[Closed] Vuelta, possible spoiler.

No I only have a ticker, as we run through a server in Germany here.

You might find some coverage live from about 4pm, here.
[url] http://www.usagoals.com/ [/url]
or here.
[url] http://cyclingfans.com/ [/url]

tracknico, you may get your wish.

Philippe Gilbert looks to be chomping at the bit too.

[i]I seem to recall something from his book about the whole Slipstream team undergoing regular in and out of season testing (independently verified). [/i]

It was a founding principle of the team. To race and to win, clean.
To this end they wanted to go above and beyond the bare minimum of complying with the UCI testing requirements.

Did anyone find a way I can watch the Vuelta online, for free ?.

You could try through the Spanish TV, http://www.rtve.es/deportes/ciclismo/directo/

Not sure if they geolocate and cut the retransmission.

Edit: not started showing yet, the sports channel might show it later too: http://www.rtve.es/deportes/directo/teledeporte/

Interesting, I tried the link, yes its too early I think, but I was please to notice that Twitter in Spanish is Twittear. 🙂

steephill.tv

at least 3 eurosport feeds in english.

Contador has gone early and gapped them... this is it..

Where did you all go, you getting to see it yet anyone?

Contador is going to go into the lead today..

Incredible stuff. Contador just riding off the front and leaving everyone for dead, Merckx style.
Must have had one hell of a steak last night 😀

Speaking out on doping/ex dopers.

[i]David Millar ?@millarmind

Holy shit @albertocontador is one hell of a bike racer.[/i]

Sorry, couldn't resist that one!

Berty for the win though. what a madman.

He also tweeted this

[i]David Millar ?@millarmind

OMG this is old school, and I mean good old school, not bad old school.[/i]

Brilliant racing, though difficult not to be sceptical of Contador.

Would have like Purito to win, but Contador'll do 🙂

I am not too sceptical of Contador, this was a very well planned attack.

We done unrepentant drug cheat Valverde yet...?

@ mrblobby

done him in what way? with a spanner or some carpet tacks?

Well I look forward to seeing the highlights tonight.
A new leader, it takes a lot to attack day after day, impressive stuff.

done him in what way? with a spanner or some carpet tacks?

🙂 Comment reminded me of the chap who chased Bertie with the giant syringe in the tour a couple of years back.

[img] [/img]

@mrblobby @clubber that's brilliant, i didn't see that on that years giro.
I do remember on the time trial that year the commentator saying that bert still had loads of supporters just as he rode up about 50 meters of abuse painted on the road

Ah yes, it was the giro. I'd got it confused with the doctors on the tour...

there were some guys dressed as butchers in another race holding steaks, i can't find a picture but i was LMAO at that one

There was a guy with a "For Sale / Irun steaks" sign in Spanish the day before yesterday, too.

con tador, and valverde, who would have expected that, rest days can be very helpful, lance used to love them !

does rest day mean a rest from testing too?

Hmm.

The cynic in me thinks that Tuesday would be the perfect moment to load up and flush out. Still great ride from c**tybaws.

Who would have thought a great recovery after a rest day from Bertie

Did he have steak yesterday?

this is the real tragedy there will always be this niggling doubt now,

This stage 17 sort of reminded me of stage 17 in the 2006 TDF

this is the real tragedy there will always be this niggling doubt now

Yep. I watched that with half my brain going "Cor! Amazing racing! Go on lads!" and the other half going "Oh look, the two ex-dopers are blowing the field to pieces a day after a rest day. Great." 🙁

I love the road scene, but after 20 years of watching, I am very uneasy about the spaniards here.... when you see old footage of Merckx et al on the go, they were fast, but looked like they were suffering. I cannot think that racing up 20-25% percent sections of 19km climbs can be done without looking the same.

I feel this is like the bad old days. Good racing overall, but I think Contador should not be riding, neither should Valverde.

I am reminded of how the German TV cannot mention cycling without mentioning doping. I think it all got too much for them. It is a little like the Euro crisis will end up, they kept giving out trust then tire of it and loose interest in the end.

I hope we don't as well, but as the Spanish cycling authorities probably won't grip it, we'll have to rely on the UCI. Oh dear. Can we get the USADA to do it?

