Who wins Vuelta?

derKaiser said:

After the first itt, the favorites list is somewhat clearer. Who's your pick to win it all? For me, it's Tyler!

I'd go with Tyler. Great ride today and with two more ITT's left, the pure climbers will really have to pound in the mountains to make up time. Cunego was a disappointing four minutes back and Beloki almost three and a half. Evans almost two and Heras one and a half. It's hard to guess from today's stage what people's form in the mountains will be, but you gotta think Landis and Hamilton and Beltran. I'd like to say Heras, but I'd have to see a mountain stage before I'd take that risk...just too disappointing in the Tour. Nozal maybe... But enough speculation. I'm going with Tyler.

Dont jinx him!

I'll go Tyler too <fingers crossed>

Cant see anyone below Heras in 14th spot and 2 misn 30 down featuring now.
Beloki at 5 mins down is too far.He really is struggling to regain his pre-crash form.
Cunego is way down too and said he wont finish.
Vino is obviously as good as out due to illness and Sevilla isnt going to feature being over 4 mins down and riding for Tyler.

Valverde , Sastre , Landis and Heras will complete the top 5.

i'll put my neck on the line and say Tyler-Heras-Landis as the 1-2-3.

Roadrash Dunc said:

Dont jinx him!

I'll go Tyler too <fingers crossed>

Cant see anyone below Heras in 14th spot and 2 misn 30 down featuring now.
Beloki at 5 mins down is too far.He really is struggling to regain his pre-crash form.
Cunego is way down too and said he wont finish.
Vino is obviously as good as out due to illness and Sevilla isnt going to feature being over 4 mins down and riding for Tyler.

Valverde , Sastre , Landis and Heras will complete the top 5.

i'll put my neck on the line and say Tyler-Heras-Landis as the 1-2-3.

Unless Tyler falls apart in the mountains his roluer abilities should see him through.

derKaiser said:

After the first itt, the favorites list is somewhat clearer. Who's your pick to win it all? For me, it's Tyler!

It's way too far out to call it yet. Tyler is in a good position but the serious mountain climbing hasn't started yet! There are a lot of classy hill-climbers right behind him. The only other time that Tyler was in a position to win a Grand Tour was the 2002 Giro and he failed so I think the pressure is on him. Valverde is still my favourite and I think Heras might take some beating too.

Its too hard to say that early! I will vote after todays stage, because, for example, Valverde lost 1:30 in TT and if Tyler will have problems in mountains, he can get 1:30 very quick! We still dont know how tyler is climbing at the moment! He didnt look as fresh as others in first mountain-top-finnish stage! OK there are a lot of other riders too, so we will know a lot more today🙂

Cunego will not win it, thats for sure hehe..

Virenque said:

Its too hard to say that early! I will vote after todays stage, because, for example, Valverde lost 1:30 in TT and if Tyler will have problems in mountains, he can get 1:30 very quick! We still dont know how tyler is climbing at the moment! He didnt look as fresh as others in first mountain-top-finnish stage! OK there are a lot of other riders too, so we will know a lot more today🙂

Cunego will not win it, thats for sure hehe..

In the other grand tours Tyler always had a bad day in the mountains. He will have to be consistent to win. It is definitely not in the bag but I think he has a chance and experience enough to win.

We didnt see him climbing after the Tour! The question is how is with his back and wrist! Uff I cant wait todays stage😄

Obviously we know its too early to call - its too early even for another week - the race will be won and lost in the last 7 stages.

But the question is who do you think will win after seeing the riders so far , not after todays stage 😄 - have a guess and stop sitting on the fence! No ones going to tell you off for getting it wrong lol.

Ive put my neck on the line and picked a podium :p
I'll probably want to change my mind after today but thats not the point!
The Vuelta is always a close race to the end so even todays stage isnt going to make things much clearer.

After today's stage, looks like Tyler is finished.

Roadrash Dunc said:

Obviously we know its too early to call - its too early even for another week - the race will be won and lost in the last 7 stages.

But the question is who do you think will win after seeing the riders so far , not after todays stage 😄 - have a guess and stop sitting on the fence! No ones going to tell you off for getting it wrong lol.

Ive put my neck on the line and picked a podium :p
I'll probably want to change my mind after today but thats not the point!
The Vuelta is always a close race to the end so even todays stage isnt going to make things much clearer.

Yes, sad but true..🙁Now there are not a lot more candidates for overall win..

Ok so i want to change my mind alerady! See 🙂

Hehe I voted Valverde but I want to change it too🙂

Virenque said:

Yes, sad but true..🙁Now there are not a lot more candidates for overall win..

It will be Heras again same tactics almost as last year. try to keep close in the flatter ITT and make up as much time as possible in the mountains and try to destory the field in the ITT on the Sierra Nevada. He only lost 1'37" yesterday which is not bad for him in a flat TT. Today he already took 50+ seconds out of Landis and Beltran and his team as some good people(esp. Nozal) to support him.

I will say that Mancebo and Valverde are the next two and I give the edge to Mancebo. It has been a long season for Valverde and for some reason I think he is going to have a bad day in the mountains.

I think Nozal will be in top3 again! What was Piepoli doing in last 8 stages?😕The last time I saw him was in Tour de Romandie, finnishing third in GC..

Nozal and Mancebo did look good today.Especially Nozal - he'd have won the stage if he wasnt riding for Heras.

I was little bit surprised about Heras today, he didnt look so strong in stage finnishing in Morilla! But of course, it wasnt the real mountain stage! And after dissapointing Tour I didnt think he can be the the best in month and half..

Virenque said:

I was little bit surprised about Heras today, he didnt look so strong in stage finnishing in Morilla! But of course, it wasnt the real mountain stage! And after dissapointing Tour I didnt think he can be the the best in month and half..

Last time we checked, he was 7 minutes behind. Poor Tyler. Yesterday he said: The preparation i did in August was for a time trial of one hour for the Olympic Games so I dont know how I´ll cope with the mountain stages which start in Aitana. I only came for the stage win as I don't know if I can do the whole three week tour." (Daily Peleton)

Looks like Tyler knew he was off form.

Can I go back and change my vote to Valverde?

And looks like it was the team order! I dont think he really want that stage win so much hehe..

donhix1 said:

Last time we checked, he was 7 minutes behind. Poor Tyler. Yesterday he said: The preparation i did in August was for a time trial of one hour for the Olympic Games so I dont know how I´ll cope with the mountain stages which start in Aitana. I only came for the stage win as I don't know if I can do the whole three week tour." (Daily Peleton)

Looks like Tyler knew he was off form.

Can I go back and change my vote to Valverde?

Well thats reassuring somewhat - would have been questioning his chances of next years Tour and remaining Phonak TL if he actually expected to compete for the GC.
Just wish i'd known so i hadnt bet on him!
I'll go for Heras as long as he avoids a bad day he has Nozal working for him.

Ok , thats put the kiss of death on Heras , you guys go down to the bookies and all bet heavy on Mancebo.