Tour vs Vuelta - which will be more significant?

by Superconfex on Apr 30, 2008 10:23 PM EDT

Okay, so it looks like Astana is finally getting a grand tour nod with an invite to the Vuelta. A thumbs up for Unipublic, finally! I'd have to imagine that if Astana doesn't get an invite to the Tour, then Contador will be their boy for the GC.

Now, suppose Evans wins the Tour without Contador in the race, and Contador wins the Vuelta. Which race would have the more significant result?

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OK, I'll bite

I'm sticking with the Tour. Astana bring a lot of quality to a grand tour, but their absence from the Tour represents about a 10% loss of competition. All else equal, I'd say the Vuelta represents about a 30% drop in competition from the Tour. Your question is worth asking, but there's a lot more to what makes the Tour head and shoulders above than the exploits of one team.

by Chris Fontecchio on Apr 30, 2008 10:30 PM EDT reply actions

significant to whom?

If you mean the fans, than the winner does not make the race, except for a few fans that allow follow a team and not cycling. The significance of a race really depends on the racing itself, how close the competition is, how well active the race is, the course, the weather ... so many factors come into play.

by lyne on Apr 30, 2008 10:38 PM EDT reply actions

Definitely the Tour de France

Now, if Ullrich and Basso had competed with Vino at the 2006 Vuelta, you might have an argument that the result there would be have been more significant than Pereiro's win in the Tour that year, but no single rider or team is bigger than the Tour de France.

Even if Contador wins the next five Vueltas, when he dies, the headlines (even in Spain) will say "Tour de France winner Contador dies."

by Susie Hartigan on Apr 30, 2008 10:42 PM EDT reply actions

That epitaph says it all.

"I don't say anything about that, or it will be a disaster." G. Simoni

by flying dog on May 1, 2008 7:19 PM EDT up reply actions

what she said.

well said, bet the teevee numbers for the Tour in Spain will be higher than the teevee numbers for the Vuelta.

by Jen See on May 1, 2008 7:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Tour

The Tour can be bigger even if we think that Contador is better than Evans or Sastre or Menchov or Soler or Valverde or Sam San or every Schleck ever made put together into one unholy union. The individuals are different than the race. And in America where hardly anyone knows the Vuelta there's just no contest.

by ursula on Apr 30, 2008 11:23 PM EDT reply actions

TdF

Back in the days of usenet and rec.bicycles, there was a poster whose signature read "There is only one" in reference to Le Tour. It still holds true today.

Yes, I am old.

by johnw on Apr 30, 2008 11:55 PM EDT reply actions

TDF

"It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends upon his not understanding it"-Upton Sinclair

by ELVISGOAT on May 1, 2008 7:19 AM EDT reply actions

I hate...

to be a lemming, but it's DA TOUR BABY!!!

Racing for Victory and Free Beer!

by DemonCats on May 1, 2008 9:35 AM EDT reply actions

The Tour

Has the Vuelta ever been significant? As Chris said somewhere here, even in Spain the regional tours are more important.

by Monty. on May 1, 2008 9:49 AM EDT reply actions

Lance years

there were a couple years when the Vuelta was much more fun to watch, but that's not the same as saying it was better, more significant competition, etc.

The Giro could make a run at the Tour if it could draw a better field. In other news, I could be a basketball star if I could grow another 18 inches.

by Chris Fontecchio on May 1, 2008 1:05 PM EDT up reply actions

No you couldn't

I've seen you 'run' and 'jump.' Best stick to riding.

"Only those who are in top condition can say that the Ronde is not hard. For everyone else, it's the Way of the Cross." -Andrea Tafi

by Drew on May 1, 2008 1:10 PM EDT up reply actions

The Tour

not just in spite of Astana's absence, but in part because of it

by William on May 1, 2008 10:10 AM EDT reply actions

I hate 'me too' posts

but...Tour.

--JFS

by JFS_PGH on May 1, 2008 10:20 AM EDT reply actions

Me too

by ursula on May 1, 2008 11:11 AM EDT up reply actions

me three

if for no other reason - it gets the coverage so we can all live and die each day with it.

Experience is what you get when you don't get what you want. -Randy Pausch

by nikki on May 1, 2008 11:31 AM EDT up reply actions

the Tour goes on

it may be the one event that is bigger than the riders.

besides Paris Roubaix of course..

Vlaenderen die Leu

by Peter Fontecchio on May 1, 2008 10:43 AM EDT reply actions

Le tour

I think that the tour this year, after Astanas exclusion had the potential of turning into a repeat of 2006...no favourite, and all the teams just look at each other while someone disappears into the distance (both Oscar and Floyd).

But Evans has changed all that this spring by essentially throwing down the gantlet. His attacking style, in the early stage races and classics has focused the spotlight on him ensuring that there will be a race in July.

by Hons on May 1, 2008 11:49 AM EDT reply actions

*gauntlet

by Hons on May 1, 2008 1:07 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm curious about Evans

I do like the attacking Evans more than the follower. I wonder if he has been reading any blogs and decided to turn over a new leaf. If so....BRAVO!!!!

"I don't say anything about that, or it will be a disaster." G. Simoni

by flying dog on May 1, 2008 7:15 PM EDT up reply actions

attacking...

Evans has never been afraid to attack when he's had the legs to do it. It just hasn't ever worked much for him until this season. Aubisque and St. Nicholas are two places in particular where he went big in the past.

by Jen See on May 1, 2008 7:53 PM EDT up reply actions

Thank you all!!

I have to agree. The Tour is all about the top riders competing against one another when they're in peak condition. The Vuelta can't say that. Without Contador, the '08 champ, like Armstrong in '99, will just have a bit of proving to do in the next year's race.

Mind you, "Count Doku" Cordero is promising that Contador, Leipheimer, Klöden (if he's not invisible), Evans, Sastre, Valverde and Pereiro will be in the '08 Vuelta. If the '08 Tour champ is among them, and Contador mops the floor with them all, I might have to re-visit this question.

by Superconfex on May 1, 2008 9:19 PM EDT reply actions

Vuelta

Contador's better entertainment and more photogenic than Evans. Better press. If he would win the Vuelta (this means Angliru) in the proposed scenario, it would cause a sensation.

Cadel's a great rider, but not sensational to watch.

by Steno on May 4, 2008 1:47 AM EDT reply actions