using the vuelta to prepare for the world championship.

 

[issoisso]

what has more panache? A vuelta winner or a world cycling champion? 'Cause I don't understand the people that say they are using the vuelta to prepare for the world championship.

Same here. I think it's especially pathetic for the enormous amount of riders who have little chance of getting a medal at the worlds yet play their entire second half of the season around the worlds. Makes no sense to me. None at all.

 

[UniSports]

Watch LA Vuelta on Universal Sports!!

Watch LA Vuelta a Espana (Tour of Spain) LIVE & FREE Aug. 29- Sept. 20 on Universal Sports. Top riders Ivan Basso, Alexander Vinokourov, Cadel Evans and more will be battling all September long for the Gold jersey.

See the broadcast schedule, start list and more at the link below, every day will be LIVE on-line and slightly delayed on TV at 10 AM (ET) daily:

Watch LA Vuelta: http://www.universalsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=23000&ATCLID=204770092

For TV information: http://www.universalsport.tv

 

[ridley]

And lost to a guy who was obviously doped up to his eyeballs.

Hehehe - Good one, Alpe, and it will be interesting to see how it unfolds this year.

And based on your post under another topic, might be at least a little bit more exciting to watch

 

[manolo]

There are going to be some really good mountain stages! Stages 8, 9, 12, 13 and 14!

I just wonder if the mountain goats like Anton, Mosquera, Martin, the Schlecks, Taamaree, Tondo, Cobo, Gomez Martinez, Valjaviec and others will rack up enough time to hold off the GC guys, like Basso, Valverde, Evans, Kreuziger, Gesink and Danielson who can time trial.

Now, stages 10 and 11 are kind of hard for me to predict. They won't make much of a difference for the podium, but they look like stages for attackers.

Stage 10 looks like someone could take off on the Cat 2 with only 12k's to go and take a couple of minutes, if that. Someone like Gilbert, Vinokourov, Ballan, Sanchez...

Stage 11 has a Cat 1 early and then a Cat 2 with 50k's to go. Maybe Casar, Zubeldia or Moncoutie will form a breakaway and hold off to the end.

It should be fun!

 

[Delicato]

Vinokourov's photos

 

[auscyclefan94]

He placed second in 2006, isn't that consistent enough?

Yes but what else has he done in a GT. IN the 2006 vuelta he wasn't consistent as he bonked on a day where vino owned!

 

[ak-zaaf]

And lost to a guy who was obviously doped up to his eyeballs.

just like himself.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Yes but what else has he done in a GT. IN the 2006 vuelta he wasn't consistent as he bonked on a day where vino owned!

Valverde GT wins: 0
Evans GT wins: 0



Valverde was owned to guy who was most likely doped up. and even still, it was a good result. As i said, him missing the tour could benefit him here at the vuelta.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Valverde GT wins: 0
Evans GT wins: 0



Valverde was owned to guy who was most likely doped up. and even still, it was a good result. As i said, him missing the tour could benefit him here at the vuelta.

I'm saying that Valverde has never really been consistent over 3 weeks and has had decent support.

 

[AdK1991]

What about the jerseys?
Who's going to win the King of the Mountain, Sprint Jersey?
Sprint: Farrar
Mountain: Probably somebody who's part of a few breaks.