The Vuelta

13

Comments

  • Mad One
    Mad One Posts: 82
    Has anyone any info on watching the first stage at Assen - I quite fancy driving over to watch it?

    I can't find anything about it on the Assen circuit site!
  • So is Contador definitely not doing it?? If so, I threw £75 down the toilet 2 weeks ago after a nice holiday in Alicante..bu**er.
    :oops:
    Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever.
  • victorponf
    victorponf Posts: 1,187
    Finally no Contador in the depart

    The stars for the Overall are:

    The "Armada":

    Alejandro Valverde
    Ezequiel Mosquera
    Samuel Sánchez
    Igor Antón

    The "European army":

    Andy Schleck
    Ivan Basso
    Andreas Kloden
    Robert Gesink
    Damiano Cunego

    The "monster":
    Alexander Vinokourov

    The "lonely cowboy":
    Cadel Evans
    If you like Flandes, Roubaix or Eroica, you would like GP Canal de Castilla, www.gpcanaldecastilla.com
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    Haha, nicely put vic.
    Contador is the Greatest
  • teagar
    teagar Posts: 2,100
    I can see Gesink doing well.

    Plently of climbing, not much TTing, and a fresh pair of legs.
    Note: the above post is an opinion and not fact. It might be a lie.
  • victorponf
    victorponf Posts: 1,187
    If you like Flandes, Roubaix or Eroica, you would like GP Canal de Castilla, www.gpcanaldecastilla.com
  • jerry3571
    jerry3571 Posts: 1,532
    Translation of the news on the above website-
    http://www.biciciclismo.com/cas/site/no ... p?id=15889

    "Michael Rasmussen has large hopes in disputing the Return to Spain. It has revealed to the press of its country maintains negotiations with a team that will dispute the round españoa."

    "Last weekend I maintained contacts with a team and I expect to arrive at an agreement", has revealed.

    Perfecto English!
    Cheers Jerry
    “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving”- Albert Einstein

    "You can't ride the Tour de France on mineral water."
    -Jacques Anquetil
  • lucybears
    lucybears Posts: 366
    Preinscritos en la Vuelta a España
    http://www.biciciclismo.com/cas/site/no ... p?id=15966
    interview.cyclingfever.com
  • cock. there goes £75 !!

    :oops:
    Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever.
  • timoid.
    timoid. Posts: 3,133
    Looks just about the strongest Vuelta I've seen for a while.
    It's a little like wrestling a gorilla. You don't quit when you're tired. You quit when the gorilla is tired.
  • my dosh.... thats another £75 to the additional £75 I blew on a non existent Contador will go on Valverde. 4-1.
    :roll:
    Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever.
  • Will Contador be riding?

    last i heard, no. I think he's still crying about astana respecting lance more than him
  • victorponf
    victorponf Posts: 1,187
    Además, se anunció la lista completa de pre-inscritos, que es la siguiente:

    EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI (EUS) - ESP

    SANCHEZ GONZALEZ Samuel (ESP)
    ANTON HERNANDEZ Igor (ESP)
    MARTINEZ DE ESTEBAN Egoi (ESP)
    PEREZ LEZAUN Alan (ESP)
    PEREZ MORENO Ruben (ESP)
    ISASI FLORES Inaki (ESP)
    HERNANDEZ GUTIERREZ Aitor (ESP)
    IRIZAR ARANBURU Markel (ESP)
    TXURRUKA Amets (ESP)
    R1 - URTASUN PEREZ Pablo (ESP)
    R2 - AZANZA SOTO Jorge (ESP)

    AG2R LA MONDIALE (ALM) - FRA
    EFIMKIN Vladimir (RUS)
    ARRIETA LUJAMBIO José Luis (ESP)
    DESSEL Cyril (FRA)
    EFIMKIN Alexander (RUS)
    HINAULT Sébastien (FRA)
    LOUBET Julien (FRA)
    NOCENTINI Rinaldo (ITA)
    TURPIN Ludovic (FRA)
    VALJAVEC Tadej (SLO)
    R1 - RIBLON Christophe (FRA)
    R2 - MANDRI Rene (EST)
    R3 - GADRET John (FRA)
    R4 - ROUSSEAU Nicolas (FRA)

