It's a wrap! Vuelta 2012

image from here

They saved the best for last. Grand tours that is. After a great start to the year with the Giro we went into Le Tour with great expectations only to be left feeling a little lackluster. Thankfully the Vuelta saved the day with some of the best racing we have seen all season.

I have mentioned before my excitement to see Alberto Contador back in the action so it is no surprise that I am thrilled that he took home the red jersey.

But mostly it was the excitement of the racing that made this the tour of the year.

Perhaps the Tour de France powers that be can learn something from this years vuelta? With shorter stages, greater and tougher climbs and perfect time trial placement the Vuelta had a good recipe for success. Throw in a couple of extra flat stages early on to whet the sprinters appetites and of course a full contingent of fit and healthy riders we have a fantastic scenario for a Grand Tour.

Caps off to Contador, Rodriguez, and Valverde for providing such great racing and ending the year on a high.


Long live the Vuelta ;)

Contador The Great. Vuelta 2012

image from here

I haven't been blogging as much as I would like for this year's Vuelta. Lots of reasons, mainly as I've been a bit ill and very tired, so I have been catching up with TiVo!

It's funny though, as I was going to blog Tuesday about Rodriguez being Mr. Cool Calm and Collected, almost James Bond like, unable to put a foot wrong and withstand any attacks that came his way. If I had have written that post, I would have been eating humble pie right now.

Contador is The Great. 'El Pistolero'. He armed himself, loaded, aimed and fired. And the bullet was spot on. Game over. .... Almost.

Contador wore down his opponents with sheer determination, multiple attacks on every climb over the past few weeks in the end wore them down. Christopher Froome was the first casualty, perhaps a lot earlier than expected. Valverde was next to go, although is certainly far from down and out. And it looked like Rodriguez was holding up the best to Contador's barrage, until now.

Stage 17 saw team Saxo-Bank tactically outmaneuver Rodriguez and allow Contador to make a decisive attack that would leave Rodriguez exposed, it was clear that the past couple of weeks had finally, albeit unfortunately taken their toll.

Contador ended up crossing the line, taking the stage with an outpouring of emotion, no doubt a combination of frustration and relief after the playing out of recent events.

Love him or hate him, Contador had his day. And it will be almost impossible for anyone to dislodge the Spaniard of the red jersey.

Do you feel a little for Rodriguez? What did you think of Contador and Saxo-Bank's tactics?