Unfortunately Steak-boy has previous form for rising Lazarus like after a rest day.

brakes - Member
does rest day mean a rest from testing too?

it's Spain the testing is for show only. There Prime Minister does not allow positive tests to be followed by a ban. It's good racing though it reminds me of Pantani. Really great to watch as long as you suspend your belief. I'm enjoying it.

K'in
Ell

Most excellent

This stage 17 sort of reminded me of stage 17 in the 2006 TDF

unbelieveable racing, unbelievable performances by two ex dopers.... all in all I dont believe it!

The Astana guy supported Contador after he was busted. Was even gifted a Stage win in the Giro by Contador, this was of course while the cheating beef eater was serving his soon to be back dated ban.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

I watched the highlights, and am in two minds, first it is the spanish national tour and the spaniards will want to win. but the way Contador rode today? He is good with or without assistance, he is probably one of the best stage racers of the current era.

But i don't think he would be stupid enough to do anything that might get him banned, after all the test he failed was only bad luck and a different lab might not have picked up on it.

Then again Operacion Puerto and the way it has been dropped, leaves a nasty taste, official cover up.

Excellent racing; really enjoyed watching it.

Just been an ubelievable spectacle. I'd say as good as any stage race I have ever followed, except maybe Roche's win of the tour in the 1980's.......

higgo - Member

Was that the day I was stood on the Col du Ranfolly and watched Landis' magnificent ride into Morzine?

Ahh was that Mr Sweaty 😉

This stage 17 sort of reminded me of stage 17 in the 2006 TDF

Was that the day I was stood on the Col du Ranfolly and watched Landis' magnificent ride into Morzine?

Was that the day we rode chatel bike park, then raced down the emnpty road from avoriaz watching the tour coming up the valley, managed to get on the finish line, Munqe Chick stood on the pillion seat of a press bike, and watched Landis' magnificent ride into Morzine? 😀 8)

A champion salutes Dirty Bertie's methods
[Img] ?1312895853[/img]

I watched yesterday partly in amazement but with a very large part of me thinking "just after a rest day" 🙁
I think the lifetime ban for a 2nd offence makes a lot of sense.

You know if it bothers to the point where you can't enjoy watching it because you think that they might be doping you could always try not watching it and not commenting on it?

or the cyclists could try not cheating and not doping due to public pressure /fans reaction.

or a known clean rider [ Wigo or cuddles] could win and we would all be happy

You are not wrong alex222, I shall not bother with the rest of it. Shame really

I may still comment though ;-), although most of these posts that turn into are they, aren't they tend to end up going in the same circles so I try to stick to only 1 or 2 comments per thread.

One day perhaps we will know, perhaps drug testing will catch up with the dopers (although I doubt it, the money is in the wrong hands) & retrospective testing will make all clear.

Until then
Millar, seems to be doing the best he can without making too many enemies, enjoyed his book
Armstrong, used to be a fan about 10 years ago. His book made him easy to admire although difficult to like. Looks like he has got his comeuppance not worth stripping him of his titles though, who would you give them to? Just put an asterisk next to the results and say dirty race.
Walsh/Kimmage, glad they have been proved right
Contador got off easy with his backdated suspension wish I could believe in him as he has a great style but after yesterday I cant
Vino - god help us all
etc etc

alex222 - Member
You know if it bothers to the point where you can't enjoy watching it because you think that they might be doping you could always try not watching it and not commenting on it?

It does bother me but I am enjoying it. Great racing in the same way that the Idurain, Pantani, Armstrong races were often great. Now though I know more and what to suspect. Shame to read others defending the cheating though. What's worse it that pretty much a whole countries cycle fans are prepared to allow cheating as a normal activity. I suspect all Spanish sports people are cheating given the way things happen there, footy, tennis the lot.

"Yeah but, yeah but.. like yeah but.."

Whose that girl off that show, sits on a skool desk and swings her feet..

Well those that rattle on about drugs n stuff sound like this..

