La Vuelta

First topic message reminder :

Can't wait to see how this unfolds.

Froome or Contador?
My heart says Froome, my head says Bertie-his Tour of Atonement?

Or Cobo?

Or.....?

OMG! Caught up with the coverage late last night. One of the most exciting days for some time.

Sensational, if you suspend suspicions of some kind of stitchup. Was Rodriguez really that unaware? Still, an object lesson in how not to assume a race is in the bag.

Contador's performance reminded me of some of the wonderful Richard Virenque's victories. An awesome hombre.

I'd like to see Bertie and Lance on a podium somewhere giving a nice two-fingered salute to all their tormentors and persecutors.

I still can't believe Rodriguez just apparantly let Contador go up the road!!! I mean what was he thinking??? Terrible riding if true, chase him down he was second overall for gods sake!

End of a great tour, shame for Rodriguez - but in all honesty he could have won two tours if his tactics had been better imo. This route was made for him and given that he only lost a minute in the time trial and how much stronger he appeared to be in some of the mountains I can't help thinking he could have won by being more aggressive.

Didn't see yesterday, but caught the end of Saturday's stage. Only word for that was brutal - last 3km (of a longer climb) was on a collapsing concrete road that varied between about 10 and 20% gradient, with the average in the high teens. No tactics in riding up that, it was just every man for himself and hope you reach the top. Rodriguez was easily the best of the GC riders, but it just wasn't a long enough climb to regain the stupid 2.5 minutes lost the other day.

I've never seen the whole lead group of riders finish so much in bits. Guys were just reaching the line and being grabbed by team helpers to stop them falling off or collapsing.