Vuelta A Espana 2016 the MN Peloton contemplates another glass of Rioja to go with the tapas

[FelicityLemon]

Despite the Olympics still in full swing it is time to turn our attention to the Vuelta.

www.lavuelta.com/la-vuelta/2016/us/parcours-general.html



The stages

1 Team time trial Saturday, August 20th Ourense, Laias Health Resort / P. N. Castrelo de Miño 27.8 km

2 Flat Sunday, August 21st Ourense Thermal Capital / Baiona 160.8 km

3 Hilly Monday, August 22nd Marín / Dumbría. Ezaro Viewpoint 176.4 km

4 Hilly Tuesday, August 23rd Betanzos / San Andrés de Teixido 163.5 km

5 Flat Wednesday, August 24th Viveiro / Lugo 171.3 km

6 Hilly Thursday, August 25th Monforte de Lemos / Luintra. Ribeira Sacra 163.2 km

7 Hilly Friday, August 26th Maceda / Puebla de Sanabria 158.5 km

8 Flat Saturday, August 27th Villalpando / La Camperona. Valle de Sabero 181.5 km

9 Hilly Sunday, August 28th Cistierna / Oviedo. Alto del Naranco 164.5 km

10 Mountain Monday, August 29th Lugones / Lagos de Covadonga 188.7 km

• Rest day Tuesday, August 30th Oviedo / Oviedo
  
  11 Flat Wednesday, August 31st Colunga. Jurassic Museum / Peña Cabarga 168.6 km
  
  12 Hilly Thursday, September 1st Los Corrales de Buelna / Bilbao 193.2 km
  
  13 Hilly Friday, September 2nd Bilbao / Urdax-Dantxarinea 213.4 km
  
  14 Mountain Saturday, September 3rd Urdax-Dantxarinea / Aubisque - Gourette 196 km
  
  15 Mountain Sunday, September 4th Sabiñánigo / Sallent de Gállego. Aramón Formigal 118.5 km
  
  16 Flat Monday, September 5th Alcañiz / Peñíscola 156.4 km
  
  
• Rest day Tuesday, September 6th Castellón / Castellón
  
  17 Mountain Wednesday, September 7th Castellón / Llucena. Camins del Penyagolosa 177.5 km
  
  18 Flat Thursday, September 8th Requena / Gandía 200.6 km
  
  19 Individual time trial Friday, September 9th Xàbia / Calp 37 km
  
  20 Mountain Saturday, September 10th Benidorm / Alto de Aitana. Air Force Squadron 193.2 km
  
  21 Flat Sunday, September 11th Las Rozas / Madrid 104.8 km
  
  Apparently it is going to be a tough one: Too brutal for sprinters: Teams prepare their climbers for mountainous Vuelta a España
  Read more at www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/#iLVQdFMS6pFLb4wQ.99

[lljkk]

Froome & rest of sky team have been announced to ride it.

[FelicityLemon]

Just seen Mikel Landa is out due to an injury so alreday my Velogames team needs to change

[FelicityLemon]

Team presentation on Eurosport tonight at 6.30

[WheelofPan]

Are we all a qui?

[WheelofPan]

Thanks Felicity for the doings! Been off the pace for a few days meself.

The course looks pretty brutal, doesn't it? Not had time to look at the gossips.

And I've recruited another velogames rider. Name will be something like 'slutcycles' or some such. My team was chosen in about 5 mins! So will be competing with ShutUpLegs for the median position in the peloton...

[WheelofPan]

and of course DA has A LOT to live up to!!

[MrSlant]

. What time does my team have to be sorted by? Tiny bit tipsy tonight but I could muddle one together if required.

[MrSlant]

Right, I've made a team. If it's terrible my excuse is I made it whilst a bit drunk after a very long day. If I do well it's all down to my sporting genius ok?

[FelicityLemon]

MrSlant The deadline for entries to be submitted is 18:00 CEST (Central European Summer Time) on Saturday 20th August 2016. What time that actually is I have no idea. But I'd guess no later that 3 or 4pm for safety

[DramaAlpaca]

and of course DA has A LOT to live up to!!

I do, don't I? . Don't worry guys, I shouldn't think lightning will strike twice, I couldn't get that lucky! I did the same scribbling on a sheet of paper method I used last time as it seemed to work, but I'm not holding my breath.

I've got a team going, but like Felicity had to do a quick adjustment & replace Landa.

I'm away from home this weekend, actually in the UK for once, enjoying being home, but have family stuff on so won't see much until I get back.

[FelicityLemon]

Have to say that having taken out Landa I then had to reorganise the rest to fit in with the points requirement. I'm not seeing this team doing any better that my Tdf team but let's see 😀

[MrSlant]

I'm struggling with my need to make the points work in a logical manner (didn't work for me last time!) or just go out and buy the best and have a load of people I can't even spell as the rest of the team. Risky if a 'name' falls off and breaks a collar bone .

Can't wait for the TTT, I do love them just for how they all look racing along together. Wonder who will play the tactical 'do well without going all out and not lose too much time' to save legs for the scary hard race ahead and who will want the glory?

[MrSlant]

I give in, there is no way of having Contador/Froome/Chaves AND Quintana in one team .

[FelicityLemon]

No MrSlant there isn't , even if the rest of the team is made up of domestiques from Caja Rural. Some tough choices need to be made 😀🚵

[WheelofPan]

Love the way we are all 'doing a DA' - "just can't get my head round these points, not had time to do mine properly, oh I need to change a rider, oh it's all over the place..." meanwhile we are carefully plotting to top GC by any means fair or foul.....I'd like to think

And an apology extended to any domestiques from Caja Rural.

[MrSlant]

That moment when you look at everyone else's teams and realise you are finishing at the bottom of the table.

[MrSlant]

Well bloody hell, would someone else go and check the velo games standings please.

[DramaAlpaca]

Just joined the league. Good luck everyone

[FelicityLemon]

Don't think so MrS I see I managed to rearrange my team within the points allowed but forgot to include a Sky rider, so I expect I shall be bottom.

[MrSlant]

[MrSlant]

Anyone watching Sagan? It's awesome!

[WheelofPan]

just back from an Olympic run and sat here dripping whilst watching Sagan. It is madness. A work friend of mine has just taken up mtbing. He's old enough to know better. Just waiting for the first riding-related absence...

[MrSlant]

It's insane, such hard work and chaos and queues and rocks and occasional picking up the bike and running (maybe one for Froome another year ).

[MrSlant]

Ex-h and his mates used to go on a MTbing holiday together every year until the year after they turned 40 and suddenly everyone started losing their sense of humour when they fell off. They go walking now .

[msrisotto]

I'm watching Sagan at the Olympics. So sad how a puncture can fuck everything up permanently it seems.