Vuelta Winner

[indurain666]

did he go during the rain or during the early/late dry period? And its not like he has to beat Contador in the tt is it, well unless Menchov performs or someone else unexpected.

The main question for Frank Schleck will be is he on form after the tdf prep and crash. If yes then he will win. If not he wont. I honestly think the chances are he wont be on form, but i choose him nonetheless as i dont see anyone else on the list as a favourite in any way.

I am not sure if I agree that Frank is going to win this thing. I should be interesting between him, Mosquer and Nibali. How about Andy? I know he is supposed to help Frank, having said that I don't think he would mind winning a GT before the end of the season if Frank falters.

 

[Ryaguas]

duque races in france to win the coupe de france which is the most important thing for french teams after the tour

He has been the all year long saying that he wanted to be in Le Tour and in La Vuelta... He must be really upset with the team...

The TTT is short, so I doubt Xacobeo will lose a huge amount of time there.

Xacobeo is not going to lose big time there... They did a really good TTT in Burgos and I think that they will do the same in La Vuelta...

 

[Vonn Brinkman]

1. Frank Schleck
2. Nibali
3. Mosquera
4. Andy Schleck
5. Anton / Rodriguez

I think Menchov will start off very well and then crack late in the mountains...or fall during the dark TTT at Seville....At least Menchov will not do top 5.

 

[turtlesoup]

Van De Velde will be fresh and is the best time triallist apart from Menchov. I think he can win but not sure if he has enough racing miles in his legs. Frank Schleck won't win because he cannot time trial and usually has at least one bad day in the mountains. The time trials in the Vuelta are usually short and dull which will favour riders like Anton and Rodriguez. A Spanish winner would not surprise this year. Sastre can't win, in his third GT for the year. One of the returning druggo's could also figure. VDV's luck has to change sooner or later. He will probably be happy just to finish considering the horror run he has had. Menchov and Nibali have probably already peaked this year but a Menchov win would not surprise as he knows how to ride a grand tour successfully. My podium is Menchov, Anton and VDV.

VDV will definitely come in strong but like the others said i dont think he can climb with the likes of nibali even on his best day. Menchov will probably try to limit losses and take the win in the long TT. Schleck A or B might make the podium. There is a huge mountain stage following the TT i really look forward to seeing the guys blowing themselves up for that one.

 

[ak-zaaf]

Van de Velde and Tejay are going to lose big time in the steepest parts of the climbs...

Dang it... How is that nobody misses Alejandro Valverde...? This Vuelta was again for him... bah...

http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showthread.php?p=281986

=/

 

[paperbackwriter]

I voted for Nibali, sure he can ruin everything again having a bad day or simply not be as good as top Spanish climbers (or Schlecks or whoever) in the mountains- but I have equal doubts about all of them.
As for Schlecks, will be interesting to see if they can make their plan work this time and how strong Andy will be in his second GT (especially if he has a chance to become the leader at some point, not that I want Frank to fail of course).
And I wouldn't rule out Sastre only because it'll be his third GT this year. I don't think he had chances to prepare properly for GdI and TdF and despite riding them both, he didn't race that much this year (I mean, considerably more than other contenders). And he's pretty good at Tour/Vuelta double- podiumed at both in 2006 and 2008, was also close in 2007. Still, not so likely that he'll reach top 3-5, but I expect him to do better than at previous GTs.
Menchov may be tricky as always, he said he'll take it easy and see what happens- and in my opinion he's the type of rider who is capable of doing big things with such attitude.
Also, it would be nice if Rodriguez was still able to battle for the overall win, I have him in mind since I saw the route. He's my pick for the 3rd and if not, should still be entertaining to see him going after stage wins.
And I'm not sure if Mosquera can do better than his usual 4th-5th.

 

[Connor Pass]

1 Anton
2 F Schleck
3 Mosquera


The riders who challenged in the Giro and then went to the Tour were too tired (Evans and Basso) so I think the same is going to apply to Andy Schleck (doubt he'll be doing anything or than helping big bro) and Menchov. With the steep climbs it could suit Purito but again he has a hard Tour in his legs.

 

[the3verB]

i voted for Nibali. He is the logical favourite with F.Schleck.

He impressed me during the Tour 2009, finishing 7th only 3 minutes from the second place of the podium. This year he raced a great giro with Basso. Nibali will win a TdF, it's sure.

 

[Malden]

1 Anton
2 F Schleck
3 Mosquera


The riders who challenged in the Giro and then went to the Tour were too tired (Evans and Basso) so I think the same is going to apply to Andy Schleck (doubt he'll be doing anything or than helping big bro) and Menchov. With the steep climbs it could suit Purito but again he has a hard Tour in his legs.

Well, Evans was in yellow until he got injured, so let see what happens

 

[Christian]

I would have probably gone for Schleck, but seeing that he DNFed in Hamburg and is off the start list for the Tour du Limousin i'm wondering if something is up.

He said he quit with 10 km to go in order to avoid any risks, don't know why he's not in Limousin ...

 

[roundabout]

Apparently he is gettng married this week

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

I picked Anton. Top riders who focus their season around the Vuelta, as opposed to those trying to win it as a consolation after losing the Tour, tend to fare better.

