I’m going to guess that the answer to that question is a ‘no’. Quite a firm one, too. Now ask the same question about the Tour de France and the Giro d’Italia, and the shouts of ‘heck yes!’ will come flooding back.
The case for the Tour is impeccable. It’s the oldest of the three Grand Tours and the maddest, an insane asylum on wheels. Thrills, pills and bellyaches indeed.
The Giro? Who could resist the latin loving that sprightly old dame brings each May, just as romance is in the air and the flowers a-bloom? You’d have a hard time turning down the Giro’s advances, that’s for sure.
And even if you did, there’d still be one long, lingering look over your shoulder as you walked away, left to wonder, forevermore, what might have been.
And then we have the Vuelta a Espana.
A bit like the third wheel, useful in an emergency but more or less, has to be said, rather redundant.
First held in 1935 it has history on its side no doubt and has been won by some of the biggest names in the sport – and it is, after all, one of the Grand Tours.
I’m reminded here of a routine by the comedian Louis CK, in which he begins by saying that in his head, when faced with an issue, he regularly has two thoughts in his head: ‘Of course…’ and then, ‘But maybe…’
“Of course,” he says, “if someone is allergic to nuts then we must have warning signs on packaging and must warn people of the dangers of eating nuts in case they are indeed allergic, of course… but maybe…. well, if a peanut can kill you, then maybe you’re supposed to be dead?”
I apologise to all nut allergists out there for any offence caused, but it’s a useful segue to link my argument back to the Vuelta.
Of course, the Vuelta is a grand old race and has been around for years and is beloved by some Spanish people and some other people who, for whatever reason, think it is a classic event up there with the Tour and the Giro.
But maybe… well, maybe the fact that TV viewing figures have been dropping over the past 15 years for the Vuelta and maybe because it fails on just about every level to excite anyone except the people who are in it or those standing by watching it pass means that it is time for it to go.
There. I said it. I want the Vuelta gone.
Instead, bring in some proper racing in Asia and even Africa. Establish hard, annual one day races in places like Taiwan, the Philippines, China and never change the routes, creating an Asian Classic Series or some such, instead of these laborious tours like Beijing and China where no one wants to be there.
Except Pat McQuaid of course, who likes to hear the cash register ringing.
It’s time for a change, time to award the nations with growing cycling fans with really awesome races.
You could also add a woman’s Tour in September too, a real one, or move the Tour of California over to fill the hole the Vuelta would leave. Make that two weeks to start but aim for three, get in all the top guys and watch the sponsor money flood in.
Show the Americans a real race, not just one with a handful of top teams filled mostly with second-tier talent.
In Spain you could have a couple of ‘new classics’, races that could rank in points, in a new ‘Classic Series’, with Roubaix and the Tour of Flanders.
Cycling is built on tradition but this sport is very slow to change, and when it does, it is not always for the right reasons.
The Tour of Qatar and the Tour of Oman, for instance, serve as great opportunities for the one day guys to get ready for the Classics, but the only reason the UCI goes there is for the cash.
I’ve ridden in both races and there is virtually no one watching by the road, and the interest from fans abroad is slim.
Better to get the peloton down to Australia for a month, do the Tour Down Under and then do a couple of classic-type courses in other places, so that the rest of Oz can see the best pros race.
We need tradition but we also need vitality. The Vuelta does not bring that, and I feel that a race has to be judged by its necessity, otherwise, it’s time to step aside.
ed
Guest
A bit late to comment but totally disagree. The vuelta has been the best grand tour each year for the last 4 or 5 yrs, exception being 2011 tour 2010 giro. The race is more open to attacking riding than the tour & has better weather than the giro. I hope cycling doesn't turn into the mobile circus that is F1. Firstly teams don't have the budgets & secondly the logistics of road racing are enormously difficult compared to racing on a track. Spain, Italy & France have a rich cycling culture and history - it's right they all have grand tours.
