Originally Posted by don d.
My favorite performance of this Vuelta is easily Mancebo who gets on the podium after finishing 6th in the TDF. Kudos also to Sastre for his fine ride.
How much Valverde's crash had to do with his collapse isn't known, but he looks very Popovych-esque to me. Neither seems to have reached their strength yet, and if one of them is to win a Grand Tour, I suspect it won't be until they do fully mature. Both have to somehow become better TT'rs.
Pecharomann was a huge disappointment, as was Cadel.
An excellent accomplishment by Mancebo. How many times in the last few years has a rider finished in the top 10 in two grand tours in the same year? Hardly anyone can do that now.
Valverde may have just not had specific enough preparation. I could be wrong. But in the races leading up to this, I'm sure there was more on him to win, while the other Vuelta GC contenders were just 'training'. He has still had an incredible year - he does very well in everything.