    ANDALUCIA CAJASUR (ACA) - ESP
    TONDO VOLPINI Xavier (ESP)
    MORENO BAZAN Javier (ESP)
    CALVENTE CORBAS Manuel (ESP)
    ROSENDO PRADO Jesus (ESP)
    RUIZ SANCHEZ Jose (ESP)
    MARTINEZ PEREZ Francisco Jose (ESP)
    ORTEGA OCANA Manuel (ESP)
    LOPEZ GIL José Antonio (ESP)
    PIEDRA PEREZ Antonio (ESP)
    R1 - RAMIREZ ABEJA Javier (ESP)
    R2 - CARRASCO RAMIREZ Jose Antonio (ESP)
    R3 - ESTRADA RUIZ Juan Javier (ESP)
    R4 - ROLDAN CARMONA Jose Luis (ESP)

    ASTANA (AST) - KAZ
    BAZAYEV Assan (KAZ)
    HERNANDEZ BLAZQUEZ Jesus (ESP)
    HORNER Christopher (USA)
    IGLINSKY Maxim (KAZ)
    KLÖDEN Andreas (GER)
    NAVARRO GARCIA Daniel (ESP)
    RUBIERA VIGIL José Luis (ESP)
    VAITKUS Tomas (LTU)
    ZUBELDIA AGIRRE Haimar (ESP)
    R1 - VINOKOUROV Alexander (KAZ)
    R2 - BRAJKOVIC Janez (SLO)
    R3 - DYACHENKO Alexsandr (KAZ)
    R4 - KIREYEV Roman (KAZ)

    BBOX BOUYGUES TELECOM (BTL) - FRA
    BERNAUDEAU Giovanni (FRA)
    BONNAIRE Olivier (FRA)
    BONNET William (FRA)
    BOUYER Franck (FRA)
    CLAUDE Mathieu (FRA)
    FEDRIGO Pierrick (FRA)
    GAUDIN Damien (FRA)
    GENE Yohann (FRA)
    LEFEVRE Laurent (FRA)
    R1 - JEROME Vincent (FRA)
    R2 - MARTIAS Rony (FRA)
    R3 - SPRICK Matthieu (FRA)
    R4 - TSCHOPP Johann (SUI)

    CAISSE D'EPARGNE (GCE) - ESP
    VALVERDE BELMONTE Alejandro (ESP)
    ERVITI Imanol (ESP)
    GARCIA ACOSTA José Vicente (ESP)
    LOSADA ALGUACIL Alberto (ESP)
    MORENO FERNANDEZ Daniel (ESP)
    PASAMONTES RODRIGUEZ Luis (ESP)
    PEREZ SANCHEZ Francisco (ESP)
    RODRIGUEZ OLIVER Joaquin (ESP)
    ZANDIO ECHAIDE Xabier (ESP)
    R1 - KIRYIENKA Vasili (BLR)
    R2 - LOPEZ GARCIA David (ESP)
    R3 - PEREIRO SIO Oscar (ESP)
    R4 - LASTRAS GARCIA Pablo (ESP)

    CERVELO TEST TEAM (CTT) - SUI
    DEIGNAN Philip (IRL)
    FLORENCIO CABRE Xavier (ESP)
    GOMEZ MARCHANTE José Angel (ESP)
    HAMMOND Roger (GBR)
    KONOVALOVAS Ignatas (LTU)
    LLOYD Daniel (GBR)
    RASCH Gabriel (NOR)
    ROLLIN Dominique (CAN )
    WYSS Marcel (SUI)
    R1 - CUESTA LOPEZ DE CASTRO Inigo (ESP)
    R2 - GERRANS Simon (AUS)
    R3 - NOVOA MENEDEZ Joaquin (ESP)
    R4 - PUJOL MUNOZ Oscar (ESP)

