Vuelta a España 2012 (with spoilers)

[rich p]

This racing looks as 'mortal' as the Giro, which was notable for its conservatism apart from one dig by De Gendt on the Stelvio. All the leaders just marking each other.
This race has shown how it can be both clean and animated so, although it sticks in the craw a little() it's a pleasure to watch Contador, Valverde go head to head with Froome and JRod in the mix too. Great stuff.

 

[Noodley]

Totally agree rich, just watched the highlights from today. Tough racing, and they look like they are doing it properly. Just shows that doping is not needed. It's much better than watching them whistling up mountains.

 

[400bhp]

Shows the fallability and the human side too.

 

[Smokin Joe]

Very tough ride from Froome, I wonder how he'd have gone if he didn't have the tour in his legs?

 

[Chuffy]

Bah! Missing this on account of being on holibobs. Hopefully the last week will be as good.

 

[Crackle]

Very tough ride from Froome, I wonder how he'd have gone if he didn't have the tour in his legs?

I wondered how he'd have gone if he hadn't jumped past when he caught them, that was a blunder, he still looking naive.

 

[Slaav]

I wondered how he'd have gone if he hadn't jumped past when he caught them, that was a blunder, he still looking naive.

Cannot help but think that if he didn't have his TdF legs in him, he would be prancing about showing off - in a good way

However - he has a great opinion of himself and he is CORRECT! He is a great rider with unbelievable stamina. But.... after TdF and the course (without a full TdF team behind him now) I cannot see a way back for him on climb after climb

 

[Monsieur Remings]

Cannot help but think that if he didn't have his TdF legs in him, he would be prancing about showing off - in a good way

However - he has a great opinion of himself and he is CORRECT! He is a great rider with unbelievable stamina. But.... after TdF and the course (without a full TdF team behind him now) I cannot see a way back for him on climb after climb

I agree entirely. Rodriguez is on absolutely top form too and any rider with him and Berty to worry about after coming 2nd as a super-dom in the TDF is always going to be fighting an uphill battle...or should that be mountain? I fear the Spaniards already have the measure of him and the strength of the Sky team at the Vuelta.

Hopefully next year we'll see the full weight of the ominous black sky train come down to bear on any challengers with Monsieur Wiggins leading the charge, in France and Spain, working for the young talent instead...?

 

[smutchin]

Rodriguez is on absolutely top form

I read a comment elsewhere that he looked "surprisingly fresh" at the end of yesterday's stage. Sigh. I suppose the innuendo is inevitable but I hope there's nothing more to it than idle gossip. I like Purito and I think I trust him - he's always made the right noises on that subject. I think he just rode up the final climb more cannily than the others and, as you say, is in top form. Contador looked absolutely cooked at the end of it, which is kind of reassuring.

I really hope Purito wins this. Katusha were foolish not to take him to the Tour last year - he was in great form then and I think could have been on the podium at least - and he was a bit unlucky in the Giro this year.

d.

 

[Noodley]

Surprisingly fresh!??? He looked completely shagged.

 

[smutchin]

Hey, it wasn't me who said it - I merely report what others have said.

d.

 

[Smokin Joe]

I wondered how he'd have gone if he hadn't jumped past when he caught them, that was a blunder, he still looking naive.

He obviously felt good enough to launch his attack at the time, it was a blunder with hindsight but if you are riding to win then at some point you've got to go for it. As Roche says, if you want to win you've got to be prepared to lose.

 

[smutchin]

And fwiw, I agree with you - I thought they all looked done in. Contador and Froome looked like they'd suffered more than most, but none of them looked what I would call "fresh". Not even Valverde.

It would be good to see some numbers to get a more objective measure of their performance.

d.

 

[rich p]

To my way of thinking JRod is performing better than expected in some ways vis a vis his previous performances in Gts.
The reasons other than being a doper, which I don't think he is, are there.
He has often been a domestique before and burnt himself out in the support of his leader - sounds rather heroic and mediaeval when you write it down!
He is fresh having not done the TdF
The rest are riding cleaner so he's racing his peers up the mountain on a level playing field - errr! (Valv, Cobo, AC to name but 3)

 

[Noodley]

Hey, it wasn't me who said it - I merely report what others have said.
d.

Oooo touchy!