Vuelta 2017 - lucky last ?

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find_bruce
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Re: Vuelta 2017 - lucky last ?

Postby find_bruce » Mon Sep 04, 2017 9:07 am

It seems the theme for this year's race is he who attacks loses. Nice to see Chaves back up the pointy end, 31 s off the podium. Interesting that Lopez has moved ahead of Aru, although surely the TT will see him lose time again.

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MichaelB
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Re: Vuelta 2017 - lucky last ?

Postby MichaelB » Tue Sep 05, 2017 1:19 pm

As much as I don't like Gollum, he's riding really well and using his team well.

He's had some luck, but in some ways I'd have like to see him loose heaps of time (but be uninjured) and really work to claw his way back (a la Cadel up the Galibier in 2011 or Pantani when he attacked to drop Ullrich etc) and really make a statement rather than riding tempo and keeping the enemy in sight.

No doubt he deserves to win, but he hasn't really been under any serious pressure for long.

Lets hope something happens to liven it up over the last few stages.

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Re: Vuelta 2017 - lucky last ?

Postby fat and old » Wed Sep 06, 2017 10:25 am

Good to see the 2 AG2R riders that pulled a Bardet were kicked out.

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Re: Vuelta 2017 - lucky last ?

Postby find_bruce » Thu Sep 07, 2017 7:47 am

Just when you thought the Vuelta had settled into a predictable run to the finish

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Re: Vuelta 2017 - lucky last ?

Postby biker jk » Thu Sep 07, 2017 8:20 am

find_bruce wrote:Just when you thought the Vuelta had settled into a predictable run to the finish
Not really. Froome has had a token "bad day" at all his TdF wins to close the winning time gap and give the appearance it was a contest.

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Re: Vuelta 2017 - lucky last ?

Postby MichaelB » Thu Sep 07, 2017 9:05 am

find_bruce wrote:Just when you thought the Vuelta had settled into a predictable run to the finish
So in the end, good to see some vulnerability, but he simply lot a bit of what he gained on the ITT, so status quo.

Sad to see Chaves dropping off, hope he can at least get a stage win to salvage something. Good on Denfil, Aqua Blue at least get something out of the Vuelta !!


What is the storm re AG2R riders - hanging onto a car ?

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Re: Vuelta 2017 - lucky last ?

Postby find_bruce » Thu Sep 07, 2017 10:16 am

MichaelB wrote:What is the storm re AG2R riders - hanging onto a car ?
Not a sticky bottle, but a blatant hang onto the roof bars while the team car tows you past riders struggling up the hill.
Video here

AG2R pulled the riders before they could be DQ'd & the race jury kicked the AG2R directeur sportif Didier Jannel out of the race as well as the 2nd AG2R car

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Re: Vuelta 2017 - lucky last ?

Postby fat and old » Thu Sep 07, 2017 3:13 pm

biker jk wrote:
find_bruce wrote:Just when you thought the Vuelta had settled into a predictable run to the finish
Not really. Froome has had a token "bad day" at all his TdF wins to close the winning time gap and give the appearance it was a contest.
Yeah, but Nibs has a habit of having a few "good days" right when it matters....think Giro 2016. Down 4 or more minutes after a bad stage then wins. I think it was pretty late in the race when he cracked, maybe st. 18?

That ag2r bizzo was bad. Wonder if anyone in the gruppetto called them on that?

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Re: Vuelta 2017 - lucky last ?

Postby MichaelB » Fri Sep 08, 2017 8:12 am

The penultimate stage may wreak havoc yet.

1 and a bit minutes is a small buffer, but that's all. If you have a bad day on a big climb, the time differences can be big. But on a big and ridiculously steep climb like Angrilu, the gaps can be really big !!

Might even try and stay up to watch it !!!

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Re: Vuelta 2017 - lucky last ?

Postby MichaelB » Sat Sep 09, 2017 12:21 pm

Interesting finish last night.

Am going to try and stay awake for the final climb tonight, as there could be some big shuffles in the podium and top 10.

Hope that Villela keeps the polka dot jersey.

Can Alberto do it ?

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Re: Vuelta 2017 - lucky last ?

Postby JPB » Sat Sep 09, 2017 9:29 pm

Slightly off topic but what are the banners across the road with "el gordo de navidad?" on them?
Google translate suggests "fat Christmas?" They must be advertising something.

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Re: Vuelta 2017 - lucky last ?

Postby Arbuckle23 » Sat Sep 09, 2017 9:54 pm

Google tells me it "the Christmas Lottery" ?

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Re: Vuelta 2017 - lucky last ?

Postby MichaelB » Sun Sep 10, 2017 10:21 am

Great stage and great win by Contador.

That looked soooooo hard and can only say Froome deserves to win overall.

Great ride by some of the others though

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Re: Vuelta 2017 - lucky last ?

