La Vuelta a Espana 22/8 - 13/9 2015 (here be spoilers)

[Crackle]

I'm not sure if anyone is capable of sticking it into Aru now. Assuming Quintana is sick, Dumoulin isn't explosive enough and ValvPiti is knackered.

Rodriguez! One last tilt at the windmill. Mind you it's the Vuelta, he's probably got a few more.

 

[SWSteve]

That other one with a Yank talking earnestly about...
"Why now, because it's time
Why here etc etc "
I still don't know what it's advertising but it irritates me intensely

Who is the old man in the Festina adverts

 

[Dayvo]

What's the verdict on Juan Antonio Flecha and Ashley House? I quite like them, although House has an annoying habit of nodding all the time when he's 'listening' to the answer to his question.

Plus he looks a bit like:

 

[SWSteve]

That other one with a Yank talking earnestly about...
"Why now, because it's time
Why here etc etc "
I still don't know what it's advertising but it irritates me intensely

I know the ad is for a helmet, but did you notice he is in all Castelli kit.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

I know the ad is for a helmet, but did you notice he is in all Castelli kit.

Yes, I never paid any attention to what it was selling. It's the Overtake helmet! Presumably being worn by the camera car driver.....

 

[Dayvo]

Who is the old man in the Festina adverts

It surprised me, too, but believe it or not, it's Richard Virenque.

 

[SWSteve]

It surprised me, too, but believe it or not, it's Richard Virenque.

Blimey. Next they'll have Justin Gaitlin advertising running

 

[rich p]

What's the verdict on Juan Antonio Flecha and Ashley House? I quite like them, although House has an annoying habit of nodding all the time when he's 'listening' to the answer to his question.

Plus he looks a bit like:

View attachment 102715

I've warmed to Ashley and Juanito

 

[rich p]

Blimey. Next they'll have Justin Gaitlin advertising running

The irony being that Virenque was busted in the Festina fiasco

 

[rich p]

In other news, I cycled from Reinosa to the base of Alto Campoo and it was a false flat....

 

[SWSteve]

big fan of Flecha's hat

 

[uncle_adolph]

Fabio Aru moonlighting on Strictly?

 

[rich p]

I hope today's stage has more aggressive racing than yesterday's. The race needs someone to attack Aru before the last few kms. Maybe Quintana now that he seems to have recovered. I don't think that Rodriguez or Majka have the fire power.

 

[uncle_adolph]

I hope today's stage has more aggressive racing than yesterday's. The race needs someone to attack Aru before the last few kms. Maybe Quintana now that he seems to have recovered. I don't think that Rodriguez or Majka have the fire power.

It's a bit of a shame that the Vuelta has degenerated from the best of the three Grand Tours (which it was last year) and which it potentially could have been again to a bit of a damp squib. Nibali, Froome et al out, Quintana clearly not 100% and the Spanish as per usual more keen on scoring points off each other than actually trying to win.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

It's a bit of a shame that the Vuelta has degenerated from the best of the three Grand Tours (which it was last year) and which it potentially could have been again to a bit of a damp squib. Nibali, Froome et al out, Quintana clearly not 100% and the Spanish as per usual more keen on scoring points off each other than actually trying to win.

I have to agree that it's become a bit of an anti-climax without the big hitters. Let's hope Quintana is getting back to form.