La Vuelta 2021 - Pre race information and General Chat

blazing_saddles
blazing_saddles Posts: 22,730
edited August 2021 in Pro race
Might as well have somewhere to discuss teams etc, as we are less than a week out.
"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
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Comments

  • kingstongraham
    kingstongraham Posts: 28,227
    Only just seen no Pog. Shame. Bernal vs Rog should be a decent race though, both with decent teams.
  • r0bh
    r0bh Posts: 2,450
    Ineos = Bernal/Carapaz/Sivakov/Pidcock/Van Baarle/Narvaez/Puccio/Yates
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 27,486
    Bernal v Carapaz should be interesting. 😉
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • roscoe
    roscoe Posts: 532
    kingstongraham said:

    If Carapaz becomes the leader, be interesting who Movistar have got in support of Roglic.

    Everyone in their team!
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,730
    edited August 2021
    r0bh said:

    Ineos = Bernal/Carapaz/Sivakov/Pidcock/Van Baarle/Narvaez/Puccio/Yates

    What a feeble team. At one point, Martinez was in there, too. :D
    A pity about the patchwork teams some are sending.
    Hope Landa can finally catch a break, as he could be the wildcard.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • phreak
    phreak Posts: 2,953
    edited August 2021
    r0bh said:

    Ineos = Bernal/Carapaz/Sivakov/Pidcock/Van Baarle/Narvaez/Puccio/Yates

    Few too many chiefs? Also surprised Martinez isn't there.
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,717
    kingstongraham said:

    Only just seen no Pog. Shame. Bernal vs Rog should be a decent race though, both with decent teams.

    Reminds me - I wished Slovenia had entered Pog & Rog in the Madison for the lolz.

    Head says it wouldnt have worked at all but at the same time... Would you have been surprised if it did?
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • thejimmymethod
    thejimmymethod Posts: 458
    ddraver said:

    kingstongraham said:

    Only just seen no Pog. Shame. Bernal vs Rog should be a decent race though, both with decent teams.

    Reminds me - I wished Slovenia had entered Pog & Rog in the Madison for the lolz.

    Head says it wouldnt have worked at all but at the same time... Would you have been surprised if it did?
    Just need to tell Rog the sprints are for bonus seconds, not points, and they'd be laughing.
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,262
    phreak said:

    r0bh said:

    Ineos = Bernal/Carapaz/Sivakov/Pidcock/Van Baarle/Narvaez/Puccio/Yates

    Few too many chiefs? Also surprised Martinez isn't there.

    Martinez had Covid a few weeks ago, missing the Olympics as a result. That might have something to do with it
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • davidof
    davidof Posts: 3,127
    Froome not coming. He's focussing on autumn chippers.
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  • tailwindhome
    tailwindhome Posts: 19,459
    Time to find out if Bernal is top tier

    “New York has the haircuts, London has the trousers, but Belfast has the reason!
  • salsiccia1
    salsiccia1 Posts: 3,725
    davidof said:

    Froome not coming. He's focussing on autumn chippers.

    No surprise. I love him but the Tour ride was all about publicity. I think this might be the dying of the light, he's raged well but I think it's time.
    It's only a bit of sport, Mun. Relax and enjoy the racing.
  • salsiccia1
    salsiccia1 Posts: 3,725
    tailwindhome said:

    Time to find out if Bernal is top tier

    Yes. So much doubt about a 2-time GT winner before he's 25.

    Unless you're being sarcastic. In which case, carry on
    It's only a bit of sport, Mun. Relax and enjoy the racing.
  • kingstongraham
    kingstongraham Posts: 28,227
    Not going to find out if he's proper top tier though.
  • tailwindhome
    tailwindhome Posts: 19,459
    edited August 2021
    salsiccia1 said:

    tailwindhome said:

    Time to find out if Bernal is top tier

    Yes. So much doubt about a 2-time GT winner before he's 25.

    Unless you're being sarcastic. In which case, carry on

    No. I appreciate that he's a 2 time winner.

    And a talented rider

    But we don't know if he's on the same level as Pog (or Rog)

    I don't think he's ever finished above either in on GC


    “New York has the haircuts, London has the trousers, but Belfast has the reason!
  • salsiccia1
    salsiccia1 Posts: 3,725
    tailwindhome said:

    salsiccia1 said:

    tailwindhome said:

    Time to find out if Bernal is top tier

    Yes. So much doubt about a 2-time GT winner before he's 25.

    Unless you're being sarcastic. In which case, carry on

    No. I appreciate that he's a 2 time winner.

    And a talented rider

    But we don't know if he's on the same level as Pog (or Rog)

    I don't think he's ever finished above either in on GC


    Sorry for the snark.

    Bernal has only raced the same GT as Pog and Rog once, hasn't he? The 2020 Tour?

