La Vuelta a España 2017

The start list slowly coming together over the next 4 weeks, some big names already:

Sky: Froome & Poels
Quickstep: Jungels
AG2R: Bardet
Sunweb: Kelderman (Dumoulin will focus on TT worlds)
Lotto NL Jumbo: Kruijswijk
Cannondale: Uran
Bahrain Merida: Nibali
Orica: the Yates brothers
Bora: Majka
Astana: Aru

The Angliru is back, too.

Official website

1 Attachment

Love the Vuelta

Thinking about heading out for the final few days. Flying to Asturias, dumping a bike bag somewhere nearby and riding around very light to catch a couple of stage finishes.

Anyone got any experience of riding or logistics in that part of Spain, or specific recommendations?

.picuploadfail

Did some riding in the Basque country, Asturias and Calabria last year, saw the peloton at the finish on Peña Cabarga, a hill near Santander (Cantabria). Tried my luck on the Lagos de Covadonga climb (Asturias) but had to give it to Quintana being twice as fast ;-)

All 3 regions are absolutely wonderful. Roads, food, wine, friendly people and almost no asshole driving. In Spain there's a law (that the police actually enforces) that all cyclists should be passed with at least 1.5 meter distance.

Logistics: car. Used AirBnB on 3 locations, some gems to be found location/nature-wise but prepare yourself for no-one understanding or speaking any English.

(pic: cat sleeping in tree shade on a quiet road during a ride I did in Cantabria, I think I saw 5 cars in total outside of the towns...)

2 Attachments

Nice. Maybe car/Airbnb the simplest way to go.

Boat to santander, but it takes a day each way...

I'm off to stay near Ronda in a friend's villa and will take in a couple of the nearby stages towards the end.

Excite.

The Vuelta thread in general is going to confuse me

wrong place? Whatcha mean @Jimmy_Fingers?

@hippy or @Velocio - can you please move this thread to 'rides & races'? I put it in the wrong section

cheers

Like so?

perfecto. gracias señor.

Sweet! Looking forward to it, wish Landa was riding it having not ridden the Tour

Landa rode through France at Sweetspot, he should be spot on for La Vuelta

Looking at the GC riders list, probably the shark (nibs) is favourite to win this one.

Poels will be going in with only 22 days racing in 2017 = super fresh

And Kelderman - according to his DS - was even better than Dumoulin going into the Giro. Stay upright Wilco, stay upright...

Keep your fucking head up, Wilco!

No Uran...

https://cyclingtips.com/2017/07/qa-jonathan-vaughters-cannondale-drapac-pulled-off-something-incredible-tour-de-france/

Not with the Giro in his legs as well, he'll be fucked

Double yates brothers! Yes!

I find it difficult enough to remember which one is which if only one of them is doing a race. Nightmare. Thankfully they wear different coloured shoes...

Chaves too, I think.

That could either go brilliantly or spectacularly badly.

Chaves was anonymous on the Tour, could he have some legs for the Vuelta?