So "hot favourite" Nibali has been quiet despite getting the Maillot Rojo (yes I had to look that up) yesterday - probably glad to lose it today. Saving his legs for tougher stages I guess.
So who do we think will be the other main contenders? Uran? Rodriguez? Valverde? Possibly Majka? Mollema and Ten Dam will be up there too; Henao has struggled early on so he'll need to improve; Betancur's nowhere so maybe just stage win attempts for him. It'll be interesting to compare how well riders have been able to recover/rebuild from Le Tour, versus peaking again after the Giro.
Good to see another good win for an Irishman yesterday!
La Vuelta (spoilers)
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laurence_cooley
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Proportionally to other threads, there seems to be a lack of comment on pro racing, but the Vuelta has thrown up a number of good talking points, namely:
- Chris Horner's amazing standing-up climbing tactics. Let's put aside suspicions of illegal substances here, but a 42 year old dancing up these steep climbs and putting time into the big three of Nibali, Valverde and Rodriguez is a joy (unless later information comes to light, of course).
- The Vuelta is exciting! Only 3 seconds between 1st and 2nd and the mass of mountain-top finishes does lead to great racing, and masses of attacks.
- The Angliru on saturday is a high-comedy climb where everyone goes up in slow motion, but it could be the day that Horner gets another 20secs or so to take the red jersey.
- It would be great if one of the tours next year gets all the big hitters together, as would love to see a hilly GC battle between Froome-dog, Quintana, Valverde, Rodriguez, Contador, Merano, Roche and Horner, all attacking riders in their style, with others in support - there needs to be a debate on the best climber in Grand Tours with them all there...
- So a great end to the season, where the certainty of who's going to win is not known unlike the other big Tours this year, where we all knew at halfway who was the winner...
...and how would all them riders manage on the Romsley hill climb? The Angliru - pah!
- Chris Horner's amazing standing-up climbing tactics. Let's put aside suspicions of illegal substances here, but a 42 year old dancing up these steep climbs and putting time into the big three of Nibali, Valverde and Rodriguez is a joy (unless later information comes to light, of course).
- The Vuelta is exciting! Only 3 seconds between 1st and 2nd and the mass of mountain-top finishes does lead to great racing, and masses of attacks.
- The Angliru on saturday is a high-comedy climb where everyone goes up in slow motion, but it could be the day that Horner gets another 20secs or so to take the red jersey.
- It would be great if one of the tours next year gets all the big hitters together, as would love to see a hilly GC battle between Froome-dog, Quintana, Valverde, Rodriguez, Contador, Merano, Roche and Horner, all attacking riders in their style, with others in support - there needs to be a debate on the best climber in Grand Tours with them all there...
- So a great end to the season, where the certainty of who's going to win is not known unlike the other big Tours this year, where we all knew at halfway who was the winner...
...and how would all them riders manage on the Romsley hill climb? The Angliru - pah!
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Andy Terry
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You're not wrong there. About the slow motion I mean, not the comedy: http://app.strava.com/activities/82208772WorcsPhil wrote:The Angliru on saturday is a high-comedy climb where everyone goes up in slow motion
Last edited by Andy Terry on 14 Sep 2013 10:15, edited 2 times in total.
And still! It'll take a turnaround in form for anyone to stop Horner winning, but with only a 3 second lead and the Angliru tomorrow that could so easily happen.WorcsPhil wrote:The Vuelta is exciting! Only 3 seconds between 1st and 2nd
Don't let Horner's supposed grinning fool you...The Angliru on saturday is a high-comedy climb.
And Nibali? Can't see Moreno challenging for the GC at the mo. It'll be interesting to see what Horner does now - can he do a full season's racing at such a high standard at 42? Also can Roche build on this year's improvement? But yes, it'd be nice to have all of them in one race.would love to see a hilly GC battle between Froome-dog, Quintana, Valverde, Rodriguez, Contador, Merano, Roche and Horner
Nieve, Betancur and Henao have hardly sparkled in this Vuelta but in 3-5 years they may be up there with Quintana challenging for GC and mountain stage wins.
Hmmmmmm...I have to say, there is something uncomfortable with Chris Horner. For his age his performance is outstanding, plus the fact he is American......WorcsPhil wrote: - Chris Horner's amazing standing-up climbing tactics. Let's put aside suspicions of illegal substances here, but a 42 year old dancing up these steep climbs and putting time into the big three of Nibali, Valverde and Rodriguez is a joy (unless later information comes to light, of course).
"You only need two tools: WD40 and duct tape. If it doesn't move and it should, use WD40. If it moves and it shouldn't, use duct tape"
The thing about horner is, where's he been for the last 20 years?
I know he has done some good stuff before ... but stuff that suggested that he was capable of winning a grand tour?
A dramatic improvement in your early 40s is a million miles from being evidence of wrongdoing, but it does make you wonder.
I know he has done some good stuff before ... but stuff that suggested that he was capable of winning a grand tour?
A dramatic improvement in your early 40s is a million miles from being evidence of wrongdoing, but it does make you wonder.
