2014 La Vuelta Ciclista a España

[Metzet]

definitely going to be a very interesting race..

 

good to hear AC riding.. it will keep everyone on their toes

[tombeej]

Eight Grand Tour winners should be at the start of the Vuelta: Contador, Cunego, Evans, Froome, Hesjedal, Horner, Quintana, Valverde.

 

Amazing how it's been 10 years since Cunego won the Giro at the age of just 22. He won Giro del Trentino 3 times and Lombardy 3 times, but since 2008 what has he done? So how did he win a grand tour at 22, making Quintana look like an underachiever winning at 24? 'Rocket fuel' much?

 

I'll be surprised if he makes top 50 30.

 

Evans will struggle again to stay inside the top 15.

 

IMHO Valverde and Purito had their last hurrah at the world champs last year. I don't see them going anywhere now except slowly backwards down the GC as each race passes.

 

But this is the era of the lightys now:

 

Aru (24) for podium again? Uran (27) will be right up there, and Kelderman (23) too.

 

I'm not sure how Pinot's (24) legs will respond after a very hard TDF. Let's see...

 

I'm looking forward to seeing how young Ozzie Rohan Dennis (24) shapes up in a grand tour. He ran Wiggo very close in the Tour of California to take 2nd overall, and he's a very very good time trialist (silver medal at the Commonwealth Games). I sincerely hope BMC do not waste his talents by having him drag Evans all over the place.

 

Another one I'll be keeping an eye out for is Garmin Sharp's Nathan Brown (23) from the USA. He's another very good time trialist (3rd overall at the US National TT champs) and he can climb too. Lowly domestique for this tour, but let's see if he's one for the future.

 

Of course I'm stoked to see my boy Arredondo (25) in action again .

 

Lastly, Adam Yates (22) follows in the grand tour footsteps of his twin brother Simon. Also has bags of talent. OGE might have the same plan for him - no pressures this time round and pull him out by the end of week 2.

 

Besides Dan Craven and our SA boys, who else do we need to keep an eye out for?

Edited August 14, 2014 by tombeej

[HDW]

Anyone keen for a fantasy league?

[Snails]

Anyone keen for a fantasy league?

 

Definitely.

[jcza]

I think Quintana and Froome will be on the podium (provided they finish of course). Final podium place to be decided between Uran/Purito/Aru & Valverde. You're right tombeej, not sure Pinot will have the legs and Talansky will hope to set things right.

[Jakkals.]

This is gonna be a cracker gents!!

['Dale]

I think Quintana and Froome will be on the podium (provided they finish of course). Final podium place to be decided between Uran/Purito/Aru & Valverde. You're right tombeej, not sure Pinot will have the legs and Talansky will hope to set things right.

 

Aruuuuuuu!!!

[tombeej]

Anyone keen for a fantasy league?

 

Ja, definitely.

 

I've been researching a good one for la Vuelta and came across Scorito.

 

I like the way they do it: with your budget available you get to pick an expanded team of 16 - 20 riders. Then you have the freedom to switch your riders before each stage, depending on the profile.

 

* Choose 3 team leaders that will be able to score double points.

* Pick 9 cyclists and 1 team leader for each stage.

 

It makes for a lot more strategic thinking - there's less exposure to 'bad luck or 'blind luck'.

 

I've created a Hub league if anyone is interested.

http://www.scorito.c...2014/the-hub-sa

 

Attached are the league rules as well...

Scorito rules.pdf

[meathead]

Anyone keen for a fantasy league?

 

Just post details, I am super keen

[GrumpyOldGuy]

Amazing how it's been 10 years since Cunego won the Giro at the age of just 22. He won Giro del Trentino 3 times and Lombardy 3 times, but since 2008 what has he done? So how did he win a grand tour at 22, making Quintana look like an underachiever winning at 24? 'Rocket fuel' much?

 

I'll be surprised if he makes top 50 30.

 

Evans will struggle again to stay inside the top 15.

 

IMHO Valverde and Purito had their last hurrah at the world champs last year. I don't see them going anywhere now except slowly backwards down the GC as each race passes.

 

But this is the era of the lightys now:

 

Aru (24) for podium again? Uran (27) will be right up there, and Kelderman (23) too.

 

I'm not sure how Pinot's (24) legs will respond after a very hard TDF. Let's see...

 

I'm looking forward to seeing how young Ozzie Rohan Dennis (24) shapes up in a grand tour. He ran Wiggo very close in the Tour of California to take 2nd overall, and he's a very very good time trialist (silver medal at the Commonwealth Games). I sincerely hope BMC do not waste his talents by having him drag Evans all over the place.

 

Another one I'll be keeping an eye out for is Garmin Sharp's Nathan Brown (23) from the USA. He's another very good time trialist (3rd overall at the US National TT champs) and he can climb too. Lowly domestique for this tour, but let's see if he's one for the future.

