Vuelta a España Who Will Win the Vuelta 2019?

[geisterhome]

I don't know who will win, but Roglic won't mark my words!

 

[HelloDolly]

All the moaning about the strength of the field and dubious arguments aside I think this will be a great race and I am looking forward to it

I think the first half of the GC battle will definitely be Roglic v Chaves v Valverde
And what is not to like about that ..
Uran will also be up there and Quintana

Expect the later half of the race see MAL , Aru & a few more enter the battle. The Vuelta is usually won towards the end which is another thing I like about this race

Its going to be storming

Interesting to see what Podgcar & Martinez can do

No way will Roglic walk it imo but he will win
MAL & Quintana on the podium

 

[tobydawq]

One of the 'favorites' has a 6th place in a 2.1 race as the best GC result this year and another said that he is using the Vuelta to prepare for the Worlds.

Were Kruijswijk and Aru busy that day?

Are you talking about Chaves? It was 2.HC (not very important, granted) and the first part of the season was always about finding his feet.

Also, the worlds a bigger target for him than the Vuelta? That would make zero sense.

 

[luckyboy]

Eurosport already suggesting that Geoghegan Hart will get top ten overall and that Poels would be more comfortable supporting him.. Hugh Carthy got talked about for like 30 seconds. Bizarre

 

[roundabout]

Are you talking about Chaves? It was 2.HC (not very important, granted) and the first part of the season was always about finding his feet.

Also, the worlds a bigger target for him than the Vuelta? That would make zero sense.

Oh, right, I am apparently still living in 2018.

Finding his feet or not, a rider with this kind of season should not be considered a GT GC favorite

https://cqranking.com/men/asp/gen/rider_palm.asp?riderid=16941&year=2019&all=1&current=0

And the second part refers to Fuglsang.

 

[tobydawq]

And the second part refers to Fuglsang.

I probably need a reading comprehension course.

But I do have Chaves as a favourite for this race, regardless of how his season has been.

 

[Pantani_lives]

After the TTT Superman López is looking like a real contender. However he can still lose 2-3 minutes in the ITT. Astana was successful in the one-week races in the first part of the season by riding aggressively as a team, so I hope they don't change their strategy now. López will still need to take time on Roglic, and also on people like Kelderman and Urán.

 

[Pirazziattacks]

Eurosport already suggesting that Geoghegan Hart will get top ten overall and that Poels would be more comfortable supporting him.. Hugh Carthy got talked about for like 30 seconds. Bizarre

I'm surprised they didn't talk about Carthy for 30 minutes.

 

[Leinster]

I'm surprised they didn't talk about Carthy for 30 minutes.

Saving it for his epic 150km break later in the race.

 

[Pantani_lives]

After two stages my list of favourites looks something like this:

(1) 1. Roglic
(4) 2. Quintana
(3) 3. López
(5) 4. Valverde
(9) 5. Urán
(12) 6. Aru
(11) 7. Kelderman
(8) 8. Chaves
(10) 9. Majka
(16) 10. Pogacar
(/) 11. Nieve
(/) 12. Roche

 

[Cookster15]

Strong statement from Roglic today. He is my favourite. He didn't come into the Vuelta too hot like he did at the Giro.

 

[Escarabajo]

Nothing change today. Same 2 as favorites.

 

[Cance > TheRest]

Strong statement from Roglic today. He is my favourite. He didn't come into the Vuelta too hot like he did at the Giro.

I agree. He doesn't have to be spectacular to win this Vuelta, if he can just keep Spiderman (sorry, but I find this nickname much funnier) on a leash. The ITT is plenty long to gain whatever he may lose in the relatively short MTF's.

 

[Lequack]

Lopez better not be losing time by slapping fans this time.

 

[Red Rick]

Yeah Roglic is definitely climbing better than in the Giro right now. I really feel like Lopez needed more time than 12s today. In this form, Roglic could well take time on MAL on the hilly Basque stages, and he won't lose much on the murito's if at all either.

 

[Rollthedice]

I'm not sure what is a better or worse climbing Roglic since all he is doing this year in GTs is follow wheels. There's of course a certain level needed to do this depending on the watts developed by the man in front of him. Anyway, he was the favorite, still is. Lopez unreliable, Nairo an inconsistent mistery, Valverde will most likely have his bad day (s) and the others don't matter.

 

[JosephK]

I'm not sure what is a better or worse climbing Roglic since all he is doing this year in GTs is follow wheels. There's of course a certain level needed to do this depending on the watts developed by the man in front of him. Anyway, he was the favorite, still is. Lopez unreliable, Nairo an inconsistent mistery, Valverde will most likely have his bad day (s) and the others don't matter.

Could Pogacar be a surprise? I think he had a really great stage 5 and will probably do well in the ITT, but expecting him to be really strong in week 3 is probably asking too much of the 20-year-old. It kind of looks like MAL and Roglič have to be the big favorites (for now).

 

[Koronin]

At this point, I'd go with Roglic and Valverde as the most reliable choices. It will be very interesting to see what Pogacar will be able to do.

 

[Son of Amsterhammer]

Looks like a sure fire 2 horse race. Which was predictable, but still little frustrating this early.

 

[tobydawq]

Looks like a sure fire 2 horse race. Which was predictable, but still little frustrating this early.

Valverde and which one of Roglic and Lopez? #gettingtiredofthisunderestimatingvalverdebullshit

 

[Pantani_lives]

Duel between Roglic and Lopez. The latter could have been a minute ahead with better team support. Roglic can take over two minutes in the ITT. The Movistars will ride against each other for third place.

 

[Blanco]

Duel between Roglic and Lopez. The latter could have been a minute ahead with better team support. Roglic can take over two minutes in the ITT. The Movistars will ride against each other for third place.

His team supported him alright, it was him who didn't respond when he should.

 

[Red Rick]

I'm not sure what is a better or worse climbing Roglic since all he is doing this year in GTs is follow wheels. There's of course a certain level needed to do this depending on the watts developed by the man in front of him. Anyway, he was the favorite, still is. Lopez unreliable, Nairo an inconsistent mistery, Valverde will most likely have his bad day (s) and the others don't matter.

In the Giro, maybe. But yesterday was some very high level climbing.

He's cautious to not blow himself up. Taking turns with Valverde was a safe option.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Valverde and which one of Roglic and Lopez? #gettingtiredofthisunderestimatingvalverdebullshit

What, people still rate Valverde as possible GT winner? #gettingtiredofthisoverestimatingvalverdebullshit

 

[tobydawq]

What, people still rate Valverde as possible GT winner? #gettingtiredofthisoverestimatingvalverdebullshit

Is there any other rider where it is conceivable that he rides with Roglic and López as clearly one of the three best climbers of the race, and then his GC chances are just completely discarded because of reasons?

Especially when said rider was supposed to have his forces elsewhere?