La Vuelta 2013 (24 Aug - 15 Sept) **SPOILERS**

[thom]

 

[Noodley]

I see Thibaut Pinot managed to stay with the front of the peloton today and finish in 14th place

 

[Basil.B]

This year's Vuelta is going to be a cracker!

 

[Crackle]

Henao had a mare on that climb and Nibali into the race lead on day 2, that's going to be interesting.

 

[themosquitoking]

Will it make it harder for him being in the leaders jersey this early? I'm assuming there's more media pressure to go through and therefore less time relaxing but is that the only reason?

 

[jifdave]

Least uran can race now... Do sky just back him and try and podium, knowin he's then taking two podiums to opqs.

How much do world tour points really count?

 

[Booyaa]

I see Thibaut Pinot managed to stay with the front of the peloton today and finish in 14th place

Luckily there were no downhills!

 

[The Couch]

I see Thibaut Pinot managed to stay with the front of the peloton today and finish in 14th place

The big descents still need to come

 

[The Couch]

How much do world tour points really count?

When you have the points from Froome, Porte (and even from Henao)... they really won't be missing Uran's points at the ens of this season

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Great ride by Roche, probably the best of his career so far, and a very controlled performance by Nibali - he's really got this one worked out, I think. I'm very disappointed in and for Henao though. Anyone can have a bad day, and I suppose it's good to get your bad day out of the way early on, but it means that Sky are likely to favour Uran now and Henao may not even get the chance to fight for the GC this time.

 

[Stonechat]

Yes interesting to see who is in good form at this end of the season. Nibali the one to beat, but too early yet. It's a long event and there is time yet for others to show

 

[The Couch]

Yes interesting to see who is in good form at this end of the season. Nibali the one to beat, but too early yet. It's a long event and there is time yet for others to show

Indeed, no sense in writing Nibali in the books yet... way too many uphill stages to go (and no sense yet in speculating if he has his best form back)
A bit of a shame for him Brajkovic couldn't hold the jersey longer, it might have been a mental benefit for Nibali that it was someone else of his team and that he is not (yet) expected to be the sole leader of the team

 

[The Couch]

Not sure if this bodes well for the World Champion:

(then again he did finish the TT in group and is saying he doesn't feel any pain)

 

[Stonechat]

Calls for a remark a la Monty Python 'a mere flesh wound'!

 

[Basil.B]

Nearly made me bring my porridge back up!