La Vuelta a Espana - The MN Pro-cycling Peloton rides again!

[MaillotRojoPan]

The third Grand Tour of the year, following the Giro d'Italia in spring and the Tour de France in summer. It's always a tough ride and this year's is a beast.

If you've seen pro-cycling on tv for instance, or witnessed local rides and been a bit curious about the hows and whys we have such a spectacle of endeavour, tactics, sacrifice, strops and often pointless 'break-a-ways' then be curious no more - the committed MN peloton members will ride with you and chat as we go. Some members will be distracted by so many fit young men with bulging thighs, but be kind to them.

Next up, a course outline, timings and general stuff about La Vuelta.

msrisotto deadly, boring monotone. I had to fast forward them. And filled with little snippets of him riding! It's not about you!!!!

msrisotto I was referring to Tony Martin (who I love in a wholesome, but frankly inappropriate way for the middle aged woman that I am) but I am very impressed with Geraint particularly this spring and I also would be disappointed if he weren't clean.

As to yesterday, what a finish, Caleb is definitely a star in the making.
I too can't decide who is going to win, I hope it will be Quintana because I like him and he's such a super climber. As for Etixx, bless Patrick Lefevre's cotton socks I know he's sent pretty much everyone who is still in contract and there are some good riders there but I'm struggling to see what they can achieve. Either re-sign some riders or confirm some new contracts because without Cav, Boonen, Kwiatkowski and Golas it's looking a bit thin!

Ah yes about Tony Martin. I wonder why Froome wasn't anywhere on the list.

He did the Giro that year (the one upthread that he was disqualified from)

Ah ok

I like Chavez. He always looks so happy.

'cor looking at Steve Cummings tortured struggle up that hill made me wonder - is he allowed to walk a bit? .

msrisotto I've just caught up with last night's highlights - tortured is definitely the word for it!

Love Chaves and his cheeky grin .

Still only 11 seconds in it at the top. Are they letting him win as they're just waiting for later in the race, or are they all tired from the tour? It's so much closer! At least Froome isn't having to answer questions about doping every day...

TortureDome! It was awful wasn't it?

Again though the scenery was fab. I'd been walking in the Sierra Nevada and they are weird mountains - really steep but close to each other, esp around La Alpuharras. You feel you can almost reach out and touch the next slope, though it's about half a mile away.

Sky has been really quiet? What is the strategy?

Wah, been away from tv/the world for a few days, lots of great memories and a sunburned nose but no idea what is happening in the Vuelta, what did I miss? Saw a picture of that gorgeous smiley boy in the red again, do we think the whole smiling 'wow, how did that happen' outer hides a core of steel and very sharp elbows?

Yes Rudolph.....surely you must be an alpha male to survive in pro-racing, and fairly ruthless with it? And maybe the permagrin is just the drugs talking....

No idea what happened today other than a BIG crash - highlights for me, after X-Factor. Well dd likes it so that means I do too.

That was horrible.

Crash (es), I mean, not X factor. Didn't watch X factor.

Yes, that was an awful stage. Makes me want to hide DS1's wheels! Poor, poor Sagan and to be fined €300 for being cross is a mockery surely? I actually liked him angry, in his place my reaction would have been exactly the same.

A massive pack of alpha males cycling round different European countries, no wonder it makes such compelling viewing!

Just back from costa del sol, where we chased the cyclists around for the first 3 days, hung out at the buses before the start, chatted to cannondale garmin managers and teams, got stuff from the caravan, then collapsed in a pool at the end of each day. Sorry to see our house favourite Dan Martin have to withdraw yesterday, especially as its his last grand tour for cannondale garmin.

Am loving Chaves in red, we are OGE fans in this house anyway and they're having a good vuelta - watching yesterday's backstage pass atm! He seems very determined to hang onto that red for as long as possible.

Peter Sagan is dd3's favourite (and he kind of looks like ds!) so we have all developed a soft spot.

Gutted about Dan Martin yesterday And did you see that Stuyven - who mentioned he'd hurt his wrist in the big crash, and was holding it carefully whilst talking to Ashley and Juan Antonio on Eurosport - has actually broken his scaphoid, and is now out

Gutted Sagan has dropped out, it would have been ridiculously painful riding on that bum I suppose. The press release reads like 'He is really good and was doing well and we are going to find someone to sue if it kills us'. Which is good IMHO!

Really gutted for Dan Martin, I love him and he has had rotten luck time and time again.

mrsseed that sounds fantastic.

Very sad to lose both Martin and Sagan. I hope crazy uncle Oleg sues someone for that.

A horrible day yesterday
Absolutely gutted for Sagan, he was doing so well and I can't imagine anyone not being absolutely furious in that situation. I love watching him ride, it's such a massive shame to lose him in this way.

Things they dont show you on the TV coverage! Mondays sign in included donkeys, which most riders got challenged to pose with!

[donkey]

Perhaps they could ride them instead of the bikes. Might be safer??

I'd forgotten the donkeys, here's some more donkey action www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/racing/vuelta-a-espana/theres-something-oddly-brilliant-about-professional-cyclists-sitting-on-a-donkey-188316

It was noticable that no Sky Riders participated, I presume because of their clean hands and hygiene policies.

Dh was saying Sagan was always likely to go before the end to prepare for the Worlds? He'll be missed though.