La Vuelta a España 2017

I think the main reason he rode the Tour was to have legs for the Vuelta.

His Tour prep was definitely sub optimal- he lost at least a month to a knee injury, then the physiotherapist who'd worked on his rehab, and who he was close to, was killed in a car accident the day after the Tour started.

didnt know dumoulin wasnt riding, thats a shame. thought him and froome would both be going for a double

Dumoulin for TT-world-champ, no? The course is just right for that (and fucks up Tony Martin).

I can't wait for this.

Don't hold out a lot of hope for Bardet after burying himself at the TdF, but I'm looking forward to seeing both the Yates bros riding for OS.

I went to Asturias last year, with a car but no bike. I have to go again and take a bike this time, it was incredible.

Apparently, not only the terrible Angliru is in the course, also this climb (crawl? goat's trail?), in stage 17, up to 28% in places, looking even more gruesome...

Can you even get cars through there?

At least that rutted concrete will be nice and comfortable to ride on.

To get up that I'd need one of dem bikes with a motor, and someone else riding it

Startlist taking shape, Contador to ride?!

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With 10 domestiques he stands a good chance of making it round.
Sadly, Adam Hansen hasn't been selected by Lotto-Soudal.

Bastards!

I suppose his run had to come to an end at some point. I hope he's on board with it.

http://www.ridemedia.com.au/features/exclusive-adam-hansens-successive-grand-tour-journey-ends/

Hansen is in, replacing Rafa Valls, who's broken his hip.

Just read that, it will be a hard record to break if he finishes this one!

Did an unknown assailant jump out of a bush and stick a custom carbon fibre slipper in his spokes?

His new shoes take longer than a week to bake so possibly touch and go .

Are we not excited yet?

La Vuelta has been my most favouritest of the tours for the last few years and I'm looking forward to at least one brilliant stage and a fond farewell for Bertie.

http://inrng.com/2017/08/vuelta-a-espana-2017-preview/

Really looking forward to this as Vuelta has been the most bonkers of the GTs for the last couple of years. More importantly, Froome, Nibs or Bertie in my fantasy team...?

Jelle Wallays is starting. Really hope he does something special, because I want the nickname Jelly Wally to take off.

Unfortunately Geoffrey Soupe (Jeff Soup) didn't earn a starting berth for Cofidis.

Wow, that's a long long list of possible contenders. Maybe even more star-studded than the Tour was, I suppose because a few teams have got more than one option.

I'm definitely excited, even though I'm not going to be able to watch either of the weekend's stages live.

Yes, excited. Either Froome doubles or someone pulls something special to beat him. Win-win.

I'm not going to be able to watch either of the weekend's stages live.

Don't worry, I promise to have enough fun for both of us. I've found a bar round the corner from the holiday villa I'm currently in where the owner speaks just enough English and me just enough Spanish for me to understand that he thinks Froome dopes but Indurain didn't. I feel a good old fashioned week of drunken debates coming on.

And which rider is in the pic?

Fewer sprinters/rouleurs stars given the parcours I guess. More big GC names. Hell, there's three just at Orica.