2014 La Vuelta Ciclista a España

[tombeej]

Quintana vs. Uran head to head: who is the better time trialist?

 

TT's are going to play a big role in this Vuelta. Anyone who's not a good time trialist is going to have problems.

 

Horner has no hope.

[GrumpyOldGuy]

Quintana vs. Uran head to head: who is the better time trialist?

 

TT's are going to play a big role in this Vuelta. Anyone who's not a good time trialist is going to have problems.

 

Horner has no hope.

 

I think Uran is probably better one on one in the TT, but I dont see him hanging with Quintana on some of those really serious slopes, I dont think the TT will play as big a part the gaps on the big mountains will be too big, this is a climbers race, and at the moment Quintana is by far the best.

 

As for Horner, the less said about him the better...........!

[SwissVan]

I think Uran is probably better one on one in the TT, but I dont see him hanging with Quintana on some of those really serious slopes, I dont think the TT will play as big a part the gaps on the big mountains will be too big, this is a climbers race, and at the moment Quintana is by far the best.

 

As for Horner, the less said about him the better...........!

 

Hello GoG

 

Why dont u like Horner?

[tombeej]

Re: the time trials.

 

Stage 1 is the TTT. 12.6km of pancake-flat racing. Looks like quite a technical course though, with lots of corners - some of them tight.

 

Then the two ITTs:

 

Stage 10 is 36.7km long, but look at that stage profile! A little rise in the beginning and then downhill all the way home. A 55T ring is probably not even going to be enough for Martin

 

Then the decider. Stage 21 is another billiard table (9.7km long):

[tombeej]

Rik Verbrugghe holds the record for the fastest ever stage in a grand tour. 58.874 km/h over the 7.6 km prologue course from the 2001 Giro d'Italia.

 

While that record was made during the height of the rocket fuel era, and it was a prologue stage (fresh legs), what do you think the odds are of Martin beating the record on Stage 10?

['Dale]

i'm sure Oleg said to 'Berto

 

'You vill ride zhe Tour 'cos I need my money's worth, Pistolero man'

[jcza]

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.

I think the short steep climbs will suit Purito but not Valverde. Tactically it will be very interesting with 2 strong riders on Movistar and everyone else having a go at Sky. Can they afford to let guys like Arredondo, Aru, Barguil and others go up the road while watching the main contenders?

[GrumpyOldGuy]

Hello GoG

 

Why dont u like Horner?

 

Hello Swiss

 

Dunno, Just something about him that rubs me up wrong.

[Bonus]

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

 

3 a year for the last 3 years? That's some schedule!

['Dale]

Meanwhile, as he preps for Vuelta somewhere in Italia... Rest day for Sagaaan.

 

[LOOK695]

Meanwhile, as he preps for Vuelta somewhere in Italia... Rest day for Sagaaan.

 

Looks different without his helmet

[Bonus]

I wonder if he says "touch my dog, I kill you" too?

 

;-)

[BeegMig]

Ai karamba. Can't wait, too long since ive had something good to watch when i get home after work. Watching PVR'ed Giro and Tour over and over. We need more International races on TV

[jimmycool]

Rik Verbrugghe holds the record for the fastest ever stage in a grand tour. 58.874 km/h over the 7.6 km prologue course from the 2001 Giro d'Italia.

 

While that record was made during the height of the rocket fuel era, and it was a prologue stage (fresh legs), what do you think the odds are of Martin beating the record on Stage 10?

I think that Martin will take it for sure. The way he was mashing that 58tooth blade in the tdf made it look like that rainbow stripe zipp disc had an electric motor inside.

[Bonus]

I think that Martin will take it for sure. The way he was mashing that 58tooth blade in the tdf made it look like that rainbow stripe zipp disc had an electric motor inside.

 

Stranger things have happened . . . :-o

['Dale]

Whoohoooooooo!!!

 

MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung for the Vuelta a España:

Sergio Pardilla,

Gerald Ciolek,

Louis Meintjes,

Jay Thomson,

Jaco Venter,

Jacques Janse van Rensburg,

Daniel Teklehaimanot,

Merhawi Kudus and

Kristian Sbaragli.

 

Reserve: Ignatas Konovalovas