Only just saw this!!
Cycling 2017
- Thread starter Barbara Charles
- Start date
Only just saw this!!
Hehe, guy in blue has some experience it seems. 
Next year's Giro will start in Israel for its first three stages.
Vuelta starts on 19th Aug and will be Contador's last race before retiring. He's been given the number 1 race number to honour his incredible career.
One of the most memorable attacks of all time which set up an improbable win at the 2012 Vuelta
One of the most memorable attacks of all time which set up an improbable win at the 2012 Vuelta
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Loved Bertie, one more time around. Whatever he did, he still rode in a way I fully loved. His destruction of Lance on Verbier will forever be a staple of the sport. You know, like Lance's on the d'Huez to Jan.
The final Grand Tour of the season starts tomorrow, with a lot of knackered legs and tired heads producing some of the most competitive racing of the the year.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/start-list/
http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/start-list/
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Hooray!
ABS team here!
ABS team here!
Heh, just seen there's Aqua Blue Sport team. I'm more All But Sky.
Reading something that Froome is a massive favourite, and mentioning that 40 km time trial near the end of race as a huge deal in his favour...
Reading something that Froome is a massive favourite, and mentioning that 40 km time trial near the end of race as a huge deal in his favour...
Heh, just seen there's Aqua Blue Sport team. I'm more All But Sky.
Reading something that Froome is a massive favourite, and mentioning that 40 km time trial near the end of race as a huge deal in his favour...
Aqua blue is the new Irish Team. I assumed you were 'Anyone But Sky' lol.40 km is no Mickey Mouse length TT, and given his abilities it is massively in his favour especially in the absence of other GC riders who can TT as well as he can or better, like Tom Dumoulin for example. Having that long TT at the end of race, where you know you've got a clear advantage over your main rivals, is nice to have.
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I would love Contador to win it but I don't see it happening. It's going to be tough goodbye, what a legend. Greatest grand tour rider of his generation by far in my opinion. I think this one will be won by one of the GC contenders who skipped the tour, perhaps Nibali. I think Froome might suffer, just like all the other Tour contenders. Two grand tours so close to eachother is brutal.
And off we go! Team time trial for starters.
Agree 100 % about Bertie.
Froome had such a late start to the season I bet it's with the Vuelta in mind. On that basis, with him having relatively less racing miles in the legs , I reckon he's got a super chance this year.
Nibali will be a massive threat though I think it's Froome's to lose. Hope Poels can have a great Vuelta and Rosa is a super climber, so some fresh legs there too.
Even so, two consecutive grand tours is a ridiculous challenge. It hasn't been done since Pantani in 98, and we all know he was doing that doped up to the absolute max. Froome has a decent change because he's an extremely strong and all round GC rider, but the Tour has inevitably left some marks on him and some of his competitors will be fresher in the final week, so I wouldn't call it his to lose. The last one to win 2 in one year was Contador in 2008, but that was the Giro and Vuelta which is a much more reasonable challenge, especially since he didn't participate in the Tour that year.
On another note, it's such a shame Valverde isn't fit to participate. Looking at some of the stage finishes he could've had some joy here.
Can't be doing with pan-flat stages!
A proper stage today.
Kirby saying the moped camera man needs a spanking
The hurt is on. Bertie suffering.
Great ending to the race, and very smart by Nibali.
Love the shark fin celebration !
Bad day for Contador and whatever realistic hopes he had of a good classification seem far away already. That was always a likely scenario. Oh well, it doesn't really matter where he finishes, al long as he goes in the attack a couple of times. That's what we want to see. Lovely stuff from Nibali, the man is a real fighter.
Well well, Froome looking ominous already. Didn't think that would happen tbh. If he wins the vuelta & tdf in 1 season then that'll be quite sensational.
Has to win it this year. A rider of his calibre to not win a Vuelta or Giro would be a huge disappointment. Make hay while the sun shines - he's got fewer miles in his legs , his main rivals have done the tour with him, Nibali excepted and he's got the long ITT as a carrot at the end. Oh and Dumoulin isn't here. With a hungry Poels as his wing man, he's got to do it.
Nice finish. Froome extends his lead. Barguil sent home by his team !
Froome is a machine.
It's balls to the wall these last 3 km! Come on Bertie!
What a place for a house! God, I'd love to visit it.
Pretty epic view , bet it gets bloody windy though.
Froome hasn't won this yet. He's shown some signs of weakness and Nibali looks pretty good. Contador still has a chance to make the podium. I'm hoping for plenty of attacks over the next few days and Saturday looks tasty to say the least.
Froome gapping Nibali. Come on Froomedog!
1m 37 advantage now going into stage 19
1m 37 advantage now going into stage 19
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Rain
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Also, for a new cycling fan, this Contador guy is pretty great. Attack - attack - attack. Shame he's retired soon!
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Also, for a new cycling fan, this Contador guy is pretty great. Attack - attack - attack. Shame he's retired soon!
That's the spirit, Nibali, go for it!
Come on Bertie.
That gradient is insane.
He could be on the podium here, come on El Pistolero!
Berto going out with a win. What a legend. The most entertaining stage racer I've ever seen.
What a fecking win. Take a bow Alberto Contador. It's been an absolute pleasure.
Froome - At last he wins another GT outside the Tour.
Poels you fecking beast - what a ride these last 3 weeks.
Froome - At last he wins another GT outside the Tour.
Poels you fecking beast - what a ride these last 3 weeks.