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Vuelta a Espana Discussion
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| aidanvn13 |
Posted on 14-10-2014 16:09
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Despite it being the weakest GT, it should still turn out to be a fierce battle. Like the Giro, I'll enjoy following the race. I'd like to so my near-miss signee Van Heerden doing well here for Aker - as well as Contador. 
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| Smowz |
Posted on 14-10-2014 16:42
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Awesome! SN once again thanks so much for the efforts here another grand tour, you are really doing the tour of duty here (as you always do)
A lot of the 85 mountain ites are not here, obviously I am delighted about that with Alarcon having a shot at a podium here if all goes well.
Contador and Tenorio will clearly take inspiration from Cunego at the Giro, though I am not sure it is the perfect course for Tenorio other than obviously being in Spain. Machado just shades being favourite for me and I am hoping to possible pick either Bertie or Justo off for a podium. Hell you never know Jose could even win the thing with the way he rode at times in the Giro.
I do think Swift here will be looking to dominate the sprints - Vesuvio are getting their sprint engine ready. I have a funny feeling Pokerstars sprint trains may splutter (though with the season they are having who knows). I expect prossibly four sprints before that hellish short mountain stage on 11 which could well wipe out some of the lardy guys (at least some of the helpers)
@SotD - you may be right about Spilak but with so many 85 MO guys around it is difficult to guarentee wins on mountain stages really - would Spilak beat the Spanish/Machado every time? The days of Cunego/Giro dominence and more recently Madrazo/Tenorio/Vuelta dominence I think are over for the time being. In some ways that is a good thing. Personally I think Spilak - > Tour is probably better though this years tour is strange with so many chrono early on.
Other bits I note from startlist;
- struggling to see Bpost breaking their duck with their startlist
- Gomez M anonymous race to low top 10 - scoring well less than Giro?
- Great chance for breakaway success in second half of the race (much like Giro) even in mountains Aker and Santander are pretty good, but SRB and Prio are fairly thin on the chasing stakes.
-Old man Valverde - 5th place GC? Or will he tumble down the top ten
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| Alakagom |
Posted on 14-10-2014 16:46
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Smowz wrote:
Awesome! SN once again thanks so much for the efforts here another grand tour, you are really doing the tour of duty here (as you always do)
A lot of the 85 mountain ites are not here, obviously I am delighted about that with Alarcon having a shot at a podium here if all goes well.
Contador and Tenorio will clearly take inspiration from Cunego at the Giro, though I am not sure it is the perfect course for Tenorio other than obviously being in Spain. Machado just shades being favourite for me and I am hoping to possible pick either Bertie or Justo off for a podium. Hell you never know Jose could even win the thing with the way he rode at times in the Giro.
I do think Swift here will be looking to dominate the sprints - Vesuvio are getting their sprint engine ready. I have a funny feeling Pokerstars sprint trains may splutter (though with the season they are having who knows). I expect prossibly four sprints before that hellish short mountain stage on 11 which could well wipe out some of the lardy guys (at least some of the helpers)
@SotD - you may be right about Spilak but with so many 85 MO guys around it is difficult to guarentee wins on mountain stages really - would Spilak beat the Spanish/Machado every time? The days of Cunego/Giro dominence and more recently Madrazo/Tenorio/Vuelta dominence I think are over for the time being. In some ways that is a good thing. Personally I think Spilak - > Tour is probably better though this years tour is strange with so many chrono early on.
Other bits I note from startlist;
- struggling to see Bpost breaking their duck with their startlist
- Gomez M anonymous race to low top 10 - scoring well less than Giro?
- Great chance for breakaway success in second half of the race (much like Giro) even in mountains Aker and Santander are pretty good, but SRB and Prio are fairly thin on the chasing stakes.
-Old man Valverde - 5th place GC? Or will he tumble down the top ten
Roturn will be hoping Gomez drops on one of these stages again  Looses minutes and goes for stage wins in 3rd week. Much more profitable than riding for top 10 in GC anonymously
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Posted on 22-11-2024 03:49
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| roturn |
Posted on 14-10-2014 17:01
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While I agree scoring wise, the Vuelta top10 might be the easiest goal for me this season to avoid a 0/5.
