Vuelta the New Tour?

[Jonathan]

Hopefully boom wins the prolouge. he did target it a long time ago. (he is gonna be a great rider btw, and im certain will prove useful in any important TTT gesink may need to combat in the future years... not to mention his own potential results) Garate will be big help for gesink if he can make it.

can't wait to se egesink at the vuelta If he arrives in form, he will be right up there.

A Dutchman in a GT leader's jersey...that would have been a long time, right?

 

[cromagnon]

Is that that much bad blood?

Lots of bombs planed by Basque terrorists etc. But there's no oil in the basque country, hence no invasion

 

[Señor_Contador]

I'm just curious (don't know much about Spanish history)..why wouldn't a Spanish rider go through the Basque Country?

Is that that much bad blood?

I don't know. You tell me.

 

[Señor_Contador]

Lots of bombs planed by Basque terrorists etc. But there's no oil in the basque country, hence no invasion

All I know is that it's best to avoid political subjects when traveling through Europe... Many of the things these "oppressed peoples" (the Basque "country" is amongst the richest regions in Spain) appeal to (i.e. territory, language, racial group, et cetera) are essentially fascist ideals, so... if someone starts laying it on thick just nod your head and just say "Si, entiendo, entiendo" every couple minutes.

 

[issoisso]

All I know is that it's best to avoid political subjects when traveling through Europe... Many of the things these "oppressed peoples" (the Basque "country" is amongst the richest regions in Spain) appeal to (i.e. territory, language, racial group, et cetera) are essentially fascist ideals

That's so ignorant, it's actually one of the funniest things I've read in my life

(I'm in no way shape or form defending ETA, mind you)

 

[badboyberty]

All I know is that it's best to avoid political subjects when traveling through Europe... Many of the things these "oppressed peoples" (the Basque "country" is amongst the richest regions in Spain) appeal to (i.e. territory, language, racial group, et cetera) are essentially fascist ideals,

So that's why they sided with the Republicans in the civil war against Franco?

oops, now we are getting political...

I thought the Veulta avoided Basque territory so as not to give the Euskatel riders a home town advantage

 

[lagartija]

All I know is that it's best to avoid political subjects when traveling through Europe... Many of the things these "oppressed peoples" (the Basque "country" is amongst the richest regions in Spain) appeal to (i.e. territory, language, racial group, et cetera) are essentially fascist ideals, so... if someone starts laying it on thick just nod your head and just say "Si, entiendo, entiendo" every couple minutes.

ok, stop.............granted i laughed when i read this also.......but you are clueless, not every basque is a seperatist .....for most , and this includes all the regions of spain it has to do with retaining cultural heritage and language

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

A Dutchman in a GT leader's jersey...that would have been a long time, right?

honestly i can't even remember... im thinking dekker maybe got some time in yellow (2000 tour?) but im not sure. Let us just hope there is lots of dutch leaders in the future

 

[Señor_Contador]

So that's why they sided with the Republicans in the civil war against Franco?

oops, now we are getting political...[...]

No, they sided with the republican powers-that-be because they took active part in the republican government at the time, same as anarchists and hardcore communists. The republicans were extremely inclusive when putting together a government, and left no sector of society unrepresented. By this I do not mean they agreed with their ideals, they just felt that by bringing together all these ideals they would be able to fend off any military unrest. Needless to say it did not work.

I mean, the fact that Franco's idea of Spain was very monocultural (and very much in favor of restoring power to the Three Pillars of Society, namely: the church, the military and the upper classes) did not help, but the fact remains that many in the PNV and ANV (both nationalist parties) were ardent supporters of fascist ideals, and even the "father" of Basque nationalism, Sabino Arana Goiri, was one of the worst racist idiots I've ever read in my life, spewing vile against Jews, communists, et cetera. Back then the so-called leftist nationalist movement did not exists or had very little popular support.

 

[Señor_Contador]

ok, stop.............granted i laughed when i read this also.......but you are clueless, not every basque is a seperatist .....for most , and this includes all the regions of spain it has to do with retaining cultural heritage and language

I'm not saying every Basque is a separatist (you're the one saying it), in fact polls show the opposite, I am saying that if your institutions (or that independist minority) are ungrateful enough to prevent ALL Basque cycling fans from seeing one of the three great cycling stage races in the world from going through your territory, something any sane person would love to see (the Vuelta is going through The Netherlands for peace sake!), I am saying that it would be Ok for any Spanish cyclist to refuse to race in the Basque territory.

By the way, I am not a Spaniard, so be gentle (I'll bring the lubricant), I'm a ***. I wish the Vuelta came to the US. I'd bet my left nut Mr. Obama would be more than happy to see it come through here.

Just my opinion.

 

[Señor_Contador]

That's so ignorant, it's actually one of the funniest things I've read in my life

(I'm in no way shape or form defending ETA, mind you)

It may be funny to you, but it killed 6 million Jews during WWII. It ain't no joke. The Basque nationalist's constant calls for their "historic" territory, Euskadi and Navarre, their imposition of euskera to their idilic territory (similar to Franco's imposition of Spanish) and the nationalist movement's constant (aparent) animosity toward the central government (even though the Basque "country" is one of the richest regions in Spain and in Europe) spells nothing but f-a-s-c-i-s-m.

ETA is nothing but the tip of the iceberg.

 

[manolo]

... The Vuelta organization has nothing to do with. That is the Basque government not inviting the Vuelta.

I don't know about that, but, apparently they are in talks to bring the Vuelta back to the Basque country.

http://www.as.com/ciclismo/articulo...-impresionante/dasclm/20090825dasdaicic_1/Tes

 

[SergeDeM]

That article says they're looking into moving the Vuelta back to the spring. I'm with UCI on this one: Giro in May, Tour in July, Vuelta in September. That's the perfect cycling calendar for a fan.