Yesterday was an exceptional piece of riding by Bertie and Valverde, they were tactically adept, driven and masterful riders on a mission.
The fact that they had helpers from other teams underpins the respect they have from other riders and that can not be denied. The shere joy on Berties face as he crossed the line was one of THE moments in cycling. The interview post win with him showed how knackered he really was/is and his emotion showed through.

I rate them all, I admire them all.

Now, whine away in your own little whiney worlds "yeah but.. no but.. yeah but..

Then ride 50ks of that stage yourself... You know, just to put your skills into perspective, Like.

bikebouy - Member
"Yeah but, yeah but.. like yeah but.."

Whose that girl off that show, sits on a skool desk and swings her feet..

Well those that rattle on about drugs n stuff sound like this..

How so?

I am with bikebouy...

You know, just to put your skills into perspective, Like

If it helps Bolt can run faster than me but if he gets convicted of drugs [ I doubt he will tbh] I can surely comment on his past and future performances particularily if he still denies it.

It will alwayts be viwed as suspicious because he has cheated

How so?

"Yeah I enjoy cyclng but I can't help but comment on the fact that something that has gone on forever and will continue to go on is erm going on, yeah I know Lance said he wasn't doping so much that I believed him at the time but now because of the doubt in my mind I have to wail on him regardless of how much I admired him five years ago.. like Millar yeah he says he is clean now but I believe him because he has writen a book and everything.."

Like that really.

Back on track Contador; flipping animal. An attack that devastated the GC and turned the entire race on its head with 4 more stages to go. Just incredible.

What the ticker told me during the race was how much help he was getting from his pal, what the TV showed me was he was just brilliant, it was also a tactical masterclass.

I'm gonna try some of those ^^ Live coverage links later.

steephill.tv is where it's at. Watch the in Flemish.

Lucky buggers, I just cant get any of the TV things to work here... The tour was OK I just paid for eurosport, Vuelta coverage isnt quite as good.

Solo
A bit later on this site will have about 6 different live streaming links to try. The eurosport ticker is about the best, at least it seems betteer than the official Vuelta site.
[url] http://www.cyclingfans.com/node/6513 [/url]

Cheers.

...What's worse it that pretty much a whole countries cycle fans are prepared to allow cheating as a normal activity. I suspect all Spanish sports people are cheating given the way things happen there, footy, tennis the lot.

Except they're not, and your posts are basically racism - you're generalising a whole country's behaviour, and it's both ill-informed and unpleasant to read.

you canot compare millar to contador or LA
he admited he cheated, was repentant, fessed up and helped the authorities. Thye have never admitted they did anythign wrong.
If two poeole do a wrong and one shrugs their shoulders and denies it and the other owns up, says they are sorry, and does all the right thing it would be daft to treat them both the same.
It also makes it much less likely that the later will offend again as they have "reformed".
It is not a guarantee granted [ nothing is - wiggo could cheat but I cannot see it happening] but I fail to see how you cannot see the difference between them tbh.

You'll not provoke me into whining about drugs nor backing up any of your whiney points you are desperatly trying to make.
You live in your whiney sceptical drugs world all you like.

You'll need more will and determination to provoke me into your wheeeny arguments which diminish daily. I suggest you grab some of that will and determination Bertie and Valverde showed yesterday, then apply it to your riding.

True Grit was shown by all riders yesterday, that was not denied. Ask anyone in the peloton today about yesterday and I will be astonished to hear anyone of them say "yeah, it was ok, bit of a wheeze really"

I thought this years Vuelta was going to be too hard for them, I still do, all those mountain stages and mountain top finishes.. just going to kill them off. I see it as too hard. It's proving some exceptional racing and bringing out some very savvy tactic..

Bring on the Poncheurs.

you canot compare millar to contador or LA

Yes you can

alex222 +1 no make that +100.
Another thread turned into the same people banging on about drugs. We all know about the problems , but if you can't enjoy whats infront of you just walk away.

Yes you can

No you can't, one's British and the others are dirty foreign types. Same as Saint Tommy Simpson, and that junkie Pantani.

No you can't, one's British and the others are dirty foreign types. Same as Saint Tommy Simpson, and that junkie Pantani.

