Road Bike Racing - La Vuelta España

How popular is this race? I've just began to watch cycling races this year... I don't know a whole lot about the pro aspect of the sport yet (newbie). I've looked over a few websites about this tour... about the entries and stages and whatnot. How popular is this tour when compared to others like the tour of Italy or France? Is it considered a really big tour to win for a rider? Is it a 'must-watch' to most cycling fans?

I'm mostly just curious. It's interesting to know how 'important' the race really is to the sport.

After watching each stage of the TDF this year, I'm excited for this one to start.

Also... the mountain stages of the TDF were definetly the most interesting to me. How do the mountain stages compare in this event to the TDF? It looks like there are 6 good mountain stages... should I expect to see the peleton finish with the leader and the other 200 riders in these stages... or will I see a few riders alone struggling to reach the top of each peak, battling for the lead?

It looked like Lance pretty much toyed with everyone in the TDF. Since he isn't racing... should I expect a good battle for the GC win? Or is there a certain person expected to dominate?

I find this a very interesting race. Last year it may have been the best of the three to watch on TV. I am not exactly sure why either - I just like it.

BTW - I see that the start list for USPS does not include Mr. Armstrong. I thought part of making amends for not supporting Heras last year was to do so this year. And after Heras' Tour performance ... :irritated

Cheers...Gary

Originally posted by gmason
BTW - I see that the start list for USPS does not include Mr. Armstrong. I thought part of making amends for not supporting Heras last year was to do so this year. And after Heras' Tour performance ... :irritated

Cheers...Gary

BTW has Lance raced in any other tours such as this one besides the TDF since 1999? Or does he just do mostly the post tour crits?

I'm sure Lance could be a big help to Heras... and after watching the TDF, I'm sure Heras has a good chance at this one if he has good luck and gets good help from his teamates.

Then again, maybe it could be sponsorship politics. I mean, if Lance were to race in it, people would wonder why the heck Lance wouldn't be the captain... and if he was there to help Heras... not challenging for the win... there would be an outcry of how "Lance Armstrong was completely beaten by many competetors."

I think Lance's focus has been and will be on the TdF

The other riders on USPostal are are hired to make sure Lance wins the TdF. Lance is not there to make sure Heras or Hincapie or any other Postal rider win their races. That's what I believe at least.

Armstrong doesn't do the Vuelta. Also, I think he's doing the SF Grand prix which is during the vuelta, and his last race of the season. I think the vuelta is shaping up to be a great race- both Cipo and Zabel will be in it, and some great teams which weren't in the TDF like Phonak and Coast, which was really a shame. Unlike some of the teams who were chosen, these teams are actually really GOOD! Casagrande didn't do the tour so he could do the vuelta, and simoni and salvodelli are going to be doing it as well, and of course Casero. Some of the climbs in the vuelta are even tougher than ones in the tour. I think it's going to be even better than the tour. When I was watching the Tour of Switzerland I realized that it had something the TDF didn't- suspense and drama! Same with the vuelta- there are a lot more contenders worth watching out for.

While watching the TDF, OLN was promoting the Vuelta Race, So is OLN going to broadcast this race? and when does it start?

Originally posted by PrimalQ
While watching the TDF, OLN was promoting the Vuelta Race, So is OLN going to broadcast this race? and when does it start?

Yup, the race begins on Saturday, September 7th with the Team Time Trial.

Official Site
http://www.lavuelta.com/02/ingles/noticias/index.html

OLN
http://www.olntv.com/AE_478.cfm

Although I certainly enjoy watching the TDF and seeing Armstong win, I find the Giro and Vuelta more interesting. At least there is some suspense about who will win. I also enjoy getting to see some of the other teams. I have my stack of blank tapes ready for Saturday. If there is any upside to being injured it's that I can watch the Vuelta this weekend without feeling guilty for not doing something more constructive. Too bad it didn't happen NEXT week while the Vuelta is on.

yeah, i'm all about the vuelta this year...should be an awesome race...

Simoni
Casero
Beloki
Heras
Casagrande

Those are my pics at overall...if they are all on form, should make for some killer mountain stages. :)

I've always though that the Giro and Vuelta are just more fun than the tour. They aren't dominated by one person, although Tony Rominger dominated the vuelta for a while back there! Speaking of which, I am a bit disappointed that Alex Zulle isn't doing the Vuelta. He's having a great season and team coast really should have been in the Tour. And he's swiss- the vuelta has always been great for the swiss! Oh, well. It looks like it'll be a great race with some really hot sprinters too! Zabel and Cipo!

Originally posted by wabbit
I am a bit disappointed that Alex Zulle isn't doing the Vuelta. He's having a great season and team coast really should have been in the Tour.

yeah, i hear ya...i'd love to see Zulle in it too.. defending champ Angel Casero is on team coast too so i guess maybe it would have been complicated putting a past chamion like Zulle as a workhorse for Casero...

Alrighty, who will win the TTT? ONCE? US Postal? Coast? Any other picks?

Originally posted by brent_dube
Alrighty, who will win the TTT? ONCE? US Postal? Coast? Any other picks?

Hmmmm - good question. If I were a betting man, I'd have to go with ONCE. The home field advantage, and their general talent may be enough - barring incident.

Anyone else???

Again, I'm new, but from what I saw in the TDF, I'd pick ONCE as well.

Coppi, I guess Zulle's won twice and has nothing to prove! I think he wants to do the worlds anyways.

I think it'll be ONCE winning the TTT. Interesting way to start a race- when was the last time it started with a TTT?

I'll be listening on real audio, live from Eurosport.