Who is the favorite to win Vuelta a espana?

[dblueroom]

Who said AC wasn't riding the tour. Can you cite where you got that informaation.

http://www.velonews.com/article/96153

according to this article top three (at vuelta) from last year wont be back

 

[Bala Verde]

riders like: basso, Valverde, Rodriquez, Gesink, Sanchez, Mosquera will go all out for the vuelta. and them alone are a pretty good line up in my opinion. Riders like schleck, Kruziger, evans, cunego will (i assume) only be there for wc prep.

Finally someone mentioning Mosquera. Hasn't he built his season around the Vuelta? I didn't hear about him dropping out this year, but on the other hand, I haven;t heard anything about him for awhile. I wonder how good he will come out this year...

 

[sherer]

Think Levi could have improved from last year if he had riden. Not sure about Evans but think Valverde could be in with a shout and Basso could be up there too.

Andy is too young to do two GTs but maybe Frank could although as stated they are riding for Fulslang

 

[aarnold517]

Finally someone mentioning Mosquera. Hasn't he built his season around the Vuelta? I didn't hear about him dropping out this year, but on the other hand, I haven;t heard anything about him for awhile. I wonder how good he will come out this year...

Agree with bala, mosquera dropped out before the start of the giro because of injury so the vuelta is his main focus this year. with last year's podium gone he is the top returning rider and he only got stronger as the vuelta went on, and with a climbing heavy race i could definitely see him finishing high up in GC

That being said I don't think he is on the level that basso, valverde, gesink and sanchez are on. Also, 06 was the last time valverde didn't ride the tour for a high GC and he finished second in the vuelta. Could be a sign of things to come.

 

[dblueroom]

Andy is too young to do two GTs but maybe Frank could although as stated they are riding for Fulslang[/QUOTE]

Andy and Frank riding for Fulslang? I find that odd. I think Andy has better chance at this than Fulslang and than at the WC if he has the form. And people think Cadel Evans did a great ITT, Andy is no more than 15 seconds behind him on that Annency 39k.

 

[ericthesportsman6]

If evans takes the vuelta not just as a traning ride then he will blitz the timetrail apart as none of the other gc riders can really time trail with him. Only sanchez can time trial. Schleck and evans though have said that the vuelta is training for the worlds but if he opportunity arrives for he gc then they'll go for it. Not including evans or schleck my pick is:
1. Sanchez
2. Basso
3. Gesink
4. Valverde

Not being byist at all there with the evans pick? I'm not saying he's not a contender if he goes for the Vuelta, but how can you still be so sure of him after the Tour? And if Basso and Sanchez are on form Evans wont gain much if any time on them in a 30k tt.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Finally someone mentioning Mosquera. Hasn't he built his season around the Vuelta? I didn't hear about him dropping out this year, but on the other hand, I haven;t heard anything about him for awhile. I wonder how good he will come out this year...

form me mosquera is like simoni, they are pretty quiet through out the year, but always race really well in the home GT. he will be up there, doubt he can win, but might podium

 

[titan_90]

Here is my top 3

1. Ivan Basso
2. Alejandro Valverde
3. Samuel Sánchez

 

[mr. tibbs]

also.. anyone wonder if conta indeed doesn't ride, that maybe Zubeldia might get a go to lead?

I hope so.

1. Valverde
2. Sanchez
3. Gesink

 

["flahute"]

Jakob Fuglsang
Andy Schleck
Alexandre Vinokourov

 

[larryduff]

Excuse my ignorance but Ccn Gesink timetrial? He looks a real prospect and injury in Le Tour may help him in the Vuelta. Looking to have a bet on this and at 16/1 he looks good value to me.

 

[Cobber]

I am not sure who is going to win the Vuelta. One thing I am sure of, however, is that the Vuelta is going to be a hell of a lot more entertaining than this years TdF. I can't wait!

 

[Jayarbie]

I'll take Basso.

 

[ericthesportsman6]

Excuse my ignorance but Ccn Gesink timetrial? He looks a real prospect and injury in Le Tour may help him in the Vuelta. Looking to have a bet on this and at 16/1 he looks good value to me.

No, he still has a long way to go in that discipline, but due to the climbing nature of this years Vuelta, he will still be a major contender.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Andy is too young to do two GTs but maybe Frank could although as stated they are riding for Fulslang

Andy and Frank riding for Fulslang? I find that odd. I think Andy has better chance at this than Fulslang and than at the WC if he has the form. And people think Cadel Evans did a great ITT, Andy is no more than 15 seconds behind him on that Annency 39k.[/QUOTE]

Schleck was fighting for a podium spot, evans was fightiing for nothing. Who said that cadel did a great tt around annecy. Nobody i've heard.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Not being byist at all there with the evans pick? I'm not saying he's not a contender if he goes for the Vuelta, but how can you still be so sure of him after the Tour? And if Basso and Sanchez are on form Evans wont gain much if any time on them in a 30k tt.

