Vuelta speculation

[Valv.Piti]

I also hope Anacona will show up in the same shape as in the Giro, he could be a very good stagehunter. Well, the whole Movistar-squad could be good stage hunters, thats really one of the big question marks of this race, what their priorities will be and such.

 

[jsem94]

Lots of quality riders this year. Hard to looks past Froome though. I'm really excited. Lots of great young talents on display too, just hope we have a non-embarrassing sprinter field even though it looks unlikely.

 

[Gigs_98]

If everything falls in place/top-10 riders:
Roson
De la Cruz
Alaphilippe
Betancur
Moreno
Kelderman
Formolo
Poels
Bennett
Oomen
Ruben Fernandez
Costa
Atapuma
The LEGENDARY Sebastian R
Rafael Valls

Since it's an odd year Vuelta I'd call those guys the riders to watch. Betancur, Poels and Kelderman to stand on the final podium

 

[Billie]

Froome will have to go up against a greater champion than in France.

 

[Red Rick]

Is Jungels riding or is he going for the Worlds?

 

[Brullnux]

I can't wait for the resumption of the Froome vs Nibali battle. Froome is obviously the better GT rider, but since 2015 we have not seen them race against each other properly, and even then Nibali wasn't really a factor. But hopefully this time, with how events have turned out (declining Nibali against a (probably) declining Froome, with the former doing the easier schedule and should be fresher) it could be great.

The reason is say this is due to the fact that Froome has never had to face up to a rider who chats as much sh*t and plays as many mind games as Nibali. In 2012, it was Wiggins who was subject to it. But Wiggins himself loves these games and also chats a lot of sh*t, so it was a fairly even match, and Wiggo wasn't fazed by it. Froome was not picked on back then. In 2015, when the two finally met, despite Nibali not being any good until the final three stages, they still clashed big time. On stage 6 at first, and then again on Stage 19. Froome genuinely got riled up there, twice. So this leads me to believe that Froome has a fairly short temper when he is subject to Nibali in general. Froome is a pretty polite and benign person in front of the media, who isn't as good at Nibali at this. Basically, if Nibali brings out his a-game off the bike, then hopefully we are in for a mini-froome meltdown.

 

[Red Rick]

I'm really not sure about Nibali. He reached a good level in the Giro, but he reached it too late and really blew himself up on 2 of the MTFs. What he showed on in the rest of the race seemed up there with the Tour this year, but it's so hard to compare because Oropa and Blockhause were raced apeshit crazy so any small difference in level turned out huge.

Still, I think Nibali can do something special if he gets it right again. La Toussuire and Risoul are really underrated wins imo.

 

[Leinster]

I don't think Froome will be the least bit worried with any mind games, but at least with Nibbles there'll be someone unafraid to attack Froome when he stops to sort out that annoying creak in his bottom bracket.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Re:

This route suits Kruijswijk. I don't think he likes the heat, I don't know, can anyone enlighten me? He should be really motivated for this one. Like really.

No Kruijswijk has no problems with heat.
The question is can he hit his peak correctly this time

 

[silvergrenade]

We are forgetting about Leopold Konig..
If he shows up in 2016 Vuelta form + Being the Bora Team Leader, he'll be a force to be reckoned with.
He can TT and Climb and with around 70 kms of TT, he will be good bet to be up there

 

[Akuryo]

Re:

Is Jungels riding or is he going for the Worlds?

Probably the second since De la Cruz should be Captain right?

 

[DFA123]

Re:

It's either this or Giro 2018 rumors.

Hoping for Nibali, Lopez and Chaves to show up in good form.

Looks like an incredibly dense field, with little cream at the top.

Very much this. Froome will surely start as the huge favourite from this field. Especially so because he goes so well in the heat, which will probably be the defining feature of the race with all those mountain stages in Andalucia.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Chaves doesn't sound super uplifting IMO. I think peak Chaves and Nibali are the only ones who can threaten Froome in this race, but lets see!

 

[CyclingEnthusiast]

Nicolas Roche will likely challenge for a top 10 and potentially a top 5

 

[PremierAndrew]

I don't think Contador's done either fwiw

 

[staubsauger]

Froome might even be stronger than at the Tour. Just like Quintana last year. Maybe he really took a gamble and won!

 

[Climber123]

Both Froome and Contador finished TdF strongly. They will be the favourites despite what AC's 9th place is say

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

Both Froome and Contador finished TdF strongly. They will be the favourites despite what AC's 9th place is say

Yeah, but we need him confirmed in the first place.

Roche added

 

[Leinster]

Nicolas Roche will likely challenge for a top 10 and potentially a top 5

Depends who BMC bring.

Porte might be recovered and want to start his 12-month GT treble.


I presume a fractured lumbar is too serious an injury for Ion Izagirre to make it back to racing in time for the Vuelta?

 

[Monstre du Cyclisme]

I don't think Contador is a favourite. The Vuelta in general (but to be frankly... I haven't looked at the exact route yet) suits his style of racing. But he's definitely over his prime. He could have an impact but it's nearly impossible that he's going to challenge Froome. Still, I would like to see him there. He clearly deserves a stage win this year.

 

[Gigs_98]

If we would still talk about in his prime Contador I'd agree that he would be one of the favorites but I don't see why the guy who only finished 9th at the tour should suddenly be able to improve so much that he wins the vuelta.

 

[Leinster]

Re:

I don't think Contador is a favourite. The Vuelta in general (but to be frankly... I haven't looked at the exact route yet) suits his style of racing. But he's definitely over his prime. He could have an impact but it's nearly impossible that he's going to challenge Froome. Still, I would like to see him there. He clearly deserves a half dozen stage top 10's this year.

Fixed.

 

[benzwire]

I wish Purito would un-retire and ride this Vuelta. I miss that guy.

 

[Climber123]

If we would still talk about in his prime Contador I'd agree that he would be one of the favorites but I don't see why the guy who only finished 9th at the tour should suddenly be able to improve so much that he wins the vuelta.

What was his ranking since stage 13? Clearly he was stronger than 9th suggested in the last week.

 

[silvergrenade]

If we would still talk about in his prime Contador I'd agree that he would be one of the favorites but I don't see why the guy who only finished 9th at the tour should suddenly be able to improve so much that he wins the vuelta.

What was his ranking since stage 13? Clearly he was stronger than 9th suggested in the last week.

The current GC:

1 Christopher Froome (GBr) Team Sky 83:55:16
2 Rigoberto Uran (Col) Cannondale-Drapac 0:00:54
3 Romain Bardet (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:02:20
4 Mikel Landa (Spa) Team Sky 0:02:21
5 Fabio Aru (Ita) Astana Pro Team 0:03:05
6 Daniel Martin (Irl) Quick-Step Floors 0:04:42
7 Simon Yates (GBr) Orica-Scott 0:06:14
8 Louis Meintjes (RSA) UAE Team Emirates 0:08:20
9 Alberto Contador (Spa) Trek-Segafredo 0:08:49
10 Warren Barguil (Fra) Team Sunweb 0:09:25

Contador wasn't stronger than any of the guys above him.
Had Porte, Valverde finished he wouldnt have been in top 10.