La Vuelta a Espana - Early Predictions

[Trojan82]

Stage 8 is impossible. With no less than 7 categorised climbs not including the uncategorised finish on Alto Base de Aitana.

Stage 13 and 14 will probably reveal the winner..... Is it a race between 5?

Basson, Schleck, Contador, Valverde and S. Sanchez? Who else could win it?

Mosquera? Kloden? Evans?

I wish it was on SBS!!

 

[Fender]

A race? Any race with Contador is just a couple of weeks of Alberto stolling through some nice secenery eventually winning the thing.

 

[Trojan82]

I don't like his chances here. He has done his bit now. He'll be there abouts but the guys who didn't ride the Tour to win will be the guys to watch out for here.

Ivan Basso is my tip.

 

[matty p]

Contador has reportedly said that he won't be riding in the Vuelta. He would win if he rode in it.

Andy Schleck has said he is only riding in preparation for the World Champs and is not aiming for a high place in the GC at the Vuelta. Cadel Evans has also said this.

If this is the case, the main chances look to be:
- Ivan Basso
- Alejandro Valverde
- Sammy Sanchez
- Robert Gesink
- Alexander Vinokourov (if he participates)

http://www.velonews.com/article/96153/andy-schleck-basso-headline-strong-vuelta-field

 

[ubolt]

SBS are showing a few early morning highlights from memory. I think it's the usual 15-20 minutes in the morning I THINK.

Is Menchov racing in this one? i know he tried to get up for the Tour, but with his form in the Tour the way it was you'd almost pick to him to get up for this one

 

[goal sneak]

Valverde

 

[Bond.ShaneBond]

Some of the profiles are nuts.

First, the 4.5k prologue.

Then, Stage 8.

Stage 9.

Stage 13.

Stage 14.

Epic.

 

[bigburger]

I don't like his chances here. He has done his bit now. He'll be there abouts but the guys who didn't ride the Tour to win will be the guys to watch out for here.

Ivan Basso is my tip.

Contador is that much better than anyone else, he could turn up at only 80%, ride himself into some decent form and still belt them. He's my personal tip.

 

[Bond.ShaneBond]

Contador is that much better than anyone else, he could turn up at only 80%, ride himself into some decent form and still belt them. He's my personal tip.

Like the Giro last year. Got told just a few days before that he was going to be riding it, he was on the beach for a holiday.

 

[Fender]

Plus, Contador letting somebody else beat him and deflate his ego abit. Never.

If he races, he wins.

 

[Bond.ShaneBond]

Plus, Contador letting somebody else beat him and deflate his ego abit. Never.

If he races, he wins.

Why would he let somebody beat him?

 

[Cruiser23]

Contador in a canter you'd think if he races...

Isn't named in the preliminary team for Astana though.

 

[Cruiser23]

Not a great distance for TT, about 60km overall.

 

[Cruiser23]

Preliminary Start List --->

 

[matty p]

The favourites in order are:
1. Basso
2. Valverde
3. S. Sanchez
4. A. Schleck
5. Gesink
6. F. Schleck
7. Mosquera
8. Evans
9. Kloden
10. Anton
11. Rodriguez
12. Tondo
13. Vinokourov (Reserve)
14. Fuglsang

Since the Schleck brothers and Evans have said they are only riding in preparation for the World Champs, I think the top 5 will be:

1. Valverde
2. Basso
3. Sanchez
4. Gesink
5. Vinokourov (if he races)

 

[Blue York]

SBS are showing a few early morning highlights from memory. I think it's the usual 15-20 minutes in the morning I THINK.

Is Menchov racing in this one? i know he tried to get up for the Tour, but with his form in the Tour the way it was you'd almost pick to him to get up for this one

I don't think its possible to ride 3 GTs in a season well. And if you did, you can't do it well. Its about 8 weeks minimum between training peaks, its 6 weeks between the end of the Giro and the start of the Tour, and you can only realistically peak twice in a year.

 

[Bond.ShaneBond]

I don't think its possible to ride 3 GTs in a season well. And if you did, you can't do it well. Its about 8 weeks minimum between training peaks, its 6 weeks between the end of the Giro and the start of the Tour, and you can only realistically peak twice in a year.

He was disgusting in the Tour. He would have been nowhere near his peak in that race.

 

[Blue York]

He was disgusting in the Tour. He would have been nowhere near his peak in that race.

Didn't I say there is not enough time to peak between the 2 races. All the riders who are serious about the Tour and doing the Giro use it as a prep race only. Armstrong, Wiggins, Van de Velde last year. They were far from their best in the Giro. There is no way Menchov could peak for the Vuelta after peaking for the Giro and then doing the Tour. His year is done.

And I reckon he'd would be pretty chuffed with his results for the year..