The Vuelta: Who are you looking forward to seeing?

inkyfingers

greasedscotsman wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

That just makes him look elvish.

Ehh? Looks nothing like him!



Oh wait, you mean elves...

There's only one thing worse than making a crap joke, and that's being the second person to crack it...

frenchfighter

LeicesterLad wrote:

frenchfighter wrote:

It is an interesting one tho.

Will change it to something else in a cpl of days.

You still wont take me up on a Boonen avatar? I made one of this yday:

Ive got a hard on.

Lol, you should see my shot of Mayo in the same pose.

But how about:

frenchfighter

Suffice to say that El Pistelero is happy and ready to rumble.

inkyfingers

frenchfighter wrote:

LeicesterLad wrote:

The man from Del Monte says yes.

rick_chasey

frenchfighter wrote:

LeicesterLad wrote:

Ive got a hard on.

Lol, you should see my shot...

Utter filth.

frenchfighter

Rick Chasey wrote:

frenchfighter wrote:

LeicesterLad wrote:

Ive got a hard on.

Lol, you should see my shot...

Utter filth.

Cancellara is not impressed:

rick_chasey

inkyfingers wrote:

frenchfighter wrote:

LeicesterLad wrote:

The man from Del Monte says yes.

That is aggressively Euro with the light trouser / different jacket combo.

inkyfingers

Very true Rick, I used to work with a French guy in London who must have owned an impressive number of fine suits, but never wore the right jacket with the right trousers.

greasedscotsman

inkyfingers wrote:

There's only one thing worse than making a crap joke, and that's being the second person to crack it...

Ahh nuts! Sometimes BR lets you know if other posts have been made on the thread and sometimes it doesn't, wouldn't have continued with the epic joke otherwise. Anyway, my Elvis picture is better!

Crozza

“I’m in good shape, keen and motivated, even if the last two years [of suspension] have had their effect on me. I’ve suffered a lot.” - Contador

eh? he has only been out for 6 months

mfin

Crozza wrote:

“I’m in good shape, keen and motivated, even if the last two years [of suspension] have had their effect on me. I’ve suffered a lot.” - Contador

eh? he has only been out for 6 months

That's exactly what I thought when I read it. ...and if he thinks he's suffered anyway, then he's only got himself to blame

ocdupalais

I've missed Contador and have been a fan of his racing (I try to remain positive about performances until the evidence reaches a tipping point: the trouble is, as a fan/punter, we often only get access to information that "interested parties" release). But the insipid guff that he (and others) has spouted (both pre and post ban) just doesn't tally with an innocent man, to me. I know that Wiggins's outburst(s) has been covered here, everyone gave their opinion, but that to me is the anger of a p!ssed-off (innocent) man... in fact, I'm impressed he managed to stay so eloquent.

If I was innocent, I'd be absolutely livid that I'd been erroneously thrown out of the workplace, with a slur on my name.

I want to see a bit more Yosemite Sam and a little less Porky Pig.

ms_tree

I'm looking forward to seeing Quintano v Henao v Uran in the mountains, Gilbert getting his mojo back, if Cobo does anything and Anton in the red jersey in Madrid.

frenchfighter

So Froome's girlfriend posted this video:

http://link.brightcove.com/services/pla ... 4029780001

You can tell it is from the US. You can tell it is also her giving her opinion. Well Ms Cound, be prepared when this True Champion puts your Zero to Hero boyfriend into the tier 3 where he belongs.

Mad_Malx

Google translate is always entertaining (from the official website):

16/08/2012 - IGOR ANTON: "I NOTICE THAT I GET FRESH"

FROOME:
Did you do the third week long?
No. Only I have wanted to start, I do not think you will get long but go everyday thinking.

CONTADOR
On the bike, I could never come. My friends have been but I never. It makes me especially excited for the tour so spectacular it will be.

(edit)

dave_1

conflicted on this question. Froome is great to watch and so is Contador...but Bert was likely tooled up for years so who knows what Bert is really like when he stops using mutliple doping methods. Would love to see Bert make Froome suffer a bit...good fight. Not sure what to make of Froome at times though. How come he never gets ill in July and September? I smell BS whenever grand tour winenrs play the illness card that never strikes duing important months, so who knows..maybe a fair fight between these two riders??

inkyfingers

I'm going to say it. So long as Contador doesn't crash out then I think he's going to beat Froome by more than 3 minutes.

LeicesterLad

inkyfingers wrote:

I'm going to say it. So long as Contador doesn't crash out then I think he's going to beat Froome by more than 3 minutes.

I hope so. For reasons I can not understand or sanely justify, I really really really want to see Froome get hammered. He and his missus are getting on my tits and their heads are getting bigger by the day. That's my only argument, he's 'british' but I really dislike him.

inkyfingers

LeicesterLad wrote:

inkyfingers wrote:

I'm going to say it. So long as Contador doesn't crash out then I think he's going to beat Froome by more than 3 minutes.

