@ Alakagom: Well, unfortunatly, you were right Even Ibra could do nothing...
@ fcancellara: As valv said, I play it on PC. And yeah, the Red Bull shirt of Deksel is pretty nice. And since Red Bull is already involved a lot in sports sponsoring, it would fit... We'll see
@ FreitasPCM: Thank you. The results are fine indeed. And Hoffenheim - well, I kinda like the concept, but there seem to be some strange things happening behind the scenes, lots of fighting and intrigues and stuff, so...
@ valverde321: Nice to hear. I think, Ferrari will be nice.
Here's the transfer update. I'm working on the Vuelta preview now, so expect it either this evening or tomorrow.
The team is already in Spain, so I'm writing to you from the hotel in Granada, where the Vuelta will start in two days with an individual time trial. The atmosphere is great and we are all very motivated and optimistic.
Before the race reports from the Vuelta start, here's the penultimate trasfer update!
Riders Out:
Spoiler
Jacopo Guarnieri had a miserable year. Despite being a good sprinter on the paper, he wasn't able to achieve any notable results, neither was he a big help in our sprint trains. Therefore, the management decided to dissolve his contract to give him the opportunity to sign with another team.
Spoiler
Another victim of the cut downs in the sprint department is Fabio Sabatini. His great results in the Eneco Tour couldn't help him as, similar to Guarnieri, they were the only results he could contribute so far, which is why our team administration saw no reason to extend his contract. He is a good sprinter though and we wish him only the best for the future. But before that, he will ride the Vuelta for us.
Rider In:
Regarding our next new signings, the team management accomplished two goals simultaneously: On the one hand, they continued to strengthen then German fraction in our squad, on the other hand, they worked on our biggest weakness (until now): The cobbled classics.
Spoiler
Markus Burghardt joins us in his best years as a cyclist. The 29 year old is a top class rouleur and a great support for both sprint trains and especially the cobbled classics. At BMC, he had quite some good results this year with Top 15s at Milan-San Remo, Gent-Wevelgem, Paris-Roubaix and De Ronde. Now he looks for a new challenge at our team.
Spoiler
A bit younger but similarly strong is Dominik Klemme. While not being such a good rouleur, he can be considered even stronger than Burghardt on the cobblestones, which he underlined with a great sixth spot at Gent-Wevelgem. Also, with 25 years, we hope he still has some room for improvement.
Now, we have only one new signing left, the really big one. And just like last year, I'll keep up the suspense, you'll have to wait until after the Vuelta. But over the weeks, I'll give you a couple of hints, maybe you can guess him already. Hint No. One: He had an amazing development in the last two years and is now probably one of the two best in his area.
Oh, and I was asked what football club I support: Because of the geographic nearness, I cheered for the SC Freiburg my whole life. A very likeable, small club that mostly, and not always successfully, fights against relegation into League 2.
Coming up next will be the preview for the Vuelta. Stay tuned,
Looking forward to the Vuelta and the last big signing.
A pity that Sabatini leaves you. I already like to see him with Liquigas.
The two signings should help you for the cobbles but also in breakaways as they are perfect therefore.
@ sutty68: Glad you like it. I really hope so, too.
@ Teddy: Interesting guesses... There will come more hints, you'll see if your guesses are right
@ roturn: Me too! It's the first GT with a really good Dominik, so it should be nice to play. An about Sabatini: It wasn't an easy decision but with Ponzi, Finetto and Viviani, I have three strong sprinters (four if you count Dall'Antonia, but he's more for breaks) and there was only room for one more so it was between him and Cimolai. They're almost equal at the moment but Cimolai has still more room to improve so Sabatini had to go... Plus, I can't keep all my strong riders, the team is already a bit too good and it will get better with the last signing...
In general, this year's edition of the Vuelta is extremely intense. At no point, there's more than two (nominal) flat stages in a row, the riders have very few chances to really regenerate.
The race starts with a short but hilly seven kilometers time trial in Granada. The first road stage is mostly flat but the tough hill 13 kms from the finish will be a real obstacle for pure sprinters. The third stage is already considered as hilly but with the last kilometers mostly being flat, it probably won't make a difference. The longest stage of the race, stage number four, is then again completely flat.
Spoiler
After another flat stage with a small ascent towards the end, we can expect the first real battle of the overall contenders on stage six. The last climb up to the ski resort of Valdelinares is only 9 kms long but looks pretty steep. Afterwards, the peloton returns to flatter terrain, still the seventh stage will cost some energy, with its 211 kms and lots of hills in the first part. Stage eight is another of these supposed sprint stages but since the last kilometer is pretty steep, it may be a chance for a strong puncheur.
