Who will win la Vuelta a España 2012?

[taiwan]

Samu will be recovered I suppose if he hasn't given up cycling at this point...

 

[The Hitch]

Samu will be recovered I suppose if he hasn't given up cycling at this point...

yeah. finaly that samu and fuji team everyone has been waiting for and Contador is there.

Also i expect good form from Valverde.

 

[Duartista]

Valverde isn't riding. At least, that's what he said last week.

 

[TheEnoculator]

This is probably the most lop-sided GT since the LA Tour years. Froome might give Contador challenges on some climbs, but overall it won't be enough.

 

[ericthesportsman6]

Why is everyone so sure AC will be at his best?

 

[LaFlorecita]

Why is everyone so sure AC will be at his best?

No one is sure.

 

[ericthesportsman6]

No one is sure.

The lopsided poll and the opinion on here of how one sided this GT will be disagrees.

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

The lopsided poll and the opinion on here of how one sided this GT will be disagrees.

Since AS probably won't be properly motivated or in form, AC doesn't need to be in top form to win this, just good form will be enough. Unless Froome continues to amaze and climbs better than anything he has shown so far

 

[LaFlorecita]

The lopsided poll and the opinion on here of how one sided this GT will be disagrees.

The poll shows who people think will win. It doesn't mean they think Alberto will be at his best.

 

[Fight.The.Power]

I think this could be the best Vuelta in years providing everyone we hope will be there will be there.

I'd really love to see Rodriguez win and with all those MTF's it should suit him. But after such a disappointing Giro I can't look any further than Contador FTW.

 

[Red Rick]

Why is everyone so sure AC will be at his best?

We're not sure, but the majority is sure he's good enough to beat the competition, which still is a huge difference

 

[ericthesportsman6]

We're not sure, but the majority is sure he's good enough to beat the competition, which still is a huge difference

Makes sense when you put it that way. But I think AC not at 100% could struggle with Anton and Rodriguez on the steeper stuff. He does have a large advantage in the TT on everyone except Froome. On that note, could someone give me a link to Froome saying he's actually going to ride the Vuelta?

 

[theyoungest]

Alberto Contador, of course. He'll win the stage to Eibar and build from there.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Lulz airstream voted for Andy, so much for that "Cobo or Froome" bs.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Alberto Contador Velasco 123 - 67.21%
Christopher Froome 29 - 15.85%
Vino/Other 9 - 4.92%
Andy Schleck 7 - 3.83%
Igor Antón Hernandez 7 - 3.83%
Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver 6 - 3.28%
Robert Gesink 2 - 1.09%
Bauke Mollema 0 - 0%
Voters: 183.

16 July

 

[jobiwan]

Lulz airstream voted for Andy, so much for that "Cobo or Froome" bs.

At least I'm consistent with my stupidity!

 

[H2OUUP2]

Rodriguez.

I want AC to win, but I feel him and AS will not be in proper form. Froome, if there, will contend, but be tired. Gesink, well, he has to show me more to get my vote for a GT win.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

I hope Andy would be fit for this. I was so looking to see what he could do this tdf.

 

[jencredible]

For the record I think Contador will win but I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to see him suffer for lack of racing form and see someone like Rodriguez take it. Andy is unlikely to be motivated and fit, maybe a stage win but not the overall. Froome might look good in the first week but I can't imagine his form will remain for week three.

We also have to remember we've never seen Froome riding for himself at a Grand Tour or his peak form against Contador. I mean what's Contador's best performance? Giro '11 probably? He beat Nibbles by like 6 mins? After Saturday what are Wiggins and Froome going to have on a relatively in-form Shark? 4 - 5 minutes? That fails to mention the time Froome may have gotten in two tours had his wings not been clipped. Of course he's benefiting from the the ITTs and Contador is probably his equal in that regard but we really don't know his ceiling in the climbs either. If Samu, Cadel and Frank are put under pressure I think it's hard to write him off as at least possibly capable of hanging with Contador and Schleck. Also you have to factor teams. I don't think it would happen this year or even at next year's tour (although Sky should) but I think that if Sky got behind Froome he could compete with AC and AS in any grand tour. Of course this could all be rendered moot by clinic reasons.

 

[Fidolix]

The first Giro AC rode for Riis, he was concerned AC didn´t have a scheduled training plan issued by the team for AC to follow, AC´s reply was: "Bjarne, give me 30 days on my own and I promise I will be in top shape for a GT".

Riis allowed it, and I don´t think we ever seen a performance like AC did in that Giro in 2011 before or since, meaning the guy know very well how to prepare (and pls, keep the stupid clinic remarks in the clinic), my point is, the guy have a top motivation and can train alone the hard way, knowing his body well enough to know what it takes.

I´m pretty sure we will see a Contador in top shape and competitive, regards his lack of race days up to the Vuelta.

 

[Poursuivant]

Cavendish going to this this year??

 

[icefire]

The first Giro AC rode for Riis, he was concerned AC didn´t have a scheduled training plan issued by the team for AC to follow, AC´s reply was: "Bjarne, give me 30 days on my own and I promise I will be in top shape for a GT".

Riis allowed it, and I don´t think we ever seen a performance like AC did in that Giro in 2011 before or since, meaning the guy know very well how to prepare (and pls, keep the stupid clinic remarks in the clinic), my point is, the guy have a top motivation and can train alone the hard way, knowing his body well enough to know what it takes.

I´m pretty sure we will see a Contador in top shape and competitive, regards his lack of race days up to the Vuelta.

We've all read reports of riders being hammered by Valverde in training rides during his ban and we can see his true capabilities in a big race, after a few wins early in the season. True, AC has been away from racing only 6 months whereas Valverde was away for 18 months. But I wouldn't underestimate the possible effect of lack of competitive racing. Even if he wins, it will be closer to Giro 2008 than Giro 2011.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Time gaps in the TTT won't count towards the GC

http://www.lavuelta.com/12pr/en/recorrido/index.html

"This sixteen-kilometre stage, which will not affect the overall classification, gives the teams the opportunity to present themselves to the general public and their fans. The last few kilometres are highly technical and will demand the full focus of all the riders."

 

[cineteq]

Time gaps in the TTT won't count towards the GC

http://www.lavuelta.com/12pr/en/recorrido/index.html

"This sixteen-kilometre stage, which will not affect the overall classification, gives the teams the opportunity to present themselves to the general public and their fans. The last few kilometres are highly technical and will demand the full focus of all the riders."

what a waste of resources...

 

[the asian]

Time gaps in the TTT won't count towards the GC

http://www.lavuelta.com/12pr/en/recorrido/index.html

"This sixteen-kilometre stage, which will not affect the overall classification, gives the teams the opportunity to present themselves to the general public and their fans. The last few kilometres are highly technical and will demand the full focus of all the riders."

What the hell is that?? Why have it for 16 KM if it's not going to count. A prologue like TTT of about 5Km would have been sufficient for parade.
Better to scrap the whole stage.