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Pre-Vuelta topic
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| jack888 |
Posted on 28-07-2009 14:27
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I have to disagree, If F.Shleck was complaining about an injury and then pulled out of the tour then it may be a case of poor mental strength but the fact that he finished the tour in the top 10 shows he got over whatever it was as soon as he was racing.
Cyclists push themselves through a lot more pain than any other athletes. If you want a poor case of mental strength try watching womens tennis. |
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 28-11-2024 09:09
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| BenBarnes |
Posted on 28-07-2009 15:01
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The fact that he was capable of still climbing to a top 5 spot but wanted to pull out seems weak to me. Compare to Hincapie, who had a broken collarbone but didn't even get x-rays until the Tour was over. That's mentally strong.
Remember Riis critizing Frank last year for not pushing through the pain enough at the top of a climb to go get yellow? Weak. |
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| Guido Mukk |
Posted on 28-07-2009 15:58
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BenBarnes wrote:
The fact that he was capable of still climbing to a top 5 spot but wanted to pull out seems weak to me. Compare to Hincapie, who had a broken collarbone but didn't even get x-rays until the Tour was over. That's mentally strong.
Remember Riis critizing Frank last year for not pushing through the pain enough at the top of a climb to go get yellow? Weak.
Yeaah you are right..Fränk isnt mentaly strong enough to win a tour..but give him a break.
About Hincapie and possible collarbone..I would say stupid, why not to check out. I dont know but still I am almost shure that he hasn´t broken collabrone. Talking about collarbone and mentality..then doper Hamilton..this was brave stuff.. Stupid but brave. |
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| tomzk111 |
Posted on 02-08-2009 16:25
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Anyone know where I can find individual stage routes? |
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| CrueTrue |
Posted on 02-08-2009 16:33
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In PCM 09  |
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| brann |
Posted on 02-08-2009 18:00
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I have heard that Fuji Servetto will come to the Vuelta and this means that Vacansoleil is kicked out. Is this true?
If so, it would be very dissapointing. |
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| ruben |
Posted on 02-08-2009 18:08
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It is true that Fuji Servetto will be participating, but Vacansoleil will NOT be kicked out.
Vuelta organisers won't risk it, because Vacansoleil is also a major sponsor of this years race. And if the Vuelta organisers would kick out the team, they would also lose the sponsorship money
Most probably they just add Fuji, there is more than enough space. 22 teams may participate, 20 teams were inviited. So now there will be 21 teams instead of 20. |
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| Wilier |
Posted on 02-08-2009 19:15
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That's good news, I like Vacansoleil. Good team, better than Skil - Shimano.
Edited by Wilier on 03-08-2009 18:28
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| Wilier |
Posted on 03-08-2009 18:32
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I wonder how Lars Boom will do in his first GT. |
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| Inferio |
Posted on 03-08-2009 19:28
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Wilier wrote:
I wonder how Lars Boom will do in his first GT.
Yeah, I hope for some result in prologue for him... |
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| ruben |
Posted on 03-08-2009 19:52
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Don't expect too much, it's his first GT. If he can get some good ITT results it will already be a succes.
On the plus side, the TT's in the Vuelta are 30km long, thus perfect for Boom. That's about the length of a cyclocross ride |
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| chrica04 |
Posted on 03-08-2009 23:09
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Has Boom done much this year? I know he had a decent small stage race result.... Have Rabo just not had him race a lot of days to burn him out? |
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| Cremalex |
Posted on 04-08-2009 00:56
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Probably we are in front of Vuelta's best route since 1999 (Ullrich´s win and VDB exhibitions on last week stages, Angliru's first time ever...).
Vuelta starts in Netherlands with some nervous stages, some cobbles included if weather is not bad, and Liege, with some of the Cotes starring in Liege-Bastogne-Liege.
After the rest, Vuelta enters Spain with Vinaros' stage. Not so difficult, sprinters should decide.
Friday will be first interesting day. Xativa's castle will receive La Vuelta with some minor climbs before ending by the castle, on top of the city.
Saturday, probably will be first GC important day, with fist long TT. Valencia, and the F1 urban circuit will see the fight for the golden jersey.
Sunday will bring first top finish. Aitana is a hard climb but it will arrive after 7 other 2nd and 3rd climbs and with 206 kms on the legs. A very hard test. In 2001 and 2004, roads were nearly collapsed by fans. Cycling, sunday and Alicante are always a good combination.
But if these two stages are not enough in these 8 first stages, monday will bring a masterpiece of half mountain stage designing. Ending after the top of Xorret de Catà and after passing over other six climbs. 22% maximum slope will prove cyclists bravery.
Next should be a quiet stage, but La Cresta del Gallo climb, 12 kms before the arrival will bring some nerves to GC contenders. Also attention on heat: Murcia in september sure will be over 35ºC.
Another nervous stage before rest day. Three climbs (Collado Bermejo, 1st category) and a 2nd category 30 kms before the arrival. Maybe not GC contenders will be the stars today, but second row riders have today their opportunity.
Thursday will be rest day before Andalucia's mountain threefold.
