2014 La Vuelta Ciclista a España

[tombeej]

Supersport will be providing live coverage of La Vuelta

 

For the regular road stages, looks like we'll be getting the last 2 hours of each day from what I can see...

 

Friday, August 22, 2014

Team Presentation

20:00 - 21:00 LIVE

SS2

 

Saturday, August 23, 2014

Stage 1: Jerez De La Frontera / Jerez De La Frontera

12,6km

19:00 - 21:15 LIVE

SS7

 

Sunday, August 24, 2014

Stage 2: Algeciras / San Fernando

174,4km

16:00 - 18:00 LIVE

SS2

[tombeej]

One of the top GC hopefuls is already out before the thing has even started. Pozzovivo crashed in training and broke his leg.

 

Bad news for AG2R. Betancur ain't going to step up to fill that hole, that's for sure.

['Dale]

One of the top GC hopefuls is already out before the thing has even started. Pozzovivo crashed in training and broke his leg.

 

Bad news for AG2R. Betancur ain't going to step up to fill that hole, that's for sure.

 

After a magnificent TdF, what a pity for Pozzo'

 

[tombeej]

You mean Giro...

['Dale]

You mean Giro...

uhm ,meant to write 'what a cool tdf for AG2R...'

[jcza]

One of the top GC hopefuls is already out before the thing has even started. Pozzovivo crashed in training and broke his leg.

 

Bad news for AG2R. Betancur ain't going to step up to fill that hole, that's for sure.

With all due respect, I don't think he is a GC contender.

[tombeej]

With all due respect, I don't think he is a GC contender.

 

He's been a regular top 10 in the last couple of years, with three top 10's in the Giro and 5th in this year's Giro even after losing time due to bronchitis. He could have been on podium if he didn't get sick (only 1:28 behind Aru).

 

Multiple podiums and GC wins in other multi-day stage races too (Giro del Trentino most notable).

 

Every single stage race he entered in 2014 he finished inside the top 10 on GC.

 

With a palmares like that, he should most certainly be considered one of the top grand tour GC riders in the peloton at the moment.

 

I never made out he's expected to win the whole thing. But at full strength he would have been a reasonable outside bet for a vie at podium.

 

And that should make him a 'GC hopeful' in anyones eyes.

[tombeej]

The only reason for Pozzo not doing well in this Vuelta would have been because of all the TTs.

[jcza]

Sorry Tombeej but with Froome, Quintana, Valverde, Purito, Uran and others I can't see him on the podium.

[tombeej]

Sorry Tombeej but with Froome, Quintana, Valverde, Purito, Uran and others I can't see him on the podium.

 

I'm sure you're right.

 

But you know how things go with grand tours. We'd never heard of Aru and then he gets podium in the Giro. Froome and Contador crashed out of the TDF, allowing Peraud and Pinot onto the podium. I doubt anyone would have put money on that happening.

 

A GC rider is anyone with hopes of at least a top 10. After that, anything can happen.

 

Nevertheless, Pozzo is a great rider and would have been somewhere on that leaderboard. A real shame he won't be there. I have a soft spot for AG2R - I think they're a great team.

['Dale]

Is Betancur now back after his AWOL?

 

[jcza]

I'm sure you're right.

 

But you know how things go with grand tours. We'd never heard of Aru and then he gets podium in the Giro. Froome and Contador crashed out of the TDF, allowing Peraud and Pinot onto the podium. I doubt anyone would have put money on that happening.

 

A GC rider is anyone with hopes of at least a top 10. After that, anything can happen.

 

Nevertheless, Pozzo is a great rider and would have been somewhere on that leaderboard. A real shame he won't be there. I have a soft spot for AG2R - I think they're a great team.

Fully agree with you re AG2R, who will get his spot? Betancur? I'm sure we will see a new face on the podium again at the Vuelta.

[jcza]

Is Betancur now back after his AWOL?

 

Did you read my mind? Not sure anyone knows where he is

[tombeej]

I used to be a big supporter of Betancur. Not anymore.

I honestly hope he doesn't get the slot. He doesn't deserve it.

 

How many times now has he dropped his teammates and walked away from his team? The TDF wasn't the first time - it was just the most publicised of his 'episodes'.

 

If he gets the slot it would be a slap in the face of the other reserves who've been busting their hump in races and training, living the team environment, etc.

['Dale]

I used to be a big supporter of Betancur. Not anymore.

I honestly hope he doesn't get the slot. He doesn't deserve it.

 

How many times now has he dropped his teammates and walked away from his team? The TDF wasn't the first time - it was just the most publicised of his 'episodes'.

 

If he gets the slot it would be a slap in the face of the other reserves who've been busting their hump in races and training, living the team environment, etc.

 

Dunno about his contractual obligations and the duration of it...

but I'm sure the team would want to get 'bang for their buck' from Betancur.

 

Let's see

['Dale]

“I was descending towards Malles, on a long, steep straight, at 70kph,” Pozzovivo told Gazzetta dello Sport. “I saw a cat coming from the left-hand side of the road, out of the grass. Let’s say that we looked one another in the eyes. I tried to avoid him but he bumped my front wheel.

 

“The bike went flying and he ran off. I slid for twenty metres on the left side of my body and I finished up against the guard rail. I could see where I was going and I change direction. I curled up but I hit the guardrail with my right leg, just under the knee.”

 

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