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!
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Brett - WOW!!! The Running Man. Such an awesome nickname, such a damn good movie. I had an older brother so while friends were watching Disney movies and shit, I was watching The Running Man, Rambo, Commando, Mad Max, The Warriors, and Maximum Overdrive.
Strong work outta you right there.
And...wanna know if Frank and his Banesto Boy are moving in that lead photo? Check out the gear ratio on p2. Fack. Two guys on the flat and he's either in or might close to the Big Dog. Goddamn, a little reminder of why racers are racers.
Does Bertie get that snap in his legs back for the climbs? Can The Running Man sustain form for this long? Is Chaves ready to ride when he's a favorite? Can Malmerde somehow manage to podium in yet another big damn race? How much did that high speed smash into the snow bank take outta Stevie K? (those Bianchis with classic tyres look fackin sweet)
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More heart then
reason
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Running man. Brilliant.
@Oli
Au contraire, mon ami. It's f**king brilliant!
Yeah... Froomes Columbian Shadow... That would be Quintana. I think I confused the VSP generator with that. Can I get a do over?