Waiting for the Vuelta

[jaylew]

I love the Vuelta! One of my favorite races of the year, every year, and sometimes my favorite, period. Don't really know why the 1st 4 stages are in the Netherlands , but whatever, I'll be watching.

Fwiw, I am really tired of the Astana leadership/conflict talk as well. Every little thing that happens is dissected to pieces and mostly overblown.

 

[Turd Ferguson]

I too can only take so much of the circus around here...I think I joined at the wrong time when it was starting to come full swing. How many threads does this place need for the same thing? I am glad the seperated into categories.

I am pumped for the Vuelta too. It has always been one of my favorites to follow. Some good guys flying under the radar showing up and being explosive...just really exciting cycling.

Take what you want out of that last sentence but if you want to respond negatively head on over to the "clinic" section.

 

[scooter]

I like the Tour... but I like the vuelta more..
Its probably something to do with living and racing a bit in Spain. Spanish cyclists are some of the toughest mofos I have met.

Its a pity political differences has kept the Vuelta out of the Pais Vasco for so many years.
A Basque friend once described to me the situation as such: "We (the Basques) have our own pro race in April, the rest get their race for juniors in September."

 

[Escarabajo]

It's only three days into the Tour, and I'm already waiting for the Vuelta.

Yes, you read that correctly.

I'm tired of the circus. Tired of the Lance-Contador pisising contests. Tired of reading about Astana and their money. Tired of the Lance vs. Lemond and Lance doping topics hijacking every other thread. I'm tired of the three-week posters. And I'm tired of having to correct the same misinformation from people who know little about this sport. And that isn't just on this forum. It's out in the world as well.

Of the three GT's this year, the Vuelta's course interested me the most anyway. Lots of small, tough climbs, with a real hard 2nd week, and a fairly tough 3rd week. Starting in the Netherlands and heading into Germany, and Liege in Belgium is going to be cool. When in Spain the course entirely skips the Pyranees, but will travel along the scenic Mediterranean seaboard, and still will have more climbs than any of the other GT's this year, including three mountain top finishes in a row. This year looks like it's going to be one for us die-hard cycling fans. Who's with me?

+1................

 

[Escarabajo]

I also have grown weary of all the Lance/Astana/Alberto hype. Trying to find any real news is frustrating.

+1..............

It is like there is no scape.

 

[craig1985]

I think it is fair to say I have shown an interest in the Vuelta in the past. I'm taking a keen interest in the Tour if Austria, one of my favourite smaller races of the year. I have decided to skip a lot of the threads on the TdF this year for the sake of my own sanity and that I CBF reading and responding to them all. So unless something is of interest to me, I won't be posting much.

 

[dgodave]

-1 on the OP.
.
Sure there's tons of worthless threads, etc... But take a little responsibility and focus your attention on what you find interesting... ignore the rest. This TdF could be a great race.
.
Vuelta should be fun too.
.

 

[BroDeal]

Who cares anything about you or what you think? You are just another in a long line of fanboys who we will never hear from after 3 more weeks anyway. In fact, I would venture to say that if Contador kills it on stage 7, we wont hear from your type after this weekend.

But keep telling yourself you are special because you hero worship better than the rest.....

Heh. All it will take is for Contador to kill it on the first mountain stage. Then posters like Robert Malviel-whatshisname, who was very quiet after Contador's time trial and suddenly decided today that he needed to create a hundred threads about the same topic, will crawl back into their holes.

Gotta agree on the Vuelta's course this year. They have had some stinkers the past few years when they decided that shorter, easier stages would someone reduce doping; but this year's looks tops.

 

[pmcg76]

Agree totally with Alpe on the OP as usual, I posted a thread last week on how over-rated the Tour is, just to change the subject a little, but it got lost among all the Lance/Alberto/Astana threads and dissappeared without a reply.

I am not even watching the Tour live, just catching the reports on CN and maybe watching the highlights, not even really missing it.

I hope to visit the Vuelta this year as it is the only GT I havent been to yet, fingers crossed.

 

[dgodave]

Agree totally with Alpe on the OP as usual, I posted a thread last week on how over-rated the Tour is, just to change the subject a little, but it got lost among all the Lance/Alberto/Astana threads and dissappeared without a reply.

