2004 La Vuelta a Espana

Azevedo isn't representing Portgual in the Olympics, I think.

I'd guess the USPS team for the Vuelta would be as follows:

Jose Azevedo (co-leader)
Floyd Landis (co-leader)
Chechu Rubiera (permitted to sometimes ride for himself)
Manuel Beltran
Benoit Joachim
Max Van Heeswijk (sprints)
Victor Hugo Pena
Michael Barry
One of Benjamin Noval or Daniel Rincon (it's Noval's spot if he wants it; I think Bruyneel has a soft spot for Noval because of the latter's effort and really caring about helping the team. See how Noval is signed on for two years by Discovery and how he's next to Bruyneel in the USPS all-cyclists photos in front of the Arc de Triomphe)

Cycling4all's views is:

http://www.cycling4all.com/

Provisional Startlist

Floyd Landis (Usa)
Manuel Beltran Martinez (Spa)
Víctor Hugo Peña Grisales (Col)
Daniel Rincón Quintana (Col)
Max van Heeswijk (Ned)

- C4all candidates also
Benoît Joachim (Lux)
Benjamin Noval Gonzalez (Spa)
José L.Rubiera Vigil (Spa)

gntlmn said:

I just thought I'd get some discussion going on the Vuelta this year since for one it's not going to be on OLN and another it's not nearly as publicized as the TdF.

Who is going to replace Roberto Heras as designated Vuelta leader this year for USPS? Will it be Azevedo? Landis? Who is favored to win the Vuelta? Who are the big names riding in it this year? Is Basso riding in it? Ullrich? Kloden? Are there any young riders wishing to make their mark in the Vuelta as a stepping stone to the Tour de France next year?

Let's hear some chatter about the Vuelta. 🙂

Cunego

Vinokourov
Savoldelli
Evans

Garzelli

Frigo

Casagrande

Rasmussen
Leipheimer

Jaksche

+ spaniards

Haven't seen any official start lists, but here are my predictions

* Hot *
Valverde
Menchov
Mancebo

* Disappointing *
Beloki
Danielson
Azevedo
Heras

According to Daily Peloton, "Chechu confirmed that ... Triki Beltrán will be team leader in the Vuelta Espana, a race that he will not participate in."

If Beltran is team leader, than Azevedo is not participating either.

musette said:

According to Daily Peloton, "Chechu confirmed that ... Triki Beltrán will be team leader in the Vuelta Espana, a race that he will not participate in."

If Beltran is team leader, than Azevedo is not participating either.

US Postal team for la vuelta a españa

Landis
Beltrán
Peña
Rincón
Van Heeswijk
Joachim
Barry

the 2 other riders could be Noval, Cruz, Mikhailov, Ventura or Zabriskie

I wonder why Azevedo is not racing the Vuelta. It would have been clear he would have at least been USPS co-leader, had he wanted to race. He might have actually been USPS leader, like Heras last year. 😕 Is he happy with his TdF performance and just resting because he doesn't have strong personal aspirations to win a grand tour?

musette said:

I wonder why Azevedo is not racing the Vuelta. It would have been clear he would have at least been USPS co-leader, had he wanted to race. He might have actually been USPS leader, like Heras last year. 😕 Is he happy with his TdF performance and just resting because he doesn't have strong personal aspirations to win a grand tour?

Maybe the Tour de France is his focus now. He sure did good this year, albeit as domestique.

DiabloScott said:

Haven't seen any official start lists, but here are my predictions

* Hot *
Valverde
Menchov
Mancebo

* Disappointing *
Beloki
Danielson
Azevedo
Heras

Heras is not in it? Wow! That's a surprise.

Miguel_garcia83 said:

US Postal team for la vuelta a españa

Landis
Beltrán
Peña
Rincón
Van Heeswijk
Joachim
Barry

the 2 other riders could be Noval, Cruz, Mikhailov, Ventura or Zabriskie

What team/rider do you think will win the Vuelta this year?

gntlmn said:

What team/rider do you think will win the Vuelta this year?

Like most Aussies I've always put big wraps on Cadel Evans. I'll be looking forward to seeing if he is as good as we from Downunder all think he is.

gntlmn said:

What team/rider do you think will win the Vuelta this year?

Valverde is very strong now preparing for the olympics, dont know if he could this fitness in la vuelta
Beloki is not in a good condition yet
Heras? I hope he wont win
Menchov & Mancebo, probably the most dangerous tandem. mancebo will recover in time for la vuelta
Mayo & Zubeldia? I wouldnt bet for them, if Mayo was good it would be a very interesting vuelta because the sierra nevada time trial is perfect for him
Aitor González
I dont think a non spanish rider will win, because they only come here in september to get some tan, meet some chicks, well thats only for cipollini and guidi

DiabloScott said:

Haven't seen any official start lists, but here are my predictions

* Hot *
Valverde
Menchov
Mancebo

* Disappointing *
Beloki
Danielson
Azevedo
Heras

Valverde is the big favourite for me. I think that it is possible that he will put in a Jalabert type performance winning 6 or 7 stages plus the overall. His Bugos performance was very good to say the least.

gntlmn said:

Maybe the Tour de France is his focus now. He sure did good this year, albeit as domestique.

