The Race Communiqué: Why the Vuelta is the Best Grand Tour & Durbo’s Transfer Gossip
Just because the Tour de France is over, doesn’t mean the party’s over! I’m back with Tom Southam and Luke Durbridge for this month’s Race Communique. Tom and Luke have just got back from a puncture-filled Hamburg Classic, and the Vuelta a España is about to kick off!
I love the Vuelta - it’s the Grand Tour I raced the most in my career, and I’ve got to say it’s my favourite. Southam and Durbo disagree, so we kick off by having a three-way head-to-head: Giro VS Tour VS Vuelta. Which is best, and why? I made my case for the Vuelta, the hardest Grand Tour by a long way…as far as I’m concerned. Luke reckons the Tour is the best because, well, because it’s the Tour. The Giro’s case was made by Southam, who just loves the drama - he’s obviously never watched the Vuelta!
In this month’s PeloChat, Durbo goes through this year’s transfers and gives us his take on who’s going where, why they’re moving, and what it might mean for the sport. Remco to Red Bull Bora Hansgrohe is the biggest move of the year, and the young Belgian superstar has definitely raised some eyebrows by moving. Will he clash with Roglič? Will they be able to support him to win the Tour de France? Only time will tell. Luke’s teammates Dylan Groenewegen and Elmar Reinders are stepping down to TDT Unibet - a second division ProTeam! An interesting move in an effort to get the young Dutch squad to the Tour de France in the next few years. He’s also got some insight into Tom Pidcock’s Q36.5’s squad and their signings; some big riders heading that way too. Lots of moves, but Durbo’s across it.
Southam’s diving into the modern breakaway in this month’s Talking Tactics. Things have changed a hell of a lot over the last few years in the breakaway; we don’t see 20-minute time gaps any more, and the breaks are kept on a much tighter leash. As the level gets higher and higher, the quality of the lower division teams is getting better and better, and smaller riders are more of a threat in the breakaways these days. It’s great, and I love the exciting racing where the breaks actually have a chance, but shit, it looks so hard.
Of course, we wind up with the Communiquiz. Tom’s quiz master this week, and it’s about Summer Classics. You’ll have to listen to the episode to hear how this goes, but let’s just say…I had a bit of a shocker.
Guys, I hope you like this episode. I love catching up with Durbo and Southam, especially when they’re in the midst of the racing season; bringing you this insight is what it’s all about.
Cheers,
Mitch
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🎧 Timecodes
00:00:00 – Intro
00:09:49 – Race Recap (Which is the best Grand Tour? You decide!)
00:36:58 – Pelo Chat (Durbo's Transfer Gossip)
00:48:08 – Talking Tactics (The Modern Breakaway)
00:58:18 – CommuniQuiz (Summer classics conundrums - Mitch has a mare!)
South Africa