I hope so. For reasons I can not understand or sanely justify, I really really really want to see Froome get hammered. He and his missus are getting on my tits and their heads are getting bigger by the day. That's my only argument, he's 'british' but I really dislike him.

I've nothing particularly against Froome (though can't say I like his Mrs), but like him or not Contador is the best stage race rider in the world. I have a feeling that without Wiggins calming influence he might burn his matches at the wrong times.

rick_chasey

inkyfingers wrote:

LeicesterLad wrote:

inkyfingers wrote:

I'm going to say it. So long as Contador doesn't crash out then I think he's going to beat Froome by more than 3 minutes.

I hope so. For reasons I can not understand or sanely justify, I really really really want to see Froome get hammered. He and his missus are getting on my tits and their heads are getting bigger by the day. That's my only argument, he's 'british' but I really dislike him.

I've nothing particularly against Froome (though can't say I like his Mrs), but like him or not Contador is the best stage race rider in the world. I have a feeling that without Wiggins calming influence he might burn his matches at the wrong times.

Froome needs Ferrari on the phone .

Contador was always going to smash this.

Richmond Racer

Rick Chasey wrote:

inkyfingers wrote:

LeicesterLad wrote:

inkyfingers wrote:

I'm going to say it. So long as Contador doesn't crash out then I think he's going to beat Froome by more than 3 minutes.

I hope so. For reasons I can not understand or sanely justify, I really really really want to see Froome get hammered. He and his missus are getting on my tits and their heads are getting bigger by the day. That's my only argument, he's 'british' but I really dislike him.

I've nothing particularly against Froome (though can't say I like his Mrs), but like him or not Contador is the best stage race rider in the world. I have a feeling that without Wiggins calming influence he might burn his matches at the wrong times.

Froome needs Ferrari on the phone .

Contador was always going to smash this.

Have to say I agree - not with the Ferrari bit but with Contador smashing it, barring a race-ending crash. Wouldnt be surprised if we see a flash of Froome brilliance, followed by his head falling off at some point.

rick_chasey

Disappointed not to see Boonen riding it.

As FJS will tell you, that means he won't be world champion.

frenchfighter

Putting Contador out there as the out and out favourite like he is Tier 1 and the rest are Tier 3 or something just seems to me that you are hedging your bets. If he wins you will say, told you so, not surprised. Yet if he doesnt you will bang your doping drums.

It is not a full gone conclusion and Contador doesnt usually monster by miles like the Giro11. He has consistency and several smaller gains. He has style and attacking attitude on the bike which makes you think his wins are more aggressive than they are.

rick_chasey

frenchfighter wrote:

Putting Contador out there as the out and out favourite like he is Tier 1 and the rest are Tier 3 or something just seems to me that you are hedging your bets. If he wins you will say, told you so, not surprised. Yet if he doesnt you will bang your doping drums.

.

Speak for yourself!

greasedscotsman

frenchfighter wrote:

Putting Contador out there as the out and out favourite like he is Tier 1 and the rest are Tier 3 or something just seems to me that you are hedging your bets. If he wins you will say, told you so, not surprised. Yet if he doesnt you will bang your doping drums.

It is not a full gone conclusion and Contador doesnt usually monster by miles like the Giro11. He has consistency and several smaller gains. He has style and attacking attitude on the bike which makes you think his wins are more aggressive than they are.

Seems to me your hedging your bets!

cal_stewart

frenchfighter wrote:

Putting Contador out there as the out and out favourite like he is Tier 1 and the rest are Tier 3 or something just seems to me that you are hedging your bets. If he wins you will say, told you so, not surprised. Yet if he doesnt you will bang your doping drums.

It is not a full gone conclusion and Contador doesnt usually monster by miles like the Giro11. He has consistency and several smaller gains. He has style and attacking attitude on the bike which makes you think his wins are more aggressive than they are.

have to agree about Bernie more Little here Little there Riding than monstering it. Think it will Be Close but I think movistar will have a Big say in this tour

cal_stewart

Also is 5.5km at 7.5% to much for pip Today? Also has His tt come on this Year.

inkyfingers

Cal_Stewart wrote:

Also is 5.5km at 7.5% to much for pip Today? Also has His tt come on this Year.

Unless he's found some of his 2011 form then I think so, unless the favourites simply look at each other today and sprint for the last 500m.

He's a decent TTer (won Belgie national TT last year) but think this is a more useful asset for him in short stage races, can't see him wasting his efforts in the TTs here when he's likely to get his backside handed to him on the climbs by Contador et al.

cal_stewart

If He adds tt for flanders i was thinking, As there's a good distance for the last Climb to the finish

DeadCalm

Rick Chasey wrote:

Disappointed not to see Boonen riding it.

As FJS will tell you, that means he won't be world champion.

They've just pointed out on the telly that the Vuelta is a week earlier this year. Could that make a difference?