 

[Quinan]

Tondo-Vuelta

Hi, I am new in the forum and my level of english is not good... so sorry for my mistakes.

I am surprised because you write a lot of times about the options of Ezequiel Mosquera in the Tour of Spain (la Vuelta), but you don't write anything about Xavi Tondo.

This is a rider of Andalucía-CajaSur and he is a rider with the same possibilities of Ezequiel to go to the final podium of the Vuelta. Tondo is better in the individual time trial than Ezequiel. And Ezequiel is better in high mountain stages.

RESULTS TONDO 2009
2 Overall Vuelta a Burgos August
2 Urkiola Igoera - Subida Urkiola August
3 Overall Vuelta a la Comunidad de Madrid July
7 National Championships Spain (Comillas - Cueva El Soplao) R.R. June
9 National Championships Spain (Torrelavega - Altamira) I.T.T. June
8 Overall Volta a Catalunya May
9 GP Miguel Indurain April
6 Overall Vuelta a Castilla y Leon March
4 Overall Vuelta a la Region de Murcia February
2 Overall Vuelta a Andalucia "Ruta del Sol" February
1 Vuelta a Andalucia "Ruta del Sol", Prologue : Jaen I.T.T. February
1 Tour de San Luis, Stage 5 : San Francisco del Monte de Oro - Merlo January

 

[issoisso]

What Quinan says is true. If Tondo is in form, he'll be in the top 10.

 

[Quinan]

Contentpolis

Ah, another thing: some post ago, someone asked about Contentpolis and told that if it is the Skil-Shimano of the Vuelta. Well, maybe it is a good comparation. But Contentpolis has some different aspects. For example, it is a Spanish team. And it is the most important characteristic to get a wild card. It is the same case that Andalucia and Xacobeo in the past.

This year Contentpolis won 4 races:
-Stage and overall of Correios (2.1)
-Stage of Volta a Catalunya (ProTour). The "king" stage
-Stage of the Vuelta a Portugal

In this moment they are better in cqranking than Xacobeo. They don't have a rider as Xavi Tondo (Andalucía) or Ezequiel Mosquera (Xacobeo). But they have a best group of riders. Maybe in Europe or in the world are not famous riders, but they are very interesting riders. For example, Francisco Pacheco finished all the years in the top ten with the best sprinters of the world. And Palomares, Sánchez Pimienta and Vázquez are very strong to look for stages in the mountain days.

I only don't understand one thing: why they don't selectioned Oleg Chuzhda. He was the best in Portugal and won one stage.

 

[Spaniard]

No, they sided with the republican powers-that-be because they took active part in the republican government at the time, same as anarchists and hardcore communists. The republicans were extremely inclusive when putting together a government, and left no sector of society unrepresented. By this I do not mean they agreed with their ideals, they just felt that by bringing together all these ideals they would be able to fend off any military unrest. Needless to say it did not work.

I mean, the fact that Franco's idea of Spain was very monocultural (and very much in favor of restoring power to the Three Pillars of Society, namely: the church, the military and the upper classes) did not help, but the fact remains that many in the PNV and ANV (both nationalist parties) were ardent supporters of fascist ideals, and even the "father" of Basque nationalism, Sabino Arana Goiri, was one of the worst racist idiots I've ever read in my life, spewing vile against Jews, communists, et cetera. Back then the so-called leftist nationalist movement did not exists or had very little popular support.

Amazing for a *** (no offense), but there are some differences between PNV and ANV, and the nationalist parties are usually a bit fascist

 

[No_Balls]

It may be funny to you, but it killed 6 million Jews during WWII. It ain't no joke. The Basque nationalist's constant calls for their "historic" territory, Euskadi and Navarre, their imposition of euskera to their idilic territory (similar to Franco's imposition of Spanish) and the nationalist movement's constant (aparent) animosity toward the central government (even though the Basque "country" is one of the richest regions in Spain and in Europe) spells nothing but f-a-s-c-i-s-m.

ETA is nothing but the tip of the iceberg.

The fact that they even grasps for Navarra is as facism and imperialism it can possibly get. Navarra has NEVER been a part of the historical Basque territory yet the political leaders claims so.

Sabino Arana, the godfather of basque nationalism, would have made Hitler proud with his mouthing of the basque race, and i suppose his words are the feel-good kit that keeps keeps the basque community together given the life-long existence ETA has there.

 

[auscyclefan94]

honestly i can't even remember... im thinking dekker maybe got some time in yellow (2000 tour?) but im not sure. Let us just hope there is lots of dutch leaders in the future

Don't take offense but why are you so into Dutch riders and rabobank if you are from melbourne(best city in da world)!

 

[Cerberus]

Don't take offense but why are you so into Dutch riders and rabobank if you are from melbourne(best city in da world)!

I'm gonna take a wild shot and say that his location might be Melbourne, but that it's not where he's from. That or he just has a fetish for small European nations .

 

[ak-zaaf]

honestly i can't even remember... im thinking dekker maybe got some time in yellow (2000 tour?) but im not sure. Let us just hope there is lots of dutch leaders in the future

vuelta: max van heeswijk 2005
giro: jeroen blijlevens 1999
tour: erik breukink 1989(!)

it's pathetic

 

[Danilot]

The fact that they even grasps for Navarra is as facism and imperialism it can possibly get. Navarra has NEVER been a part of the historical Basque territory yet the political leaders claims so.

Sabino Arana, the godfather of basque nationalism, would have made Hitler proud with his mouthing of the basque race, and i suppose his words are the feel-good kit that keeps keeps the basque community together given the life-long existence ETA has there.

I hereby award you the Prize for Historical Ignorance.