Spoiler
The three following stages are the first where we can expect bigger time gaps. It starts with 46 hilly time trialing kilometers in Lloret de Mar. Although there is some up and down, weak time trialists should lose quite a bit here. Then, we have the first really huge mountain stage: 214 kilometers including four demanding mountains with the finish up in Arcalis in Andorra. After the first rest day, another tough mountain stage awaits the riders, with even five classified mountains and another mountain top finish.
Spoiler
Stage 12 might provide the opportunity for some regeneration since it's rather short and mostly flat. The hilly stage 13 is most likely something for a fast puncheur or a punchy sprinter, but with all the up and down, the overall contenders, too, have to pay a lot of attention. It's stage 14 when the pack hits the higher mountains again: The four early hills are only the prelude for the huge climb at the end of the stage. The same applies for stage 15: First, some hills for the warmup, then a big climb with a mountain top finish, although this time, it doesn't look that steep.
Spoiler
After the second rest day, the sprinters will get another of the rare chances here in Spain before we have one of the few mountain stages without a top finish. Stage 17 features three big climbs but 25 kms of downhilling to the finish line. That's similar on stage 18, only that the stage looks even harder until the last mountain is crossed.
Spoiler
Stage 19 looks like a good opportunity for a break, or a punchy sprinter that could survive the first hills. The 36 kilometers of time trialing on stage 20 will eventually fix the overall classification, this time the stage is completely flat, so a hard test for the weak time trialists. La Vuelta comes to an end in Madrid, where we can expect a bunch sprint after the shortest road stage of the race.
Spoiler
In conclusion, we have:
89 kms of time trialing, 53 of them hilly
6 mountain stages, 4 of them with a MTF
5 hilly stages
7 flat stages, but many of riddled with tough hills
Result in 2011
1
Samuel Sanchez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
2
Ivan Basso
Liquigas - Cannondale
3
Carlos Sastre
Geox - TMC
4
David Arroyo
Movistar Team
5
Alberto Contador
Saxo Bank – Sungard
In an extremely close duel, Sanchez and Basso were cut above the rest. The Spaniard finally had the better ending being only 10 seconds in front of Basso. Carlos Sastre surprised everyone while Alberto Contador was too tired after a long season.
Click here for a detailed review of last year's Vuelta.
Favorites
General Classification
Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas)
Giro winner Vincenzo Nibali peaks specifically for the Vuelta. He enters the race with only 45 race days and should be able to maintain a top shape throughout the whole three weeks. Also, his good time trialing should be a big advance. In Sylvester Szmyd, he has a good domestique. Nibali is the top favorite.
Igor Antón (Leopard)
Igor Anton is surely the best climber in the field. But he had a very, very long season with almost no breaks since March and has already 70 race days in his legs. Other weak points are his team with Jens Voigt being his top helper, and his weak time trialing. Nevertheless, he showed that he's a top stage racer and is a main contender at least for the podium.
Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel)
Defending champion Samuel Sanchez is again among the contenders. But the age left its mark on him. He lost a bit of his former climbing ability. Therefore, Euskaltel supplies probably the strongest mountain squad with Nieve, Astarloza and Izagirre as strong helpers. Also, he's still a decent time trialist. 59 race days isn't really the best premise but it could be worse.
Alejandro Valverde (Unicef)
In his returning year, Alejandro Valverde couldn't quite convince. He finished third in Paris-Nice but disappointed in the Ardennes. Now he has the chance to make up for that. He has only 33 race days so far, so he has the conditions to be in top shape. And in Tiago Machado, he has probably the best domestique (along Mikel Nieve for Euskalte). Also, the route suits him with lots of hills to gain time. While he most probably won't repeat his overall triumph from 2009, he has a shot at the podium, if everything goes well.
Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha)
Similar to Valverde, Joaquim Rodriguez is a better puncheur than climber. But while being a bit better in the mountains than his compatriot, Rodriguez lacks a lot in time trialing which will cost him some minutes. Also, he has already 55 race days. But the third of LBL and the Flèche Wallonne can't be ruled out and at least a Top 5 is more than possible.
Richie Porte (GreenEdge)
Naming him a three star favorite may be a bit overdone but this race is probably the best chance Richie Porte will ever get to show that his seventh at the Giro 2010 wasn't a fluke. He is by far the best time trialist among the overall contenders and with 89 TT kms, this should bring him several minutes. If he remains attentive, doesn't make any mistakes, and keeps up at least a little in the mountains, a good overall result is possible. With his 68 race days, he hasn't the best conditions, though.
Ezequiel Mosquera (Movistar)
Kevin De Weert (QuickStep)
Tiago Machado (Unicef)
Mikel Nieve (Euskaltel)
Peter Velits (T-Mobile)
David Arroyo (Movistar)
Juan José Cobo (Geox - TMC)
Mikel Astarloza (Euskaltel)
Riccardo Riccó (Vacansoleil)
Sprinters
Mark Cavendish (T-Mobile)
Mark Cavendish is one of the two best sprinters of the world. He missed green in the Tour this year and now wants to add at least a couple of GT stage wins to his palmares. He has no real sprint train though, and also already 68 race days in his legs.
