one4smoke

Caretaker

Quintana for GC. He should ride and find the form he lacked in the Tour.
Hope to see Sam Bennett riding and repeating his great sprinting form from the Giro.

Vegasclimber

Hoping to see Uran back in the pack and shooting for GC, his form was looking decent until the crash in TdF.

If the UCI does what it's talking about and drops the two lowest teams out next year, I'm afraid EF is going to be one of the ones leaving.

Giacomo 1 

Hope your wrong, because without EF, there would be about one and a half American riders left in the pro peloton...😟

Anyway, I have to think Porte will be a factor if he is healed and if I were betting it would be Porte. But my sentimental favorite and the rider I'll be pulling for is Valverde. He's so much more interesting and fun to watch than Quintana and so many others. I'd love to see him go out with a big tour win.

Maelochs

Exactly this. i don't really think Valverde can win it ... too much younger competition,and usually some brutal hills. Not sure what Quintana will have left. Not sure how well Porte will be healed. if he is fresh and strong, and his head is together, Porte should be the favorite, but who knows? Valverde is Definitely the sentimental favorite.

Iride01 

I don't think I've gotten back into shape from all the time I spent sitting on the couch watching the TdF. How am I supposed to be ready for the Vuelta? However if those that were riding in the TdF can summon enough strength to ride the Vuelta, then I'll likewise summon enough whatever I need to sit and watch. More beer maybe?

dstrong 

Tejay all the way!!!

Steeljag

Maelochs

Tejay ... I hope he is still relevant by the third week .... i doubt it. Kuss ... too young, first Grand Tour, he will finish among the sprinters. He is just there to see what it's like. He might do some good pulls as third domestique in the first two thirds a of a few climbing stages.

Caretaker

Well at least we know who won't be riding for Sky in the Vuelta. Thomas and Froome are riding the Tour of Britain instead.
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/20...our-of-britain

Giacomo 1 

Wow, that is big news!

I guess SKY is out to ruin the Tour of Britain the way they have the TDF! LOL

I don't recall there being to much serious climbing in Britain though. Am I wrong? Well, this should make the Veulta more interesting and more of a crapshoot. Who will SKY be looking to now in the Veulta?

And yes, Sepp Kuss gets a stage win and KOM jersey!👍

Cpinn3r

I'm kind of excited for the Vuelta. Being a Team SKY fan kind sad that neither Froomey or Thomas going, the GC will be battle. My top 3 for GC would be Porte to win, Quintana in second and one of the Yates brother for third.

I'm saying Porte to win, cause he is hungry for an actual grand tour win and is trying to make a statement to all those doubters.

MyTi

Valverde is a super domestique at this point in his career and I don't think he'll be winning anything from here on out. He is the last relic of the Armstrong era and a legend in his own right. I'd like to see him win, but at 38 that's a tall order I'd imagine with the better GC riders now in their prime. I think it's almost time for Valverde to co-host the podcast with Lance.

Maelochs

Sadly, we agree. Jan Ullrich has been grooming himself for that job.

JT Burkard

Only 5 Days it will be broadcasted in NBCSN. Nothing on the Olympic Channel and only full coverage on NBC Gold. That's very disappointing.

Giacomo 1 

Thanks for the info, and yes, it is disappointing.

When NBC owned Universal Sports, they televised the whole tour. I hate the thought of giving cable another dime, but I might just do it and get the Gold package.

hobbs1951

Of course you are wrong, comments like yours made from a lack of knowledge always are ! And there are plenty of climbs you'll not be able to ride - like me to list them ?

Ok, here's five (and a link):

Fford Penllech
Hardnott Pass
Bealach-na-Ba
Rosedale Chimney
Trooper Lane.

https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2...t-cycle-climbs

John.

Giacomo 1 

What's with all the attitude?

I'm not knocking the TOB or the country. All you had to do is answer my question - nicely, because yes, it was a question and yes, I am unaware of the climbs there. Actually, I don't think the most ardent cycling fan could name one of those climbs.

Well, I guess now I know, and now I don't care. Thanks for nothing.

Maelochs

Lol ... who knows what climbs another rider might not be able to ride?

I know i have watched the Tour of Britain several times, and sorry, but there is no "Alpine" section of the island. There are no climbs in length and steepness which equal the big mountain climbs because Britain doesn't have a big mountain chain running through it. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...United_Kingdom)

Plenty of climbs there I couldn't climb. the pros ... not quite the same story. Pretty sure Chris Froome can manage any of these.

Sorry, is the the nationalism forum? I thought this was a cycling site.

Steeljag

Maelochs

Well, Tejay was toasted in Utah ... some folks thought he was saving himself but I was pretty sure he was thoroughly cooked. He surely doesn't have even a useful Grand Tour left in him after the past few months. Plus his morale must be pretty low ... he got Nothing even okay,let alone good, from Utah. Let him rest and head to his new team not completely burnt out.

hobbs1951

The UK has numerous and very steep climbs that I have listed and linked (there are many others), but to continue a discussion on this subject would be a waste of energy.

Nothing to do with nationalism - what tosh.

What it should be about is informed opinion about a range of subjects.

John.

Giacomo 1 

Looks like Sagan is going to the Veulta.

I thought he might go to the TOB, but he was probably worried about getting over the climbs there.

Viviani and Bouhanni are both going, and they look like the class of the somewhat small sprint field.

hobbs1951

There's a word in Yorkshire they use to describe someone like you.

J.

diphthong

thinking simon yates for the overall gc. the sprinters look good for a few elbows being thrown with trentin, viviani (whatta season he's had-goodbye sky!), sagan and bou bou.
let's see what kuss can do in support of bennett and kruijsin. let's see what woods can do in support of uran. time for de la cruz to shine. and for aru...it's time to show uae
what they paid for since he's been a disappointment. so many of these gc guys rode the tour so wondering how much they really have in the tank. curious to see what i. izagirre
can do w/nibbles presumably as a super-domestique. was hoping soler would ride the vuelta but doesn't appear that he is. we'll see if amador ends up being the freshest from
movistar.