Vuelta a España Who Will Win the Vuelta 2019?

[Lequack]

Carapaz is ruled out of the Vuelta. Not sure why Ineos don't send Geraint or Bernal.

 

[search]

Burgos finished on Saturday, so they must have paid good money to get him to the Netherlands the day after, I guess.

Kruijswijk did the same one though, so it's not that it's too unusual

20k it was

Una 'sorprendente' caída aparta a Carapaz de la Vuelta a España

El ciclista ecuatoriano se fue a correr el domingo un critérium de exhibición a Holanda, sin permiso del Movistar, y se accidentó de forma considerable

www.elperiodico.com

and Movistar didn't know about it. His agent made the deal without informing the team

 

[TomLPC]

The rubbish field is exactly why the race will be good

 

[HelloDolly]

Its not a rubbish field...only Ineos missing really
Jumbo, Movistar (ex Carapaz now) Astana & EF brought their best

I am going with Roglic, MAL & Valverde for the podium

 

[Leinster]

Crits are more dangerous than normal training rides.

Are they? Are they more dangerous than riding on public roads with distracted drivers and speeding cars etc?

All I’m saying is I don’t think Carapaz took an undue risk by riding a bicycle race on a Sunday before starting an important 3-week bicycle race the following Saturday.

I doubt that it’s the most ideal preparation for someone with ambitions to win the important 3-week bicycle race, but that’s a completely separate discussion.

 

[roundabout]

Its not a rubbish field...only Ineos missing really
Jumbo, Movistar (ex Carapaz now) Astana & EF brought their best

I am going with Roglic, MAL & Valverde for the podium

https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/vuelta-a-espana/2019/gc/startlist/relative-team-strength

https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/tour-de-france/2019/gc/startlist/relative-team-strength

https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/giro-d-italia/2019/gc/startlist/relative-team-strength

 

[del1962]

Carapaz is ruled out of the Vuelta. Not sure why Ineos don't send Geraint or Bernal.

Geraint is focusing on Worlds ITT and Bernal I don't think another GT for Egan is a good idea after winning the Tour

 

[Rollthedice]

If Roglic doesn't win this he'll be a great dom for Dum next year.

 

[Lequack]

If Roglic doesn't win this he'll be a great dom for Dum next year.

Or they will both dom for Kruijswik.

 

[tobydawq]

Or they will both dom for Kruijswik.

Or they will all dom for De Plus or Bennett.

Or Vingegaard.

 

[Rollthedice]

On another note, just watched the team presentation and apparently Movistar's leader is now Nairito "Make Arkea Great" Quintana.

 

[Sestriere]

On another note, just watched the team presentation and apparently Movistar's leader is now Nairito "Make Arkea Great" Quintana.

Yay, looking forward to another three weeks of Quintana bashing...

 

[Lequack]

Colombians huddle on the left. Roglic with the extra long soccer socks.

 

[hayneplane]

Quintana looks a lot younger and more like his actual age in casual team wear in those pictures than he does in full racing gear during riding.

 

[Lequack]

I wonder if Valverde will ever accept his hair might not be "groomable" anymore. I know how he feels though, I'm in the same place.

 

[tobydawq]

Quintana out-smiling Chaves, now I have seen everything.

 

[Koronin]

I wonder if Valverde will ever accept his hair might not be "groomable" anymore. I know how he feels though, I'm in the same place.

Well he finally appears to have accepted the fact that he can't do anything about the fact he's loosing his hair. You need to give him more time. However, don't expect him to ever shave it. His oldest brother has worse hair loss and doesn't shave his. (Their middle brother is fully bald).

 

[jaylew]

Its not a rubbish field...only Ineos missing really
Jumbo, Movistar (ex Carapaz now) Astana & EF brought their best

I am going with Roglic, MAL & Valverde for the podium

I don't know. Seems super weak to me.

The favorite is Roglic, who's faded at the end of his last two GTs.
MAL should be solid

After that a whole lot of question marks:

Chaves and Aru are still trying to regain top form after illnesses and injury.

