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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@San Tonio
Moi Aussi!..On the subject of conspiracy theorists...well the sport is full of conspiracies..teams make deals each day, stage wins are handed by stronger riders to weaker ones for sponsorship deals, team cars give other team riders drinks and food..I mean I don't hear uproar about that? For what it is worth my observation on yesterday was. Contador is riding himself in to form after a restful season. Froome is dog tired. Valverde is not quite strong enough and Rodriguez has blown himself in beating the rest on the previous two stages in the age old mistake off tying to hold on the red jersey after taking it on so early in a long hard race. I think he blew his legs the day before on that assassination attempt of a climb, combined with noone wanting to help him on this stage Actually it is nice to see a spaniard being ridden against for once (I'm thinking Robert Millars lost Vuelta). Why does it always have to be about drugs? Logic dictates that a rider who has just come back from a doping ban would be a complete brain dead idiot to dope again...it just does not make sense especially after having just seen Pharmstrong stripped of 7 titles retrospectively...Apparently Rodriguez spent his whole rest day in bed rather than going out for a training ride like he usually does. He was spent, he made an immense tactical faux pas not chasing down Contador when he was 14s ahead, but maybe, just maybe...he was on a bad day...it happens!
Go Wiggo!
Looked pretty straight forward to me
VV and Cotho attacked at 40km and were reeled in, then again at 80km, and dropped J-Rod, who was then forced with only one man, to chase them down, which he was never goin to do - Cotho goes off on his own after the Interm sprint, and nearly gets caught on the line by VV - in the past VV wouldn't have caught him
All looks pretty clean to me
From VSP 1st to 81st, what a meltdown! How did this happen, I mean Purito loosing the Giro on the last day in a time trial was almost expected and acceptable but to flush it all away on a low mountain stage? Where was his squad? Did they all spend the rest day just drinking Rioja and laying by the pool? I would think Rodriguez would need to be put on suicide watch but his comments all week and after the stage have sounded like a person who was expecting this all along. Wow.
WOW! Super slick bike throw by Bennati. Totally awesome, what a win. Very nice.
This photo calls for a caption.
Delighted to see Bennati get a win. He's so close, so often. Always seems to up there but just not getting the win. Well deserved indeed.
Another nice win for Philbert, he seems to be rounding into shape nicely for the worlds and the Giro Di Lombardia (or Il Lombardia as the case may be...).
http://www.rtve.es/alacarta/videos/vuelta-ciclista-a-espana/gilbert-gana-decimonovena-etapa-sprint/1522999/
He owes a big debt of thanks to Ballan for helping to bridge that gap in the last few K though...
Also looks like Gerrans is also in fine shape for the late season prizes... maybe he'll have another chance to show some panache?
http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/grand-prix-cycliste-de-quebec-2012/results
LA Dave - I watched the "Call me Maybe" song and dance from Green Edge and wondered why Gerro wasn't in it. Didn't realize it was all filmed at the Vuelta...and that Gerro was off winning in Quebec!
Great finish to today's stage. It's truly shocking to see such talented riders dissolve into turning squares like that. Definitely know the pitch was crazy, but they still always seem beyond breaking.
Nice win for Dennis!
I gave gesink all week to make up that 30second gap to take back 5th. It wasnt too much to ask, except it was. I mean, didn't he want me to win the vsp? Jeez.