Matthew Goss (GreenEdge)
Similar to Cav, Goss has already 70 race days this season. But he has a top lead out in Allan Davis and he shouldn't have any problems with the several hills that are often featured in the flat stages.
José Joaquin Rojas (Movistar)
The same applies for Joaquin Rojas. Good at the hills and many race days. He's the only sprinter in his team but that didn't stop him to take already 10 wins over the season. Plus, he has the national advance on his side.
Edvald Boasson Hagen (Sky)
Romain Feillu (Vacansoleil)
Mauro Finetto (Liquigas)
Young Riders
Romain Sicard (Euskaltel)
Sicard is the strongest climber of the U25 riders and a decent time trialist. He has two problems, though: His 71 race days, and that he most probably has to work a lot for his team mate Samuel Sanchez.
Dominik Nerz (Liquigas)
Dominik Nerz had an amazing season with his first win as a professional and several more strong results. Now he's here to take his first classification jersey at a grand tour. He is a bit weaker than Sicard, at least on the paper, but he has several advances. He raced less in the season so far, plus he has a top regeneration, he showed to be in top shape recently and, maybe most important, we heard that he is free to ride on his own for the young riders jersey, so no domestique work for him. It'll be a tough challenge nevertheless but it could result in the highlight of his young career.
Gorka Izagirre (Euskaltel)
Just like his team mate Sicard, Izagirre will have to do a lot of domestique work. Plus he has even more race days and is a weaker time trialist. Nevertheless, he is a good climber and if the other ones fail, he'll be there.
For a Vuelta, the start list is pretty good. Some strong climbers are present but many of them lack of decent time trialing so it'll be interesting to see how that will affect the race. Euskaltel surely has the strongest team and should be able to dictate the pace in the mountains, the question is whether Samuel Sanchez will be able to benefit from that.
For the sprints, the starting field is very classy. Some of the best sprinters of the world are here, but it's rather uncertain how many chances they'll get to show themselves.
Team Liquigas
Vincenzo Nibali is here for one clear goal: Making the double of Giro and Vuelta, so the overall win. Nothing less.
Sylvester Szmyd and Damiano Caruso are his main domestiques for the mountains.
Dominik Nerz mainly has the freedom to go for the young riders jersey. But in a case of emergency, he won't hesitate to leave his ambitions behind to help Vincenzo Nibali.
Marco Marcato and Peter Sagan mainly begin their preparation for the autumn classics, the worlds and most important Il Lombardo here. But they'll also go for stage wins and especially Peter Sagan should be able to grab one.
Mauro Finetto and Fabio Sabatini are our sprinters here. Especially Mauro Finetto with his strong hilly qualities might be able to score some good results in this dense concurrence.
Daniel Oss is finally the domestique for the flat stages. He might help leading out our sprinters or go for a breakaway himself as well.
In conclusion, the main goals are: The overall win with Vincenzo Nibali, the young riders jersey with Dominik Nerz and at least one or two stage wins with Nibali or Sagan (or anybody else).
Good luck for the Vuelta, let's see if it's the GC and the Young Rider Jersey for Liquigas.Nibali just need to go with Anton to win in the timetrial and also i think Nerz will easilly take the U-25 jersey, the other contenders are going to work for their leaders, so no pushovers.
I think Sagan will wear the pink jersey after the hilly stages, and Nibali should take it over in the mountains. And Nerz sure is a big contender for the U25 jersey! Good luck!
That's a really strong team for stagehunting. You should be able to pick up 2 or 3 stage wins at least with those boys. And of course the GC and youth classification
Manager of Bunzl - Centrica
ICL's World Tour Champions and Talented Bottlers
@fcancellara - pink jersey's a bit hard, since this is the Vuelta.
Anyway, hope Nibali can get the final podium, and it would be great if it was the highest place of the best three. Oh, and a great race for Dominik too.
Sweet review, a great read. Looks like Nibbles will have no equals if his form is as good as you say it is.
But by far the most exciting part was hearing we'll all be able to enjoy the battle for white (is it white in la vuelta?) between Romain and Dominik! Excitement levels are overflowing!
FreitasPCM wrote:
@fcancellara - pink jersey's a bit hard, since this is the Vuelta.
Anyway, hope Nibali can get the final podium, and it would be great if it was the highest place of the best three. Oh, and a great race for Dominik too.
brewers90 wrote:
That's a really strong team for stagehunting. You should be able to pick up 2 or 3 stage wins at least with those boys. And of course the GC and youth classification
I would rather say 12, or 13 stage-wins, this must be the best GT lineup ever.
Even Ibra could do nothing... 