Majka, Kelderman, and Meintjes

Pogacar is in his first GT

And then a few guys doing back-to back GTs. Who knows how they'll go? Of that group, Bala and Krushweak are supposedly not even riding for GC and who knows what to expect from Uran and Nairo these days even when they aren't coming off another GT? Aru makes this list as well.

Who else? Latour?

I don't know, seems like a lackluster field to me but I do expect some good racing .

 

[tobydawq]

The favorite is Roglic, who's faded at the end of his last two GTs.

Yeah, such a fade in the Tour when he won stage 19 by being clearly the best on the day and then not time-trialing well the subsequent day because of an elbow injury.

 

[Noddy97]

I don't know. Seems super weak to me.

The favorite is Roglic, who's faded at the end of his last two GTs.
MAL should be solid

After that a whole lot of question marks:

Chaves and Aru are still trying to regain top form after illnesses and injury.

Majka, Kelderman, and Meintjes

Pogacar is in his first GT

And then a few guys doing back-to back GTs. Who knows how they'll go? Of that group, Bala and Krushweak are supposedly not even riding for GC and who knows what to expect from Uran and Nairo these days even when they aren't coming off another GT? Aru makes this list as well.

Who else? Latour?

I don't know, seems like a lackluster field to me but I do expect some good racing .

This tour had a very weak field too. I think the level of the gc contenders is lower than 5/10 years ago.

 

[movingtarget]

Quintana out-smiling Chaves, now I have seen everything.

Finding a new job can do that sometimes................

 

[movingtarget]

What actually happened to Esteban Chaves after his excellent 2016-season? Has he had any serious injuries or illness?

Yes more illness than injuries it seems but 2016 looked like being his break out year with two grand tour podiums. It's been a struggle ever since. Think he had glandular fever for quite a while.

 

[HelloDolly]

Seemingly Chaves is flying ...good..... someone to give Roglic & Valverde a run for their money on the Murs

MAL & Quintana should come into play later on

Cant for the life of me think why Fuglsang turned up....after such a hard spring and Tour ...you'd think he would need a rest and Astana have enough Doms for MAL
Same with Stevie K

Makja and TJ should top 10

 

[HelloDolly]

https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/vuelta-a-espana/2019/gc/startlist/relative-team-strength

https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/tour-de-france/2019/gc/startlist/relative-team-strength

https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/giro-d-italia/2019/gc/startlist/relative-team-strength

This tour had a very weak field too. I think the level of the gc contenders is lower than 5/10 years ago.

First and foremost providing a link to dubious statistics doesn't prove anything
Some teams strength in points is based on classic wins etc ....not a valid measure for climbing strength at GTs and not really significant

Secondly the ludicrous idea that riders are weaker than 10 years ago is ridiculous and without evidence ...
It is obvious that one drugs are not in play like back then but also recent GTs have been very fast with some climbs in the last few GTs climbed faster than any time since the early 2000s and some faster than ever before with power outputs very high

Also it is obvious that PCS points mean little if alot of riders are at the same level which is the case ...as points are distributed more evenly than when there were fewer riders wining more races

This is not an indication of weakness just an indication of many riders are at or near the same level ...which seems to be the case

But I dont know why I bother writing this as so many moaners on here who think strength is only Pantani (who was doped to the gills) and refuse to see that cycling has changed and riders are as strong but clean and there are several similar level riders rather than a few way out in front

And anyway true racing is not about Ineos type 'strength' being present but about similar level competition, attacking racing without the control

 

[movingtarget]

Seemingly Chaves is flying ...good..... someone to give Roglic & Valverde a run for their money on the Murs

MAL & Quintana should come into play later on

Cant for the life of me think why Fuglsang turned up....after such a hard spring and Tour ...you'd think he would need a rest and Astana have enough Doms for MAL
Same with Stevie K

Makja and TJ should top 10

Fuglsang didn't complete the hardest part of the Tour which is the only thing in his favour but then no one did completely due to the stage changes. Some of the Tour riders might be a little fresher than usual going into the Vuelta but Fuglsang's spring form seemed to be already on the wane before he crashed out. Astana must be short of mountain doms.