    COFIDIS, LE CREDIT EN LIGNE (COF) - FRA
    DEMARET Jean-Eudes (FRA)
    DUQUE Leonardo (COL)
    EL FARES Julien (FRA)
    FERNANDEZ BUSTINZA Bingen (ESP)
    MOINARD Amaël (FRA)
    MONCOUTIE David (FRA)
    MONIER Damien (FRA)
    PAURIOL Rémi (FRA)
    TAARAMAE Rein (EST)
    R1 - BLAIN Alexandre (FRA)
    R2 - BUFFAZ Mickaël (FRA)

    CONTENTPOLIS-AMPO (MCO) - ESP
    BENITEZ POMARES Javier (ESP)
    CHUZHDA Oleg (UKR)
    GARCIA-CASARRUBIOS PINTOR Oscar (ESP)
    GAZTANAGA ECHEVERRIA Mikel (ESP)
    PACHECO TORRES Francisco Jose (ESP)
    PALOMARES VILLAPLANA Adrian (ESP)
    PEREZ ARRIETA Aitor (ESP)
    SANCHEZ PIMIENTA Julian (ESP)
    VAZQUEZ HUESO Manuel (ESP)
    R1 - DOMINGUEZ MUNOZ Sergio (ESP)
    R2 - SERRANO FERNANDEZ Rafael (ESP)
    R3 - ECHARRI MARIN Javier (ESP)
    R4 - HERRADA LOPEZ José (ESP)

    FRANÇAISE DES JEUX (FDJ) - FRA
    CASAR Sandy (FRA)
    CHAVANEL Sébastien (FRA)
    CHEREL Mikael (FRA)
    DI GREGORIO Rémy (FRA)
    GERARD Arnaud (FRA)
    LADAGNOUS Matthieu (FRA)
    LE MEVEL Christophe (FRA)
    OFFREDO Yoann (FRA)
    ROUX Anthony (FRA)
    R1 - GUDSELL Timothy (NZL)
    R2 - LEVARLET Guillaume (FRA)
    R3 - MOUREY Francis (FRA)
    R4 - SULZBERGER Wesley (AUS)

    FUJI-SERVETTO (FUJ) - ESP
    CAMANO ORTUZAR Iker (ESP)
    COBO ACEBO Juan Jose (ESP)
    DE LA FUENTE RASILLA David (ESP)
    CAPECCHI Eros (ITA)
    DEL NERO MONTES Jesus (ESP)
    KESSIAKOFF Fredrik (SWE)
    KISERLOVSKI Robert (CRO)
    INTXAUSTI ELORRIAGA Benat (ESP)
    VIGANO Davide (ITA)
    R1 - BENITEZ ROMAN Jose Alberto (ESP)
    R2 - GOMEZ GOMEZ Angel (ESP)
    R3 - WURF Cameron (AUS )
    R4 - DURAN DAROCA Arkaitz (ESP)

    GARMIN-SLIPSTREAM (GRM) - USA
    DANIELSON Thomas (USA)
    HESJEDAL Ryder (CAN)
    MARTIN Daniel (IRL)
    MILLAR David (GBR)
    PETERSON Thomas (USA)
    TUFT Svein (CAN)
    VANDEVELDE Christian (USA)
    DEAN Julian (NZL)
    FARRAR Tyler (USA)
    R1 - COZZA Steven (USA)
    R2 - MEIER Christian (CAN)
    R3 - DUGGAN Timothy (USA)
    R4 - SUTTON Christopher (AUS)

    LAMPRE-N.G.C (LAM) - ITA
    BALLAN Alessandro (ITA)
    BINDI Emanuele (ITA)
    BONO Matteo (ITA)
    CUNEGO Damiano (ITA)
    BUTS Vitaliy (UKR)
    MORI Massimiliano (ITA)
    TIRALONGO Paolo (ITA)
    GASPAROTTO Enrico (ITA)
    ZAGORODNY Volodymyr (UKR)
    R1 - BRUSEGHIN Marzio (ITA)
    R2 - DA DALTO Mauro (ITA)
    R3 - LORENZETTO Mirco (ITA)
    R4 - MARZANO Marco (ITA)

