2018 Vuelta

fat and old
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Re: 2018 Vuelta

Postby fat and old » Fri Aug 31, 2018 8:09 am

The DS :lol: :lol:

All I know from last night is Porte seemed to have fun. Good on him.

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MichaelB
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Re: 2018 Vuelta

Postby MichaelB » Fri Aug 31, 2018 9:39 am

And the Vuelta delivers again !!

Somewhat unexpected stage win, unexpected road furniture, unexpected breakaway composition, unexpected time loss for another couple of GC guys and still no retirements !!!

The Top 10 on GC will be made up of who is left that didn't lose a bucket of time !!

Will make some of the latter mountain stages really interesting

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Re: 2018 Vuelta

Postby fat and old » Sat Sep 01, 2018 11:13 am

Ahhhhhh La Vuelta! Never a dull moment.... :lol:

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MichaelB
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Re: 2018 Vuelta

Postby MichaelB » Sun Sep 02, 2018 9:30 pm

So how the hell does Piti do it ???

Isn’t he getting old ??? I understand the experience, and he must have skill despite the drugs, or is bio passport so messed up he can get away with anything ??

Anyway, great racing, tonight’s stage will interesting ! And finally a retirement after 8 stages !

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Re: 2018 Vuelta

Postby MichaelB » Mon Sep 03, 2018 8:13 am

Go Simon - wear it with pride for a day or two and then let someone else do a Molard and put the hard yards in and nab it back on St 20 !!

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Re: 2018 Vuelta

Postby fat and old » Tue Sep 04, 2018 3:52 pm

MichaelB wrote:So how the hell does Piti do it ???

Isn’t he getting old ??? I understand the experience, and he must have skill despite the drugs, or is bio passport so messed up he can get away with anything ??
He's been quoted as saying that his banning holiday extended his time at the top end, and that he would have burned out by now otherwise. Apart from that he's just a really, really good bike racer I think. One of those generational talents. I can't think of another cyclist who served a ban then came back even better than when he was apparently drugged up since the late 80's.

I've copped some stick over the years for being a Valverde fan rather than a Contadope man (Spanish family and friends...this is serious shiz!) :lol: but hey, who's still winning?

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Re: 2018 Vuelta

Postby biker jk » Tue Sep 04, 2018 4:34 pm

fat and old wrote:
MichaelB wrote:So how the hell does Piti do it ???

Isn’t he getting old ??? I understand the experience, and he must have skill despite the drugs, or is bio passport so messed up he can get away with anything ??
He's been quoted as saying that his banning holiday extended his time at the top end, and that he would have burned out by now otherwise. Apart from that he's just a really, really good bike racer I think. One of those generational talents. I can't think of another cyclist who served a ban then came back even better than when he was apparently drugged up since the late 80's.

I've copped some stick over the years for being a Valverde fan rather than a Contadope man (Spanish family and friends...this is serious shiz!) :lol: but hey, who's still winning?
Come on, if Horner can win the Vuelta at 41 years of age, then Valverde has many years of wins left in the tank (or is that blood bag?).

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Re: 2018 Vuelta

Postby fat and old » Tue Sep 04, 2018 8:58 pm

:lol: :lol: :lol:

But Pappy showed class for years, was only held back by Armstrong!! :lol:

That’s why I love the Vuelta. Pappy beats Nibali. Cobo beats Froomay and Wiggans. Delgardo beats anyone. Gold!

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Re: 2018 Vuelta

Postby MichaelB » Thu Sep 06, 2018 8:11 am

fat and old wrote:
He's been quoted as saying that his banning holiday extended his time at the top end, and that he would have burned out by now otherwise. Apart from that he's just a really, really good bike racer I think. One of those generational talents. I can't think of another cyclist who served a ban then came back even better than when he was apparently drugged up since the late 80's.

I've copped some stick over the years for being a Valverde fan rather than a Contadope man (Spanish family and friends...this is serious shiz!) :lol: but hey, who's still winning?
Meh, as much as I don't like him, he's still winning, and it's not like they wouldn't be targeting him for tests. As a common thread, the manipulation of legal/illegal substances just makes a great racehorse better. And maybe, he's good to start with, and I think pretty tactically astute.

Anyway, seems like the Vuelta keeps serving it up. Haven't watched last nights stage, but seems it will be a cracker to watch later tonight !!

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Re: 2018 Vuelta

Postby find_bruce » Thu Sep 06, 2018 8:23 am

Some interesting tactical decisions last night which upset piti so I'm happy.

Also F&O's favourite Boo spat the dummy & abandoned. Sadly no reports of punches or any of his usual "performance"

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Re: 2018 Vuelta

Postby fat and old » Thu Sep 06, 2018 10:22 am

He spat the dummy??? :lol: Dude just keeps on giving, aye?