I am not even watching the Tour live, just catching the reports on CN and maybe watching the highlights, not even really missing it.

I hope to visit the Vuelta this year as it is the only GT I havent been to yet, fingers crossed.

I like this tour a lot. I even like the drama of the multicranial Astana hydra.
.
The only thing that bugs me is the Lance overload... Good grief... but I filter.
.
Vuelta visit sounds like a great way to actually see tip top bike racing.
.

 

[39*23t]

yep the Vuelta's is looking pretty mean this year. I think AC should be okay for it most of the tdf racing is in the last week and once he has the he has a pretty strong team to control it. For me i have probably enjoyed the Giro and spring classics more from 2000. I just think they have just been more inventive with it. they have had shortened stages, finishing circuits, 1km prologues and the climbs there are more for climbers as opposed to the long power type climbs you find in the tour.

having said that the tour is still an interesting race and the eurosport commentary has not been to bad this year with sean (certainly) kelly and stephen roache. I think if you can hang on to stage seven a lot of this cr@p will die down and there won't be 20 million forums about lance's weight or does he stand when he climbs or some other cr@p. Maybe we should start a tour thread in the clinic thread since i see most of the three weekers stay away from that catergory.

 

[Escarabajo]

Maybe we should start a tour thread in the clinic thread since i see most of the three weekers stay away from that category.

You got that one right. It is called denial.

Once they catch the first one, everyone will move to that Category, so enjoy the quietness while it last.

 

[Bala Verde]

Maybe we should start a tour thread in the clinic thread since i see most of the three weekers stay away from that catergory.

You are devious, but I like it hehe

 

[39*23t]

You are devious, but I like it hehe

Bala stop it you make me blush

 

[Bala Verde]

Bala stop it you make me blush

I made a scotsman fluster...

 

[Snake8]

I can see your pov, but really the TdF is all about the spectacle. Its a soap opera and the whole LA/AC blah blah just plays into that. The race was started to sell newspapers and it continues to do so. Fine by me if you are over it. Some people just can't take it Alpe. Consider yourself dropped before the first summit finish.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

I think if you can hang on to stage seven a lot of this cr@p will die down and there won't be 20 million forums about lance's weight or does he stand when he climbs or some other cr@p. Maybe we should start a tour thread in the clinic thread since i see most of the three weekers stay away from that category.

I imagine you're right. And I'll likely find my way over there, and am paying attention each day. But for now, it's too much not only here, but in the media, and I'm paying as much attention to the Tour of Austria, the Giro Donne which I know little about, and upcoming races (like this year's great Vuelta to be) as the Tour.

Regarding "The Clinic", and new people afraid to go there....

You got that one right. It is called denial..

And some people here think I'm cynical.

 

[Dr. Maserati]

Gotta agree with the OP! I am only new here too but I will stick around after le Tour de Lance has finished up.
If you wanted to be really sneaky and start some good threads I reckon pop it in to Cyclo Cross section!

 

[blaxland]

I should note I'm not giving up entirely on the Tour, just trying to help create refuge from the circus around it, and lend a hand out to some of the true, year-round fans of the sport, reminding us that there is still great racing to be had beyond the Tour.

Good point Alpe d'huez cant wait for the vuelta to start,but for now viva le tour.

 

[skidmark]

Thanks Alpe. It's good to get a bit of levity in this madness. I'm in the camp of loving the drama, but hating the excess, uninformed fanboy insanity surrounding it, starting from the commentators in North America and everything else we get here through the media. The Tour is great, but it's a monster of its own, beyond what I love about year-round bike racing. It really is in its own bubble, but it's such a spectacle, I feel so ambivalent towards it. I got crazy excited when the split happened today, not because of any love for any rider (I hate Armstrong and am indifferent to Contador), but because of the story and the drama... that's so imbued in the Tour that it almost seems natural, you know? I think we (and by 'we' I mean year round cycling fans) should expect that by now, but even though I know this, I still get fatigued by it.

