Did everyone got tired of seeing a nearly naked Marcel Kittel on the massage table for the Tour’s VSP page? I know I didn’t. Young Kennaugh will be sporting his British road race jersey and his proper shoe/sock pairing in this Vuelta. Get used to it.
Ladies and gentleman we have a race. We have some Giro winners, we have some Tour de France winners and we have some Vuelta winners all lining up for the 2014 edition.
Quintana won the Giro but wants to prove he is the real deal. Is Malmerde working for him? Froome, he has been training in Sonoma, California. Talansky lives there, maybe they have both been training with egg timer. I think we can count out Horner to repeat or Bertie to do anything other than put some points in his jersey pocket. Carlos Alberto Betancur is here to lose some weight. David Millar is in to show he really deserved to ride the Tour de France. Boonen is here to train for the World Championships. Maybe everybody is here because their boss said get your skinny (or fat, in Betancur’s case) ass to Spain and ride the damn Vuelta.
No matter, the reason you, dear readers are here, is to show your total domination in the VSP. Stare at the start list until olive oil pops out of your tear ducts and stigmata appear on your palms. Redemption, points, the Worlds, spite or orders from the boss are all equally good reasons to get riders on the start list. How many people picked Chris Horner to win last year? Just a moment, I’ll query the VSP generator for archived results.
“Fuck off, I’m full”
The VSP generator is channeling Mr Creosote, that’s not a good sign. The point is, if there is one, this season’s VSP* is hanging in the balance on the Vuelta. Don’t consult the professional odds makers, that is like doping. Who is motivated? Who has a great team? Who does not make too many kit transgressions? Who looks fantastic on the bike? These are the questions.
Who has the answers?
*Prizes are as follows:
[vsp_results id=”30805″/]
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@Gianni
Spaniards are hilarious, its like they don't all speak the same language the way they get confused and blame each other for not racing. Damn Froome is a tough bugger, ugly on a bike but will not give up. Bertie hit him with everything, then Purito put in an attack and he just ground his way back. Bring on more hills!
@Daccordi Rider
Agreed, what a fighting performance he's putting in. Three weeks deep in the pain cave just staring at that power meter. It's definitely not pretty but it certainly is impressive.
@Geraint
I think the press are over egging the Spaniards not working together thing. After all they completely robbed Robert Miller of a Vuelta. This was more about tactics, Malmerde was not going to work for Bertie and JRod the same. In the end Bertie was left to work but that is cycling and looking at the interview and the leading question that was put to him he pretty much shrugged it off as race tactics.
However I do get a feeling that Vroom Vrooms diesel engine is starting to wind itself up now and it is not surprising he was a little behind after the effort he put in on Saturday. This is all about who can save themselves the most and to me Malmerde looks the most rested at the moment...JRod too but he always seems to be the bridesmaid and never the bride.
Froome could come good...but suspect in the end he will podium but not win. I think Spartacus is going to channel some of his gob in to his riding, make up the time and win by 8 seconds!
And whats with Saggy getting in to the Broom Wagon?
@Deakus I like your musings, Sparty going for it now maybe, with 2 climbs left. I don't think he will make it but good for him just being there and playing off the front.
I'm wondering if Froome was just doing exactly what was in his plan yesterday and today he will light the torch and leave the 3 Manchegos far far behind?
I loves me a super-bantamweight tussle!
King Kelly sums it up nicely...
@Harminator Hoo-wee! Looks like Bertie threw the first "punch" but the commissaires certainly wouldn't reprimand him,. would they? This being Spain etc, etc. Wonder what the "musettes at dawn" issue was all about?
@wiscot
My mistake, it wasn't Bertie, but one of his teammates . . .
Every time I think maybe I could like Bertie, he does that pistol celebration. Ah well, probably for the best.
Great racing, though.
@wiscot They both got ejected it seems. Rovny from Tinkoff and Brambilla from OPQS.
Totally justified. Its this kind of stuff that muddies cycling's clean image.
@andrew Agreed. Both ride ugly but their racing styles make compelling viewing.