    Clearly, Pogacar is top, top tier but I think it's reasonable to put Bernal at the same tier as Roglic. I can see Bernal coming out on top here.
    It's only a bit of sport, Mun. Relax and enjoy the racing.
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,593
    Yates must be pissed off, I thought he was supposed to be leader for the Vuelta or was that just people's assumptions? I assume Pidcock is there for the experience this year before they let him lose next season.
  • phreak
    phreak Posts: 2,953
    Pross said:

    Yates must be pissed off, I thought he was supposed to be leader for the Vuelta or was that just people's assumptions? I assume Pidcock is there for the experience this year before they let him lose next season.

    He looked the best stage racer in the team in the spring races and this is his only GT so you'd imagine he was told he'd be leading it as it was strange he wasn't doing the Giro/Vuelta programme like Bernal given his super early season form. But the Carapaz is clearly in very good form as well. Sivakov has always looked good in shorter stage races but has crashed out very early in the last two GTs he's had "co-leadership" in so is probably an unknown quantity. Ditto Pidcock.

    Maybe they figure from previous races that some of their options will crash out early so having lots of them is good security, but I've never really thought the Vuelta has as many crashes as the Giro (because the weather is better) or the Tour (because people aren't so crazy in the first week). Should be interesting either way.
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,730
    Pross said:

    Yates must be pissed off, I thought he was supposed to be leader for the Vuelta or was that just people's assumptions? I assume Pidcock is there for the experience this year before they let him lose next season.

    I am wondering if he's got a shot at taking the first 's jersey, on the short time trial.
    The course must suit him as much as Roglic.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 14,692
    Pross said:

    Yates must be pissed off, I thought he was supposed to be leader for the Vuelta or was that just people's assumptions? I assume Pidcock is there for the experience this year before they let him lose next season.

    Let him loose or let him lose? Could go either way...
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  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,593
    No_Ta_Doctor said:

    Pross said:

    Yates must be pissed off, I thought he was supposed to be leader for the Vuelta or was that just people's assumptions? I assume Pidcock is there for the experience this year before they let him lose next season.

    Let him loose or let him lose? Could go either way...
    Jeez I'm ashamed of that typo. I'm going to go for re-training.
  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 14,692
    Pross said:

    No_Ta_Doctor said:

    Pross said:

    Yates must be pissed off, I thought he was supposed to be leader for the Vuelta or was that just people's assumptions? I assume Pidcock is there for the experience this year before they let him lose next season.

    Let him loose or let him lose? Could go either way...
    Jeez I'm ashamed of that typo. I'm going to go for re-training.
    I honestly thought it might be a reference to sending him out against Pogacar.. 😉
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  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 14,692
    I'm wondering a little if Ineos have been stung by the criticism from the Tour, where their multi threat strategy died after 3 days. They got a lot of "same old Ineos train" flack from people that were more concerned with sticking the boot into Brailsford than assessing what tactics might be available to them with only one leader left in gc.

    Also, if they really are pursuing the multiple threat strategy then this looks suspiciously like a dress rehearsal for the riders they might take to next year's Tour.
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  • yorkshireraw
    yorkshireraw Posts: 1,632
    No ITV4 coverage this year, which is a shame. The 1hr evening show is ideal when you can't catch the afternoon GCN / Eurosport Coverage.

    I'd rather ITV were showing this than the Dauphine earlier in the year, but guess 3 weeks is a big commitment in resources for relatively specialist viewing.
  • hanshotfirst
    hanshotfirst Posts: 403
    No_Ta_Doctor said:

    I'm wondering a little if Ineos have been stung by the criticism from the Tour.

    Not sure Ineos or any other major sports team feel particularly stung by the comments on Twitter enough to change they way they operate... except Movistar obviously, doing that "we're all friends really" video at the 2019(?) Tour.
  • djaps.5
    djaps.5 Posts: 1
    Quest are showing highlights,11pm on Saturday,and 7pm on Monday and Tuesday,/The TV schedule only shows 7 days in advance.
  • yorkshireraw
    yorkshireraw Posts: 1,632
    djaps.5 said:

    Quest are showing highlights,11pm on Saturday,and 7pm on Monday and Tuesday,/The TV schedule only shows 7 days in advance.

    Ok thanks, be interesting to see what commentary feed they use.
  • wongataa
    wongataa Posts: 1,001
    yorkshireraw said:

    djaps.5 said:

    Quest are showing highlights,11pm on Saturday,and 7pm on Monday and Tuesday,/The TV schedule only shows 7 days in advance.

    Ok thanks, be interesting to see what commentary feed they use.
    It will be the Eurosport feed. Quest is owned by Discovery who also own Eurosport.
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,730
    Temperatures for the opening weekend forecast to go above 40C.
    Not good news.
    Early better news involving flat stages 2 and 4. Both currently have fresh cross/tailwinds forecast. (SW 3-4, NE4)
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.

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