Velominati Super Prestige: Vuelta a España 2016

Platinum blond Frankie VDB goes deep in the Spanish desert.

The Vuelta is my least favorite Grand Tour. I say this every year, I know. And every year, circumstances make it look an awful lot like I could be wrong about that. Circumstances like, for instance, the fact that the GC almost always comes down to a nail-biting final few days, or someone comes from far down the classification to upset the standings on a transition stage, like Contador did a few years back.

Still, there is no denying that it has the least prestige of the three Grand Tours; any rider who has won the Tour de France would have no trouble finding a contract for years to come, and the same goes for the Giro to a lesser extent. Yet, I can think of two Vuelta winners – if not three – in the last decade who were without a contract the following year or were forced to resign themselves to racing on a lower-ranked team.

I blame my dislike for the Vuelta on Spain’s geography; those rains in Spain that fall mainly in the plains are also the plains in Spain that host stages on roads so flat and straight that you get the idea half the peloton would be happy to wrap a bungee cord around their handlebars and take a nap. Yet, some of the most brutal climbs are found along its parcours and those brutal climbs make for some wildly fantastic racing.

So I’m not saying I’m changing my mind about the Vuelta, but it can’t be worse than the Tour was this year.

Anyway, don’t mind this grumpy old man; prognosticate on the start list, get your picks in, sit back, and enjoy the racing. Good luck!

[vsp_results id=”73002″/]

frank

The founder of Velominati and curator of The Rules, Frank was born in the Dutch colonies of Minnesota. His boundless physical talents are carefully canceled out by his equally boundless enthusiasm for drinking. Coffee, beer, wine, if it’s in a container, he will enjoy it, a lot of it. He currently lives in Seattle. He loves riding in the rain and scheduling visits with the Man with the Hammer just to be reminded of the privilege it is to feel completely depleted. He holds down a technology job the description of which no-one really understands and his interests outside of Cycling and drinking are Cycling and drinking. As devoted aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it. Frank is co-author along with the other Keepers of the Cog of the popular book, The Rules, The Way of the Cycling Disciple and also writes a monthly column for the magazine, Cyclist. He is also currently working on the first follow-up to The Rules, tentatively entitled The Hardmen. Email him directly at rouleur@velominati.com.

Next Non-Grimpeur's Revenge »

Previous « FFS Fridays: Lost Friends and Blood Pipes

View Comments

Ron says:

Aug 25 2016 at 11:10 am

Goddamn, two GTs, two bad crashes for Stevie K. Fuck, I feel for that dude. He looked to be in serious pain. Jaysus, motos and unmarked bollards...this is bad. Imagine a futboller breaking an ankle walking out of the tunnel because someone forgot to clean up some stray gumballs? If it was Neymar or Messi, they'd kill all organizers involved before they got out of the stadium.
wiscot says:

Aug 25 2016 at 1:31 pm

@Ron

BTW to answer your previous post in a thread I can't find anymore, regarding Nibbles hitting the deck. He crashed in the very wet 2013 World Championship RR won by Rui Costa.
Rick says:

Aug 26 2016 at 8:43 am

One thing I have learned in this Vuelta: Riders have reputations for a reason! Krashwick, crashes, Van Garderen fades (he faded early to beat the rush in this race), Valverde always seems to be in the thick of things, and few have heard of M. Angel Lopez (my pick for 5th) for a reason.

I picked Contador to win because I thought he would be rested from his early TdF exit and skipping the Olympics. However, his new MO may be that he falls behind early and never catches up.
xyxax says:

Aug 26 2016 at 12:03 pm

@Rick

I think we have similar picks and maybe we can win a bonus for having all 5 of them crash out.
Steve Trice says:

Aug 27 2016 at 2:07 am

As far as my VSP/ fantasy team picks are concerned, Bertie's grand tour career is over. I suspect it's the same in real life.
Minnesota Expat says:

Aug 27 2016 at 6:46 pm

@Barracuda

It's in Spain. For another couple weeks. Check out steephill.tv for updates.
Minnesota Expat says:

Aug 27 2016 at 6:56 pm

@Rick

I am watching Paul and Bobkie Roll call the race and they aren’t bad. Bobkie is a much better analyst than Paul and Paul is better at calling the race than Phil. So together Paul and Bob do a solid job.

They are doing a solid job. Another reason to give Phil a "pink slip". Bob is providing solid analysis, much less the 'goofball' (Bobke) role he plays during the TdF broadcasts.
Barracuda says:

Aug 28 2016 at 3:17 am

@Minnesota Expat

@Barracuda

It’s in Spain. For another couple weeks. Check out steephill.tv for updates.

Mine was tongue firmly in cheek
Rick says:

Aug 28 2016 at 4:08 am

@Minnesota Expat

@Rick

I am watching Paul and Bobkie Roll call the race and they aren’t bad. Bobkie is a much better analyst than Paul and Paul is better at calling the race than Phil. So together Paul and Bob do a solid job.

They are doing a solid job. Another reason to give Phil a “pink slip”. Bob is providing solid analysis, much less the ‘goofball’ (Bobke) role he plays during the TdF broadcasts.

I agree on Bob being less of a goofball, he is doing an excellent job of analysis. Although I am watching on a delay, and therefore am not sure if the commentary is live or filled in later, Bob gives insightful comments about what is about to happen. I enjoy his insights and comments on tactics.

No doubt the worst cycling commentator I have heard is Todd Gogulski. He has no clue on tactics nor race situation. Thankfully he is calling fewer races these days.
KogaLover says:

Aug 30 2016 at 1:40 am

No restdayswap today? Provisional race results are also not updated...