One of the loveliest things about the Grand Tours is that you get a feel, by the nature of the route, of the country’s landscape and physical qualities. Italy is littered with mountains and coasts, France is bordered by mountains with large swaths of open landscape throughout, and Spain is like Tatooine; mostly desert with some rocky outcroppings. I might be oversimplifying here, but it seems like every edition of the Vuelta features a week or two of riders cutting through open desert on a freeway and then finishing it off with some climbs that require a buzz-saw gear to get up. Of the three Tours, this one is my least favorite, but it’s a bike race and I loves me a bike race.
The Vuelta also stands apart as being the event which generally decides the Velominati Super Prestige GC and the personalized Shop Apron that goes with it; in past editions, we’ve even had newcomers to the event debut at the Vuelta and win the overall, as was the case last year with @Nate’s performance. Unless I have that wrong, in which case I don’t really care. The important point here is that even though there is less interest in this event than others, it matters quite a bit to the year-long VSP, so you better be paying attention, corporal.
No fancy prizes on offer as we did at the Tour, but we do have our customary Symbol Pack up for grabs, in addition to second and third places winning a pair of Handlebar Cufflinks each when they come available in a few weeks. So, check the race details, get your picks in by the time the countdown clock goes to zero (5am Pacific time on Saturday), and buckle in for the ride. Regular GT VSP rules apply. Good luck.
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Surprised by the lack of discussion regarding the Vuelta. Its been a cracking race so far....J-Rod is in awesome form! Great to see the top 4 really attacking each other in the hills. For me a much higher spectator value than the tour this year!
@blackpooltower
Used to do that all the time (pre Garmin, which I still don't own). During stage races, I'd write the GC guys I needed to worry about on my leg too. I think its a great idea.
Another cracking stage - beautiful scenery, and yet again Contador keeps on firing and J-Rod keeps on coming.
I hadn't realised hpw much we missed the little steak-eater, but it isn't just him - it's the fact that he has some credible opposition and there is a real fight being played out. Credit to their respective teams as well.
You really get the sense that if Contador can just make one of those attacks stick it will change the standings, but even then you wouldn't back J-Rod and Valverde not to come straight back at him.
Outstanding battles, and so exciting to watch! The look of the race has really changed since that first climb where Contador appeared to me to simply be toying with the others. I love his persistence. And his attacks look fierce. But J Rod seems to have an answer for him every time.
Well it had to happen, Gesink flew out of the top five.
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I do really hope that Rodriguez will win the Vuelta, I saw him at the this year Giro and I had a great impression of him.
@scaler911
My legs wouldn't be long enough to do that...
So now De Gendt decides to show up!
I really hope J-Rod hangs on, as he's had an answer for Bertie every time so far, and it'd be great to see him make it stick. The flying Beefsteak is runningyour of hills to make it happen as well...
Make that "running out of". Wait a minute - the stripes are back - the VSP must be closer than close at the moment!