Is it me or has the Grand Tours this year been packed close to each other? It's crazy but the Vuelta is about to start on Satruday! Chels has kindly started a league on Velogames for all interested. League Name: TS Vuelta Espana League Code: 14164749 From the front page: <blockquote>The third Fantasy Grand Tour of the year begins this Saturday as the teams of the 2012 Vuelta a Espana tackle the winding streets made famous by the bull runners of Pamplona. The opening team time trial kicks off three weeks of competition to decide the wearer of the red jersey of race leader. For the returning Alberto Contador, this represents a tour of redemption, and the bookmakers' favourite will delight at the mountainous route that features no fewer than 10 uphill finishes. Chris Froome, second placed last year and arguably as strong as his team leader Bradley Wiggins during the recent Tour de France, will be looking to mount his own challenge for glory, while Juan Jose Cobo returns to defend the title he won last year during an epic couple of days in the high mountains. Joaquím Rodriguez and Igor Anton represent two more major hopes for the home fans, and both will be on the attack whenever the road tilts uphill. Into the mix are thrown two talented lowlanders, Tour de France fourth-placed Jurgen Van den Broeck and Robert Gesink, who is back to full fitness and looking to make amends for a Tour cut short by an early crash. Action will not be restricted to the high mountains, although the sprinters have less opportunities this year. Nevertheless, Juan Jose Rojas, Daniele Bennati and the rest will be sure to join battle on the flat in what could be some of the most unpredictable bunch finishes of the season. So, make sure to join in the action by submitting your very own Fantasy Vuelta a Espana team. Act as directeur sportif by selecting your nine-man squad, who will score points based on their real-life performances along the route. The closing date for entries is 19:00 CEST on Saturday 18th August, so be sure to come along for the ride and have your own shot at Grand Tour glory! </blockquote>
Sh1t, where's my bloody air compressor!! I need to pump those tyres up again (normally need about 80 kilo pascall thingo watts)
Target aquired! Back to the more familiar surrounds at back half of pelaton. Sideswipped by Degenkolb !!
Bugger in a field of 4 looking like a non podium finish for only one (HeavyMen) Hoping someone up ahead gets a puncture or two
good news HM, or bad news depending on how you perceive reality. If four race there are only 2 medals handed out - 2 podium places. So the good news is you are likely to not be the only one not standing on the podium. The bad news is that you and one other will likely be clapping port and one other. Where one other in the first part of the sentence is not the one other other on the second part of the previous sentence. However neither one other is yet determined. If you see what I mean. Had Walesy included equation writer in the quick reply box I could have expressed this mathematically which would have made it easier for me to express myself, but perhaps not made it easier for everyone else to understand. Hmmm
This is indeed good news chels!! I am all for not being the only one having to stand (below the podeum) & be clapping the one other in the second part of the previous sentence :?
Think you guys have written top step off as a forgone conclusion. One day at a time now, "so far so good". Chels, your Tomasz Marczynski pick up was absolutely inspired! He's doing so well, should rack up more and more points now, what made you pick him?
Tomasz Marczynski - good, honest rider with an interesting palmares; has won ITTs, mountains and sprints albeit not at the highest level. Had a pretty good Giro this year and Vacansoleil are normally an aggressive team so figured he would get into some breaks. However, he is riding better than that! Oh, and did I mention he cost 4 units, that's really what attracted me. Reckoned he was amongst the best of the el cheapos. Of the others I almost took in that price range, Vivani is doing even better and Cam Meyer could perform. Still hold high hopes for Bart de Clerq.
Winner Anacona will be the best 4 pointer I think, I upgraded him to Capecchi at the last minute. Only about 3 stages left to Viviani to win or get points so not sure about him. Bart could do something, like stage hunt some time. Did you see the stage 4 backstage pass from GreenEdge? Cam Meyer looked completely fucked on the bus, don't think he's having a good race at all.
Fuck, yeah that was me obviously, orfflness strikes again, hadn't been logged on there for days though. :/ Will be interesting to see how Froome goes, he'll likely be up there but I wasn't confident in the budget or the el cheapo's to fit him into my side. Wrong choice now I think, the reason I'm not closer to the overall leaders.
sadly very limited TV coverage of the Vuelta in the shaky isles. I see you changed your preliminary team port and did not go with Cam - good decision. If Froome lasts I may catch you, if not ........... que sera sera
Unbelievable, usurped in the end by Chels. Congrats It was a good comeback, Cobo was a flop for me and Mollema wasn't even in the best 2 for Rabo, which meant Froome's consistency in being 4th wiped the floor. If I had chosen Valverde instead of Cobo I'd have been right. Alas, coulda shoulda woulda. Your Marczynski pick was absolutely inspired, I loved it. Viviani was the 2nd best 4-pointer I think so I'm happy I chose him too, Capecchi was good early on but couldn't maintain any form over 3 weeks. Also like to thank UA and HM for playing too! Hopefully come Giro/Classics time you'll join in as well. Results: 1 chels 8715 2 port 7973 3 UA 6639 4 HeavyMen 3560
p_l that's like inviting someone to your party that you know won't drink much of the free beer I am a seriously bad rider who has really struggled in two attempts thus far. However, maybe I will accept your kind offer if TiB gives back my passports! Congrats to the two (I believe) that stood atop the dias.
thanks for rounding this out port. An interesting study in who was strong coming out of the TdeF. Thought Froome looked stronger than Valverde but was well wrong. Hope his old habits were not evident. I felt as tired as Froome from my efforts to keep up with the Vuelta from a disinterested set of TV broadcasters. Thanks for organising port - look forward to next year with truer racing without the five rings influencing things. Thanks UA and HM for being part, the base "fitness" will stand you in good stead in later outings.
Well done to the winners! Was overseas for most of the race so didn't get to watch too much of it unfortuntately, but was reasonably happy with the last minute team I put together. Looking forward to the next race.