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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I want to put Cunego in there but you just know he won't feature. Same goes with Gesink.
Froome, Mollema, JVDV, De Gent, Anton, Gerdemann, Henao, someone in that list will cost me points for leaving them out. In fact, since I left them out feel free to use them, after the classics ended my picks have gone to shit, so those guys are a sure bet.
The big sprinters are smart to avoid this one. The points jersey will probably go to a puncher type. Maybe Gasparotto, Gilbert, or Valverde? Rojas, Degenkolb, Bonnet, and Viviani are your fast men for the few flat stages, although the break will be their biggest opponent, not each other.
I am uber excited for the Vuelta this year. A TTT, gobs of mountains, and plenty of hilly classic-esque stage finishes, including a circuit race. To me the punchy stages are the pinnacle of our sport. The high mountains can be dulled by defensive riding, and the flat stages are only good for the final 30 km. But the punchy finish includes tactics, suspense, guts, glory, and explosive power equally as impressive as the fastest sprint.
VSP PICKS:
1. Contador
2. J-Rod
3. Cobo
4. Uran
5. Talanski
I sort of want to see Contador come back and decimate the field, even there's a part of me that knows I shouldn't (probably my moral compass).
VSP PICKS:
1. Contador
2. Froom
3. Anton
4. J-Rod
5. Van de Broeck
VSP PICKS:
1. Joaquim Rodriguez
2. Igor Anton
3. Christopher Froome
4. Alejandro Valverde
5. Alberto Contador
VSP PICKS:
1. Ryder
2. De Gent
3. Rodriguez
4. Spanish Steak
5. JVDB
And why are people crying out for Ryder, he's not even riding the Vuelta. Movistar also have a very strong team and this Vuelta could be a watershed in Quintana's career.
VSP PICKS:
1. Contador
2. Purito
3. Froomedog
4. Anton
5. Valverde
@Gianni
Indeed it is. Go on, pick him! We all know this is all just a lottery...
I really, really hope Cothodor doesn't win this one. Froome certainly wants it badly enough, I'm pinning my hopes on him having enough left in the tank. J-Rod come close but not close enough, Flecha will be there by virtue of being Froomedog's wingman and Cobo will stage a valiant but ultimately unsuccessful defence.
Or maybe it'll all go to shit...
VSP PICKS:
1. Froome
2. Purito
3. Clentador
4. Flecha
5. Cobo
VSP PICKS:
1. Contador
2. Froome
3. J-Rod
4. Anton
5. Kessiakoff
VSP PICKS:
1. Froomedog
2. J-Rod
3. Clenbutador
4. De Gendt
5. Purito
Don't want Contador to win but reckon he will at least podium :-( Hoping that Froomedog will still have some legs left in him.