HardcorePrawn
Roar Guru
Agreed too. I realise that the SA government put in a lot of cash for the TDU, but if it could be shared out amongst the other states it would make for some spectacular racing and scenery. As it currently stands it is beginning to look a little stale, and is often won by a sprinter; would I be right in thinking that SA only has Willunga Hill to test the climbers?
BenG
Guest
Agreed. The TDU seems to be a bit stale being in the same spot each year, opening it up to different areas of the country would make things interesting, especially if for 2 weeks instead of one. Adding in the Snowy Mountains or something around the Vic high country would be awesome.
HardcorePrawn
Roar Guru
I love the Vuelta too, but it does seem to lack the appeal of the other 2 Grand Tours to the more casual viewer. I think it's interesting (and a little frustrating) that it hasn't had the coverage on SBS that the Giro gets. We're almost a week into the race and there's been no live FTA TV coverage yet, and what little we are going to get is restricted to just 2 hours post-12am. I guess that it just doesn't rate that well with audiences.
tony meadows
Guest
I too love the VUELTA! What climbs! Really competative racing.Great scenery makes it great TV; Dont ignore the Spanish "effect" factor with the Colombians on the up. Even an Aussie can win a stage as today with Matthews great finish.Refreshing after waiting for Goss to do something all summer. This year its got Nibali,Valverde,,Rodriguez,Sanchez,Cancellara,Uran,Roche,Martin and Martin, this is quality. Qatar and Oman are boring races only useful to put some thing in McQaids pocket and provide early training for the classics. Lots of admiration for Aussie riders but have not so far seen any exciting races from down under.
liquor box
Guest
I love the Vuelta, and am increasingly regarding the TDF as my least favourite Grand Tour. "Better to get the peloton down to Australia for a month, do the Tour Down Under and then do a couple of classic-type courses in other places, so that the rest of Oz can see the best pros race. " I would rather extend the tour down under and have a couple of stages in Sydney/blue mountains and southern highlands before a TT around Canberra (perfect for a TT) and then move to SA for the rest of the race, maybe add a couple of stages in Victoria and you will get to a two week tour.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Good article, I love the point about having more races in Aus. The UCI need to explore where the sport is growing at a rapid rate, and where it will draw a crowd, plus get a very good days racing. I think that yes after the TDU, they could easily have a series of one dayraces around some of the Australian capital cities with one or 2 of them being granted as a Top Tour race so that some of the best riders in the world will come down under. Also it gives Australian cyclists a chance to shine down under. A classic in the Snowy Mountains would be awesome! As for the Vuelta, it is fading away, but in my view it is seen as the tour of the unproven, with alot of the big guns not there, it is a place for people like Henao, Degenkold, Matthews and the like to test themselves over 3 weeks and see what they are capable of! So yes the Vuelta definitley needs to stay.
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
I don't think I want the Vuelta gone but maybe rescheduled. 3 GT in less than 5 months is a bit much maybe, especially for the third one. If I remember well, the Vuelta used to start later, say mid-end september, when all the euros are back to a school, work etc. who wants to watch a cycling race in Spain in August-early sept? Perso, I would not mind having it after the world championships, In October even if it means ending early Nov. Weather is still fine in Spain and it would be more than 2 months after the TdF.
Snappy Don
Guest
I hear you, but killing off a GT would be a backward step. Like replacing test cricket with a few one day matches. GT's are the ultimate grueling test of all the different disciplines, and team work, of road cycling and I would be sad to lose one from the calendar. But I do admit that it's hard to follow live from Aus, with the stages finishing even later than the Tour or Giro.
Sean Lee
Expert
Hi Lee, I agree that Australia could do with an extra race or two before or after the Tour Down Under. In fact I wrote about that very idea in 2010 (on a different website) soon after the success of the world road racing championships which were held in Geelong. The course for the worlds was a beauty and it would be wonderful to see it utilised for a one day race following the TDU (although the locals mightn't like the disruption as their city is basically cut in half by the race). But whether the race is held there or elsewhere I think the idea is a good one. By the way, I like the Vuelta!