The Cycliste Moderne, September 17, 2006

Vuelta Recap

Alexandre Vinokourov was a deserving and aggressive winner of the final Grand Tour of the season. Having been forced out of the Tour de France as a result of the implication of four teammates in the Operacion Puerto matter prior to the Tour, which left the team with fewer riders than regulations permitted, Vinokourov was clearly motivated. His new team, Astana, exists solely because of his efforts as he brought in a consortium of Kazakh businesses to sponsor what was left of the Liberty Seguros team.

There are questions about the team's future as a ProTour team as its relationship to Liberty Seguros has caused both the Tour de France and the Vuelta a Espana to attempt to exclude the team outright. Additionally, former management continues to contest the charges that destroyed Spain's number one team, Liberty Seguros. Astana rode incredibly aggressively througought the race and Vinokourov won his first Grand Tour showing the fearlessness he has exhibited througout his career.

Discovery Channel won the team classification, had a stint in the amarillo jersey, had two stage wins and put four riders in the top 12 on GC. It was an excellent result that will be unappreciated by Americans because (a) the Vuelta was not widely covered and (b) an American did not win. In the post-Armstrong era, Americans will have to become more sophisticated than they have been previously in following cycling.

The race also is a warm up for next week's World Championships in Austria. Although the Austrian course does not favor the bunch sprint finish that occurred last year, the winner of the Arc En Ciel World Champion's jersey will likely be worn by a rider who showed good form at the Vuelta. I think this year's World Champion could be Thor Hushovd, the Norwegian hardman who rides for Credit Agricole.