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Thread: Vuelta a Espana 2017

  1. #21
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    Froome wins the Vuelta 2017��

  2. #22
    Senior Member RaceTheSweeper's Avatar
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    totally brilliant. MrRTS raced the Peris Horseshoe today and we did not get home until 7.45 pm. The stage recorded and we knew it was going to be epic as Contador had nothing to lose today and everything to gain. So ... we put the car radio on our phone music and when we got home we didn't even sort out the race stuff just sat down with a beer and started the stage. It did not disappoint! Blooming brilliant. We were so pleased that Contador got his stage win and over the moon with Froome getting the overall win (nonwithstanding all going ok tomorrow) We were on the edge of our seats on the final descent! That was madness. Such a shame that De la Cruz had such a terrible fall that put him out of the game, we hope he recovers soon. Once again the Vuelta has proven it is well above the brilliance of any of the other Gran Tours.

  3. #23
    Senior Member Alan's Avatar
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    I was very impressed with this race, and found the last two days quite moving. One thing that came across was the high level of respect the riders seemed to have for each other - not so much of the bitchiness that has sometimes come across in the TDF, and I guess that just reflects how hard the stages were.

    Lots of comments about the strength of the Sky team, which are fair enough; but these tours are team events. And, of course, Froome still has to come up with the goods in amongst, and after, all the teamwork. No matter how good Wout Poels is, talk of him dragging Froome up the Angliru are mistaken; drafting on those sorts of gradient doesn't really happen.

    And, talking of the Angliru, Contador was unbelievable!

    Chapeau Froome. Chapeau Contador. And a great effort from all the riders who finished this year's Vuelta.

  4. #24

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    Quote Originally Posted by Alan View Post

    Lots of comments about the strength of the Sky team, which are fair enough; but these tours are team events. And, of course, Froome still has to come up with the goods in amongst, and after, all the teamwork. No matter how good Wout Poels is, talk of him dragging Froome up the Angliru are mistaken; drafting on those sorts of gradient doesn't really happen.

    Well Alan there is some weather even on the top of mountains but having a great climber as a team mate on a climb is massively important to the mental process and following a wheel is always easier than riding on your own.

    Contador is probably the greatest Tour rider and climber of his generation but his performance on the Angliru was more about what was in his head than his physical ability as a bike rider. And similarly Nibali, despite his immense talent as a rider, occasionally displays a mental fragility that lets him down.

    Grand Tours are all about world wide TV coverage - meaning money - and sponsors who have the deepest pockets are, in the end, always the winners. If Froome retired tomorrow my money would still be on Sky winning next year's TdF because that is why Sky are involved in the sport, rather than winning, say, one day classics which receive, in comparison, pitiful world wide TV coverage.
    Last edited by Graham Breeze; 11-09-2017 at 09:47 AM.
    "...as dry as the Atacama desert".

  5. #25
    Master Witton Park's Avatar
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    I've enjoyed watching the cycling on the box this year. All 3 Grand Tours have been great viewing as well as the Dauphine. Shame about the crash with the motorbike in the Giro and one or 2 crashes in the TdF as well but overall, great races, great viewing.

    What stands out for me is Froome's meticulous preparation. He might ride for the team with the biggest budget, but he got it right.
    You could see he was a little under in the Dauphine. He still had a go on the last day of it which made it a great race, but he wasn't ready.
    I thought then that the double was on as he clearly he was still building up.

    Contrast that with Quintana dubbed as his main challenger who didn't get it right for either Giro or Tour. Quintana didn't fail due to lack of budget.

    Nibali, Aru, Bardet have barely laid a glove on Froome. He had only 2 off days in 2 Grand Tours. The list of GC contenders and podium challengers in this Vuelta that failed miserably is a long one including Majka, Jungels, Kruiswijk, Van Garderen, Chaves, The Yates lads, Mientjes, Pozzovivo, Barguil.

    In terms of the teams, Astana, Orica Scott, Bahrain-Merida and Sunweb all got involved in attacks, trying to break it up and they all had capable riders.
    Nibali leaned on Pellizotti on Saturday and might not have held on to 2nd without him.

    Brilliant by Froome and his team got it right where they have cocked up at times in the past.

    Enjoyed watching Contador as well. Happy he got the stage win.
    Richard Taylor
    "William Tell could take an apple off your head. Taylor could take out a processed pea."
    Sid Waddell

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