i thought it was a leftover from april fools day:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2008/apr08/apr18news2

The Vuelta a España may be introducing a radical new format in an attempt to make the race more exciting. Race director Victor Cordero has proposed a first week of "play-offs" for the race sometime in the future.

"We could have a first five or six-day phase with flat stages, mountain stages and a time trial," Cordero said at the "International Forum for the future of Cycling" in Paris on Thursday, according to the Reuters news agency. "We could have team standings to select the 16 teams to continue the race."

After eliminating the first few teams, the remaining squads would have the option of bringing in new rides for the rest of the race. "The riders taking part in the playoffs would not necessarily be the ones participating in the rest of the race," he added.

The move would be aimed at making the first week of the race more entertaining. "Usually, the first week of a Grand Tour is not very interesting," he admitted. The Spaniard further suggested that the Tour de France and Giro d'Italia could eventually also adopt the proposed format.

In any case, the use of the "play-offs" will not be implemented right away. "We have stages planned in the Netherlands in 2009 so it would not possible before 2010," Cordero said. "Moreover, we still need to discuss it further."

Nutball idea. Sounds like something the Tour of America guy would dream up.

Yeah, they floated that idea a year or two ago.

I predict it'll go nowhere - sponsors and teams want a predictable schedule.

But give the guy credit for looking for new ideas.

IMHO, he should strive to make it the hardest possible race he can. If it gets a rep as the "by far hardest" of the GT's, then big names will start to build their season around it. Only after the big names come, will the money follow.

He's done some half-steps with some crazy mountain stages... but not enough, yet. If he has to add rest days or cut a week, he might still be better off.

Ah the Vuelta the dim-witted cousin of the Giro and le Tour.

I doubt it lasts another full decade as a true GT. RCS and ASO keep punking them, and they keep taking it.

How can the Vuelta have stages in The Netherlands when they don't share a border? Seriously, why don't we have a 2010 Vuelta stage in Abu Dhabi?

How can the Vuelta have stages in The Netherlands when they don't share a border? Seriously, why don't we have a 2010 Vuelta stage in Abu Dhabi?
The same way that the Giro started in Holland or Belgium a couple years ago

Forgot about that one. I'm aware of the Tour, Giro, Vuelta sometimes going into neighboring countries, and I know that London was Le Grand Depart last year. Just think that getting too far afield is a little silly..

There's probably 1 too many GTs. Maybe the Vuelta should cut a week and be the premier medium length stage race. Not sure who has that title now...Dauphine or Tour de Suisse perhaps. And by cutting a week I mean 7 stages at least. Heck 10 stages is probably plenty.

The Vuelta needs to move back into the summer. With the ASO and UCI butting heads I could see it happening. Shortening it is not a bad idea either, it could be 10 days with intense stages so there aren't any yawn fests across the plains.

Good. The Vuelta is... BORING....

The Vuelta needs to move back into the summer. With the ASO and UCI butting heads I could see it happening. Shortening it is not a bad idea either, it could be 10 days with intense stages so there aren't any yawn fests across the plains.

Not with ASO having a share in the business (ASO bought into Cordero's turf a while ago)

I heard that was being talked about, did they actually make a deal?