La Vuelta (Tour of Spain) and The Tour of Britain

[Pan]

Taking a leaf out of my new biking hero Sylvan Chavanel, it seemed a good idea to lead from the front.
Vuelta starts this Saturday, and many of the usual suspects will be in there. The course looks quite climby, so Team Sky have opted for their Columbian rider Sergio Henoa Montoya as leader, tho' an old warrior will be the sprint king.
Useful links are:
A course guide
and
The Start List by Team
As far as I can tell, Eurosport are carrying live action and ITV4 are showing highlights, tho I think that may well be from the action the day before.
The Tour of Britain starts the day the Vuelta ends, 15th September.

Sooo, if you like most things in lycra and whizzing along a road, this is the place for you. As NicholasTeacozy reckons, it's like chess on hundreds of wheels. If you're intrigued but don't know your peloton from your domestique, drop in and someone will no doubt help out.

Ohh - hooray! The Vuelta has crept up on me. Bring on my lovely boys in Lycra, and bring on the sweat and effort and mountains and sprints!

Thanks pan.

And Nicholas will dig out my Tyler book to read as been sat in unread pile.

To get quoted by somebody more knowledgeable than me is an honour indeed. Even if he did spell my name wrong. :o I'm looking forward to the Vuelta, I have no idea who will win, or who the frontrunners are likely to be, unlike The Tour where I was convinced beforehand that Froome would win based purely on his riding in the mountains last year when he could clearly have left Wiggo behind but didn't, staying loyal to his team leader.

Having said that, I like the look of that little Colombian kiddy, the climber. He could do alright.

Ooh, yes Gigs, do, it's a proper eye-opener. Well written too.

All set for today? Had team presentation on last night but I was only half warching.

I couldn't spot any obvious winners either but adds to excitement.

.

I noticed Nibali in there and he was one of the characters who gave Wiggo a good run in France. And Valverde as well.

Has anyone read David Miller's book? I've seen it around but don't want to waste time and money. If it's anything like Wiggo's.

oh apols NT - those pesky curly kers!

Just had a butchers at the start list and I can't decide. The Colombian (whose name eludes me) isn't there, Sky have a list of riders I don't know (are they saving their 'stars' for the Tour Of Britain?) and Tony Martin isn't going to lead his team to victory. If I had to choose, I'd probably go for Simon Gerrans, but I'm not that confident on his climbing abilities.

okay we start with a team TT. A bit yawnsworthy as a spectacle possibly?
To make it more entertaining:

• they have to ride in stilettos
• one wheel must be considerably bigger than the other
• they have to pass a little fluffy kitten amongst them, holding for no longer than 2 minutes
• utilities companies must be digging up the road at at least 4 sections

I'll submit this to the UCI.

Am I being more-than-normally dim, or are there no channels showing it live? Up with that I shall not put!

Erm...whilst not wishing to impune your natural intelligence at all. SDTG.., the OP indicates it's on Eurosport live. That's def free on the Sky platform, and I'm sure it pops up elsewhere. The ITV 4 highlights are from the same day's action.

and the Tour of Britain will be live on both ITV 4 and Eurosport.

Maybe it had already finished for the day when I looked for it, Pan - I did check Eurosport, and it wasn't there. I've found it for tomorrow, and there are highlights on ITV4 too, so I can find out what happened in the Team Time Trial.

Btw - are any MN cycling fans planning to come up to the Commonwealth games, and if so, should we try to plan a meet up?

But it's not started yet. Coverage starts at 5.30pm.

sorry 5.45pm today. It's only a 27km distance.

I did tell you I was dim, Pan! Off to find it now - thanks.

And we're off!!

yay! maternity leave starts today at 38+2 weeks pregnant so let's see how many stages before labour begins...

watching eurosport just now but notice the itv4 highlights are very late tonight, is that going to be usual? or will we get a 7pm show?

Miller's book is v. good. He wrote it himself and you can tell. If you like him and his tweets etc you'll love it. So self-aware. Crappy childhood though :(

Shove over on the sofa then Pan. Marvellous, here we go.

You recon Orica Green Edge will be in from for the TTT then? This starting bit is making my eyes go funny, doesn't look like a good surface for purchase.

Oh, Orica Green Edge a man down already, I'll keep my trap shut for a bit then.

Excellent, back again. I'm almost glad it is raining as I now have no guilt feelings about not being out and about for the Bank Holiday weekend!

I'm loving the glass start ramp, and the wee ferry boat taking them all to the start.

It's pretty camp isn't it?