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Seems it's gonna be [url= http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/alberto-contador-to-retire-after-vuelta-a-espana/ ]Contador's final race[/url]..
Whatever you think of him, cycling will be a lot less exciting without his attacking style..
Good, be glad to see the back of him.
Steak dinner at his retirement do?
Whatever you think of him, cycling will be a lot less exciting without his attacking style
Agreed, instead we'll get to see Aru...
As Inrng (I think) tweeted, it's a good day to be Aru or Landa's agent.
Highlights only on ITV4 for the Vuelta, live coverage "only" on Eurosport (though I bet other online streams will be available for those who care)
Opening TTT starts quite late (4.30 uk time) so the highlights aren't on till 10pm. Looks like it's then back to 7pm as usual except when therte;s somehting special on - e.g. tuesday is 10pm as there'a a womens rugby world cup match on
Are we doing one mega-thread this year? The individual stage threads for the Tour were superb, but not sure if there's enough interest in the Vuelta.
Great line up this year!
2nd best race of the year (after the Giro) IMO.
Looking forward to it immensely..
Looking forward to it, I'll be on paternity leave for most of it so am naively assuming we'll get him put down for 7pm sharp every evening, allowing me an hour and a half of peace in front of the TV 8)
Cycling Weekly did an interesting piece on one of the climbs
[url= http://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racing/vuelta-a-espana/the-vuelta-a-espana-will-take-on-an-incredibly-steep-31-climb-and-these-photos-show-just-how-tough-it-is-345302 ]Savage[/url]
Went for a wee sniff around on google maps but couldn't find it...
Went for a wee sniff around on google maps but couldn't find it...
We'll be watching this stage, we've found a campsite at San Roque de Riomiera which allows us to watch the stage as it passes then ride up to the finish. The finish line is by a monument to a local breed of cow! Appropriate for a Contador attack methinks.
[url= http://postureocantabro.com/video-subida-los-machucos-etapa-reina-la-vuelta-espana-2017/ ]linky[/url]
Samuel Sanchez suspended, no longer on the start list
https://cyclingtips.com/2017/08/former-olympic-champion-samuel-sanchez-fails-anti-doping-test/
Ugh not Sammy 🙁 Disappointing news that.
Sky's DeathStar has a little (big?) sibling?
http://www.velonews.com/2017/08/news/team-sky-to-use-giant-expandable-trailer_446210
[img] 
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Midway through live coverage of the TTT on Eurosport now. Highlights on ES and ITV4 at 10pm.
Really technical course but Nimes is looking lovely in the early evening sunlight.
I've got Lotto NL - Jumbo in the office sweepstake. Not impressed since I also had them in the TdF sweepstake. They've got off to a dreadful start by having a spectacular OTB crash in the first few corners which took out two of their riders.
Stunning spectacle in the TTT but I bet the riders hated it...
What caused the spectacular OTB? ITV didn't come back to it (or I missed the comment)
there are some vids of it on you tube. Can't really see on the one I saw but looked a bit like "something" either went under or into his wheel
"Stunning" and "spectacle" in a TTT don't really mean anything. "Boring" and "dull" and "pointless" Shirley are more appropriate.
Today's a flat lander special, cruise down the coast.. and a breakaway by one of either "invitees" to the party.. 2hrs worth of spotting the ad revenue wheel suckers before a sprint.
Pozza FTW if he can be dragged by a knackered AG2r squad.
Crosswinds forecast!
"Stunning" and "spectacle" in a TTT don't really mean anything.
Normally I'd agree with you, but yesterday's stage was a lot better than the normal TTT borefest.
Flat coastal stages can be brilliant if it's windy. Really looking forward to the next three weeks; course looks so much more exciting than the tour was.
Flat coastal stages can be brilliant if it's windy. Really looking forward to the next three weeks; course looks so much more exciting than the tour was.
need team sky wiped out by a police motorcyclist if you want an exciting race 😉
no breakaway with 95 to go very odd !
25 km sprint
ripping along
The thread title probably needs a 'spoliers (sic) within' addition pls.
Shaping up to be an exciting final few km.
I tuned in with about 50km to go just on the assumption that the first 2/3rds would be a snoozefest.
can see why the sprinters havem't turned up 🙂
Clever from Quickstep - again. Just like the giro stage
They just seem a bit sharper than most other teams
there was plenty of gaps behind too interesting to see who lost time!
Which channel are U.K. folks watching this on?
EuroSport 1 is showing it live every day.
ITV4 and ES both have highlights at about 10pm UK time.
Tx. Wanted to find something non French
Cripes!
Enjoyed the last 20km of that, was/am working from home so had it in the background. Mr Froome is clearly keen to take every second he can.
