Nacer Bouhanni finds a flat stage in the middle of the Vuelta
It’s unusual for the Vuelta to get through an entire stage without taking a detour to go up some hill or other, but on stage eight it managed it. However, the Vuelta being the Vuelta,…
Alejandro Valverde adds to the uncertainty
I love the Vuelta. I really, really love the Vuelta. I’ve been thinking this a lot recently and can’t put my finger on precisely why I enjoy it so much more than other races. Sometimes…
It can be hard to get round John Degenkolb
It was another sprint finish and another John Degenkolb win. Nacer Bouhanni managed to stay in the front group, but couldn’t get round the German at the finish. Bouhanni says this was because Degenkolb was…
John Degenkolb v Michael ‘Bling’ Matthews
John Degenkolb and Michael Matthews are suited to similar sorts of stages, but yet I much, much prefer the former. Why? I’ve given it some thought and I think it boils down to name, appearance…
Michael Matthews can sort-of-sprint and sort-of-climb
There was much dicking about in captain’s hats and aeroplane cockpits at the start of the day, with the stage beginning aboard The Don Juan Carlos I aircraft carrier. The ship managed to remain afloat…
Eight pairs to watch in the 2014 Vuelta a Espana
There aren’t enough race previews binding riders together into twos. Let’s be honest, all the best things come in pairs. Also Twixes. The Chrises – Chris Horner and Chris Froome Horner won last year. Froome’s…
Fat Betancur and fit Contador
Have you ever had two books on the go? A friend of mine was once reading two books from the same series at the same time – one at work and one at home. He’d…
Vincenzo Nibali’s happiness (and the varied feelings of others)
It would be wrong to say that Vincenzo Nibali would have been happy at the bottom of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo climb at the end of stage 20. He was about to face 20km…
Carlos Betancur climbs mountain and general classification
If you’re wondering what to get Carlos Betancur for his birthday this year, how about second place on a stage of the Giro d’Italia? He loves them. He’s now been second across the line on…
Uran Uran unleashed
It’s amazing the difference a double-D can make. I’m not being lecherous; I’m referring to woeful 80s posers Duran Duran. They were rubbish, but Team Sky’s Uran Uran is very good. He won stage 10…
