Contador in the Red in 2014
Holy fuckballs. I’ve never been this late ever on a VSP. I mean, I’ve missed them entirely – which is another kind of incompetence entirely – but I’m shocked at how quickly this week blew by me. I think I have whiplash.
Be that as it may, the Vuelta is on our doorstep, and before you panic, I’ll leave the picks open until Monday so we have enough time to screw up our picks despite knowing who crashes out in the first few days.
This is actually exciting stuff. We have some serious grudge-matching going on here for the Vuelta. Chris Froome is double-talking, Bardet is trash-talking, and Contador is exit-talking. This could be interesting.
On the subject of Bardet, he is my new Schleck. I love how he looks on the bike, and he’s got a fighting spirit. And he rides a white bike, which is the color bike I’m obsessed with. And I’m equally sure he will never win a major bike race, on account that I fancy him. (Roman, if you are reading this, I ask your forgiveness.)
Alright, I’ll stop faffing about. Check the start list, get your picks in, and let’s get this party started.
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Barguil thrown out by Sunweb for not following team orders http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/sunweb-send-barguil-home-from-vuelta-after-disagreements-over-tactics/
@Teocalli
complete asininity. sending Barguil home with a parcours this hilly is folly.
@Cary
Barguil is a short timer with Sunweb. He is signed with a new team next year so Sunweb owes him nothing. His personal results will benefit another team next year. Why keep him in the race if he is not going to be a team player?
I would bet money that the decision to send him home had something to do with team morale.
@Rick
nothing's better for morale than results, and Barguil was their best shot at that. has to be more to the story than that.
@Cary
There was more to the story. It was all in the article: Barguil wanted to ride for himself instead of the team. This created "several disagreements within the squad." As a result, they sent him home.
This is part of team sports. If a participant in a team sport doesn't work toward team goals the participant is not allowed to play. Apparently, the team had tabbed Kelderman as its GC hope.
@Rick
Barguil refused to bring Kelderman back to the peloton after the latter suffered a puncture. Correct decision I think.
@KogaLover
I concur.
@Rick
Agreed. I read a quote from Barguil to the effect that he didn't want to ride for GC and was prepared to lose time to put himself in that situation. Sounds like Sunweb have a talented prima donna on their hands (for a while longer, at any rate.) One things for sure, Hinault never intimated and such sentiments and except for races such as the Tour where he was undisputed leader, he was known to be a very loyal teammate.
I doubt Tom Dumoulin will be sorry to see Barguil go if that's his attitude and actions.
Ok, so how cool would this bit of road be to ride - going up or down?!
http://www.steephill.tv/players/youtube3/?title=18+km+to+go:+tricky+descent+-+Stage+10&dashboard=vuelta-a-espana&id=d19KhhpJNQg&end=20&yr=2017
@Cary
Turns out we were right about Bardet after all.
Typical that the year I might win the VSP the points aren't being calculated and there doesn't seem to be any prizes!
Doesn't matter, I didn't enter for the prizes. Like I don't race for points..