Vuelta a Espana - who's going to win?

[mambo#5]

Chris Horner will finally get a crack at the GC in a grand tour when the Vuelta a España clicks into gear on Saturday in Holland.

That’s according to Astana sport director Sean Yates, who said the team will let Horner give it a stab for the overall classification.

http://www.velonews.com/article/97167/yates--horner-will-get-his-chance-at-vuelta-

However Vino is listed as #1

Astana – Vuelta a España, 2009
31. Alexander Vinokourov (Kaz)
32. Jesus Hernandez (Spa)
33. Christopher Horner (USA)
34. Maxim Iglinsky (Kaz)
35. Assan Bazayev (Kaz)
36. Daniel Navarro (Spa)
37. José Luis Rubiera (Spa)
38. Michael Schär (Swi)
39. Haimar Zubeldia (Spa)

I hope he keeps the flat side of the rubber down on the ground if he wants to have a chance.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Tonight's prologue should be interesting. i think it will be either a sprinter or cancellara or Grabsch. Farrar, Boonen, Friere, Ciolek or Griepel may feature from the sprinters. I think Valverde will also be strong. I'm not expecting Cancellara to dominate as it is such a short tt that you can't really gain enough time on others to dominate.

 

[Anonymous]

Tonight's prologue should be interesting. i think it will be either a sprinter or cancellara or Grabsch. Farrar, Boonen, Friere, Ciolek or Griepel may feature from the sprinters. I think Valverde will also be strong. I'm not expecting Cancellara to dominate as it is such a short tt that you can't really gain enough time on others to dominate.

one of seven then..

brain says cancellera easily... but nothing vino does every surprises me

 

[palmerq]

I will guess Rabon will win the prologue(although betting agaisnt cancelara in this is maybe a bad idea :S)

Rabon is in it isn´t he? I put him in the fantasy team anyway. I also can´t remember how his recent form has been either...

 

[Anonymous]

interesting that JV is saying garmin will surprise everyone like the tour, and one of the garmin boys will feature very highly and shock everyone..

which one?

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

I'm gonna say boom, seeing as he made this prolouge a season goal from the start of the year. But maybe cancerella will steal his thunder.

 

[auscyclefan94]

I'm gonna say boom, seeing as he made this prolouge a season goal from the start of the year. But maybe cancerella will steal his thunder.

What has Boom won this year? Is he good over the really short distance time trails?
Om another subject it's nice to have some exciting racing back as i personally have been bored of tour of poland. Eneco Tour was alright but it will be good to watch an open GT as Tdf was very closed and not as exciting as usual. It will also be good to see some guys who have had dissapointing seasons try to redempt themselves. Let the racing Begin!!!!

 

[Bala Verde]

Predictions for the prologue are nice and all, but it could very well rain...

http://www.buienradar.nl/

 

[auscyclefan94]

Predictions for the prologue are nice and all, but it could very well rain...

http://www.buienradar.nl/

I hope your wrong because it could be quite treachourous.

 

[AdK1991]

Tonight's prologue should be interesting. i think it will be either a sprinter or cancellara or Grabsch. Farrar, Boonen, Friere, Ciolek or Griepel may feature from the sprinters. I think Valverde will also be strong. I'm not expecting Cancellara to dominate as it is such a short tt that you can't really gain enough time on others to dominate.

I also think that a sprinter will perform well today.

 

[AdK1991]

I'm gonna say boom, seeing as he made this prolouge a season goal from the start of the year. But maybe cancerella will steal his thunder.

He said he has been ill or something to the Dutch National Television.
But we'll see, 4pm (16:00) will start the race on TV over here, I'm lucky that I can see it on 3 channels, how about Australia? Do they broadcast it over there?

 

[AdK1991]

Starting Times Prologue:

http://www.lavuelta.com/09/ingles/resultados/crono.html?e=1

Rain forecast:

http://www.meteox.nl/3daagse.aspx?soort=grt-027regenverwachting&type=regenverwachting&jaar=-10

 

[Mellow Velo]

He said he has been ill or something to the Dutch National Television.
But we'll see, 4pm (16:00) will start the race on TV over here, I'm lucky that I can see it on 3 channels, how about Australia? Do they broadcast it over there?

