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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@Marko
I think I understand what he means"”not being granted an inch this year"”but he's been pretty absent in general, conspicuous in his lack of showing (or even threatening). I agree with your assessment of the comments, though: sounds like he and buddy Hushovd have spent too much time sharing PR methods (lots of complaining about what others are up to).
At the same time, I wonder if last year didn't constitute something of a changing of the guards. Gilbert totally dominated against a bunch of riders we've seen for a number of years, most of whom"”with the benefit of seeing them again this year"”might be past their best. And without the strong, youthful challenge that has come up this season. If 2011 was the year of Gilbert, 2012 might rightly be the year that youth is served. The young Sky Colombians, Sagan, Pinot, Van Garderen, etc. Something of a sea-change in the ranks of the pro peloton underway?
Wireless issues and my mobile would not let me kn...Degado'ed
Yep. Delgado'd.
lavuelta.com: a good site to follow standings
VSP Update-
There is little point in putting five Movistar riders in the top five places and generating provisional VSP points for everyone. I would still do it but there is a ghost in the machine. I can't find Nairo Alexander Quintana Rojas in the pro riders data base that the VSP uses. Stand by as we consult via smoke signals with the dutch monkey, who is high in the Cascades, chasing sasquatch in nothing more than a loin cloth and terry cloth headband..
@Gianni I'm pretty sure he's actually in the Olympics but either way he's 'Squatchin' in a loin cloth and terry headband in the cold and wet. BTW, when are we getting those V-terry headbands and Castelli loin cloths on the Gear page?
@Gianni
well I hope you found him as I picked him for fifth in the VSP
In an effort to "Look Pro" I've tailored these past two seasons to mimic pro riders. Last year I was Gilbert - everything was Top 5 with a state championship thrown in there. This year I was Andy Schleck - everything was DNF or off the back. Next season I'm shooting for Pee Wee Herman.
@Gianni
@marko
Guess that explains why he didn't return my texts yesterday. Damn him. I had important beer and programming related questions. I demand better!