{"id":160942,"date":"2017-08-25T14:57:43","date_gmt":"2017-08-25T14:57:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/?p=160942"},"modified":"2017-08-25T14:57:43","modified_gmt":"2017-08-25T14:57:43","slug":"5-talking-points-2017-la-vuelta","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/2017\/08\/25\/5-talking-points-2017-la-vuelta\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Talking Points From 2017 La Vuelta"},"content":{"rendered":"

Nearly a week into the race, what lessons have we learnt?<\/strong>
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Belgians play to stereotype<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Stage 2 was flat, but the hope that crosswinds might shatter the peloton didn\u2019t really emerge. Team Sky upped the tempo towards the end of the stage, but it was Belgian team Quick-Step Floors that really banged the hammer down with 2km to go.<\/p>\n

The route to Gruissan, with a wealth of roundabouts and obstacles to negotiate, played to the stereotype that Belgian teams relish windy, technical conditions. Lampaert ended the day wearing the red jersey \u2013 the smart money is on Quick-Step Floors to repeat the feat this Sunday.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/BYEYxlaBH-j\/?hl=cs&taken-by=yveslampaert<\/p>\n

Nibali is a welcome presence<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Having skipped Le Tour, Nibali is back with a vengeance. When Froome set an aggressive pace on the final climb in stage 3, Nibali kept him in sight, then attacked on the descent, taking victory in Andorra La Vella with an attack in the last 400 metres.<\/p>\n

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\"la-vuelta-2017-important-stages-yet-come\"\/<\/a><\/div>
\n Road cycling<\/a>\n <\/div>\n
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La Vuelta 2017: Most Important Stages Yet to Come<\/span><\/h3>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/article>\n<\/div>\n

Nibali\u2019s form will be playing on Team Sky\u2019s mind \u2013 he\u2019s naturally adept on the descent with less to lose than Froome, and will be more comfortable on the climbs given his break from Le Tour.<\/p>\n

Stage 4 \u2013 a false victory?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Benic\u00e0ssim to Alcossebre is a well-trodden route for Froome who\u2019s finished as runner-up several times. Froome threw everything into winning this undulating stage, stretching his lead over Tejay van Garderen to 10 seconds while Aru, Nibali, and Bardet lost even more time.<\/p>\n

Afterwards, Froome reflected that the general classification race is \u201ctaking shape\u201d, but it looks like gamesmanship from Team Sky \u2013 maybe they\u2019re hoping to demoralise their competitors early. Are the rest of the peloton playing the long game? The biggest hills are yet to be climbed.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/BYEEfE5FZQQ\/?taken-by=chrisfroome<\/p>\n

This is only the 2nd time Froome has worn the Maillot Rojo<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Froome has always raced La Vuelta as competitively as he has Le Tour, but the French race takes priority for Team Sky \u2013 and it shows. But whatever La Vuelta lacks in prestige it gains in punishment \u2013 Froome is racing the hardest race of the year, having already spent most of his energy.<\/p>\n

Team Sky are notorious for the amount of money they\u2019re prepared to spend winning grand tours, but every Vuelta they\u2019re battling fresher opponents. We\u2019d do well to remember that wearing the red jersey can never be taken for granted.<\/p>\n