Vuelta speculation

[sir fly]

Slowly, but surely, I'm getting in the mood for the Vuelta.
The importance of the opening stages shouldn't be underestimated. The winds are even stronger and more frequent as the autumn approaches.

 

[Laplaz]

Stage 2 should be windy, am I wrong?

 

[TromleTromle]

Re:

Stage 2 should be windy, am I wrong?

A northern weak wind in the forecase...
...but there is chances for a LOT of fun next day.

1) A long attack on Perche - Formigal style. Bertie ?
2) A medium attack on the very hard lower Rabassa slopes. Kruiswijk ?
3) The Murito with a a descent finish on Cormella. Nibs ?

 

[ice&fire]

Re: Re:

Stage 2 should be windy, am I wrong?

A northern weak wind in the forecase...
...but there is chances for a LOT of fun next day.

1) A long attack on Perche - Formigal style. Bertie ?
2) A medium attack on the very hard lower Rabassa slopes. Kruiswijk ?
3) The Murito with a a descent finish on Cormella. Nibs ?

1) There's a loop at the end of stage 2 designed to have mostly headwind and tailwind, so the chance of echelons is uncertain.
2) Formigal came rigth after a mountain stage with 4 brutal climbs, the easiest being Marie-Blanque. I can't see that kind of riding in stage 3 with legs still fresh. If they go all out in those climbs the best we can hope for is something like Gap after Col de Manse.

 

[Rollthedice]

Re: Re:

Stage 2 should be windy, am I wrong?

A northern weak wind in the forecase...
...but there is chances for a LOT of fun next day.

1) A long attack on Perche - Formigal style. Bertie ?
2) A medium attack on the very hard lower Rabassa slopes. Kruiswijk ?
3) The Murito with a a descent finish on Cormella. Nibs ?

Stage 3 will be broadcast from the beginning.

 

[TromleTromle]

Re: Re:

Stage 2 should be windy, am I wrong?

A northern weak wind in the forecase...
...but there is chances for a LOT of fun next day.

1) A long attack on Perche - Formigal style. Bertie ?
2) A medium attack on the very hard lower Rabassa slopes. Kruiswijk ?
3) The Murito with a a descent finish on Cormella. Nibs ?

Stage 3 will be broadcast from the beginning.

Excellent.
True Formigal came after a brutal stage - but Froomey can/should be caught off guard as early as possible and this is a terrific chance - and this is perhaps the best chance together with Bermejo (I am still split about stage 5&6 - could be epic - could be snoozzinh....)

 

[Robert5091]

I'm worried that if Sky win the TTT on day 1 the Vuelta will turn into a question of who comes second.

 

[Ikbengodniet]

It is too bad a fresh Poels is gonna babysit Froome. If that wasn't the case I think giro guys like Zakarin, Nibali and maybe Pozzovivo can crack him. He certainly is gonna jojo again, but I think at some point he may not be able to come back again and again with the form he has shown throughout this season.

 

[ice&fire]

Re:

I'm worried that if Sky win the TTT on day 1 the Vuelta will turn into a question of who comes second.

There's a precedent for that. Sky won last year's TTT. Froome was second.

 

[TromleTromle]

S Sanzhez out...
..career game over!

 

[ice&fire]

Is BMC still in time to get another rider on-board?

 

[Ikbengodniet]

Re:

Is BMC still in time to get another rider on-board?

Yes Loic Vliegen will take his place.

 

[Davesta]

Re: Re:

Formolo is ill. He has been ill since the Tour of Poland where he was supposed to lead the team but fell ill and Cannondale started with only 6 riders. Villella, who is leaving to Astana, is going to this race so I don't think the issue is that Formolo leaves.

Yup, bronchitis apparently.

 Rather uninspiring team and I don't thnk many chances for stage wins will come unless Woods is in good form. To me is doesn't look like a team they wanted to bring here but the shape of some riders is apparently not what they hoped to be.

Woods must be their best chance of a stage win - he came close a couple of times in the Giro.
Though maybe Van Asbroeck can nick a sprint win, given the lack of pure sprinters at the race...

 

[Davesta]

Anybody know what Alaphillipe's form is like after his injury? Does he have a chance of hunting for stage wins?

 

[ice&fire]

Anybody know what Alaphillipe's form is like after his injury? Does he have a chance of hunting for stage wins?

He was 3rd in the two stages in Vuelta a Burgos with a punchy finish. In the first one he was the best from the bunch as the winner and runner up came from a break. The Vuelta has a stronger field than Burgos and his problem will be that if he wants to win from the main group he needs to up his game, and if he tries from a break he'll probably be treated like Sagan and everybody will ride against him.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Oh well, Sami Sanchez is gone now. Purito retired last year. Valv is injured. Contador only one left.... Sad times indeed.

 

[Akuryo]

Re:

Oh well, Sami Sanchez is gone now. Purito retired last year. Valv is injured. Contador only one left.... Sad times indeed.

And there are a few up and coming riders. Mas and Soler among the most promising ones.

 

[yaco]

I will be surprised if Alaphalippe fails to win a stage - The Vuelta is made for a rider of his ilk.

 

[Robert5091]

Hope the Vuelta can go off without more tragedy then occurred in Barcelona today. Thoughts go out to those mourning and injured.

 

[Broth3r]

Re:

They added the terrible "Alto de Nimes" in the TTT.
I think that when the Tour years ago put a KOM on a bridge was harder than this

What annoys me most about this isn't even the KOM itself - it's the "Alto". It just sounds awful to call a "climb" outside Spain that. Not quite as bad as "Côte de Buttertubs", but close.

 

[movingtarget]

Re: Re:

Oh well, Sami Sanchez is gone now. Purito retired last year. Valv is injured. Contador only one left.... Sad times indeed.

And there are a few up and coming riders. Mas and Soler among the most promising ones.

It seems to happen now and then that a country that has been strong for years falls into a slump. The USA are not breaking records of late either for important wins. Although i read something last year I think it was written by Delgado who said he was worried about the state of Spanish cycling at the junior level and neo pro level. Seeing a long term team like Euskadel fold wasn't a good sign but they are not the only country suffering economically and with races disappearing off the calendar. How long were the Dutch waiting for a GT win ? Dumoulin delivered but the French are still waiting ! Take out the veteran Valverde and it looks even more bleak.

 

[Froome_Rorke's Drift]

Will any stages be cancelled?

 

[Lexman]

Any idea who might win the KOM, and sprint jersey?

 

[alexix7]

Re:

Any idea who might win the KOM, and sprint jersey?

sprint yersey - someone who will be in TOP 6-8 in GC and has a good finish, maybe Chaves
KOM - Fraile the biggest favourite, but someone with GC ambitions who lose chance of good GC result after 3rd stage could challenge him.... or maybe some pro-konti rider like Warbasse

 

[Nirvana]

Re: Re:

They added the terrible "Alto de Nimes" in the TTT.
I think that when the Tour years ago put a KOM on a bridge was harder than this

What annoys me most about this isn't even the KOM itself - it's the "Alto". It just sounds awful to call a "climb" outside Spain that. Not quite as bad as "Côte de Buttertubs", but close.

In 2009 there was "Alto de Cauberg" :lol: