Page 2 - Vuelta 2008

21-08.-2008, 10:15 PM

#16

RdBiker

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Re: Vuelta 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crankyfeet

A photo of Contador training for the Vuelta.

Nah...that's an old picture from April...Since he spilled the beans about his secret training method he's had to hide from the vampires.

This is a more recent shot

He's under the 62nd umbrella from the right top:

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21-08.-2008, 11:38 PM

#17

limerickman

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Re: Vuelta 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drongo

Cadel Evans has confirmed that he'll be racing the Vuelta this year; so too Contador and Sastre.

CN's list of Vuelta a España teams and leaders:
Team CSC - Saxo Bank (Carlos Sastre),
AG2R - La Mondiale (Vladimir Efimkin),
Andalucía - Caja Sur (José Luís Carrasco),
Astana (Alberto Contador),
Bouygues Telecom (Dimitri Champion),
Caisse d´Epargne (Alejandro Valverde),
Cofidis, le Credit par telephone (Sylvain Chavanel),
Credit Agricole (Eric Berthou),
Euskaltel - Euskadi (Igor Anton),
Française des Jeux (Sandy Casar),
Gerolsteiner (Davide Rebellin),
Karpin Galicia (Ezequiel Mosquera),
Lampre (Damiano Cunego), Liquigas (Daniele Bennati),
Quick Step (Paolo Bettini),
Rabobank (Oscar Freire),
Silence-Lotto (Cadel Evans),
Team Milram (Erik Zabel) and
Tinkoff Credit Systems (Mikhail Ignatiev)

So, it promises much.

I think Contador for the win: not because I think he's head and shoulders above the rest like some do, but he has no injuries of which I am aware, he won't be as tired as his competitors, and the climate in Spain will be to his liking...

Any thoughts?

**********

Edit: More complete start list here. Kloeden is riding for Astana, but Astana won't let him win in Spain in preference to Contador, surely.

Query whether Popo might be preferred to Evans given the ACL; perhaps he will recover some form in Spain, but then Evans owes him nothing, whatever your thoughts about Evans' stage win in Paris-Nice.

I am interested to see how Euskaltel manages also.

I would imagine that Astana would be going all out to win the Vuelta and that Contador would be their main man.

Looking at whatever information is available concerning the route, Vuelta 2008
looks to be a pretty uncompromising GT.

The main opposition to Astana will come from CSC and Rabo.

Interesting to see Tinkoff getting their start...........Ignatiev had an excellent Vuelta a couple of seasons ago.

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22-08.-2008, 07:39 AM	#18
Malkmus Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 645	Re: Vuelta 2008 Ah the Vuelta. Such unfettered excitement. I can't wait. __________________

22-08.-2008, 10:22 PM	#19
Powerful Pete Registered User Join Date: May 2004 Location: Rome, Italy Posts: 3,870	Re: Vuelta 2008 I wonder if CSC will be racing seriously (ergo, for the amarillo) or just going for a few stages. They are the only team that appears to be able to compete with Astana (Cadel should be a contender, but given the support he does not have in Lotto, and Cunego being increasingly sucky this season although Lampre is not a half bad team)... __________________ De Rosa Planet Campagnolo Per Sempre! PAOLO BETTINI CAMPIONE DEL MONDO x 2!

22-08.-2008, 11:38 PM

#20

jonjungel

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Re: Vuelta 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Powerful Pete

I wonder if CSC will be racing seriously (ergo, for the amarillo) or just going for a few stages. They are the only team that appears to be able to compete with Astana (Cadel should be a contender, but given the support he does not have in Lotto, and Cunego being increasingly sucky this season although Lampre is not a half bad team)...

I'm sure that Sastre will go for GC only, like he's done the last few years. Apart from Sastre, I don't think anyone from CSC's Tour de France line-up will start the Vuelta.

Evans will not start.

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23-08.-2008, 12:14 AM

#21

Powerful Pete

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Re: Vuelta 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonjungel

Evans will not start.

Aha. Thanks, I had missed that.

Still his knee bothering him?

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23-08.-2008, 12:44 AM

#22

thoughtforfood

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Re: Vuelta 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Powerful Pete

Aha. Thanks, I had missed that.

Still his knee bothering him?

No, he is going under the knife for that Asschinectomy he has needed for years.

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24-08.-2008, 07:34 PM	#23
cyclingheroes Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 3,456	Re: Vuelta 2008 Gesink will make his grand tour debut. He could very well achieve a top ten spot. __________________ Cycling pictures www.cyclingheroes-pictures.com

24-08.-2008, 07:43 PM

#24

cyclingheroes

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Re: Vuelta 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonjungel

I'm sure that Sastre will go for GC only, like he's done the last few years. Apart from Sastre, I don't think anyone from CSC's Tour de France line-up will start the Vuelta.

Evans will not start.

Silence-Loto has sended conflicting information about Evans. First I received a press release that said Evans would start, 2 days later that he would not start. I guess thats why a lot of media reported he would start.

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24-08.-2008, 08:14 PM

#25

Crankyfeet

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Re: Vuelta 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by cyclingheroes

Gesink will make his grand tour debut. He could very well achieve a top ten spot.

It will be interesting to see how he goes. I presume he will be team leader for Rabo.

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24-08.-2008, 08:26 PM

#26

cyclingheroes

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Re: Vuelta 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crankyfeet

It will be interesting to see how he goes. I presume he will be team leader for Rabo.

Yes Gesink will be the Rabo captain.

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25-08.-2008, 11:24 AM	#27
EvilJediJ Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 158	Re: Vuelta 2008 The Vuelta consistently year after year (ok, maybe not last year) offers the best and most exciting racing. The spaniards just LOVE to attack. As for Contador, I pick him to win..but I can't remember the last time someone was good in the Giro and the Vuelta.

25-08.-2008, 08:02 PM

#28

Jan the man

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Re: Vuelta 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by EvilJediJ

The Vuelta consistently year after year (ok, maybe not last year) offers the best and most exciting racing. The spaniards just LOVE to attack.

Hmmm, did you watch last year?

Dullest GT since Lance used to romp away with the Tour.

25-08.-2008, 10:44 PM

#29

guncha

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Location: Riga, Latvia

Posts: 224

Re: Vuelta 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jan the man

Hmmm, did you watch last year?

Dullest GT since Lance used to romp away with the Tour.

I could agree that the problem with last Vuetla was that it was hard to a real stage to test Menchov. Without a real mountain stages it will be hard to find a real action.
However, I think this year's route doesn't look much better either -it has Angliru but apart from that other final climbs (Rabssa 16.4km @ 6.2%, Beret 6.3km @ 6.3%, Fuentes de Invierno 13.4km @ 6.1%) are nothing special as well. The climb of final ITT is of average diffuculty (8.1km @ 6.8%). You can hardly find difficult penultimate climbs as well.

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25-08.-2008, 11:41 PM	#30
Bro Deal Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Resting by the Tumtum tree Posts: 6,320	Re: Vuelta 2008 It looks like Popovych will lead Silence-Lotto. Anyone want to place bets that when riding for himself he performs much better than in the TdF? __________________ "You are like the wind and I like the lion. You form the tempest. The sand stings my eyes and the ground is parched. I roar in defiance but you do not hear. But between us there is a difference. I, like the lion, must remain in my place. While you like the wind will never know yours." -- Mulay Hamid El Raisuli, Lord of the Riff, Sultan to the Berbers, Last of the Barbary Pirates

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