Anyway, just wanted to say thanks. It's nice to see a thread that three-weekers are passing over. The Vuelta does look killer. Hopefully cycling tv puts all their efforts into it after losing the rights to the Giro (and obviously not affording those for the tour), their commentary has vastly improved this year with Magnus Backstedt. I think it's worth the 24 bucks to be able to watch on demand, fwiw to anyone.

 

[Zen Master]

The headliners should be Sammy Sanchez, who has focused his entire season on this Vuelta, and Alejandro Valverde, providing he can race in Holland, Belgium and Germany. Ezequiel Mosquera will likely try to fly under that radar like he did last year. Juan Manuel Gárate and Joaquín Rodriguez, plus if they're not burnt from the tour, Gesink and Moncoutier should do well on this course. When we get closer, other names will rise to the top as well. I'd like to see Carlos Sastre ride it, as it would mean he rode all three GT's this year.

Don't forget Ivan Basso !?
And it's such a pity that Danilo Di Luca and LPR didn't participate at Vuelta...

 

[Bagster]

It's only three days into the Tour, and I'm already waiting for the Vuelta.

Yes, you read that correctly.

I'm tired of the circus. Tired of the Lance-Contador pisising contests. Tired of reading about Astana and their money. Tired of the Lance vs. Lemond and Lance doping topics hijacking every other thread. I'm tired of the three-week posters. And I'm tired of having to correct the same misinformation from people who know little about this sport. And that isn't just on this forum. It's out in the world as well.

Of the three GT's this year, the Vuelta's course interested me the most anyway. Lots of small, tough climbs, with a real hard 2nd week, and a fairly tough 3rd week. Starting in the Netherlands and heading into Germany, and Liege in Belgium is going to be cool. When in Spain the course entirely skips the Pyranees, but will travel along the scenic Mediterranean seaboard, and still will have more climbs than any of the other GT's this year, including three mountain top finishes in a row. This year looks like it's going to be one for us die-hard cycling fans. Who's with me?

Ok see you in September, thanks for sharing, got to go now there is a Tour to watch.

 

[Bagster]

yep the Vuelta's is looking pretty mean this year. I think AC should be okay for it most of the tdf racing is in the last week and once he has the he has a pretty strong team to control it. For me i have probably enjoyed the Giro and spring classics more from 2000. I just think they have just been more inventive with it. they have had shortened stages, finishing circuits, 1km prologues and the climbs there are more for climbers as opposed to the long power type climbs you find in the tour.

having said that the tour is still an interesting race and the eurosport commentary has not been to bad this year with sean (certainly) kelly and stephen roache. I think if you can hang on to stage seven a lot of this cr@p will die down and there won't be 20 million forums about lance's weight or does he stand when he climbs or some other cr@p. Maybe we should start a tour thread in the clinic thread since i see most of the three weekers stay away from that catergory.

Why do you think it will die down after stage 7? If you think Armstrong is going to be out of it after that stage you have rocks in your head like all of the others on here who say he is not a serious contender. I am happy to predict that he will only get stronger as the tour goes on barring accidents. I'm not brave enough to say he will win but I predict we will see who the real pretenders are by the time it all rolls into Paris and I'm predicting it won't be Armstrong.

 

[DJ Sprtsch]

Thought this thread was going to be about La Vuelta?

It has been my favourite GT for years, the organizers are not so conservative as the French and usually try out new ways of running a three wek tour. For instance a couple of years ago when they had lots of relatively short stages, which actually gave a harder race. You can't give the breakaway much rope when the stage is 140km.
And then, there's a lot more climbing of course.
Though this year I find that having stages in The Netherlands and Belgium a bit ridiculous really. But probably a wise decision commercially.

 

[Bagster]

Thought this thread was going to be about La Vuelta?

It has been my favourite GT for years, the organizers are not so conservative as the French and usually try out new ways of running a three wek tour. For instance a couple of years ago when they had lots of relatively short stages, which actually gave a harder race. You can't give the breakaway much rope when the stage is 140km.
And then, there's a lot more climbing of course.
Though this year I find that having stages in The Netherlands and Belgium a bit ridiculous really. But probably a wise decision commercially.

Not really, it was started by Alp whining about the LA saturation and trying to deflect us towards the Vuelta. While I agree with him about the over the top crap around the AC vs LA hype, I would prefer to stay in the present and the present is Le Tour!