    LIQUIGAS (LIQ) - ITA
    BASSO Ivan (ITA)
    BENNATI Daniele (ITA)
    BODNAR Maciej (POL)
    CARLSTRÖM Kjell (FIN)
    KREUZIGER Roman (CZE)
    QUINZIATO Manuel (ITA)
    SZMYD Sylvester (POL)
    WILLEMS Frederik (BEL)
    ZAUGG Oliver (SUI)
    R1 - CHICCHI Francesco (ITA)
    R2 - FRANZOI Enrico (ITA)
    R3 - SANTAROMITA Ivan (ITA)
    R4 - SABATINI Fabio (ITA)

    QUICK STEP (QST) - BEL
    BARREDO LLAMAZALES Carlos (ESP)
    BOONEN Tom (BEL)
    CHAVANEL Sylvain (FRA )
    CORNU Dominique (BEL)
    DEVOLDER Stijn (BEL)
    DE WEERT Kevin (BEL)
    TOSATTO Matteo (ITA)
    VAN IMPE Kevin (BEL)
    VELO Marco (ITA)
    R1 - WEYLANDT Wouter (BEL)
    R2 - WYNANTS Maarten (BEL)
    R3 - SAMOILAU Branislau (BLR)

    RABOBANK (RAB) - NED
    FREIRE GOMEZ Oscar (ESP)
    ARDILA CANO Mauricio Alberto (COL)
    BOOM Lars (NED)
    GARATE Juan Manuel (ESP)
    GESINK Robert (NED)
    MARTENS Paul (GER)
    MOERENHOUT Koos (NED)
    TANKINK Bram (NED)
    WEENING Pieter (NED)
    R1 - LEEZER Tom (NED)
    R2 - FLECHA GIANNONI Juan Antonio (ESP)
    R3 - DE GROOT Bram (NED)
    R4 - KOZONTCHUK Dmitry (RUS)

    SILENCE-LOTTO (SIL) - BEL
    AERTS Mario (BEL)
    BRANDT Christophe (BEL)
    DE GREEF Francis (BEL)
    ELIJZEN Michiel (NED)
    EVANS Cadel (AUS)
    GILBERT Philippe (BEL)
    KAISEN Olivier (BEL)
    ROELANDTS Jurgen (BEL)
    SENTJENS Roy (BEL)
    R1 - VANENDERT Jelle (BEL)
    R2 - VAN SUMMEREN Johan (BEL)
    R3 - WEGELIUS Charles (GBR)

    TEAM COLUMBIA-HTC (THR) - USA
    ALBASINI Michael (SUI)
    GRABSCH Bert (GER)
    GREIPEL André (GER)
    HANSEN Adam (AUS)
    KIRCHEN Kim (LUX)
    RABON Frantisek (CZE)
    REYNES MIMO Vicente (ESP)
    SIEBERG Marcel (GER)
    SIUTSOU Kanstantsin (BLR)
    R1 - BURGHARDT Marcus (GER)
    R2 - HENDERSON Greg (NZL)
    R3 - LEWIS Craig (USA)
    R4 - LÖVKVIST Thomas (SWE)

    TEAM MILRAM (MRM) - GER
    CIOLEK Gerald (GER)
    GERDEMANN Linus (GER)
    KNEES Christian (GER)
    ROELS Dominik (GER)
    ROHREGGER Thomas (AUT)
    RUSS Matthias (GER)
    VELITS Martin (SVK)
    VOSS Paul (GER)
    WEGMANN Fabian (GER)
    R1 - EICHLER Markus (GER)
    R2 - FORSTER Robert (GER)
    R3 - GAJEK Artur (GER)
    R4 - SCHRÖDER Björn (GER)