Don't forget he said sorry Jesus and then wrote a book

double post.. ooop's

consomethinge professional

who tainted his entire past and future career and all his brilliant achievements by breaking the rules and cheating in an era of the sport where people are trying desperately to eradicate doping.
give it a rest bikebouy, you're deluded.

mogrim - Member

I'm right regarding the Spanish authorities attitude to testing and convictions for doping. Their Prime Minister made clear that Contador would not be serving a ban when his positive was confirmed. The countries authorties over rode the police to shut down investigations into blood doping that implicated over 200 athletes including tennis player and footballers. Those that are found guilty doping are cheered in the streets. Is that racist? you seem to be an expert on that issue so it can be your call. You can't get away from the fact that the Vuelta is being lead by two brilliant riders who are known cheats but you prefer those to see that than honesty.

I shall carry on enjoying the race but I'll know that it's just as dirty as ever in parts.

who's honesty?

Vuelta is being lead by two brilliant riders who are known cheats but you prefer those to see that than honesty.

this is my fundamental point.

berty and valverde are 'known cheats'

millar is a fully repentant lad doing his best, and no doubt cheered all the way to his TdF win.

didn't hear all you lads giving it the big 'i'm gonna turn my TV off, i just can't believe what i'm watching' on that day..

I'm right regarding the Spanish authorities attitude to testing and convictions for doping. Their Prime Minister made clear that Contador would not be serving a ban when his positive was confirmed. The countries authorties over rode the police to shut down investigations into blood doping that implicated over 200 athletes including tennis player and footballers. Those that are found guilty doping are cheered in the streets. Is that racist? you seem to be an expert on that issue so it can be your call. You can't get away from the fact that the Vuelta is being lead by two brilliant riders who are known cheats but you prefer those to see that than honesty.

Where to start? (And I'm not convinced it's worthwhile, either...)

* The Prime Minister supported Contador, it's true - but said nothing about no ban, rather that there was no case for civil authorities.

* The end of Operacion Puerto affected riders of other nationalities, not just Spanish. Again, there's a big difference between civil and sporting authorities, and as much as the UCI or whatever might like to rule the roost, at the end of the day they have less authority than the local judges.

* Contador is indeed cheered. There were also signs, in Spanish, taking the piss out of him and his doping. Spanish fans aren't some uniform mass, with just one opinion.

And yes, both Valverde and Contador have been suspended in the past for drug use. They have cheated in competition. There's no evidence they are cheating this time round, and I think they'd be massively stupid to do so. I also think a lifetime ban for the first offence is overly harsh, for a second offence definitely. They've done their time, why shouldn't I support them now?

They've done their time, why shouldn't I support them now?

because it is human nature to have suspicions about people who have cheated in the past, especially when they are unrepentant.
but you know this already.

especially when they are unrepentant.

If they say sorry there is absolutely no reason to question them any more. No sir. Not ever; especially the British ones who say sorry.

Hello Mogrim,

Lets not get all arsey about it but just so you know. 🙂

The Spanish PM told the the cycling authorties and it was reported in the press and on tv that Contador was not getting a ban. They had announced he would be getting a year as the drug was injested by accident, thats when the PM stepped in with his comment.

I never mentioned the origins of the Puerto athletes, just what countries police conducted the raid. My view is that there was a lot more at stake than a few cyclists.

You are correct there is no evidence that Contador and Valverde are cheating at this time. So I'll carry on watching enjoying the race but keep the cynical cap on just in case what seems unbelieveable turns out to be. : 🙁

Yes you can

I dont support Millar due to nationality but due to his response.

If they say sorry there is absolutely no reason to question them any more. No sir. Not ever; especially the British ones who say sorry.

Alex222

The Honesty thing, from the convited dopers. They don't have to go all Miller about it though.

alex222 - Member
"especially when they are unrepentant."
[b]If they say sorry there is absolutely no reason to question them any more.[/b] No sir. Not ever; especially the British ones who say sorry.

So they don't get tested/have a biological passport anymore?

If they say sorry there is absolutely no reason to question them any more. No sir. Not ever; especially the British ones who say sorry.

I didn't say that.

Couldn't you start a new thread for the bickering and just chat about the race here ?. I think that was the OP's intention.
😕

we're just filling time until today's stage gets going...