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

Bones will heal - bike frames (especially carbon ones) won't Your wee boy will be fine. Hope the weather is good for him. Ds used to like the SiS energy gels (except the banana flavoured ones).

Ds' friend is still very chipper - but then, he's always a smiler

Interesting what you are saying about "concussion reducing" helmets - I hadn't heard of them.

One of my bugbears is that there are no protocols about concussion in the cycle world - I've seen a kid could get knocked out one day and be back racing the next day/week. And it's the secondary concussion which is the really dangerous one.

In rugby - at least in Scotland - it's a minimum of 2 but more normally 3 weeks off contact.

Maybe I'm a bit more sensitive than most as my mum died from a dementia (similar to the one experience by boxers and rugby players) brought on by the head injury she sustained in a high speed fall from her bike

Still love cycling, but just aware of the risks. Hated watching Tony Martin completing the Tour de France after being knocked out in that chaotic first stage crash in Corsica a few years ago. Really worried for him.

Just catching up after a couple of days focussing on a film festival. I see one of my riders has abandoned and Contador and Chaves are underperforming horribly . I am going to have to have stiff words.

No, not sensitive prettybird, we have a family member permanently hospitalised from what was probably secondary concussion so once I heard about these helmets that protect more than the normal ones against rotational shearing I was in the shop but couldn't find one, will be updating all the family when I can. I HATE seeing anyone concussed then carrying on, makes me feel physically sick and tearful, and I'm not normally one for the vapours!

Anyway, I may have just shouted 'I love you' at Stephen Cummings. And told Cav he was brilliant and a real inspiration. But if you don't say these things people might start to feel unloved . DS1 is very happy, GCSE's and 120k under his belt, rode with Cav (for a tiny bit) and has a great medal. He's had a good week. and I have photo's of Cumming's smiling at me to look at when I get home

Ah, that's not the best for your team Felicity, stern words on the bus tomorrow.

Have you name changed MrSlant and we've "talked" before?

Hopefully there aren't too many of us about here in similar situations. I did change my NN for a million reasons after a couple of crappy years whinging in relationships and around the place! Fancy another change soon but I'll sneak in and let the peloton know if I do.

Now who wants to see a picture of the new MrsSlant, Steve Cummings looking all square jawed and gorgeous? I've got some of Cav too but he's not my favourite any more (don't tell him) because Cummings buried himself for everyone in the Olympic road race and I stood next to Cav yesterday and frankly I could carry him off under my arm like a stropping toddler if I had to

Yes please

We saw Cav close up when he won the British Road Race in Glasgow. And Laura Trott who was lovely and signed ds' Jersey (or was it cap?)

So Cav coming into the finish. Cav and Cummings coming past us, they'd stopped just by us to go into a little shop so were going nice and slowly and finally the future MrsSlant on his own!

I'd love to meet Laura Trott, the boys are lucky enough to have Becky James' autograph.

Interesting stage today. I have today's winner in my team yay (trying not to spoiler too much). Don't think Velogames are updating very quickly atm though.

I need to get back to the Vuelta, been too obsessed with our own things bike. Time to head into the internet and see what's going on.

Ds got to cycle with Becky James and pose with her ((along with his cycling club friends) - not sure if it was on the velodrome track or outside on the Crit path - when she was up here to promote the Commonwealth Games.

Didn't get to watch the stage but like the result. Had a feeling he would do a repeat for this stage in particular, so has he been biding his time or was it a 'just for the stage' performance? I see no one has found the big stick for Valverde then?

Just watched the last 1k, some brilliant cycling there, it looked BRUTAL!

My team need poking with a big stick

Great stage today, that last climb was tough.

Don't big stick Valverde, he's doing well for my team in Velogames.

I know Endoplasmic, I never said I played fair .

Wow Endo! You're doing a Tony Martin - good show.

In other news DA and I are fighting over possession of the lantern.

Just seeing some live action - the terrain makes it look like they are doing the Tour of Spain in the Peak District - it's remarkably similar!

Am finding myself unexpectedly off the front and not sure I want to be there. Yesterday 's stage was not the most interesting in terms of racing, I think they'd decided on a day off. Pretty countryside though.

PS you can pick teams for Tour of Britain now.

There's going to be too much cycling to watch over the next few days, my children are getting fed up.

It's a tad hilly today! I'm enjoying watching it and wincing with DS1 at some of the poor guys at the back, they do not look like they are having fun! Having ridden up the horseshoe pass last weekend he now considers himself an expert at long climbs .

Tour of Britain teams? Cool! I shall have the future MrsSlant in mine. Wish I could go and watch some stages but the only ones that are 2ish hours away are on days I'm at work. Saturday looks interesting with the TT and a crit in Bristol.

Endo will be in the lead until I find myself a nice big stick for that there Valverde, I've got him in my sights.

Tour of Britain is coming nowhere near here, either.

Am hoping that this works out:
www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/racing/yorkshire-confirm-bid-host-2019-world-championships-275826

How exciting would that be?

It would be brilliant if Yorkshire got the worlds. Deffo have to go back home for that one! Gary Verity has done so much for the county. Imagine as well the promised £15 million for cycling infrastructure.

It's all building up now. My stiff team talk seems to have done some good. Will check out ToB teams.

That was a great stage wasn't it? I was hooked for the last climb, wafting children out of my eye line and not engaging with them at all . Absolutely cracking ride by Yates, do they have a 'combative' prize in the Vuelta?

Plus my hex on Valverde is starting to work .

If anyone spots Tyler Farrar though could you have a word? Not one single point although the internet assures me he is actually in the race I haven't seen him or heard his name once. Not good enough, I'm sending him to the back of the bus.

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