- Nov 16, 2013
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- Feb 20, 2010
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Hey, it's not like I'm the only one to note this even in the last 24 hours in this thread. You know, maybe my criticisms wouldn't be so predictable and repetitive if the actions that precipitated them weren't so predictable and repetitive too.
View: https://x.com/javiskimo/status/1908110571557249104
The Q36.5 invitation is the least questionable on the list, let's not be chauvinistic... Pidcock is more of a cyclist than the leaders of the 12 or 13 WT teams that will be going to La Vuelta.
The Q36.5 invitation is the least questionable on the list, let's not be chauvinistic... Pidcock is more of a cyclist than the leaders of the 12 or 13 WT teams that will be going to La Vuelta.
- Jun 10, 2010
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I'm having flashbacks from all those Vueltas where they'd invite some foreign team just to get their big star in the race and then said big star would take it as a vacation and proceed to do nothing at all for a few days before withdrawing, and the rest of the team would naturally suck throughout the whole race. Looking at you, Savoldelli/Alexia
(I'm not saying I expect this to happen with Pidcock, I just find it funny)
Savoldelli-Alexia FFS ahah I had forgotten. I remember the 2003 Vuelta when Cipollini just rode the prologue
- Jul 8, 2017
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- Jul 16, 2024
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The way all sports go... The only way to make it work is just to embrace it and franchise the damn thing. And then do your best to make every team as equal as possible. Any given sunday. NFL baby.
- Jun 10, 2010
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Hahaha. Better than that other time when he came, was an embarrassment for a couple days, punched someone right before stage 5 and was kicked out from the race. Man, those 00s Vueltas were really something
- Mar 12, 2009
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Sort of like Froome has been doing the past few years.
from the Spanish twitter, the Burgos Provincial Deputation has been committing to the Vuelta for years, as a backer too, getting a grand depart too. Spanish teams have money to buy their wild cards too
from twitter
I even think the problem isn't Q36.5, who is probably interested in coming and showing off at #LaVuelta25. For me, the problem is other teams who are forced to come and will send a team simply to cover their expenses.
I even think the problem isn't Q36.5, who is probably interested in coming and showing off at #LaVuelta25. For me, the problem is other teams who are forced to come and will send a team simply to cover their expenses.
As I remember from last year: the whole Vuelta team was preparing on the mountain peaking for this big race. In the spring they do had some results just like this year with Berrade and Uriarte.
The Q36.5 Vuelta wildcard is crap and everybody knows it. From zero GT to 2 in 1 year. Why: because of Pidcock? I was never impressed by him. If ASO wants guys like Azparren, De La Cruz or Nizzolo at their race, fine but don't mention Pidcock as sole reason. Kern Pharma should have always been there after those 3 stages of 2024. Burgos and Caja deserve their place also after some attractive riding this year (mainly with the non-Spaniards). As I am not against a 23rd team in a GT; the world was better without Q36.5 in the Giro/Vuelta and Tudor in the Tour.
that's a personal subjective view. it depends if one likes those teams or not. the fanbase is very wide and has thousands different fav and non-fav riders and teams. I agree Kern should have been there though, even though I like Pidcock and Q36.5. they already got the Giro wild card
- Nov 16, 2013
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I honestly don't get all this uproar. Q36.5 is a better team than all the Spanish teams. And I definitely think it's odd to be in favor of three Spanish teams getting wildcards to the Vuelta just because they are Spanish. THAT would be a decision with no sporting merit and I for one am glad that the new top 30-rule will soon be at play because it doesn't add anything to a race to have eight orange-clad Basques ride around in a Grand Tour, no matter how big a fan my dear countryman of whom you know I speak may be.
The issue at hand of course is the snubbing of EKP, who rode so well in the race last year, but it's the very rigid rotation of the Spanish teams by the organisers the critique should be aimed at, not the inclusion of a non-Spanish team.
That said, I also would like the organisers to have more wildcards to hand out and fewer teams automatically invited (20 are way too many) but that is a criticism aimed at the current system, not at the specific decision to invite Q36.5 which does make sense even if it's rooted in a belief that Pidcock is a bigger star than he actually is.
The issue at hand of course is the snubbing of EKP, who rode so well in the race last year, but it's the very rigid rotation of the Spanish teams by the organisers the critique should be aimed at, not the inclusion of a non-Spanish team.
That said, I also would like the organisers to have more wildcards to hand out and fewer teams automatically invited (20 are way too many) but that is a criticism aimed at the current system, not at the specific decision to invite Q36.5 which does make sense even if it's rooted in a belief that Pidcock is a bigger star than he actually is.
Maybe GTs should allow 4-5 unattached riders to just free-lance it?
I always like to see the local teams in GTs, even if they're only going to be in a bunch of no-hope breaks. On the other hand, what if we finally see GT Pidcock this year? That would be crazy.
- Feb 20, 2010
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That sounds like you agree with my contentions about the invites and the locking off of the top tier almost entirely, then.
- Dec 27, 2015
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Look it's quite obvious the Vuelta organisation puts the Spanish PCT-teams on a rotating cycle. Last year Euskatel and Kern, this year Burgos and Caja.
Yes Kern rode a brilliant Vuelta, yes they deserve to be back based on merit but can't fault the Vuelta for giving equal opportunities to each spanish conti team.
And let's be honest. Euskatel had no business being there last year, both Caja and Burgos were much better.
I'm allright with this all 3 Wild Card teams can field a team just as good or better than that of Kern Pharma.
Yes Kern rode a brilliant Vuelta, yes they deserve to be back based on merit but can't fault the Vuelta for giving equal opportunities to each spanish conti team.
And let's be honest. Euskatel had no business being there last year, both Caja and Burgos were much better.
I'm allright with this all 3 Wild Card teams can field a team just as good or better than that of Kern Pharma.
- Nov 12, 2024
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