    TEAM SAXO BANK (SAX) - DEN
    SCHLECK Andy (LUX)
    SCHLECK Frank (LUX)
    KOLOBNEV Alexandr (RUS)
    CANCELLARA Fabian (SUI)
    FUGLSANG Jakob (DEN)
    KROON Karsten (NED)
    BRESCHEL Matti (DEN)
    ARVESEN Kurt-Asle (NOR)
    O'GRADY Stuart (AUS)
    R1 - LJUNGQVIST Marcus (SWE)
    R2 - VAN GOOLEN Jurgen (BEL)
    R3 - MCCARTNEY Jason (USA)
    R4 - BAK Lars Ytting (DEN)

    VACANSOLEIL PRO CYCLING TEAM (VAC) - NED
    BOZIC Borut (SLO)
    CARRARA Matteo (ITA)
    HOOGERLAND Johnny (NED)
    LAGUTIN Sergey (UZB)
    LEUKEMANS Björn (BEL)
    MARCATO Marco (ITA)
    MOURIS Jens (NED)
    PRONK Matheus (NED)
    WESTRA Lieuwe (NED)
    R1 - COOKE Baden (AUS)
    R2 - LÖWIK Gerben (NED)
    R3 - VEUCHELEN Frederik (BEL)
    R4 - TRAKSEL Bobbie (NED)

    XACOBEO GALICIA (KGZ) - ESP

    MOSQUERA MIGUEZ Ezequiel (ESP)
    GARCIA DA PENA David (ESP)
    CESAR VELOSO Gustavo (ESP)
    DOMINGUEZ LEMOS Gustavo (ESP)
    MARTINEZ Serafin (ESP)
    MOURON DOLDAN Juan Francisco (ESP)
    PALEO Alejandro (ESP)
    FERNANDEZ Alberto (ESP)
    VORGANOV Eduard (RUS)
    R1 - RABUNAL RIOS Gonzalo (ESP)
    R2 - HERRERO LLORENTE David (ESP)
    R3 - CASTANO PANADERO Carlos (ESP)
    R4 - MAYOZ ECHEVERRIA Iban (ESP)
    If you like Flandes, Roubaix or Eroica, you would like GP Canal de Castilla, www.gpcanaldecastilla.com
  • jerry3571
    jerry3571 Posts: 1,532
    Shame about no chicken on the Menu. Sun, sea, sand a drop of "Vino" and then "Chicken Tonight". How marvellous it would've been. Ah, I'm getting a dose of the "Duffields" coming on. :wink:

    Happy days on this youtube video
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ya9RVtTjHB0
    -Jerry
    “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving”- Albert Einstein

    "You can't ride the Tour de France on mineral water."
    -Jacques Anquetil
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,137
    That's a pretty good line up, lots of big names. Now who's going to volunteer to be drop out of the Astana team so the 1st reserve can get in.
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • victorponf
    victorponf Posts: 1,187
    Main rider of the Vuelta (pre-inscription)

    EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI (EUS) - ESP

    SANCHEZ GONZALEZ Samuel (ESP)
    ANTON HERNANDEZ Igor (ESP)
    TXURRUKA Amets (ESP)

    AG2R LA MONDIALE (ALM) - FRA

    EFIMKIN Vladimir (RUS)
    DESSEL Cyril (FRA)
    EFIMKIN Alexander (RUS)
    NOCENTINI Rinaldo (ITA)
    VALJAVEC Tadej (SLO)

    ANDALUCIA CAJASUR (ACA) - ESP

    TONDO VOLPINI Xavier (ESP)

    ASTANA (AST) - KAZ

    HORNER Christopher (USA)
    KLÖDEN Andreas (GER)
    ZUBELDIA AGIRRE Haimar (ESP)
    R1 - VINOKOUROV Alexander (KAZ)
    R2 - BRAJKOVIC Janez (SLO)

    BBOX BOUYGUES TELECOM (BTL) - FRA

    FEDRIGO Pierrick (FRA)

    CAISSE D'EPARGNE (GCE) - ESP

    VALVERDE BELMONTE Alejandro (ESP)
    MORENO FERNANDEZ Daniel (ESP)
    RODRIGUEZ OLIVER Joaquin (ESP)

    CERVELO TEST TEAM (CTT) - SUI
    GOMEZ MARCHANTE José Angel (ESP)

