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Only a few days will the Vuelta kicks off. I don't follow the cycling websites, but for me the shock news is that Sunweb's GC lead leader is (as things stand) Wilco Kelderman - possibly related to the fact that Tom DuMoulin is off to Jumbo-Visma next year, despite having another year on his contract
Bardet has also said he won't race again this year. A quick look at inrng.com shows that Landa is going to Bahrain Merida, Nibbles to Trek Segafredo, Mas to Movistar, Viviani to Cofidis and Quintana to Areka Samsic, though most of those had been talked about already IIRC?
Anyway the good news is that Velogames are running this one. I've set up the usual mini league, feel free to enter a team and have a bit of fun. Not all squads complete yet (in fact not many), and riders may change so keep checking back till the last minute
League Name: STW Fantasy Vuelta 2019
League Code: 322641023
https://www.velogames.com/spain/2019/riders.php
I was going to say I fancy Sivakov for a podium, but he's not yet been named. Maybe not riding?
Team Pie entered.
well done NBT - I'm in. Will prob forget to go back & edit so I'll have 3 scoring riders ('til they crash out)
ABV
Are Movistar going to have even the slightest clue about tactics?
Place bets now..!
Movistar run 3 sets of tactics at once. Based on a shotgun they hope something hits!
Entered as Benny's Boys. Thanks
Don't think Sivakov is riding, too young for two GTs in a year. Geoghan Hart and Sosa co-leaders for Ineos I think.
Lopez and Roglic got to be the favourites. Astana have a team packed with strong climbers.
Mid week bump with some info courtesy of CyclingTips.com
The race begins with a Team Time Trial in Torrevieja, with an ITT in Frace - From Jurancon to Pau (just like the ITT in the TDF this year!)
There are eight uphill finishes in this year’s race.
Of those eight, three come in the first week, four come in the second, and just one comes in the final week.
Here are the stages with uphill finishes:
Stage 5: The first summit finish, with a final climb of 11.1km at an average of 7.8%.
Stage 6: A 7.9km rise at 5% after a hilly day.
Stage 7: A short but steep final climb (4.1km at 12.3%) on a day with four climbs.
Stage 9: Two big climbs, then the last 22km is mostly uphill (it ends with 5.7km at 8.3%).
Stage 13: A day with seven climbs, including a 6.8km ascent at 9.2% (max 25%) to finish.
Stage 15: Four mountains, concluding with a tough 7.9km at 9.7%.
Stage 16: 144km, three mountains, and the final climb is 17.8km at 6.2% (see below).
Stage 20: Six climbs, the last of which is 3.5km at 7% (after a stepwise final 10km).
The other stage likely to have an impact on the GC is Stage 18 in central Spain, which features FOUR Cat 1 climbs
>>>>>
In other news, Ineos have confirmed their lineup and as @t3ap0t said, no Sivakov. Wout Poels confirmed as co-leader with Geogehan-Hart, which is great news for those of us who've admired Poels for some time.
The other stage likely to have an impact on the GC is Stage 18 in central Spain, which features FOUR Cat 1 climbs
I've done all of those this year, Morcuera-Cotos is a classic (and excellent!) route for the riders round here.
Just as excitingly, the whole thing kicks off in the town where I've got a holiday flat, so you can guess where I'm going this weekend 🙂
I would like the TV coverage to feature a large pair of bombers being enthusiastically waved
I'm in. Surprisingly open this year so a good opportunity for someone to win a Grand Tour.
Will be at the side of the road on stages 5 and 6 as they're not far from home. The climb to the observatory on Javalambre is new and spectacular. Stage 7's finish is absolutely brutal, 3km of ropey concrete road with ramps of 20-25%, watched there 2 years ago when Froome was mugged by Quintana, only time I've seen pros off and walking.
Thanks nbt. You are the Vuelta's version of Lunge.
All round to Mogrim's next week.
I’m hoping that the Cumbrian lad Knox (dqs) is allowed to ride for himself on some of the stages. He’s not had the luckiest year so far but is promising.
It's taken a while to choose my team, but I think I'll stick with it now.
Come on Hugh (I can see a stage win).
Friday morning reminder - the rider list has been updated so if you've already entered a team, check to see if you need to swap riders (or if you just want to, I'm currently on about the fifteenth minor change)
Carapaz out after a crash. I suppose there's one advantage of having three team leaders.
wonder what the odds are for Roglic to be in red for the entire tour ?
timidwheeler wrote:
Carapaz out after a crash. I suppose there’s one advantage of having three team leaders.
Really? Bugger, I've got some serious refactoring to do now then 🙁
All round to Mogrim’s next week.
🙂
what's the deal for TV highlights this year, anything on ITV4???
highlights at 7pm on ITV4 everyday. no live coverage, sadly
I'm picking George Bennett for the win - but thats based mostly on patriotism!
I'm in. Really missed the fantasy league element at the Tour.
Friday evening bump.
The closest they come to us is about 3hrs east in Andorra and 3 hrs north west in Pau. We will have it live on tv every afternoon though 🙂
carnage in the TTT - Jumbo stack it
Enjoyed watching the TTT, but damn they're fast - we were standing at the exit to the first 90º right hander, and even so they're were past us in a second! Still good fun to watch though.
Been an interesting race so far, loads of GC action already - this has been one of the best Grand Tour years that I've watched with the Giro and the Tour, the Vuelta could be better than both!
ps anyone else wondering if the "accidental" popping of the paddling pool might have been "accidentall" done by someone who favoured certain riders?
Valverde really is an odious ****er isnt he, I wonder if the truth will come out when Quintana leaves.
