Seems it’s gonna be Contador’s final race..

Whatever you think of him, cycling will be a lot less exciting without his attacking style..

Good, be glad to see the back of him.

Steak dinner at his retirement do?

Whatever you think of him, cycling will be a lot less exciting without his attacking style

Agreed, instead we’ll get to see Aru…

As Inrng (I think) tweeted, it’s a good day to be Aru or Landa’s agent.

Fantasy Vuelta is open for entries

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/stw-fantasy-vuelta-2017

Highlights only on ITV4 for the Vuelta, live coverage “only” on Eurosport (though I bet other online streams will be available for those who care)

Opening TTT starts quite late (4.30 uk time) so the highlights aren’t on till 10pm. Looks like it’s then back to 7pm as usual except when therte;s somehting special on – e.g. tuesday is 10pm as there’a a womens rugby world cup match on

Are we doing one mega-thread this year? The individual stage threads for the Tour were superb, but not sure if there’s enough interest in the Vuelta.

Great line up this year!

2nd best race of the year (after the Giro) IMO.

Looking forward to it immensely..

Looking forward to it, I’ll be on paternity leave for most of it so am naively assuming we’ll get him put down for 7pm sharp every evening, allowing me an hour and a half of peace in front of the TV 8)

Cycling Weekly did an interesting piece on one of the climbs

Savage

Went for a wee sniff around on google maps but couldn’t find it…

Went for a wee sniff around on google maps but couldn’t find it…
We’ll be watching this stage, we’ve found a campsite at San Roque de Riomiera which allows us to watch the stage as it passes then ride up to the finish. The finish line is by a monument to a local breed of cow! Appropriate for a Contador attack methinks.
linky

Samuel Sanchez suspended, no longer on the start list

Former Olympic champion Samuel Sánchez fails anti-doping test

Ugh not Sammy 🙁 Disappointing news that.

Preview…

Preview: What you need to know about the the 2017 Vuelta a España

Sky’s DeathStar has a little (big?) sibling?

Team Sky to use giant expandable trailer

Midway through live coverage of the TTT on Eurosport now. Highlights on ES and ITV4 at 10pm.

Really technical course but Nimes is looking lovely in the early evening sunlight.

I’ve got Lotto NL – Jumbo in the office sweepstake. Not impressed since I also had them in the TdF sweepstake. They’ve got off to a dreadful start by having a spectacular OTB crash in the first few corners which took out two of their riders.

Stunning spectacle in the TTT but I bet the riders hated it…

What caused the spectacular OTB? ITV didn’t come back to it (or I missed the comment)

there are some vids of it on you tube. Can’t really see on the one I saw but looked a bit like “something” either went under or into his wheel

“Stunning” and “spectacle” in a TTT don’t really mean anything. “Boring” and “dull” and “pointless” Shirley are more appropriate.

Today’s a flat lander special, cruise down the coast.. and a breakaway by one of either “invitees” to the party.. 2hrs worth of spotting the ad revenue wheel suckers before a sprint.

Pozza FTW if he can be dragged by a knackered AG2r squad.

Crosswinds forecast!

“Stunning” and “spectacle” in a TTT don’t really mean anything.

Normally I’d agree with you, but yesterday’s stage was a lot better than the normal TTT borefest.

Flat coastal stages can be brilliant if it’s windy. Really looking forward to the next three weeks; course looks so much more exciting than the tour was.

Flat coastal stages can be brilliant if it’s windy. Really looking forward to the next three weeks; course looks so much more exciting than the tour was.

need team sky wiped out by a police motorcyclist if you want an exciting race 😉

no breakaway with 95 to go very odd !

25 km sprint

ripping along

The thread title probably needs a ‘spoliers (sic) within’ addition pls.

Shaping up to be an exciting final few km.
I tuned in with about 50km to go just on the assumption that the first 2/3rds would be a snoozefest.

can see why the sprinters havem’t turned up 🙂

Clever from Quickstep – again. Just like the giro stage

They just seem a bit sharper than most other teams

there was plenty of gaps behind too interesting to see who lost time!

Which channel are U.K. folks watching this on?

EuroSport 1 is showing it live every day.
ITV4 and ES both have highlights at about 10pm UK time.

Tx. Wanted to find something non French

Cripes!

Enjoyed the last 20km of that, was/am working from home so had it in the background. Mr Froome is clearly keen to take every second he can.

Yes, a good finish to the stage. Nibbles did well to come back. Surely it’s only a matter of time before one of the tv motos takes out a rider on a descent, they were very sketchy today

Bad day for Bertie, lost 21/2 mins, looked fed up at the finish.

Yeah, he needs to beef up a bit…