2012 Vuelta a Espana

[Bond.ShaneBond]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know it June. I know there isn't even a Tour thread yet. I also know this won't get beyond one page until after the race starts.

I don't care.

This is the Race of the Year. Tired on one week races that are won in the ITT? Tired of Grand Tours that save their powder for the final week(end)? Tired of cyclists that don't attack?

Wake up.

Do you like summit finishes? Good, the Vuelta has ten of them.

Not enamoured of ITT? Don't worry, there are only 40km of it, and it has a cat 3 climb in the middle of it.

Do you like cyclists who attack? Contador is back. Purito and Anton will be there too. Maybe Scarponi as well.

Worried they won't be able to give Contador a challenge? Well Andy Schleck will probably be there too, and he will HAVE to try due to his pathetic season. Yes, the best head to head battle in cycling will be back at the Vuelta.

So when you are watching Sky dominating the mountains in July, with Evans, Menchov and Nibali barely hanging on, never mind attacking Wiggins, don't worry.

The end of August and the start of September is going to be the best three weeks of cycling this year.

 

[thebostrich]

Lets hope SBS ramp up their coverage even more. Can't wait to see Andy vs. Alby again, hopefully they are both back in good form. Pity about Andy pulling out of the tour

 

[Bond.ShaneBond]

Hopefully it will encourage him to try and get early season results. Bloke still hasn't won a stage race, ffs.

 

[thebostrich]

Hopefully it will encourage him to try and get early season results. Bloke still hasn't won a stage race, ffs.

Well technically he has (2010 TdF)

 

[Bond.ShaneBond]

Grand Tour

Just go to Trentino next year and ****ing win it, Andy.

 

[TheBigT]

Been waiting for this ever since the routes got released. High gradient climbs, Purito, Anton + Nieve and Bertie. What more could you ask for in a grand tour.

 

[monty1104]

Been waiting for this ever since the routes got released. High gradient climbs, Purito, Anton + Nieve and Bertie. What more could you ask for in a grand tour.

The presence of Johnny Hoogerland

 

[Slax]

In recent years I come to like the Vuelta more than the Tour. The winner is going to be the strongest rider, not the bloke with the strongest team (yes that means I beleive Wiigins will win this year's Tour). The Vuelta is also like the Tour and willing to put some extremely nasty gradients in on some climbs (Giro had one of 22% this year).

I do have to make one correction, only 6 summit finishes, this is taken from the official website

Distinctive aspects of the race

• 6 summit finishes
• 2 rest days
• 16 km. team time-trial
• 40 km. individual time-trial stage
• 37 mountain passes and hills

 

[Bond.ShaneBond]

Andy out. He is going to race some one week stage races. I use the word "race" very loosely.

 

[monty1104]

Shame. Course would suit him.

 

[TheBigT]

No Nieve or Sammy for Euska, all on Anton to offer some hope before crashing out spectacularly.

 

[Bond.ShaneBond]

Really? Lack of Nieve is surprising. Hoepfully the awesome version of Anton turns up.

 

[Caesar]

Disappointing. Was shaping up to be a great race with all the big names who missed the Tour.

Still worth watching though. Looks like a cracker course.

 

[monty1104]

While surprising given what has happened during the year, it has been Euskatels strategy for the past few years; Nieve rides Giro, Sanchez rides Tour, Anton rides Vuelta.

Sure it would be nice having all three here, but at least Anton is here. He would have been the leader and should have been in the best condition of the three.

 

[monty1104]

Provisional startlists up on steephill. Froome is the only repeat from the tour for Sky at this point. Movistar look strong, obviously hoping to go back to back with Cobo.

 

[Ichabod Noodle]

Just looked at the route. Nothing south of Madrid and Madrid is in the middle. Not really a Tour of Spain, more a Tour of Some-of-the-Northern-bits-of-Spain. I'll wait to see who is riding before getting too excited. I will be happy to be back on Eurosport again though.

 

[monty1104]

Just looked at the route. Nothing south of Madrid and Madrid is in the middle. Not really a Tour of Spain, more a Tour of Some-of-the-Northern-bits-of-Spain. I'll wait to see who is riding before getting too excited. I will be happy to be back on Eurosport again though.

Yes, not a "Tour" as far as tourism goes, but race wise it will be interesting. For example have a look at the profile of the stage following the ITT. It is listed as a flat stage, but ends on a climb with sections of 28%

Complete opposite of Le Tour. There, the stages listed as mountainous often ended on a flat or downhill. At the Vuelta, flat stages finish in climbs.

 

[Bond.ShaneBond]

I think it is a good thing for the viewers. Vuelta's tend to feature a lot of ugly highways due to the sheer size of Spain. Hopefully with a more compact route the roads will be more interesting. As long as they give the south some sugar next year.

I suspect it is cheaper to stage it this way too, money must have been an issue.

 

[thebostrich]

Bet365 have odds up. Contador 1.57, Froome 5, Purito Rodriguez 9, Cobo 12, Anton 15.

The above mentioned, plus Menchov, Gesink, Mollema, Roche, Gadret, VDB, Cunego, Kreuziger, Monfort, could all finish on the podium IMO.

Will be interesting to see how Jeannesson, De Gendt and the OGE boys go.

Can't wait!

 

[Slax]

Bet365 have odds up. Contador 1.57, Froome 5, Purito Rodriguez 9, Cobo 12, Anton 15.

The above mentioned, plus Menchov, Gesink, Mollema, Roche, Gadret, VDB, Cunego, Kreuziger, Monfort, could all finish on the podium IMO.

Will be interesting to see how Jeannesson, De Gendt and the OGE boys go.

Can't wait!

Be interested to know who else is riding for Sky as Froome might be worth a bet at those odds.

 

[monty1104]

Be interested to know who else is riding for Sky as Froome might be worth a bet at those odds.

At this stage Uran, Henao, Flecha, Nordhaug, Stannard, Pate, Swift and Zandio are listed.

 

[Bond.ShaneBond]

JVDB is heading to Spain. Contador very impressive in the Eneco Tour over the past week as well.

 

[sblack]

I don't think Froome podiums. Contador 2011 TdF has shown how incredibly difficult it is to show the quality needed to podium in back to back Grand Tours. Admittedly, his team is looking good for mountain support, with Uran and Haneo, but don't think he can back it up.

Movistar is the team to watch, especially the 22 year old Colombian, Quintana. Has the climbing pedigree to stick with the best. Don't expect him to contend for any major jersey, as he is still very young and this will be his first 3 week Tour. Definitely one for the future.

I did find it very strange that Movistar stuck Cobo into the TdF. Seems an odd decision, and could cost him a chance at defending his jersey.

I think it will be a Contador-Anton quinella, but Contador doing it by a couple of minutes in the end.

Keeping a close eye on De Gendt and how he backs up his 3rd in the Giro

 

[Bond.ShaneBond]

Remember that AC was coming off arguably the toughest GT course in memory, and he picked up a knee injury and he had zero team support.

But there aren't many who have successfully backed up recently.

 

[sblack]

Only recently? You mean history.

I just don't see him being able to back up to the level that he has riden the TdF12 and the Vuelta 11