Falchoon
09-13-09, 01:01 AM
How come Lance and quite a few other 'big name' riders aren't racing Vuelta?
Professional Cycling For the Fans - Who decides what races to ride?
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rogwilco
09-13-09, 01:11 AM
I think you pretty much have to be a Lance Armstrong class cyclist to have enough leverage on your team to decide that for yourself.
For "normal" cyclists I'd guess they decide it at the beginning of the season together with their directeur sportif (or just do what the DS tells them) or during the season depending on what happens - injury, accidents, etc.
Different riders/teams have different priorities.
The Vuelta is a very tough race and these days it's difficult/impossible to be competitive all year long even for the "big names" (without serious medical assistance at least).
For "normal" cyclists I'd guess they decide it at the beginning of the season together with their directeur sportif (or just do what the DS tells them) or during the season depending on what happens - injury, accidents, etc.
Different riders/teams have different priorities.
The Vuelta is a very tough race and these days it's difficult/impossible to be competitive all year long even for the "big names" (without serious medical assistance at least).
OrionKhan
09-13-09, 09:04 AM
I think you pretty much have to be a Lance Armstrong class cyclist to have enough leverage on your team to decide that for yourself.
For "normal" cyclists I'd guess they decide it at the beginning of the season together with their directeur sportif (or just do what the DS tells them) or during the season depending on what happens - injury, accidents, etc.
Different riders/teams have different priorities.
The Vuelta is a very tough race and these days it's difficult/impossible to be competitive all year long even for the "big names" (without serious medical assistance at least).
Yep, the grand tours are pretty tough. This year's Vuelta has the toughest course of all three races this year. It very difficult for a top GC contender to race in all three tours and try to win. Add that its at the end of the season and you get a lot of guys not racing it. Only a handful of riders have ever won two grand tours in the same season. Most ride the Giro. All that can ride the Tour. So by the time the Vuelta rolls around, a lot of the riders are guys trying to salvage their season, couldn't ride one of the other races, were injured early on, etc.
Plus, the world championships are a week after the end of the Vuelta. Anybody who is seriously racing there either didn't enter the Vuelta or has already pulled out of it.
For "normal" cyclists I'd guess they decide it at the beginning of the season together with their directeur sportif (or just do what the DS tells them) or during the season depending on what happens - injury, accidents, etc.
Different riders/teams have different priorities.
The Vuelta is a very tough race and these days it's difficult/impossible to be competitive all year long even for the "big names" (without serious medical assistance at least).
Yep, the grand tours are pretty tough. This year's Vuelta has the toughest course of all three races this year. It very difficult for a top GC contender to race in all three tours and try to win. Add that its at the end of the season and you get a lot of guys not racing it. Only a handful of riders have ever won two grand tours in the same season. Most ride the Giro. All that can ride the Tour. So by the time the Vuelta rolls around, a lot of the riders are guys trying to salvage their season, couldn't ride one of the other races, were injured early on, etc.
Plus, the world championships are a week after the end of the Vuelta. Anybody who is seriously racing there either didn't enter the Vuelta or has already pulled out of it.
jaxgtr
09-13-09, 03:09 PM
Not too many can ride all three GT, much less one that is 38. I don't see this as a big deal.
MGtrack
09-13-09, 03:37 PM
Because Eddy Merckx is retired.
Keith99
09-14-09, 12:06 PM
Not too many can ride all three GT, much less one that is 38. I don't see this as a big deal.
No one has ever rode all 3 and been competitive as far as GC goes in all 3. I'm not aware of any top GC rider riding all 3. It may have happened as all the tabulations I have seen are based on finish position and exclude anyone who has not finished all 3. If a real GC threat has ridden all 3 in one year he as not finished all 3.
Even the list of tiders that finished all 3 in one year is pretty short 20-30.
My understanding is that this year the Worlds is a climbers course, that means a good cource for GC types which likely has more GC conteneder types either not riding the Vuelta or dropping out. If the Worlds were a sprinters course there might be More classic GC types in the Vuelta.
No one has ever rode all 3 and been competitive as far as GC goes in all 3. I'm not aware of any top GC rider riding all 3. It may have happened as all the tabulations I have seen are based on finish position and exclude anyone who has not finished all 3. If a real GC threat has ridden all 3 in one year he as not finished all 3.
Even the list of tiders that finished all 3 in one year is pretty short 20-30.
My understanding is that this year the Worlds is a climbers course, that means a good cource for GC types which likely has more GC conteneder types either not riding the Vuelta or dropping out. If the Worlds were a sprinters course there might be More classic GC types in the Vuelta.
Griffin2020
09-14-09, 01:39 PM
Considering that the Worlds are in Switzerland, there is not much option but for it to be a climber's course.
flyingheel
09-15-09, 11:54 AM
If I'm not mistaken, Julian Dean is the only rider from the pro peloton riding in all 3 Grand Tours this year. Its tough to even finish 3 (usually each year there are only 2-5 riders that do it), let alone compete for GC. I think the last person to really try all three at a contender level was S. Roche in the late 80s.
Glenn1234
09-15-09, 01:00 PM
I'm sure there's several factors: Stress on the rider, number of commitments, injuries, logistics and so on.
For example, Astana has a team riding in both the Vuelta and the Tour of Missouri (happening at roughly the same time). The team manager might see that there are certain riders more suited to one course than the other, so they go there. Or the Vuelta might be skipped by certain riders because you want them in the Worlds, as mentioned in an earlier thread. I'm sure the riders have some degree of pull, but a lot of time I'm sure it's not their decision in the end. Even Lance.
For example, Astana has a team riding in both the Vuelta and the Tour of Missouri (happening at roughly the same time). The team manager might see that there are certain riders more suited to one course than the other, so they go there. Or the Vuelta might be skipped by certain riders because you want them in the Worlds, as mentioned in an earlier thread. I'm sure the riders have some degree of pull, but a lot of time I'm sure it's not their decision in the end. Even Lance.