Seriously. Is it almost September? This was not the agreement, this was supposed to be an endless summer. And all you A-Holes down there in the Antipodes are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, enjoying longer days and shorter nights. I don’t need to tell you where you can take that, but it’s dark and it smells. I have no patience for the changing of seasons when it means I’m going to be benching Number One and busting out the headlight.
I’m not going to lie to you; the Vuelta is my least-favorite race of the year. Part of it is the parcours-it’s hard enough to get excited about flat sprint stages in the Tour, but these stages in central Spain that go down a straight freeway for hours are just too much for my brain to find interesting. Hey look! There’s another shrub! Wasn’t he a President at one point? There will be some redeeming points of the race, I’m sure, and the shit-steep climbs they dot along the route are certain to be highlights of the season. But after you do the math, this is the grand tour with the weakest field, the worst route, and-most damning-the strongest signal that Summer is coming to an end on the half of the world that matters.
I can’t be bothered to sort out the route and what stages are going to matter, but I’ll tell you this: for the last few years, the winner of the Vuelta VSP has won the VSP GC. A few years back, @Marcus complained that he only lost the VSP because @Nate used the second Rest Day Swaps to his advantage to take the win, but after heavily increasing the penalties, he kept losing. Typical of a man who posts photos of his todger on a Cycling site. (@Nate, your win was clean according to the VCI.) Speaking of which, at worst the Vuelta will distract from Pat McQuaid and his bid for losing the UCI Presidency.
He has a strong lead in the 2013 Anti-V competition, however.
Check the start list, get your picks in, and don’t Delgado this baby; it could be your ticket to the shop apron. Bon chance.
[vsp_results id=”26944″/]
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Not too sure on my picks but I feel that just like last year this will be the most exciting grand tour.
I mean really, how about a little action? Pedaling for podiums in the Vuelta? Who cares?
This ain't the Tour (thank goodness) people are riding for their jobs, bonuses and just general respect.
The field is littered with dynamite, the favorites are all going to have to be aggressive and grab time when it suits them. It is a race. Have at it.
VSP PICKS:
1. Nibali
2. J-Rod
3. Dan Martin
4. Uran
5. Horner
@frank
I can't tell you how honored I am that Cobo-gate represents to you the pinnacle of the Vuelta; not surprisingly I feel the same way. My B-samples from 2011 have been destroyed in accordance with the Spanish court's order, can you confirm?
I must note however that your pronoun usage is a bit obscure; I have no idea what a "todger" is so I can only assume it is some sort of antipodean monstrosity and therefore belongs to @Marcus.
VSP PICKS:
1. Uran
2. Nibali
3. Henao
4. Sammy sammy sanchez
5. Betancur
VSP PICKS:
1. J Rod
2. Nibali
3. Valverde
4. Henao
5. Thibaut Pinot
VSP PICKS:
1. Nibali
2. J. Rodriguez
3. Uran
4. Malmerde
5. Kreuziger
After I Delgado'd a few VSP races, I am shocked to find myself sitting in second. I thought I had no chance of catching @dancollins, but after reading Frank's race commentary, I can honestly say that I am way more interested in the Vuelta than I've ever been before.
Come on, lads! Earn me that apron! Total crapshoot, but at least I'm beating the pants off @NoTubes. I somehow can't bring myself to pick Piti, even though I probably should. I could not take enough showers to wash away that dirty, dirty shame for picking him.
VSP PICKS:
1. Sergio Henao Montoya
2. Vincenzo Nibali
3. Rigoberto Uran
4. Bauke Mollema
5. Carlos Alberto Betancur Gomez
I'm just happy not to Delgado again. Bon Chance tout le monde.
VSP PICKS:
1. uran
2. betancur
3. kreuziger
4. nibbles
5. j rod
@TBONE
Sorry to point out that Cancellara is Swiss.
VSP PICKS:
1. Nibali
2. Henao
3. Betancur
4. Rodriquez
5. Uran
I was just kidding with the Basso pick.
VSP PICKS:
1. Nibali
2. Valverde
3. Henao
4. Rodriquez
5. Uran