2012 Vuelta a España - Tour of Spain

I do love the Vuelta..

Greenedge certainly have the best named rider, Wesley Sulzberger

He won the points jersey in the Premiere Calendar series I think.

Fuck.. an actual Aussie on the road in first place..

Pleased that this Year's race is mainly in the more picturesque north of Spain. Even so,there is something about Spanish roads that make the Vuelta less visually compelling than the Giro or the Tour. The racing, however, is top notch.

I do love the ladies..

We've heard. Cav's baby doesn't look at all like him. Care to explain?

No comment..

20 Dutchies in the Vuelta, must be a record. I sincerely hope it leads to more than just skin on asphalt

Rabobank: Lars Boom, Stef Clement, Laurens ten Dam, Robert Gesink, Bauke Mollema en Dennis van Winden

Vacansoleil-DCM: Martijn Keizer, Pim Ligthart, Bert-Jan Lindeman, Wouter Mol en Rob Ruijgh

Argos-Shimano: Tom Dumoulin en Koen de Kort

Garmin-Sharp: Thomas Dekker, Michel Kreder, Raymond Kreder en Martijn Maaskant

Lotto Belisol: Joost van Leijen

Omega Pharma - Quick-Step: Niki Terpstra

Orica-GreenEdge: Pieter Weening

He won the points jersey in the Premiere Calendar series I think.

Fuck.. an actual Aussie on the road in first place..

Were there any other nationalities competing? Just checking

Pleased that this Year's race is mainly in the more picturesque north of Spain. Even so,there is something about Spanish roads that make the Vuelta less visually compelling than the Giro or the Tour. The racing, however, is top notch.

I haven't watched much Vuelta but some of the scenery is mesmerising, more so for me than le tour. Eurosportplayer will have proper coverage, right?

thats a lot of mountain stages! and wiggins hate mountains..

He looked pretty happy in them at the Tour.

He looked pretty happy in them at the Tour.

not really.. ask froomey..

not really.. ask froomey..

You know Wiggins isn't riding it, right?

Sky has unleashed their climbing elite in Froome, Uran and Henao. They laugh at Mountains

Were there any other nationalities competing? Just checking

In British racing? Unlikely.

There was a Polish rider who won a stage. Marcel Six was from forrun.

You know Wiggins isn't riding it, right?

Sky has unleashed their climbing elite in Froome, Uran and Henao. They laugh at Mountains

haha! just happy putting wiggins name there..

but here is their complete 'beasts in climbing' elites;
Froome will be joined in an incredibly strong nine-man squad by Juan Antonio Flecha, Sergio Henao, Danny Pate, Richie Porte, Ian Stannard, Ben Swift, Rigoberto Urán and Xabier Zandio.

Colombians, a Pyrenean local... other than Swift (a sprinter) Stannard and Porte, they're all climbers.

I'd say that was a strong team.

'cols'
the very 1st word these super-humans utter when they came in this world.. :-D

Colombians, a Pyrenean local... other than Swift (a sprinter) Stannard and Porte, they're all climbers.

I'd say that was a strong team.

And we know Porte can ride a mean tempo on the early parts when he wants

In British racing? Unlikely.

There was a Polish rider who won a stage. Marcel Six was from forrun.

Well I look forward to Selzburger's exploits. Who knows, he may go one better than Goss.

What do you think of the team Greenedge have put out? Are they after prizes, or looking it as a sounding board? Honest Q, since I'm not familiar with many of them

Look to be mostly sprinters, going for stages I would guess.
Tekleblahblahblah had the mountains jersey in Tour of Poland so he can climb a bit - mountains are a lot different in Spain though.
Simon Clarke and Mitch Docker used to kick arse when I was racing in Melbourne years ago.
Meyers are good on the track, Wes another crit racing sprinter type.

To be honest I think they'll fair poorly in Spain being so new to GTs although the heat might do 'em favours.

Seemed like an experimental set-up, looking to blood some youngsters. For a first year Greenedge have done well though. There's a peice on the 2013 line up here:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/bannan-orica-greenedge-needs-refocused-effort-for-grand-tour-success

For a first year team made up of mostly dirty forruns they've done extremely well. It's a pity they couldn't get Gossy over the line in Le Tour for a stage but they'll have more chances for that laterz.

Yay more cycling, at this rate of excellent sporting distraction, my thesis will have to finish itself.

For a first year team made up of mostly dirty forruns they've done extremely well. It's a pity they couldn't get Gossy over the line in Le Tour for a stage but they'll have more chances for that laterz.

Although I can't remember what exactly they did win, fairly sure Greenedge trumped Sky's debut season. A monument win makes it a massive success alone

Sooo who's going to win the TTT and draw first blood?

Sooo who's going to draw first blood?

Sweepstake on Doping?