Friday, from the desert to the mountain. Starting from Almeria, crossing Tabernas' desert and climbing three giants. Velefique (2 times, the 2nd will be the arrival) and Calar Alto (only to Venta Luisa). Also attention to little 3rd category Castro de Filabres, recently paved for La Vuelta's pass. Attention again to heat and to probably, some of the better photos of la Vuelta, Velefique's last kms.
Without rest from previous day fatigue, cyclist should face top climb in the route, Sierra Nevada (but only till 2500 m, not 3300 that road reaches. Please, look at pictures on the link and see the beauty of Europe's higher road.). First of all, La Ragua, another HC (catalogued 1st by la Vuelta, you will see is harder). Finally, combination of Monachil and Sierra Nevada 2500 could be compared to Telegraphe+Galibier or to Romme-Colombiere. We expect to see this combination more years.
To end this threefold, we will see last top arrival, La Pandera in Jaen could be last opprtunity for climbers before last stages. Short and with no many hard climbs before, but with 15% maximum slope and many kms over 10%, will be enough to see a great show.
After these three great stages, to old muslim capital, Cordoba, will arrive the riders passing over a climb 20 kms before arrival. 14% maximum slope and the fatigue of previous stages, only second row cyclists may move.
Tuesday could be one of the last opportunities for sprinters. Not to much difficulty between Cordoba and Puertollano. Let's them have a rest for the final stages.
Another easy stage arriving at Talavera de la Reina and probably another sprint if someone is still on the race.
Thursday will bring another classical arrival, Avila with its walls and its cobbles. Great half mountain stage with a little ambush on the last part, Collado Mediano. Its numbers say everything. Extremely hard climb.
Friday will be the day of the classical Sierra de Madrid stage. Some known climbs (El León, Navacerrada -two times and two different sides - and La Morcuera). No top finish, but Navacerrada is closer enough to it to be the last hope for climbers to gain time for next day TT.
On saturday TT in the imperial city of Toledo. 26 kms to decide who will be La Vuelta 2009 winner before the last sprint in Madrid.
Now we expect that the riders will be at the level this route needs. We have terrain to see one of the best Vueltas, but we expect riders will make it spectacular.
Edited by Cremalex on 04-08-2009 01:00
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| Sherpa |
Posted on 04-08-2009 01:01
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Cremalex what are you drinking???
I want the same.
*drinks the same*
Uhuuuhhhhuuuuuuuuhhhhhhhh |
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| Cremalex |
Posted on 04-08-2009 01:07
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Well, only a beer. I could share one with you if you come to see La Vuelta.
Sorry if my English is not good, but it is difficult to translate into English all I think about the route and all the information some people have joined in a Spanish forum. Maybe if you understand Spanish, you prefer a direct link to the original. |
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| Sherpa |
Posted on 04-08-2009 01:07
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Ok, now that I read the post I can properly comment:
Who are you?? Best pre-Something post I have ever read... I hope you are right. Unfortunatelly I will miss almost all the Vuelta, damn my vacations...
Edit: I am portuguese, so I speak spanish better than portuguese... hehehe
Edited by Sherpa on 04-08-2009 01:09
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| Cremalex |
Posted on 04-08-2009 02:00
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Only a fan, but in www.altimetrias.net forum there are people that know many of the climbs and they say it is the best Vuelta since 99.
Specially they have talked a lot about Sierra Nevada's stage because this year La Vuelta has decided to use the old road, the one that use the author of this altimetry instead of the new, and wide road that reaches the ski station. Stage will end at Hoya de la Mora (2500 metres), but first they have to reach Monachil-El Purche and Collado de las Sabinas in this endless climb. The road between El Purche and Las Sabinas is a premiership for professional cyclism and is a lot harder than the new road La Vuelta usually used to reach Sierra Nevada.
A dream will be that one day an stage could end at the end of this road (see where the cyclist in the altimetry end its stage), nearby Pico Veleta (3300 metres), the highest paved road in Europe. It will be a dream impossible to become true because of heigth and length of the climb. A bit inhuman but we have PCM to make it true.
Edited by Cremalex on 04-08-2009 02:02
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| Sherpa |
Posted on 04-08-2009 02:04
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Stagiare
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Cool.
By the way, I will be in the Pyrenees (? Pirineus in portuguese), Font Romeu. Which is the nearest Vuelta stage? |
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| Cremalex |
Posted on 04-08-2009 02:13
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Sherpa wrote:
Cool.
By the way, I will be in the Pyrenees (? Pirineus in portuguese), Font Romeu. Which is the nearest Vuelta stage?
Vinaros, but it's quite far from Pyrenees. Vinaros it's located in the north coast of Castellon's province (above Valencia), nearby Catalonian border. |
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| Sherpa |
Posted on 04-08-2009 03:13
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Stagiare
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Cremalex wrote:
Sherpa wrote:
Cool.
By the way, I will be in the Pyrenees (? Pirineus in portuguese), Font Romeu. Which is the nearest Vuelta stage?
Vinaros, but it's quite far from Pyrenees. Vinaros it's located in the north coast of Castellon's province (above Valencia), nearby Catalonian border.
Unlucky me... thanks for all |
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