Have you followed the Vuelta?

squired

Now, I don't mind admitting that I'm a huge cycling fan. I follow all the races and normally can't get enough. However, for some reason I've not been even slightly interested in the Vuelta. I've watched some of the weekend mountain stages, but other than that I've not even been following the live reports on the net. In fact I could stream the Eurosport coverage to my phone and haven't bothered with that either. I don't know if its the dull course this year meaning a large number of pointless stages, apathy after watching what I felt was a dull Tour de France, or something else. Are other people the same, or is everyone else loving this year's Vuelta?

afx237vi

Yes, but then I'm at home during the day. It's either the Vuelta or Diagnosis Murder.

If I wasn't at home, I don't suppose I'd record it and watch it later or anything like that. The Vuelta is a good race, but the scenery (or complete lack thereof) makes it very easy to drift off into a semi-coma.

andyp

I'm kind of following it but it always leaves me cold. It needs to be shortened by a week and to drop a lot of the long, flat, featureless stages (like today's).

donrhummy

I've tried following it in the past and it was super boring. The route designers need some MAJOR help from either ASO or RCS on how to design an exciting race. This year I've followed it because of the battle between Sastre, Contador, Leipheimer and Valverde. However, they now have a week of boring, slow, too-long stages before we get to the TT. Someone please help them design a better race!

gabriel959

Well, on Friday there is a full montain stage (2 1st Cat Climbs) and the ending is on a slope so should be interesting.

claudb

Well I'm a fan. Yes there have been a few less than exciting stages but I'd rather watch that than Cricket or Snooker or Golf !!! I do admit, though, that the 'commentary/gossip/e-mail correspondence' helps to keep interest at times.
I also find some interest in seeing the terrain, architecture (where I would want to live), townspeople coming ot to watch (yes they do) and, generally, a bright sunny backdrop (most of the time). By comparison you could watch the Tour of Poland which has been a bit of a turnoff (not to mention the co-commentary !!).

cougie

Nope. Only taped the Angliru and yesterdays to see Antlerboy having his flag nicked.

I think its a stage race too far for me. Reduce it to say, 7 days and every day is a mountain stage. That would be interesting !

pinerellopaul

Yes the beginning part yesterday when there was no sound and then david harmon was the only one you could here really made me relise with out the chat from the commentators
it was like watching a fish tank in a dentist waiting room relaxing in a sedative sort of way
i think the way to go for me on those long flat days will be to just burn the live stuff to dvd to have play in the back groung as i browse the internet or do some photo editing as i do like the general chatter from david and shaun

teagar

I'm surprised this thread exists! This years' Vuelta has been an awful lot better than previous editions thanks to some genuine top flight GC contenders with the Astana crew, Valvarde and Sastre.


They key is to know when to tune in! (Only saw the last 11Km today for example)

campagone

Ive given up watching it now its so boring. But I was really dissapointed at the weekend by the lack of coverage, Saturday was the queen of stages and we only got to see the final climb up the Angrilu, and Sunday was a complete joke the last 10k only, granted they were running ahead of schedule but the coverage has been poor to say the least. Even the host nation isn't showing much of it. The French and Italians do a much better job.

Patrick1.0

I think you guys are right, it hasn't been the greatest largely because of the coverage. The race itself is actually pretty good. I don't get much chance to watch it because I am out training during the times it's on but I try and catch up with the highlights when I can. The long, flat stages are never the greatest but if you're in a really relaxed mood there's something a bit hypnotic about them. That's a positive, I guess.

jimmythecuckoo

I have followed it less than I did both the Giro and the Tour, but that is about par for the course I would have thought.

It is a long season for the riders and also for supporters to keep motivated in watching racing too.

FJS

jimmythecuckoo wrote:

It is a long season for the riders and also for supporters to keep motivated in watching racing too.

That's it. The Giro is exciting as it is the first GT of the year, the Vuelta comes after you've already watched the Tour. Same for the Classics, Lombardia and Paris-Tours just do not excite me anymore that late into the year like De Ronde or Paris-Roubaix do.

Tom Butcher

For me it's been dull as ditchwater. Flat boring stages and then silly stuff like ending up the Angliru where there is no scope for an attacking rider to use tactics or courage to their advantage because it's so steep it was always going to be Contador riding away from the field.

Greggyr

I most certainly have...

Ask the same question in the middle of December when you're months away from decent racing and there's none to watch on TV... I always enjoy top quality racing, irrespective of the scenery etc. It's like saying you'll watch a top footie match broadcast played at a great stadium but not one from a less grand one..

I can't get enough of racing !!!

Rgds

Greg

jimmythecuckoo

FJS wrote:

Same for the Classics, Lombardia and Paris-Tours just do not excite me anymore that late into the year like De Ronde or Paris-Roubaix do.

I agree to an extent... apart from Lombardia which is my favourite classic.

richk

MrsK had gone off to bed last night, so I put the highlights on... only to wake up & find myself watching cars go round n round. Oh well.

victorponf

This year La Vuelta has been a no bad show. However Unipublic give us again a very boring week (last year was the second).

Anyway a lot of good stages (Toledo, Ciudad Real TT, Pirineos was no bad, Suances, amazing Asturias and Ponferrada stage).

Tomorrow in Segovia (Pedro Delgado´s city) there is a very nice uphill finish.

And now they are descending Los Leones, with Nicolas Roche in firs position......

It´s been a very decent Vuelta and more public in town wacthing it than other days.

magliaceleste

I really try to like it but it's just so dull. I now only record the 2 or 3 climbing stages (which may or may not come out depending on Eurosport's constant scheduling problems)

donaldinho

I've given up trying to watch it: I keep missing the Eurosport coverage with it moving around or just being on too late. [I've got to get up early in the morning and ride my bike to work, I don't want to be falling asleep at the handlebars!]

The ITV coverage of the Tour of Britain was light on actual racing and a bit cheesy, but at least they treated cycling fans like humans beings.

gabriel959

Yesterday's race was really good, loads of attacks and a really close finish!

beancounter

Who's winning?

bc

deltadawn

gabriel959 wrote:

Yesterday's race was really good, loads of attacks and a really close finish!

I agree, a very exciting finish!

deltadawn

beancounter wrote:

Who's winning?

bc

Astana has something to prove after not being invited to the tour. At the moment (and most likely in the end) Alberto Contador is first, with Levi L second by a minute something.

fast as fupp

i like the dull bits- just watching them pedalling along long straight roads is kind of hypnotic...............................zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

its been quite good this year

ms_tree

Greggyr wrote:

I most certainly have...

Ask the same question in the middle of December when you're months away from decent racing and there's none to watch on TV... I always enjoy top quality racing, irrespective of the scenery etc. It's like saying you'll watch a top footie match broadcast played at a great stadium but not one from a less grand one..

I can't get enough of racing !!!

Rgds

Greg

Agree with you Greg! And you see different riders and get names to follow in the future. Hasn't Nicolas Roach done well too?
And it's hot and sunny unlike here (and Poland!)

sing_for_absolution

Never followed it. Boring anti-climax. It's either a wankfest for the Spanish team/riders, or a preparation race for those with an eye on the Worlds. Once the TDF has finished, every other race after that is irrelevant in my eyes.