Home field advantage had greater importance back then.Contador who might've lost the 2008 Vuelta a Espana against his teammate Leipheimer if he hadn't counter attacked Valverde on Angliru!
Leipheimer who was in the shape of his career at that years Vuelta, but still.
Then you have the likes of Simoni & Cunego, that where nowhere in their Vuelta gc attempts. Which can't be solely explained with the weak level of the Giro d'Italia during that era.
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