Why not? Tell me 1 gc rider who can time trial as well as evans who is riding the vuelta. I see him doing quite well in spain but i'm not sure if his ambitions will be to get on the podium?

 

[larryduff]

No, he still has a long way to go in that discipline, but due to the climbing nature of this years Vuelta, he will still be a major contender.

Right so thanks. Think I may go for him each way.

 

[davidw]

Why not? Tell me 1 gc rider who can time trial as well as evans who is riding the vuelta. I see him doing quite well in spain but i'm not sure if his ambitions will be to get on the podium?

I like Cadel as a racer, he seems like a decent guy, but he seems to have a knack for stealing defeat from the jaws of victory. That aside, I don't think he has the energy/motivation that guys like Valverde and Basso do.

I agree that it looks to be a good race this year. Often, the Giro and Vuelta are a bit more interesting than the Tour - maybe not quite as high caliber, but more unpredictable and less certain.

 

[eric_vv]

No, he still has a long way to go in that discipline, but due to the climbing nature of this years Vuelta, he will still be a major contender.

Actually I don't agree, Gesink isn't good in short TT's but is much better in longer TT's. Just look at this years Dauphine for an example.

1st stage 12 km TT 46th at 1.02 (from Evans)
4th stage 42 KM TT 13th at 1.46 (1.38 from Evans)

Gesink is a diesel he doesn't have the pure speed of the specialists but has the power to do well in the longer TT's. It's the same with climbing he needs either long or steep climbs (Huy in FW suits him very well), the short punchy climbs don't suit him (He was still good enough to finish 3th in AGR but that was a tactical battle).

 

[badboyberty]

Why not? Tell me 1 gc rider who can time trial as well as evans who is riding the vuelta. I see him doing quite well in spain but i'm not sure if his ambitions will be to get on the podium?

I'd take a star off Evans's ranking this year as I'm suspect he'll pull out early to prep for the Worlds... but as he took two weeks off in mid-July, maybe he thinks he's rested enough to race the Vuelta and the Worlds seriously.

 

[tretow95]

alejandro valverde or mosquera

the fewer tt's will favour them over kloden and evans and sanchez and basso

also damiano cunego will ride he, is a dark horse but will probs not go for overall, just to get him in shape for the worlds.

i think some one like Janez Brajkovic or zubledia will be leader for astana ( not levi lance AC or popovych) and those two are outsiders for a podium position.

the points competition will be tight with out cav

 

[tretow95]

Why not? Tell me 1 gc rider who can time trial as well as evans who is riding the vuelta. I see him doing quite well in spain but i'm not sure if his ambitions will be to get on the podium?[/QUOTE]

basso can tt just as goood as evans can an SS is a decent time trialer

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Excuse my ignorance but Ccn Gesink timetrial? He looks a real prospect and injury in Le Tour may help him in the Vuelta. Looking to have a bet on this and at 16/1 he looks good value to me.

Gesink is not a bad time trialer, I'd say he is at the same level as schleck. (andy) when he is older he will have a pretty decent TT level to accomadate his nifty climbing ability

Gesink is a diesel he doesn't have the pure speed of the specialists but has the power to do well in the longer TT's. It's the same with climbing he needs either long or steep climbs (Huy in FW suits him very well), the short punchy climbs don't suit him (He was still good enough to finish 3th in AGR but that was a tactical battle).

I agree that stepper longer climbs suit gesink more, but he is still very good on the short punchy climbs (you don't get a 3rd at amstel just by tactical riding, and he changed the WCs with his attacks on the short climbs last year) for his age he is very good in those types of climbs too... it's just he is exceptional in the high mountains for his age Good point about the Huy btw, I was certain he could win at FW this year if it hadn,t been for the injury (anyone remember his ride up the huy in 2008...? was brilliant)

 

[auscyclefan94]

Can Mosquera tt? Sanchezz would have to win this. He will take time on everyone in the tt and then be able to hold hid position or gain some time in the mountains.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

not really. will be able to follow most in the mountains though.
who can you make such a statement? although he had made the vuelta his main goal of the season, no one knows what he will be like come september.

I still maintain winner could be any of the following: Valverde, Basso, Sanchez, Gesink, Rogriguez and maybe even mosquera. I don't consider Fugslang a real contender, he comes 7th or 8th (cant remember) in the dauphne and he is suddenly a GC contender? (oh and i guess evans could too, but like the schlecks, and kruziger i don't think he is there for vuelta victory... and im not sure he will have the form anyway)