    COFIDIS, LE CREDIT EN LIGNE (COF) - FRA

    DUQUE Leonardo (COL)
    MOINARD Amaël (FRA)
    MONCOUTIE David (FRA)
    TAARAMAE Rein (EST)



    CONTENTPOLIS-AMPO (MCO) - ESP

    SANCHEZ PIMIENTA Julian (ESP)

    FRANÇAISE DES JEUX (FDJ) - FRA

    CASAR Sandy (FRA)
    DI GREGORIO Rémy (FRA)
    LE MEVEL Christophe (FRA)

    FUJI-SERVETTO (FUJ) - ESP

    COBO ACEBO Juan Jose (ESP)
    DE LA FUENTE RASILLA David (ESP)

    GARMIN-SLIPSTREAM (GRM) - USA

    DANIELSON Thomas (USA)
    MARTIN Daniel (IRL)
    MILLAR David (GBR)
    VANDEVELDE Christian (USA)
    FARRAR Tyler (USA)

    LAMPRE-N.G.C (LAM) - ITA

    BALLAN Alessandro (ITA)
    CUNEGO Damiano (ITA)
    R1 - BRUSEGHIN Marzio (ITA)

    LIQUIGAS (LIQ) - ITA

    BASSO Ivan (ITA)
    BENNATI Daniele (ITA)
    KREUZIGER Roman (CZE)
    SZMYD Sylvester (POL)
    ZAUGG Oliver (SUI)

    QUICK STEP (QST) - BEL

    BARREDO LLAMAZALES Carlos (ESP)
    BOONEN Tom (BEL)
    CHAVANEL Sylvain (FRA )
    DEVOLDER Stijn (BEL)

    RABOBANK (RAB) - NED

    FREIRE GOMEZ Oscar (ESP)
    ARDILA CANO Mauricio Alberto (COL)
    GARATE Juan Manuel (ESP)
    GESINK Robert (NED)

    SILENCE-LOTTO (SIL) - BEL

    EVANS Cadel (AUS)
    GILBERT Philippe (BEL)

    TEAM COLUMBIA-HTC (THR) - USA

    GRABSCH Bert (GER)
    GREIPEL André (GER)
    KIRCHEN Kim (LUX)

    TEAM MILRAM (MRM) - GER

    CIOLEK Gerald (GER)
    GERDEMANN Linus (GER)
    WEGMANN Fabian (GER)

    TEAM SAXO BANK (SAX) - DEN

    SCHLECK Andy (LUX)
    SCHLECK Frank (LUX)
    CANCELLARA Fabian (SUI)
    O'GRADY Stuart (AUS)

    VACANSOLEIL PRO CYCLING TEAM (VAC) - NED

    CARRARA Matteo (ITA)
    R1 - COOKE Baden (AUS)

    XACOBEO GALICIA (KGZ) - ESP

    MOSQUERA MIGUEZ Ezequiel (ESP)
    GARCIA DA PENA David (ESP)
    If you like Flandes, Roubaix or Eroica, you would like GP Canal de Castilla, www.gpcanaldecastilla.com
  • victorponf
    victorponf Posts: 1,187
    Overrall main people (without Vino):

    SANCHEZ GONZALEZ Samuel (ESP)
    KLÖDEN Andreas (GER)
    VALVERDE BELMONTE Alejandro (ESP)
    VANDEVELDE Christian (USA)
    BASSO Ivan (ITA) BENNATI Daniele (ITA)
    KREUZIGER Roman (CZE)
    GESINK Robert (NED)
    EVANS Cadel (AUS)
    KIRCHEN Kim (LUX)
    SCHLECK Andy (LUX)
    SCHLECK Frank (LUX)
    MOSQUERA MIGUEZ Ezequiel (ESP)

    outsiders:

    ANTON HERNANDEZ Igor (ESP)
    EFIMKIN Vladimir (RUS)
    VALJAVEC Tadej (SLO)
    CUNEGO Damiano (ITA)
    GERDEMANN Linus (GER)
    If you like Flandes, Roubaix or Eroica, you would like GP Canal de Castilla, www.gpcanaldecastilla.com
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    I'd add Fuglsang to the list...
  • teagar
    teagar Posts: 2,100
    I'd say plenty of those favourites are actually riding the Vuelta to get into some good form for the Worlds rather than for the Vuelta itself...