Postby fat and old » Sun Sep 10, 2017 11:09 am

Arbuckle23 wrote:Google tells me it "the Christmas Lottery" ?
Yep, Spain's big lottery. Big prizes, big numbers of winners, huge live telecast complete with kiddies singing out (singing...not yelling) each number as it's drawn. A Spanish institution, not to be missed in this house. I go for a ride. :lol:

https://youtu.be/yClCFuPPkMc

El Gordo is "The Fat One"

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Re: Vuelta 2017 - lucky last ?

Postby fat and old » Sun Sep 10, 2017 11:12 am

Was a joy to see Contador cop that win. He earned it :D

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Re: Vuelta 2017 - lucky last ?

Postby biker jk » Sun Sep 10, 2017 12:20 pm

fat and old wrote:Was a joy to see Contador cop that win. He earned it :D
Nice of Froomedawg to gift Contador the stage. :lol:

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Re: Vuelta 2017 - lucky last ?

Postby DavidS » Sun Sep 10, 2017 7:10 pm

Aah, Contador will be missed. He certainly lights up a race in a way the robots from UK Postal don't.

Professional racing has become far less interesting with all this tempo riding, something has to be done or fans will turn off.

Well done Alberto, I hope to see more like you in the future, what a fitting way to leave the sport.

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Re: Vuelta 2017 - lucky last ?

Postby JPB » Sun Sep 10, 2017 9:24 pm

Arbuckle23 wrote:Google tells me it "the Christmas Lottery" ?
Thanks. Makes more sense.

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Re: Vuelta 2017 - lucky last ?

Postby JPB » Sun Sep 10, 2017 9:34 pm

fat and old wrote:
Arbuckle23 wrote:Google tells me it "the Christmas Lottery" ?
Yep, Spain's big lottery. Big prizes, big numbers of winners, huge live telecast complete with kiddies singing out (singing...not yelling) each number as it's drawn. A Spanish institution, not to be missed in this house. I go for a ride. :lol:

https://youtu.be/yClCFuPPkMc

El Gordo is "The Fat One"
And that explains Google Translate's effort.
gracias

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Re: Vuelta 2017 - lucky last ?

Postby fat and old » Mon Sep 11, 2017 6:57 am

biker jk wrote:
fat and old wrote:Was a joy to see Contador cop that win. He earned it :D
Nice of Froomedawg to gift Contador the stage. :lol:
Have to admit, Froomay clawing back 40 seconds in what....2k's over the worst bit with 3.2k to go.....it could look that way.

But he got the win. Andy Schleck must have been catatonic thinking the same :lol:

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Re: Vuelta 2017 - lucky last ?

Postby MichaelB » Mon Sep 11, 2017 8:06 am

Aside from the race, the app for the Vuelta needs to learn from that of the Tour & Giro.

Aside from a small stage map, wasn't much use at all. Lucky it's free

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Re: Vuelta 2017 - lucky last ?

Postby vosadrian » Mon Sep 11, 2017 3:19 pm

I enjoyed the Vuelta, and found it more exciting to watch than the Tour. I think the Giro wins for me this year though. That got pretty exciting with the lead changing a few times. Disappointed that Chavez ran out of puff, and also that Contador lost some early time due to being sick.... but not sure he could have been as exciting to watch near the end if he had been closer on GC.

I think Froome did great. He was clearly the strongest rider there even if Sky had not been as supportive. He looked much stronger than he did in the tour, and I suspect he sacrificed his form in the tour in order to be able to spread himself across the tour and Vuelta. I also think he was a bit lucky to get away with that as I think by the end of the tour, the competition was not that strong. I think Porte missed a huge opportunity in the tour with Froome not as strong as the past and Porte in great form before his crash. I doubt it will be the same again next year. Froome clearly stayed pretty quiet in the early season to have a strong late season. Might he try for a Giro/Tour double? Not likely. He is unlikely to sacrifice his run of tour wins for that. It would be a bigger risk to go into the tour with a tour already under the belt than to go in a little under done and ride into his for in the tour. I would like to see it though!

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Re: Vuelta 2017 - lucky last ?

Postby brentono » Mon Sep 11, 2017 5:02 pm

A great farewell to a great champion Contador by winning the last stage with such an effort and showing his class as a racer. In the last couple of Tours and years he just has had no luck but always showed he was there to compete. The Sky robot may have another Tour win, but overall has been very boring, so much so that only watched the last stage, which was the best for me. Agree with DavidS the Tours seem to be losing their spark. Something needs to be done.
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Re: Vuelta 2017 - lucky last ?

Postby AUbicycles » Tue Sep 12, 2017 2:26 am

Didn't retain my interest as it unfolded, live coverage was less accessible for me which simply impacts my engagement. The Sky Train (as skilled as they are) also affects this, Froome is not a showman but if he was, as a spectator I would have more reason to cheer for or against him.

Contador on the other hand is a showman and I used to enjoy his charisma until his scandal which weighed heavily against him.

What I am finding is my interest in other tours / races including womens events is increasing.
Cycling is in my BNA

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Re: Vuelta 2017 - lucky last ?

Postby fat and old » Tue Sep 12, 2017 7:45 am

So Hinault has said Froomay should target the Giro, join the list of greats.

Wily old Badger, wants him to tire himself out and miss the 5th Tour win. :lol:

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