I see some serious attacks from Mosquera though, and I'd rather him win as I like his style. But I think mostly the battle will be between these two. Rodriguez will compete too, but hasn't seemed as focused on just the Vuelta, and I picture at least one bad day. Nibbles and Schleck have the ability to win though, without a doubt. Schlekette too. Menchov is too done from the Tour if you ask me.

 

[ericthesportsman6]

Dark horse top 5 is Gomez Marchante...wait... I say that every year. Anyways, I'm re-doing my top 5

1. Nibali
2. Anton
3. Mosquera
4. F Schleck
5. Soler

 

[Nick C.]

Anton is actually better than I recollected. I remembered the win at Calar Alto in '06 but little else. Looking at his record he finished 3rd at the Tour of Switzerland in '08 after winning a stage and holding onto the jersey for several days. I don't recall whether he lost it in the TT or a road stage. He also finished 7th at Romandy the year before. It was just last year that was quiet other than winning Subida Urkiola. But if everything breaks his way why not. I still would stick with Nibali.

 

[Rocksteady]

I chose VDV to win. Reasons:
1. No reason to be on bad form (Menchov/Purito)
2. Good TT and TTT (spanish teams may be lacking here, F Schleck too)
3. Good team for support in the mountains (At least for the first 2 weeks with Tommy D, Also has Menchov to slog up the hills with and limit time losses)
4. Already met his quota of bad luck this year.

In all, maybe not the prettiest win, but I think it can happen. Nibali/F Schleck will be biggest competitors, then the Spaniards (Anton, Mosquera, Soler)

 

[Arnout]

Anton is actually better than I recollected. I remembered the win at Calar Alto in '06 but little else. Looking at his record he finished 3rd at the Tour of Switzerland in '08 after winning a stage and holding onto the jersey for several days. I don't recall whether he lost it in the TT or a road stage. He also finished 7th at Romandy the year before. It was just last year that was quiet other than winning Subida Urkiola. But if everything breaks his way why not. I still would stick with Nibali.

He was up there with Contador in the mountains in the Vuelta 08, until he crashed out just before the Angliru. He crashed so badly that 2009 was a wasted year, but this year he's back as he showed in Castilla y Leon, the FW and LBL. His form is good again, judging by his performance in the last mountainstage of Burgos.

 

[Nick C.]

He was up there with Contador in the mountains in the Vuelta 08, until he crashed out just before the Angliru. He crashed so badly that 2009 was a wasted year, but this year he's back as he showed in Castilla y Leon, the FW and LBL. His form is good again, judging by his performance in the last mountainstage of Burgos.

Thanks that is something I don't recall as Vuelta coverage in the US until last year with Universal is spotty at best.

 

[Tom T.]

Mosquera. Just a total stab, this race is wide open and any number of guys could win it.

 

[Anonymous]

Honestly? I dont have a freaking clue!

 

[Angliru]

Frank has won the queen stage of the grandady of them all twice, Alp de huez 06 and grand bornard 09. Anyone who has done that is a top climber. He has finished very high in tdfs. He has always been one of the best climbers. I would like to see Antons and Mosquerras perform, but Frank is the best climber in the race imo (barring andy who wont be on form).

Oh and as we saw in the tds he can tt these days too.

I agree he is one of the sports top climbers but that Grand Bornand win in 2009 was, as we all know, a gift. Had Contador not felt guilty about putting
Kloden in the red, surely he would've won the stage or, at the very least dropped Frank before the summit. Plus it was my understanding that Mt. Ventoux was the queen stage of the 2009 Tour.

I'm going with Menchov. He's shown fine form in the Tour, and he's also shown the ability to do well in successive grand tours.

I'd love to see Anton and Inxausti come into their own at this year's Vuelta, and finish highly in the gc. Anton really excites me and if he can recapture the form he displayed 2 years ago, he will really make things interesting.

Soler I'm looking forward to him completing a grand tour unscathed so that he can quiet all his critics who don't believe in him the way that I do. He's an exciting, aggressive rider who's most appealing trait is, IMO, is not will he attack but how often and when.

 

[Oldman]

Honestly? I dont have a freaking clue!

I don't either. Congratulations on the recognition from Radioshack. That will be one to tell the grandkids when they ask "Lance who?"

 

[Francois the Postman]

Only 9 votes for Anton so far? Make that 10 then.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Anton for me.

Btw, Soler isn't competing, is he? I'm a bit confused because I thought he wasn't, but everyone seem to talk about him as if he infact is starting in the Vuelta?

 

[Ryaguas]

Anton for me.

Btw, Soler isn't competing, is he? I'm a bit confused because I thought he wasn't, but everyone seem to talk about him as if he infact is starting in the Vuelta?

He will be there... Ryo Hazuki was today in Eneco and talk to him and to Neil Stephens and they told him that Soler was going to participate! sooo... I'm expecting the same... I'm totally fingers crossed to have a healthy and strong Soler in La Vuelta...!

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Anton for me.

Btw, Soler isn't competing, is he? I'm a bit confused because I thought he wasn't, but everyone seem to talk about him as if he infact is starting in the Vuelta?

he will start 100% unless he gets injured in this eneco so let's pray nothing happens because this race is like russian roulette for soler.