Vuelta - Utrecht to Madrid 2022

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Again, another grand tour kicks off on a Friday, 17,45 on Eurosport. My least favourite of the GT's starting off with my favourite event, if a little short, a 23K TT.
I gather Bernal will not be racing it but Carapaz, Evenepoel Lopez, Roglic & Yates will amongst the contenders.

La Vuelta

La Vuelta is one of the leading cycling races in the international calendar. 21 stages, three weeks of competition between August and September, and more than 3,000 km covering the Spanish geography, and from other countries such as Andorra, Belgium, Fran

www.lavuelta.es

Vuelta a España 2022

Vuelta a España 2022

www.cyclingnews.com

 

[twistedAM]

Not sure this race merits a thread but having said that I'll be watching this more than the Tour to see how young Remco gets along. Hopefully he can hand out some major punishment like he did at Liege and Donastia but not sure about whether he can keep it up for 3 weeks.
I also love TTTs!

 

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A grand tour not worthy of a thread

 

[twistedAM]

A grand tour not worthy of a thread

The three Grand Tour are misnomers as the grandest tour of all is Flanders

I find three week races dull mostly but any race Remco is in should have a spark.
Will always prefer one day races but did enjoy the recent Tour De L'Ain which was three DAYS.

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

I’ve tried to like Remco but just can’t. No idea why

 

[stavros]

Quest for nightly highlights, by the way, Freeview watchers.

 

[twistedAM]

I’ve tried to like Remco but just can’t. No idea why

He's one a very small number of riders who can really ignite a race. Alaphilippe, van Der Poel and Pogacar are the others who have the ability to do that in any race they enter.
I hope he wins but there are definitely better climbers in the big mountains.
Grand Tours annoy me because it's all about big mountains whereas the rest of the season isn't and the skeletal ones get lauded for being the best cyclist in the world.

 

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Presentation is on later...17.10

 

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Nibali's last GT
A quick punt for intermarche who look like they have a reasonably strong team.

 

[stavros]

I've got a couple of days off next week. Can anyone PM me any sites where one might watch the Vuelta live, were one to be willing to do such a thing?

 

[twistedAM]

I've got a couple of days off next week. Can anyone PM me any sites where one might watch the Vuelta live, were one to be willing to do such a thing?

Pinged you the link to Tiz Cycling.

 

[twistedAM]

Presentation is on later...17.10

That was one of the worst presentations ever. That DJ was so annoying and smug and it looked like it was held in an Aldi car park.
I stuck it through to see Quickstep but had to quit after that. was hoping Ineos was before just to see what corny music they would have chosen for a British team.
For those fortunate enough not to see it they played Men At Work's Down Under (Office Party Disco Mix) before Bike Exchange and then for Trek they chose Take Me Home Country Roads (Office Party Barn Dance Disco Mix).
Truly dreadful.
At least the Vuelta are making up for it with a TTT today.

 

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That was one of the worst presentations ever. That DJ was so annoying and smug and it looked like it was held in an Aldi car park.
I stuck it through to see Quickstep but had to quit after that. was hoping Ineos was before just to see what corny music they would have chosen for a British team.
For those fortunate enough not to see it they played Men At Work's Down Under (Office Party Disco Mix) before Bike Exchange and then for Trek they chose Take Me Home Country Roads (Office Party Barn Dance Disco Mix).
Truly dreadful.
At least the Vuelta are making up for it with a TTT today.

I tried sticking it through but had to go and get some sleep before work. Did I hear Utrecht is the only town to host a stage of each of the tree GT's?
I doubt I will be home for the TTT later. They are a beautiful thing done well but 20K is a bit short, but it is the opener I suppose.

 

[twistedAM]

I tried sticking it through but had to go and get some sleep before work. Did I hear Utrecht is the only town to host a stage of each of the tree GT's?
I doubt I will be home for the TTT later. They are a beautiful thing done well but 20K is a bit short, but it is the opener I suppose.

Yeah but it still looks like Bromley with a canal.
The TTT should be way longer but this has quite a few corners and bends. Could be interesting.

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

It’s obvious quite a few riders/teams haven’t done one of these for a while

 

[petee]

the title gave me to think they'd be cycling from utrecht to madrid.

 

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the title gave me to think they'd be cycling from utrecht to madrid.

They are, in a roundabout way

 

[stavros]

Very impressive sprint, as he held it for a very long time.

Does anyone else keeping seeing Scotland flags on the Bora jersey arms?

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

Nice to see him winning again, he’s had a pretty crappy season so far.

 

[twistedAM]

Very impressive sprint, as he held it for a very long time.

Does anyone else keeping seeing Scotland flags on the Bora jersey arms?

View attachment 338831

No, but now you have said it they will always be there.

 

[DJWrongspeed]

Roglic on form again today. One can only imagine what a gripping TdF it would have been if he’d been in the GC battle ? Perhaps for another team.

 

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Roglic was so bloody cool, confident and accomplished at the finish it's difficult to see past him

 

[twistedAM]

Roglic was so bloody cool, confident and accomplished at the finish it's difficult to see past him

But he crashes even more than Geraint Thomas so the others still have a look in.

 

[twistedAM]

Some real action at last and my favourite rider is in red.

 

[stavros]

I watched all of it from when coverage started today (thanks twistedAM), and that was quality. Grim as fuck, and we couldn't see the winner cross the line, but great fun.

 

[twistedAM]

I watched all of it from when coverage started today (thanks twistedAM), and that was quality. Grim as fuck, and we couldn't see the winner cross the line, but great fun.

Cool. Glad Tiz worked out for you. I hope Remco can go on and smash this now.

 

[DJWrongspeed]

South Londoner Fred Wright is having a great season (aside from the morals of being in the Bahrain team).
He's had so many 2nds & 3rds you'd have to predict some wins next season?

What form is Remco going to be in on the super hard Stage 20 that is the intriguing question.

 

[stavros]

Cool. Glad Tiz worked out for you.

It was touch and go today. They got to about 30km to go and it kept cutting out. I was fretting but just about managed to salvage it for the final 3km.

Good stuff, although no team's owning the chase. I think that's three stages now where they've not reigned in the breakaway.

 

[stavros]

Very impressive from Vine. Can he keep it up for the next two weeks, because I doubt Jumbo, Quickstep, etc are going to let him get in a break again.

 

[twistedAM]

Very impressive from Vine. Can he keep it up for the next two weeks, because I doubt Jumbo, Quickstep, etc are going to let him get in a break again.

He lost 13 minutes today probably on purpose so he can go for more stage wins and the mountain jersey.
Meanwhile Remco is turning the screw; I so hope he makes it.