Well eventually 1/5 if I avoid relegation. |
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| beagle |
Posted on 14-10-2014 17:51
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Smowz wrote:
I do think Swift here will be looking to dominate the sprints - Vesuvio are getting their sprint engine ready. I have a funny feeling Pokerstars sprint trains may splutter (though with the season they are having who knows). I expect prossibly four sprints before that hellish short mountain stage on 11 which could well wipe out some of the lardy guys (at least some of the helpers)
Maybe you´re right or maybe not. The fact is, my team is a bit underperforming right in sprints so far this season. Except of Tommeke of course 
Manager of Polar in Man-Game
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| SportingNonsense |
Posted on 14-10-2014 19:04
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Smowz wrote:
-Old man Valverde - 5th place GC? Or will he tumble down the top ten
5th would be pretty phenomenal for Valverde, its tough to make the Top 10 of a GT with a MO stat < 80
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| roturn |
Posted on 14-10-2014 19:18
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SportingNonsense wrote:
Smowz wrote:
-Old man Valverde - 5th place GC? Or will he tumble down the top ten
5th would be pretty phenomenal for Valverde, its tough to make the Top 10 of a GT with a MO stat < 80
Valverde still will. Quite sure about it.
He is overperforming all season so far. |
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| alexkr00 |
Posted on 14-10-2014 19:40
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Only one 1t4i rider in in the front group... and it's the one who counts 
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| cio93 |
Posted on 14-10-2014 19:42
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Wow, that was everything but an easy cruise to start a racing rhythm!
9 GC riders in that front group, so nothing in particular lost for most of the dropped climbers, but certainly unnecessary either way. Maybe there's a new Gomez Marchante in the second group that will actually like this in hindsight?
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| beagle |
Posted on 14-10-2014 19:47
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I have mixtured feelings about opening stage...Swift was too smart and fast to beat him. Still, 2nd Mohs and 3rd Degenkolb is a strong result. Absence of Roche in front group is disappointing, though.
Thanks for not letting us to wait with first report
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| roturn |
Posted on 14-10-2014 20:02
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Gomez Marchante starting to lose time. 
Only 3 riders in 2nd group, none in 1st.  |
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| wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 14-10-2014 20:14
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Great, no riders in the front group....
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| OlegTinkov |
Posted on 14-10-2014 20:32
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For the teams who are here without GC ambitions, but are looking for breakaways it's probably a good thing that there are time gaps right from the start!
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| SotD |
Posted on 14-10-2014 20:43
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That is a decent start. 4th for Guerao with also Tzortzakis in top 10 is nice. I'll take whatever points I can get. Ratiy losing time is not surprising, and doesnt matter all that much, when it isnt 6-7 minutes.
We are OK, we are OK.
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| cio93 |
Posted on 14-10-2014 20:46
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SotD wrote:
That is a decent start. 4th for Guerao with also Tzortzakis in top 10 is nice. I'll take whatever points I can get. Ratiy losing time is not surprising, and doesnt matter all that much, when it isnt 6-7 minutes.
We are OK, we are OK.
Oh gosh. I know this. Someone call the police!
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| SotD |
Posted on 14-10-2014 20:47
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cio93 wrote:
SotD wrote:
That is a decent start. 4th for Guerao with also Tzortzakis in top 10 is nice. I'll take whatever points I can get. Ratiy losing time is not surprising, and doesnt matter all that much, when it isnt 6-7 minutes.
We are OK, we are OK.
Oh gosh. I know this. Someone call the police!
Im just drunk. Ill be moaning tomorrow :-p
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| Smowz |
Posted on 14-10-2014 21:35
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I will take that - no cheap time lost and whilst santos was nowhere near the sprint we do not really expect him to be there. Alarcon was in front group so no problems.
Heh I have been drinking too
(Swift won ... Fiiiix )
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| roturn |
Posted on 14-10-2014 21:43
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Smowz wrote:
I will take that - no cheap time lost and whilst santos was nowhere near the sprint we do not really expect him to be there. Alarcon was in front group so no problems.
Heh I have been drinking too
(Swift won ... Fiiiix )
Alarcon being in the best group in wind echelons. Yeah.  |
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| Smowz |
Posted on 14-10-2014 21:56
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There is less of him to blow around
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| ember |
Posted on 14-10-2014 22:13
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Thanks for your kind words, SotD and aidanvn13! It's nice to know you wish us well
That was a very good start from Contador, but crosswind on the first stage probably means crosswind on stage 2 as well. Fingers crossed he can keep his concentration and not mess up on these flat stages.
Superior show of strength from Swift, congrats SN! It might prove tough for Pokerstars to win a normal flat stage if Mohs is their man, I think. |
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