 

Of course I'm stoked to see my boy Arredondo (25) in action again .

 

Lastly, Adam Yates (22) follows in the grand tour footsteps of his twin brother Simon. Also has bags of talent. OGE might have the same plan for him - no pressures this time round and pull him out by the end of week 2.

 

Besides Dan Craven and our SA boys, who else do we need to keep an eye out for?

 

Hmm, it is quite amazing to think its 10 years, I still have that Giro on DVD here, one of the best races I ever watched, Simoni who at the time was the king of the Giro was squarely beaten by a younger, stronger Cunego, to be fair though Cunego would never have won without the coaching of a wiley old goat on the team who told him when to sit and when to attack, Eddy Mazzoleni. Without Eddy taking a young and inexperienced Cunego under his wing I submit Damiano would never have won.

 

I always liked Cunego,....sadly until three years ago when at the Giro he allowed his ego to get the better of him and going off on a lone attempt which was doomed to fail he left Scarponi, who was on the same team and fighting to hold Pink totally without support, isolated Scarponi could not cover every attack and lost the race.

 

This pic tells the story better than I.

 

 

Anyway, it does seem the guard is changing, but I wouldn't write either Valverde or Rodriguez off just yet.

Edited August 14, 2014 by GrumpyOldGuy

[Bonus]

This promises to be a good Tour :-) Can't wait !

[SwissVan]

I think Quintana and Froome will be on the podium (provided they finish of course). Final podium place to be decided between Uran/Purito/Aru & Valverde. You're right tombeej, not sure Pinot will have the legs and Talansky will hope to set things right.

 

Something tells me Quintana will edge out Froome, I don't think we have seen Quintana at his max limit yet.

 

Hope I'm wrong

 

But it sure is going to be good watching it unfold

 

[canfan]

Something tells me Quintana will edge out Froome, I don't think we have seen Quintana at his max limit yet.

 

Hope I'm wrong

 

But it sure is going to be good watching it unfold

Its going to be interesting. Froome doesnt have to beat Quintana in the mountains. He must just not loose too much time. Froome should be able to put some good time into Quintana in the 2 TT's. We might see Froome having to use some different tactics than his normal trying to rip everyone apart in the mountains tactics.

 

Its going to be an awesome race. Just hoping Froome can stay on his bike this time. Apart from Froome, cant see that anyone can touch Quintana. Pity Berto wont be 100%.

[tombeej]

Anyway, it does seem the guard is changing, but I wouldn't write either Valverde or Rodriguez off just yet.

 

I think Valverde will be off the pace this Vuelta. He had a hard TDF where he left everything out on the road, and at 34 I will be surprised if he's able to bounce back to peak form just like that. Also, I believe he's in the Vuelta to ride for Quintana and be lieutenant to him. If something happens to Quintana he becomes plan B for the team.

 

Purito also went full gas in the 2nd half of the TDF while fighting for the KOM jersey. At 35 he's also no spring chicken and his best days are behind him. I don't think he went as deep as Valverde did last month, but he's still got to try and come back to peak fitness in just 1 month and I'm not seeing how he'll do that.

 

Of course I may well be wrong. I often am

 

But to be honest, if I see either of those riders at the top of their game, dictating the pace, then please forgive me for thinking that there's something 'not natural' about what I'm seeing...

[jcza]

Adam Hansen (Lotto-Belisol) will be riding his 10th consecutive Grand Tour at the Vuelta.

[GrumpyOldGuy]

I think Valverde will be off the pace this Vuelta. He had a hard TDF where he left everything out on the road, and at 34 I will be surprised if he's able to bounce back to peak form just like that. Also, I believe he's in the Vuelta to ride for Quintana and be lieutenant to him. If something happens to Quintana he becomes plan B for the team.

 

Purito also went full gas in the 2nd half of the TDF while fighting for the KOM jersey. At 35 he's also no spring chicken and his best days are behind him. I don't think he went as deep as Valverde did last month, but he's still got to try and come back to peak fitness in just 1 month and I'm not seeing how he'll do that.

 

Of course I may well be wrong. I often am

 

But to be honest, if I see either of those riders at the top of their game, dictating the pace, then please forgive me for thinking that there's something 'not natural' about what I'm seeing...

 

True, but Rodriguez came into the TDF half cooked as it was, I dont think he will have a problem getting up to speed for the Vuelta.

 

I think it may be more of a mental recovery issue than a physical one for most of these "older" guys, but truth be told, the course probably wont suit either Valverde or Rodriguez, both great climbers but preferring shorter steeper climbs than we find here at the Vuelta.

 

Quintana should however be in his element, Uran as well, but if I had to pick one it would be difficult to bet against Quintana.