Vuelta: the most viewed Vuelta of the last years

[Asturiano]

Looks like Vuelta is having good results in terms of TV audiences in Spain, much more than previous years.

The participation of Alberto Contador and good riders like Frome and Purito + Steep climbs almost everyday + beautiful stages + the big fight between Contador and Purito until the end of the race.

Many casual viewers (not only cycling fans) are watching the stages too.

 

[SafeBet]

That's bad news.
More parcours like this in the future.

 

[Eshnar]

Many casual viewers (not only cycling fans) are watching the stages too.

For how long?
I assume those data refer to the audience peak.
How many viewers does Vuelta have, for istance, at 16 CET?
A lot less I'd bet.

 

[hrotha]

That's bad news.
More parcours like this in the future.

+∞

I also wonder what'll happen in a few years, when Purito, Valverde and Contador aren't contenders anymore. Not many young Spanish riders with the potential to win a GT right now.

 

[SafeBet]

+∞

I also wonder what'll happen in a few years, when Purito, Valverde and Contador aren't contenders anymore. Not many young Spanish riders with the potential to win a GT right now.

Colombian armada.

 

[hrotha]

Colombian armada.

That won't get the broader Spanish audience interested though, and by then they won't have turned too many of them into real fans who will stick around with this, err, unique race design.

 

[Old School]

As long as it doesn't turn into a 2012 Tour de France type race, I say the mountains are good. There will be another Purito, maybe not another Contador, but there will always be legit competition as long as the pedals keep spinning.

The next generation will have its champions just the same...maybe not in the same style, but us fans will choose our hero.

 

[icefire]

As long as it doesn't turn into a 2012 Tour de France type race, I say the mountains are good. There will be another Purito, maybe not another Contador, but there will always be legit competition as long as the pedals keep spinning.

The next generation will have its champions just the same...maybe not in the same style, but us fans will choose our hero.

The next generation of champions won't be Spanish and won't go to the race. For the average fan the race will be a local event with riders unable to win a GT elsewhere. The average fan didn't know who was that Italian guy who won in 2010.

To all that has been said, this year 2/3 of the race has been during the holiday season. We'll see next year when it's at least 2/3 of the race in September.

 

[Pulpstar]

With colombia being such a high country, and the cycling culture heading into their country in a big way with young and upcoming riders such as Uran, Henao and Quintana does anyone think we could see an era where road cycling is dominated by Colombians in the same way Kenya and Ethiopia have done so in long distance running ?

 

[Zam_Olyas]

+∞

I also wonder what'll happen in a few years, when Purito, Valverde and Contador aren't contenders anymore. Not many young Spanish riders with the potential to win a GT right now.

Ye of little faith.. you have Madrazo.

 

[DominicDecoco]

A lot of spains have plenty of time in the work hours to watch tv as well, eh.

 

[hrotha]

Ye of little faith.. you have Madrazo.

He will win many a Giro di Lombardia, but no GT

 

[Descender]

That's bad news.
More parcours like this in the future.

This.

___________________________

 

[Red Rick]

The stage rumoured to be unneccessary, overkill and utterly pointless proves to be the best stage in La Vuelta in the last years.

 

[Eshnar]

The stage rumoured to be unneccessary, overkill and utterly pointless proves to be the best stage in La Vuelta in the last years.

It was the only stage not ending with a wall-like ramp... acceptable length... not many mountains before the final climb but if Unipublic wants to put more of this in the future it will still be an improvement.
But, problem is you don't always have AC drilling it.

 

[The Hitch]

I remember when Purito won on Assisi it was the front cover of Marca.

I wonder if Contador will get front cover tomorrow.

 

[Eshnar]

I remember when Purito won on Assisi it was the front cover of Marca.

I wonder if Contador will get front cover tomorrow.

It would be beyond incredible if he won't.

 

[The Hitch]

It would be beyond incredible if he won't.

Contador didnt even make the front 6 pages when he won on Verbier.

 

[Descender]

Contador didnt even make the front 6 pages when he won on Verbier.

That was on a Sunday. Which means football.

It's Wednesday today. He'll get the cover all right.

 

[The Hitch]

That was on a Sunday. Which means football.

It's Wednesday today. He'll get the cover all right.

What football was on in the 2nd week of July 2009?

 

[Descender]

What football was on in the 2nd week of July 2009?

No idea. I'll see if I can find that cover.

EDIT: Found it. Real Madrid was playing its first game of the season, first one with Mauricio Pellegrini as coach. Raúl was starting together with Cristiano Ronaldo and Benzema and blah blah blah...

Contador did feature on the cover though.

 

[icefire]

No idea. I'll see if I can find that cover.

There was some mambojambo about Raul saying something.

 

[Descender]

Best part of the cover was the ad on the bottom right though.

 

[icefire]

I must say that cover is not what I recall having seen. Maybe is my bad memory or maybe they have several editions with different covers. I recall having seen Contador making the front page, but in a small box a the top not larger than that funny ad.

 

[hrotha]

The best part of that cover is Armstrong. "I'm at Contador's service"