    I guess if they get into a good GC position they're hardly going to do an Ulrich, but still...
    Note: the above post is an opinion and not fact. It might be a lie.
  • moray_gub
    moray_gub Posts: 3,328
    victorponf wrote:
    Samuel Sánchez

    This guy intrigues me two years ago he looked like the next great hilly classic man and intermediate Tour stages and the all of a sudden zilch ..........what gives ?
    Gasping - but somehow still alive !
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,069
    He did win the Olympic RR last year MG!

    But I see your point, he seems to ride a very light program. Has he been seen at a race since the Tour of the Basque Country?
  • afx237vi
    afx237vi Posts: 12,630
    http://www.cqranking.com/men/asp/gen/ri ... &current=0

    Sanchez just finished Burgos. He's pretty much gambled his whole season on doing a good Vuelta.
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,069
    By my reckoning he's raced 40 days so far this year. That seems very low for a top level pro.
  • His race programme has been shrinking for at least the past two or three seasons.
    It is extremely light.
    Last saw him struggling against the likes of RR's Sevilla and Mancebo here:-
    http://www.todociclismo.com/resultados2 ... ci&subder=
    and that was at the very end of April!

    I know MG will see red, but I worry when riders "disappear", for months on end, in "preparation."
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • victorponf
    victorponf Posts: 1,187
    This year the Vuelta have a few susprises:

    La Ragua is a climb quite similar to La Bonette o Madeleine:

    Let´s see

    http://translate.google.com/translate?p ... ry_state0=




    Enjoy it
    If you like Flandes, Roubaix or Eroica, you would like GP Canal de Castilla, www.gpcanaldecastilla.com
  • Not that well see it, as it's all over inside the first 50kms of the stage.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • victorponf
    victorponf Posts: 1,187
    Not that well see it, as it's all over inside the first 50kms of the stage.

    It´s a very good warm up to Monachil-Sierra Nevada by Sabinas (a combination almost like Telegraphe - Galibier).

    A very good stage in my opinion
    If you like Flandes, Roubaix or Eroica, you would like GP Canal de Castilla, www.gpcanaldecastilla.com
  • moray_gub
    moray_gub Posts: 3,328
    andyp wrote:
    He did win the Olympic RR last year MG!

    But I see your point, he seems to ride a very light program. Has he been seen at a race since the Tour of the Basque Country?

    Ah yea so he did forgot about that well that just shows you what i mean though ,when the cricket was Olympic champ his gold bling was all over races like a rash Sammy seems to have gone into his shell somewhat, which is shame as i like the way he races.
    Gasping - but somehow still alive !
  • jerry3571
    jerry3571 Posts: 1,532
    Maybe the Vampires are after him?
    WADA Vampires?
    I think he may have been given a speeding warning and told to carry on but watch your speed. Obviously translates as WADA are out to get you, be a good boy otherwise WADA will get you.
    This poor form thing seems to happen quite a bit now. Canellara has his moment in the sun but doesn't seem as quick and also Boonen, Cunego can't climb Mountains anymore and others also.
    I think riders can have a quick play on the Banjo and then no more; their time is up.
    Strange days indeed. I would be interested to see who WADA have targetted and see what the outcomes are. I think WADA has a strong affect on the racing at the top level.

    Cheers Jy
    “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving”- Albert Einstein

    "You can't ride the Tour de France on mineral water."
    -Jacques Anquetil
  • iainf72
    iainf72 Posts: 15,784
    jerry3571 wrote:
    Strange days indeed. I would be interested to see who WADA have targetted and see what the outcomes are. I think WADA has a strong affect on the racing at the top level.

    ??

    WADA don't really do very much testing. They're a policy body. Operational tasks are left the national ADA's and sporting federations.
    Fckin' Quintana … that creep can roll, man.