Vuelta 2016

[Stagger]

Anyone think they can name the first 3?

[Richard Head]

Pick any 3 from Froome, Valverde, Quintana and Contador. Froome reckons he will be stronger going into the second week so he should be well up for the 4 consecutive uphill finishes starting next Saturday.

Looks like there could be a lull for 2 or 3 days then we've got 8 uphill finishes and a longish individual time trial to fit in the last 2 weeks

[Richard Head]

Stage win for Simon Yates today

[Stagger]

Good finish by Yates.
Looked very good ��

[Richard Head]

A flattish stage today then the first big summit finish tomorrow, 19.5% gradients in the last 3Km up the Wall of Camperona

[Stagger]

Froome not yet back to tour form.
Think he might be by 3rd week if he is still in contention.

[wharfeego]

Froome not yet back to tour form.
Think he might be by 3rd week if he is still in contention.

He seems happy enough where he is at this stage of the race.
Good to see Quintana make the effort - at last!
Contador fighting too - even after crashing.
Makes for an interesting race - certainly not a given for Froome.

[wharfeego]

Another big effort from Quintana - on the Lagos de Covadonga, the Alpe d'Huez of the Vuelta - and a stage win to boot.
Not sure if Froome was pacing himself, feigning tiredness, or just had poor legs on the early part of the final climb, but he sure came back strong in the last four kilometres.
Froome may be relying on his time-trial strength but by the time that stage arrives, the final Friday of the three week tour, he may be too far back on Quintana, especially with the amount of climbing yet to come.

[Graham Breeze]

Another big effort from Quintana - on the Lagos de Covadonga, the Alpe d'Huez of the Vuelta - and a stage win to boot.
Not sure if Froome was pacing himself, feigning tiredness, or just had poor legs on the early part of the final climb, but he sure came back strong in the last four kilometres.
Froome may be relying on his time-trial strength but by the time that stage arrives, the final Friday of the three week tour, he may be too far back on Quintana, especially with the amount of climbing yet to come.

So...who would you prefer to win? Quintana, who has now remembered how to attack or "I learnt all I know from falling asleep watching Miguel Indurain" Froome?

[Witton Park]

So...who would you prefer to win? Quintana, who has now remembered how to attack or "I learnt all I know from falling asleep watching Miguel Indurain" Froome?

Any credit for Froome for todays effort?

Whilst I doff my cap to your depth of knowledge of the cycling scene I do think you are being a tad unfair to Froome.
Ok, perhaps Sky soften up the rest for him sometimes, but he is always attacking and hard to predict. Take the stage win in to Bagneres this year, attacking on the decent and holding it despite Valverde who is supposed to be one of the best descenders, trying to pull it back for the pack.
Take the stage in to Montpelier, where he attacked off the front with Sagan inside the last 15km.
It was great to watch - well I enjoyed it anyway.

I think Quintana's new found confidence may have diminished a little today, so it will be interesting to see how the race unfolds now.

Saturday and Sunday will be interesting.