Not sure what Valverde's done to earn your hate a_a, didn't see the interview with him yesterday. But that was a cracking stage, would love to have a go at that climb!
Well constantly attacking your team mate over a number of grand tours and then pacing the race favourite who rides for another team away from him is certainly a dick move.
Well constantly attacking your team mate over a number of grand tours and then pacing the race favourite who rides for another team away from him is certainly a dick move.
Or, making a move for yourself to win the race overall ? It's surely two sides of the same coin. He wasn't attacking his team-mate, he was attacking everyone. Sure he towed Roglic up but that's not his fault is it ? That's down to Roglic not taking a turn.
Just keeps getting better as he gets older.
Hmmm.
https://www.velonews.com/2015/04/news/analysis-the-curious-case-of-alejandro-valverde_368078
He wasn’t attacking his team-mate, he was attacking everyone.
He was attacking his team mate and as his team mate was at the front this would include everyone.
Sure he towed Roglic up but that’s not his fault is it ? That’s down to Roglic not taking a turn.
It is his fault anyone with a conscience or half a brain would have sat on Roglic as he had most to gain, a stage win wasnt possible.
Well constantly attacking your team mate over a number of grand tours and then pacing the race favourite who rides for another team away from him is certainly a dick move.
He probably thought it was acceptable now, seeing as Froome set the precedent against his team-mate G, last year? But is Valverde odious because he’s a doped up foreigner whereas Froome is a true-blue Brit, and honest as the day is long. 😄
It's the standard Movistar MO. No-one really understands it, I doubt if they do.
He probably thought it was acceptable now, seeing as Froome set the precedent against his team-mate G
Really, the two couldnt be more different, when was the last time you saw Froome drag the race favourite from another team up the road?
It is his fault anyone with a conscience or half a brain would have sat on Roglic as he had most to gain, a stage win wasnt possible.
The same as Thomas did in the TDF this year, sat that and let his team mate go while watching his TDF victory disappear into the wind. If Roglic had not been able to go faster and then Quintana had caught Roglic and Valverde, would the team have been better off for the day or worse ? I'd say arguably worse.
Uran, Carthy, Roche and some others abandon after crash.
The same as Thomas did in the TDF this year, sat that and let his team mate go while watching his TDF victory disappear into the wind. If Roglic had not been able to go faster and then Quintana had caught Roglic and Valverde, would the team have been better off for the day or worse ? I’d say arguably worse.
Sorry dont understand most of this, although yes Thomas did do the right thing as did Bernal as none of the other contenders were dragged away by Bernal. The rest is whataboutery.
Valverde attacked and then paced Roglic away.
Another unbelievable performance from Valverde. Will be a Piti when he retires...
Another unbelievable performance from Valverde. Will be a Piti when he retires…
Yep and surprised that David Millar didn't have (another) dig.
Quintana looks strong, we need some big mountains now!!
weeksy
Subscriber
The same as Thomas did in the TDF this year, sat that and let his team mate go while watching his TDF victory disappear into the wind.
Not exactly the same. Thomas had been dropped previously but had then been paced up to rejoin the group .. Bernal had gone off front a short while later (for all we know in the belief that Thomas could then attack to join him) .. but when Thomas attacked he couldnt drop Alaphilippe as soon as he expected to.
Quintana looked capable of dropping Valverde with a few KM to go. The Vuelta is the best GC for pure racing IMO
Will be a Piti when he retires…,
Well don't worry that happened in 2002, his debut though as a pro could still be a few years off as well the way he is managing to control his improvement. Quite an achievement.
What Peter Sagan does in his spare time
Ace, where was that?
movistar trying to work over Roglic.
blimey thats wet 🙂
Lopez has gone up the road. Quintana or Valverde need to drop Roglic too if they are to beat him.
Felt sorry for Marc Soler, clearly under orders to give up his lead to pace other Movistar GC contenders, wouldn't have been surprised if he was told to not help Quintana and hold back for Valverde such is the state of team politics. He looked mightily pissed off when crossing the line.
Meanwhile further back, Valverde is putting in attacks while he has two men up the road and López on his wheel...
all going on today
Getting a bit interesting at the top of STW league. Well, for me it is!
Kendal's James Knox now 8th on GC. Massive hat to him.
Kendal’s James Knox now 8th on GC.
Always entertaining when interviewed, as well. I hope he doesn’t blow up.
More Moviestar madness!!
They are a properly bonkers team. Nairo seemed to be chuffed to bits as well, I'd have thought he'd be raging at Valverde for towing Roglic back up. Mad....
Nairo seemed to be chuffed to bits as well, I’d have thought he’d be raging at Valverde for towing Roglic back up. Mad…
Most likely didnt know at that point!
"It's always the same stupid people who do this. Maybe one day they'll win a race launching a straight attack," he'd said.
"These really stupid actions are what the world champion's team does - that's what we're dealing with. What a world champion we have!"
I wouldn't shed any tears if the whole of Movistar have simultaneous mechanicals/double punctures with 100km to go and the rest of the peleton rip the rest of the stage dropping Quintana and Valverde out of the top ten.
I wonder if Quintana isn't the sharpest tool in the box. He certainly does some odd stuff.
I dont think Quintana is in anyway in control of Moviestar, they spend a lot of time chasing his attacks. Valverde seems an utter ****er however. Roglic did well to keep a lid on his thoughts.
Nice to see Bora chase down Valverde for no reason except they dont like him!!
Nice to see Bora chase down Valverde for no reason except they dont like him!!
Yeah, had a giggle at that.
I reckon that Pogachar attack was about the same duration as a CX race. Coincidence?