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La Vuelta 2019
Just had my first look at the route and details of the race.
Looks like there is a big change in the points competition this year. Some stage have 5 intermediate sprints, some have only one and a lot of the intermediate sprints are half way up a climb. There is one on the flat 2km from the start of a mountain stage.
I have no idea how points are going to be awarded, I can't find a copy of the rules anywhere but it looks like they are trying to create a more competitive competition, which can be won by sprinters, climbers, puncheurs or breakers. Dr Winston should like this.
Interestingly the most competitive rider is chosen by the public via social media.
If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.
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That's the one outstanding thing I have left to do, sort out the deadlines. It will be about 15 mins before the first team sets off.
Cheers!
Jesper Hansen totally missing from riders list ?
Carapaz out of the Vuelta.
A bit weird but Jesper Hansen from Cofidis is missing and doesn't even appear if you show all riders.
However he does appear on show all riders for the Autumn Classics.
Carapaz may not start following a training crash, decision in the morning.
What is going on at Ineos ?
De la Cruz in Elissonde out for the Vuelta.
Slightly better for the Team Time Trial but less support on the climbs , imo.
I don't think either of them will be at Ineos next year.
I read up in the rules that they're not awarding the points jersey for the TTT, and there are no climbs. So only the GC and youth jerseys are awarded. Safe money is on Jumbo to win it, maybe with someone random crossing first. Powless, Kuss, of Hofstede for youth (I think they're all eligible).
Also, Winston, Hart is there to learn from Poels. I would bet that Poels will finish higher up GC, but I'm not sure. When the big favourite teams are Movistar, Jumbo, and Astana, then anything Ineos pick up is a bonus.
You da man thanks
Does anyone remember how the jerseys are awarded for the ttt? The team with the best time gets 20 for each rider but with in that team does the first rider across the line get almost all the jerseys by default? Thanks!
Good start for my team in defence of my win last year. Put Eddie Dunbar in who now appears to be greyed out and replaced by Wout Poels.
Poels and Hart declared as joint leaders and sort it out as the race unfolds....this seems to be becoming a thing with Ineos now.
Good tactic or bad tactic?...thoughts.
Do they have a choice ?
Poels could be a podium contender but could also be out of contention after the first GC stage.
So asking Poels to support TGH & vice versa makes no sense until they see how things go.
Ineos (SKY) have been very good at shielding one paticular rider over the years....to the point where it’s actually caused them problems within the team (Froome and Wiggins for example). Jumbo are running into similar territory as their team strengthens even more, and Movistar is well documented.
My question wasn’t really about Ineos but the tactic of going into GT’s with a suck it and see team.
Do you like that tactic or do you think a nominated leader is a better way to go?..I prefer the latter.
It depends on the situation.
If you have one rider who is clearly superior I think having a nominated leader is best, eg. Froome at Sky most years. In 2018 it wasn't clear how he would perform after winning the Giro so they went with 2 leaders which was a sensible solution.
What is most important is the members of the team understand and accept the team leadership.
I think the problem at Movistar is Quintana expecting to be leader when he hasn't shown that he is clearly superior to the other riders. At the Giro Carapaz & Landa worked well together, they were joint leaders but once Carapaz established a meaningful lead Landa accepted that unless anything extraordinary occurred he would have to play second fiddle.
I suppose a lot can depend upon the personalities involved as well. Trying to get big egos to play a team game could be tricky....some riders on the other hand seem well grounded.
Yeah. Game on.
Not sure who will be leading out Jumbo in the TTT. Will they have learnt not to offer up Roglic to the worlds press by putting him in the leaders jersey early on?....Surely Tony Martin or somebody will be leading over the line won’t they?....Same for team INS with Hart?
Opened everything now. Had to adjust the budget for the Spanish riders comp as there are only 35 of them and Valverde is the only expensive one.
No repeat of the Giro where it was possible to pick the perfect team then?
Ha! I reckon that will still be the case. I've just picked Valverde then 4 other hopefuls.
All the line-ups announced now.
Roglic and Kruijswijck won't ever get a better chance to win a GT.
Dumoulin has signed for them....crikey...
De Plus is a very good prospect too, still only 23 and incredibly talented. He could prove to be the best of the lot.
Movistar with Valverde, Carapaz, Soler & Quintana.
I imagine Soler will be working as a domestique, so just 3 leaders again.
Astana have Fugsang in their team, I imagine he is only there to help Lopez though.
Weidly worded press release from them. It was sort of all in for Chaves GC, but also stage hunting. Mezgec looks good for the sprints.
Sunweb are all in for Kelderman GC and they're bringing Walscheid for the sprints.
Yeah. Mezgec looks a shoe in to begin with. The whole race is heading more and more towards the lads from Jumbo before even a wheel has turned....no Yates brothers is just another reason for them to be happy.
No Yates at the Vuelta either.
Mitchelton all in for Chaves but will probably end up with Nieve stage hunting.
No Thomas for Ineos, he is doing Deutchland Tour
Another strong line up for the Deutschland tour...very strong. I seem to recall we talked about it last year as well.
Martinez pulled out of the Tour of Utah before it started with a respiratory illness and fever. Not good preparation.
Roglic hasn't ridden a stage race since the Giro, and he's not down for anything in the lead up. Let's see what kind of form he's in.
Looking at the teams for the TTT, Quick Step don't have a GC rider; Jumbo and Ineos should be two of the best; EF should do really well, but who's their GC leader? I can't see anyone else doing that well.
So I'm inclined to agree, it's Jumbo's to lose.
Roglic & Kruijswijk duo look strong & have good support. Bennett may even give them a 3rd option.
Since his crash in 2017 TdF Valverde hasn't been as strong in the mountains, Quintana will ride for himself, Carapaz will get less freedom than in the Giro.
EF have a strong team but Martinez is a bit of an unknown and Uran will probaby ride too defensively to win.
Lopez will lose time in both TTs, imo Astana need to do something crazy early and try and get Lopez in a situation where he can ride defensively rather than permanently chasing a miracle.
I don't think Ineos will have a team capable of controlling the race and they don't have Bernal to attack the others.
First GC win for Jumbo Visma.
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