Me too, but which will be the best? Who have TVE handed over the coverage to? NOS?
TVE still responsible for overall coverage, even though they sold the rights, 3 years ago.
I had hoped we'd get extra time from the early stages, but only Tuesday seems to have extended coverage.

Valverde could feature over this distance, if his Dauphine prologues are anything to go by. I'm going with the obvious Cancellara, though.
Rain? Lucky Bradley Wiggins isn't riding!

 

[AdK1991]

Me too, but which will be the best? Who have TVE handed over the coverage to? NOS?
TVE still responsible for overall coverage, even though they sold the rights, 3 years ago.
I had hoped we'd get extra time from the early stages, but only Tuesday seems to have extended coverage.

I saw that the NOS will broadcast:
- Prologue
- Stage 1,Stage 2, Stage 3, for the other stages - I don't know

I can also watch at Sporza and at Eurosport.
at the site http://www.buienradar.nl you can see the rain forecast for the next 2/3 hours. So in +/- 3 hours it'll be clear if it's going to rain or not.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

we get nothing in australia. ah well will have to watch on the net.

 

[craig1985]

we get nothing in australia. ah well will have to watch on the net.

SBS are doing their highlights I think. I would say up and watch, but I'm racing tomorrow morning.

 

[AdK1991]

Me too, but which will be the best? Who have TVE handed over the coverage to? NOS?

The NOS will only broadcast the stages that are in The Netherlands.
So I guess they didn't bought the rights.

 

[laurentiu46]

How about a dark horse from Vacansoleil,like Lieuwe Westra or Jens Mouris?
Milram's Bjorn Schroder and Martin Velits also have good results on such short distances.
Anyone for Xavier Tondo? His prologue results this year are pretty decent.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

SBS are doing their highlights I think. I would say up and watch, but I'm racing tomorrow morning.

are you sure? I didn't think they are showing anything on the vuelta.

 

[craig1985]

are you sure? I didn't think they are showing anything on the vuelta.

TV Guide said 7.15-7.30am tomorrow morning. I live in Queensland, so that is what it is for me, but I don't think it would be any different for you in Melbourne.

 

[Mellow Velo]

The NOS will only broadcast the stages that are in The Netherlands.
So I guess they didn't bought the rights.

No. I didn't think the had.
The Vuelta tv rights are own by a company called "Red Antenna", I think, or at least someone who sounds similar.
NOS broadcast under whoever's permission. This is the reason why we get extended 14-00CET coverage, on Tuesday, for the "lumpy" stage.
Interesting that their prgramme grids hardly mention the Vuelta on NED 1, but show "Een" and "Canvas".
Currently, I can get both. They remain, after the race, longer than Eurosport International.
UK Eurosport will, once again, do it's own thing.
TVE International should also have coverage, although it's usually shorter than TVE 2, which is really hard to get, outside of Spain.

Generally, all stage coverage will start around 16-00CET, which is poor.

 

[msjett]

TV Guide said 7.15-7.30am tomorrow morning. I live in Queensland, so that is what it is for me, but I don't think it would be any different for you in Melbourne.

Considering that SBS has 3 of their 4 digital stations showing the same crapola you'd think they would be able to give us more than 15 minutes of highlights. Thank goodness for the internet.

 

[DJ Sprtsch]

According to cyclingnews.com Tom Danielson is one of the favourites for the overall win.
Sánchez, Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne), Cadel Evans (Silence-Lotto), Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank), Tom Danielson (Garmin-Slipstream) and Ivan Basso (Liquigas) are favourites for the overall win.
What about Mosquera and Gesink for instance. Oh, sorry, they don't speak english.

 

[Anonymous]

ok im gonna stick me neck out..

dan martin to podium

 

[AdK1991]

Ok, the prologue has just finished.
Who are going to win the sprints in the next few days?
I'll think that Farrar is the best sprinter in this Vuelta.
He seems good, anyway we'll see.