La Vuelta Thread

[Azabache]

I think this warrants a separate thread, eh?

If it progresses anything like the last two editions, we're in for a treat!

Main issues maybe: Will Quintana replace Contador as THE Climber? Will Froome shake off the Pretender badge? Are both fully recovered, not least their confidence? Will Chris Horner do a miracle ride? What skullduggery will go on-guess the prime nation.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Can't see Froome/Contador being in top shape enough to seriously challenge Quintana, but then nobody ever really targets the Vuelta so its tough to say who will be in top shape. 

Always an exciting race, second best of the grand tours behind the Giro for me.

Some betting tips 

Top 10 finishes for Dan Martin, Wilco Kelderman and top five for Fabio Aru. Potential outside bet - top 20 for Adam Yates.

Degenkolb to win points jersey

[Guest]

Is Joaquim Rodriguez riding?

Looking forward to this after the disappointment of the Tdf. Hopefully some more competitive cycling at the front, but agree with Olly, not sure Froome & definitely Contador, being in top shape.

[Lowlandbrit]

Is Joaquim Rodriguez riding?

Looking forward to this after the disappointment of the Tdf. Hopefully some more competitive cycling at the front, but agree with Olly, not sure Froome & definitely Contador, being in top shape.

Rodriguez is riding: http://www.procyclingstats.com/race/Vuelta_a_Espana_2014-Startlist
Lot of big names there, and it'll be interesting to see who shows up in what kind of shape. Plus I'm always happy to see Txurruka in a race.

[Lowlandbrit]

What's Colombian for 'pies'?

[Azabache]

Spanish? I think that's "feet" (plural of "foot").

Why?

[Lowlandbrit]

I meant as in 'who ate all the'. The sportive rider modelling the AG2R kit is Carlos Betancur.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

He's cost me a fiver being so bloated the fatty

[Azabache]

Ah! I get it now!

After 4 stages this is looking ominously like Quintana's race to lose. Not overly convinced with Froome (or rather will he have a team to support him?). I'd love Bertie to win (and he IS one of the all time greats) but...let's see what unfolds.

Turning out to be a great race.

[djlovesyou]

You do know we've only had a TTT and a few flattish stages so far? Not sure how you could possibly tell that Froome doesn't look good and Quintana does without a meaningful hill.

Contador should be in decent shape. His sandbagging is a boring old trick.

[Azabache]

Well, I guess we'll have a clearer idea very soon, maybe after today! By the way, does anyone know the nature of Bertie's fracture?

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

What. A. Stage.

[Lowlandbrit]

What was that thing at the end? It looked like a short gentle hill from the helicopter, but they were crawling up it and falling over the line like they'd spent all day in the Alps.

By the way, Carlos Betancur is currently in 197th at an hour and 12 minutes.

[Azabache]

Was impressed by Froome. ITV4 mentioned that Bertie's injury was a "hairline fracture" so maybe they are overhyping concerns over his fitness. Quintana seems to prefer looooong climbs-I saw him disliking very short, very steep hills last year in the ToB.

[djlovesyou]

He's fine. Contador plays the 'I'm not 100% fit' card quite a lot. Usually resulting him being 100% fit and in the past (perhaps not now) 100% 'prepared'.

[Azabache]

He was certainly OK today! (Sunday). Froome-oh dear-signs of trouble?

[Lowlandbrit]

Quintana's going to need to something pretty special in the mountains to get that back. Painful looking crash.

[Guest]

Yeah, just seen that crash, bad one. Contador leads

[Azabache]

All is not yet lost-Quintana may well perform better on the big climbs, but we're not talking about retrieving a few seconds! All good experience for him but I fear this is looking like a Spanish 1-2-3?

[Lowlandbrit]

Who'd have thought Contador would be in better shape than Froome?

[Azabache]

It gets worse-QUINTANA CRASHES OUT!

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Valverde to finish on the podium looks a tidy bet atm

[Lowlandbrit]

Two riders just got kicked out of the race after having a punch-up (while riding).

[Azabache]

The Spanish will combine/plot/"work together" (not very efficiently) to stuff Froome I'm afraid. All credit to Contador though-National Hero in Spain rather reminiscent of the Virenque era to the French.

[Mike Selig]

Yeah it's somewhat strange that. Contador today if he'd collaborated with Froome could have pretty much put the Vuelta to bed (he might not have ridden away from Froome at the end, or certainly not as easily, but the pair of them would almost certainly have put around a couple of minutes on the others) but it was like he didn't want to help Froome beat his compatriots.

Oh well. Froome may well still make the podium but he will need Sky to control the front as they did today.

Valverde just gets on my nerves.

[Mad for Chelsea]

or possibly Contador still sees Froome as his biggest threat (which he probably is, don't think Valverde or Rodriguez are good enough to ride away significantly from Contador, unless he has an off-day obviously), and thought that if he collaborated with him Froome would have had the legs to attack him later on.

Having said that, it is true that in general the Spanish seem happier to work for each other than say the French.

Unless he has a spectacular collapse, Irishman Dan Martin looks well set for a top ten position. Currently 6th, which is about as high as he can hope to finish I think. Good ride from him so far.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Can't see Froome/Contador being in top shape enough to seriously challenge Quintana, but then nobody ever really targets the Vuelta so its tough to say who will be in top shape. 

Always an exciting race, second best of the grand tours behind the Giro for me.

Some betting tips 

Top 10 finishes for Dan Martin, Wilco Kelderman and top five for Fabio Aru. Potential outside bet - top 20 for Adam Yates.

Degenkolb to win points jersey

Just finish Mr Degenkolb and you'll win me 100 quid....

[Lowlandbrit]

Hard not to get excited about Aru.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Could be the saviour of Italian cycling

[Mad for Chelsea]

yeah Aru looks a special talent for sure. Then again, lots of really strong GC riders around right now, think the next few years could be great! Good effort from Froome today, did well to pull a few seconds back, and get into second place. Not sure he can catch Contador, even if Saturday's stage does offer the chance of a few gaps. Valverde actually had to put in some work today, though even so managed to wave his arms around and get some help from Contador and Rodriguez...

[Azabache]

Yes, Froome is a great, never-say-die rider. Why can't I warm to him?

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Degenkolb you lovely man #winnings

[Azabache]

I see that the Spanish public voted Froome as the most aggressive rider, which is a nice gesture. Contador cementing his status as one of the all time greats.

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