Azevedo must know LA is going to race the TdF 05. It's in LA's nature.

musette said:

Azevedo must know LA is going to race the TdF 05. It's in LA's nature.

I'm thinking that he might consider a podium finish in the TdF to be better than a win in the Vuelta.

mocka58 said:

Like most Aussies I've always put big wraps on Cadel Evans. I'll be looking forward to seeing if he is as good as we from Downunder all think he is.

You might want to speak more about this Cadel Evans. I did a google on him, and it seems that his claim to fame is a 3rd place in the Tour de Murcie. But when I google the Tour de Murcie, all I get is French, no English.

Is this guy a homegrown Aussie with a string of success in your homeland?

Miguel_garcia83 said:

Valverde is very strong now preparing for the olympics, dont know if he could this fitness in la vuelta
Beloki is not in a good condition yet
Heras? I hope he wont win
Menchov & Mancebo, probably the most dangerous tandem. mancebo will recover in time for la vuelta
Mayo & Zubeldia? I wouldnt bet for them, if Mayo was good it would be a very interesting vuelta because the sierra nevada time trial is perfect for him
Aitor González
I dont think a non spanish rider will win, because they only come here in september to get some tan, meet some chicks, well thats only for cipollini and guidi

It sounds like Mancebo is your man, backed by Menchov.

philoakley said:

Valverde is the big favourite for me. I think that it is possible that he will put in a Jalabert type performance winning 6 or 7 stages plus the overall. His Bugos performance was very good to say the least.

Maybe you can talk about that Bugos event a little bit. From what I gather, it's the Vuelta a Bugos. When was this, how long, how many stages?

gntlmn said:

Maybe you can talk about that Bugos event a little bit. From what I gather, it's the Vuelta a Bugos. When was this, how long, how many stages?

www.vueltaburgos.com

it was last week, 4 stages, no time trial, 2 mountain stages, both won by valverde, who also won the second stage

1º 51 VALVERDE, Alejandro ESP KEL 14h59'07"
2º 4 MENCHOV, Denis RUS ILL a 03"
3º 36 PIEPOLI, Leonardo ITA SAU a 06"
4º 43 SERRANO, Marcos A. ESP LIB a 50"
5º 117 GONZÁLEZ RIOS, Jonathan ESP COS a 53"
6º 33 DOMÍNGUEZ, Juan Carlos ESP SAU a 01'14"
7º 7 KARPETS, Vladimir RUS ILL a 01'40"
8º 92 ARDILA, Mauricio Albert COL CHO a 01'51"
9º 154 MARTÍNEZ, José Alberto ESP REL a 02'02"
10º 76 SOSENKA, Ondrej CZE ACQ a 02'06"
11º 42 CARUSO, Giampaolo ITA LIB a 02'07"
12º 11 CASTRESANA DEL VAL, Angel ESP MR. a 02'31"
13º 54 LATASA LASA, David ESP KEL a 02'59"
14º 108 VALJAVEC, Tadej SLO PHO a 03'18"
15º 66 SGAMBELLURI, Roberto ITA VIN a 03'38"
16º 87 VAN HUFFEL, Wim BEL VLA a 03'43"
17º 12 VAN DE WOUWER, Kurt BEL MR. a 03'50"
18º 82 DEMEYERE, Geoffrey BEL VLA a 03'52"
19º 21 SINKEWITZ, Patrick GER QUI a 03'59"
20º 106 TSCHOPP, Johann SUI PHO a 04'09"

27º 27 PECHARROMAN, José A ESP QUI a 05'15"

59º 62 TONKOV, Pavel RUS VIN a 10'34"

65º 46 NOZAL, Isidro ESP LIB a 12'15"

69º 61 GARZELLI, Stefano ITA VIN a 12'53"

103º 31 BELOKI, Joseba ESP SAU a 20'43"

gntlmn said:

It sounds like Mancebo is your man, backed by Menchov.

Mancebo is a very regular rider, he never fails, 6th this year in tour and 5th in vuelta 2003, but i consider Menchov as Illes Balears team leader
I would like to see what vinokourov can/wants to do, he just won today the regio tour

Regio Tour

1 Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) T-Mobile Team 17.23.49
2 Stephan Schreck (Ger) T-Mobile Team 0.08
3 Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz) Credit Agricole 0.21
4 Markus Fothen (Ger) Gerolsteiner 0.47
5 Cadel Evans (Aus) T-Mobile Team 0.57
6 Tomas Konecny (Cze) T-Mobile Team 1.04
7 Paolo Savoldelli (Ita) T-Mobile Team 1.13
8 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago 1.28
9 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) FDJeux.com 1.32
10 Thomas Lövkvist (Swe) FDJeux.com 1.37