Edit....he claims he was chucking up during the stage on twitter. Yeah, righto. :lol:

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Re: 2018 Vuelta

Postby MichaelB » Thu Sep 06, 2018 1:25 pm

find_bruce wrote:Some interesting tactical decisions last night which upset piti so I'm happy.
:lol: :lol: +10 to that.

He's prob still narked that he missed out on the bonus second in the inter sprint on St 10 that would have put him in the lead .. :roll:

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Re: 2018 Vuelta

Postby MichaelB » Fri Sep 07, 2018 9:58 am

Seems like it's Spewhanni now ....

What will tonight's stage bring ...

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Re: 2018 Vuelta

Postby find_bruce » Fri Sep 07, 2018 11:38 am

Yet another example of how the Vuelta is different from the other 2 grand tours - 12 stages, 5 successful breakaways. No way a rider could turn a 5 minute deficit into a 3 minute lead - apart from anything else teams would bust themselves to protect their top 10 placing.

They must think Cofidis will work hard to tow the peleton & Herada has no chance of defending that lead in the mountains

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Re: 2018 Vuelta

Postby MichaelB » Fri Sep 07, 2018 3:52 pm

Next three stages will sort things out a bit ;

Stage 13 - 175km and 2,705m ascent - Cat 1 final ascent
Image

Stage 14 - 171km & 2,910m ascent - Cat 1 final ascent
Image

Stage 15 - 178km and 3,940m ascent - HC final ascent
Image

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Re: 2018 Vuelta

Postby find_bruce » Sun Sep 09, 2018 9:11 am

That dust you see is the chaff being blown away by a great battle up Les Praeres.

It is now a race in four, with 3 mountainous stages still to come.

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Re: 2018 Vuelta

Postby MichaelB » Sun Sep 09, 2018 3:25 pm

Who is gonna crack tonight ?

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Re: 2018 Vuelta

Postby MichaelB » Mon Sep 10, 2018 8:48 am

Seems no-one in the top 5 is willing or able to nail the others to the wall.

Great ride by Pinot and seems it'll be a defensive effort by the part of quite a few up the order. Sensible riding by Yates to snipe some time when he can, and be defensive when he needs to be.

TT results will be interesting

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Re: 2018 Vuelta

Postby find_bruce » Mon Sep 10, 2018 10:10 am

I am starting to be convinced that the shorter mountain stages, like stage 20, make for better racing, but I suspect the GC will be all over by then.

I still think its a race in 4 - while Kruijswijk will be better than most in the TT, I don't think he will make up 1.5 minutes.

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Re: 2018 Vuelta

Postby fat and old » Mon Sep 10, 2018 12:09 pm

MichaelB wrote:
find_bruce wrote:Some interesting tactical decisions last night which upset piti so I'm happy.
:lol: :lol: +10 to that.

He's prob still narked that he missed out on the bonus second in the inter sprint on St 10 that would have put him in the lead .. :roll:
And who’s having a sook now? :lol:

Vuelta continues to deliver. At this rate with a 32 km ITT and only one MTF over 2,000m Valverde must be liking his chances.

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Re: 2018 Vuelta

Postby MichaelB » Mon Sep 10, 2018 1:55 pm

And Piti doesn't seem to be 'working' for Nairo. He's looking after himself like always.

I like the range of winners, although the win by the Euskadi rider has a few calling it provisional and marking it with an asterisk ....

Other than that, great to see stages not suffocated endlessly by a strong train of super duper domestiques.

Can't wait for St 20, as that's where the next Euro trip may well be ..

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Re: 2018 Vuelta

Postby fat and old » Mon Sep 10, 2018 8:28 pm

Since Quintana got his win, the Vuelta is Valverdes..

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Re: 2018 Vuelta

Postby MichaelB » Tue Sep 11, 2018 8:58 am

fat and old wrote:Since Quintana got his win, the Vuelta is Valverdes..
I hope not. He's got his 2 stage wins. I'll let him keep the Green jersey, but not on the overall podium please.

Would love to see Lopez & Kruijswijk up there as well - the new generation !!

Astana seem to want to contribute and not whinge, and Lotto NL are giving it their all and deserve a reward. Past dopers shouldn't be on the podium, no matter how good they appear to be.

I'd also be happy to see Thomas the Tank take out the Mountains jersey.

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Re: 2018 Vuelta

Postby find_bruce » Wed Sep 12, 2018 8:28 am

MichaelB wrote:TT results will be interesting
You got your wish. No surprises with the winner, as expected Kruijswijk performed well, I don't think enough to challenge for the win, but he's a chance for the podium. The Columbians are going to have to light it up on the remaining hills if they are going to make up for their losses.

Interesting to see how LRP goes - no indication last night that he was riding into any form & time is running out before the world championships. I don't really see a plan B from the team, although the way Jack Haig is riding, perhaps he will be the surprise

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Re: 2018 Vuelta

Postby MichaelB » Wed Sep 12, 2018 8:50 am

Agree the fb - now, just gotta get those Movistar guys off the podium.

Nairo hasn't been convincing and Piti just keeps hanging in ...

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