Yes, a good finish to the stage. Nibbles did well to come back. Surely it's only a matter of time before one of the tv motos takes out a rider on a descent, they were very sketchy today
Bad day for Bertie, lost 21/2 mins, looked fed up at the finish.
Yeah, he needs to beef up a bit...
The thread title probably needs a 'spoliers (sic) within' addition pls.
Do people really this? 🙄
I see the Sky Train set the scene and Octopusy is in the lead..
At least Nibbs shot off and Bertie sadly wobbled a bit.
Nice place Andorra.
Shame that ITV4 aren't showing this live as they did with the TdF. Still got the excellent Millar/Boulting commentary team.
That ****ing watch add is back though!!
It's gone a bit quiet in here! Today's final hill looked a tough little ramp!
Very nasty that last little climb. Great to see Chaves in good form 😀
It's gone quiet because old spider legs is controlling it..
Froome looks strongest on the climbs, Sky look very strong (Moscon!) and he's also the best TT out of the people doing well on the climbs.
Of course, it's the Vuelta and random stuff happens. Stages have been good to watch though, much better than some of the TdF bore-fest.
Great to see Chaves in good form
Yup! Cracking to see him back on it!
Stages have been good to watch though, much better than some of the TdF bore-fest.
Vuelta is always the best of the Gran Tours imo
Bertie has just beaten up [s]team sky[/s] the peloton
Another BMC contender crashes out of a Grand tour! TJ's gone down hard when looking really good
:(. The racing is great though
team sky look a little lacking here!
TJ back on his bike about a minute back hanging out with most of team sky 😯
Tejay down again 🙁
bmc might want too look at a new tyre supplier or less air in them.
yeah - that kerb "nearly" caught out a couple of the 3 leaders, and they weren't undercutting the commissaire's car at the timeTejay down again
Nah it's just vangarderen. There isnt a promising situation he can't throw away.
Nah it's just [s]vangarderen[/s] BMC. There isnt a promising situation [s]he[/s] they can't throw away.
FIFY 😉
Did Froome overdo it yesterday and will he suffer for that today? It seemed a little naive to me attacking on the mountain alongside Contador knowing there is still 35km to go over the other side; it always seemed highly likely that the other GC contenders would regain the gap before the finish.
I think he can still be pretty relaxed, but I'm really hoping Chaves is keeping his powder dry and will give Froome a hard time in the mountains with the Yateses as his super-duper domestiques.
Anyone else hate how the graphic showing the distance going down switches to a clock within the final few kms so you don't know how close the finish line is?
And how do the Spanish motorbikes come so close to the riders and still produce rubbish TV pictures?!!
Did Froome overdo it yesterday and will he suffer for that today? It seemed a little naive to me attacking on the mountain alongside Contador knowing there is still 35km
You'd expect a quieter day on GC today but who knows with the Vuelta. Froome really seems to be enjoying himself in this Vuelta. He'd not have really expected to take time on stages like yesterday's, more about chipping away psychologically at the other GC guys. If he shows he can drop them on little climbs like that they'll be more weary of attacking him later in the race.
Thomas De Gendt in the break 🙂
echelons then they sit up !
They seem tired. They were hardly drilling on the front to try and force splits, then there was a turn into a block headwind that killed it off.
Bit bored of this one so far. And Sean Kelly is starting to annoy.
Barguil withdrawn from the race by Sunweb for refusing to follow team orders & not helping his punctured leader. Not a great finale to his sunweb career.
wonder is Contrador will try and disrupt the sky train again today It need something to break it up or they'll just grind along to the base of the final climb.
Agree, would be nice to see some early attacks.
unfortunately it's a long way between the intermediate climbs and the final brute.
37 degrees today, scorchio!
it's all getting a bit nervy in the peloton 🙂
what brute of a climb 🙂
Well I was watching it in the garage, while building up a new frame.
Good to see Bertie up there again, I think he'll suffer on the longer climbs though. Still, good racing.
I know it's been said many times, but Bertie lights up races. Great to watch.
Froome seems to be in scintillating form. He seems to have trained to peak for this - Quite staggering if you consider that if that's true, he won the TdF without being in top form.
Froome looks like he's enjoying himself judging by the post stage interview. He looks very relaxed. Ominous for the rest.........
Froome loving having Bertie as a domestique!
Good stage today, I enjoyed the ITV4 highlights.
Eurosport live coverage is nice but the Kirby/Kelly commentary is annoying although I'll accept that they do know what they're talking about (unlike Hugh Porter or the days of Liggett/Sherwen where it was just a string of clichés).
Tomorrow finishes with a double ascent after a long flat day up the coast. Wonder how much crosswinds might affect it on the run in.
Blimey that was steep. Good finish.
Yes i just got back from watching it, its a brutal climb and they did it twice. Its so humid here too so brilliant for all of them. Looking fwd to watching it tonight on itv4.