Yesterday at Utrecht It was 25 degrees, a “pale” sun but the team presentation was a real spectacle. Vuelta Espana It starts like this, with the embrace of Holland. If a few days ago with Stefano Garzelli We've reviewed the favorites, now let's take a look at the route.
Da Utrecht to Madrid is 3.280 kilometers away., but this time they are distributed a little differently than in previous editions. There won't be "just" climbs, although there are plenty of them. However, these won't be the only ones that decide the final red jersey. More flat, more time trials and stages that are only apparently short.
A tricky start
The 77th Vuelta, in fact, it has no fractions longer than 200 kilometers, But due to the initial team time trial, the Alicante time trial, and the final stage, which is just 97 kilometers long, there will be some pedaling involved. And in fact There are quite a few sections between 170 and 190 kilometers.
Then it is clear, given the total kilometers and the days of the race, the average is that: 156,2 kilometers per stage. The longest stage is the third: Breda-Breda in the Netherlands. It's 193 kilometers long.
Today therefore opens with a 23,2 kilometre team time trial. A team time trial that, as the riders who tried it themselves tell us, is quite technical. Then there's a lot of flat terrain over the next two days.
In these cases, the biggest threat could come from the weather, but it seems (the conditional is a must these days) that there shouldn't be strong winds. The climbers can rest easy… despite the falls and the typical initial nervousness of the Grand Tours.
Utrecht – Utrecht 23,2km (team time trial), stage 1 's-Hertogenbosch – Utrecht of 175,1 kilometres, stage 2 Breda – Breda, 193,2 kilometers, stage 3 Vitoria-Gasteiz – Laguardia, 153,5 kilometers, stage 4 Irun – Bilbao, 187 kilometers, stage 5 Bilbao – Pico Jano. San Miguel, 180 kilometers, stage 6 Camargo – Cistierna 190,1 kilometers, stage 7 The 154,5 kilometer Pola Llaviana/Pola de Laviana – Colláu Fancuaya, stage 8 Villaviciosa – Les Praeres. Navadi 175,5 kilometers, stage 9 Elche – Alicante, 31,1 km (individual time trial), stage 10
Utrecht – Utrecht 23,2km (team time trial), stage 1 's-Hertogenbosch – Utrecht of 175,1 kilometres, stage 2 Breda – Breda, 193,2 kilometers, stage 3 Vitoria-Gasteiz – Laguardia, 153,5 kilometers, stage 4 Irun – Bilbao, 187 kilometers, stage 5 Bilbao – Pico Jano. San Miguel, 180 kilometers, stage 6 Camargo – Cistierna 190,1 kilometers, stage 7 The 154,5 kilometer Pola Llaviana/Pola de Laviana – Colláu Fancuaya, stage 8 Villaviciosa – Les Praeres. Navadi 175,5 kilometers, stage 9 Elche – Alicante, 31,1 km (individual time trial), stage 10
In the name of novelties
Of the nine uphill finishes, three are new. The first novelty is the Pico de JanoThe Cantabrian climb isn't impossible, but it's a dozen kilometers long. The climb is divided precisely into two parts: the first is tougher and ends with an 11% "step," while the second is faster. It has gradients between 5% and 8%. It seems like the perfect finish line for a Valverde. And there's no shortage of climbs beforehand (four of them).
The second unpublished arrival and also the second in altitude is the Collau Fancuaya. Unlike the first one, it's a tough climb, perhaps the most evil of the Vuelta: 10,1 kilometres at an average gradient of 8,5% but with long stretches over 11% and two peaks at 17%, The last of which is right near the finish line. And here too, there's no shortage of climbs beforehand, with a slew of second- and third-category GPMs. Keep an eye out for this stage, which is the eighth.
Not to mention that the next day there is the arrival of Les Praeres. It's a real wall: 3,9 kilometers at 12% with a peak of 23%. It will be fun, also because then there will be the second day of rest and no one will spare themselves. Here a certain Simon yates in 2018, when he took home the Vuelta.
These two stages represent a hellish double.
The Alto de Piornal is the latest of the novelties. This finish line could be a pain due to its steep gradients and the fatigue, as we're on stage 18, will be felt. But when we talk about gradients, we shouldn't think of monstrous ramps (13,5 kilometers at 5%), quite the opposite... Overall, it's a fast climb, and anyone who drops here could lose a lot. Two factors are crucial: wind and team... and, of course, your legs!
El Pozo Alimentación – Cabo de Gata of 193 kilometers, stage 11 Salobrena – Penas Blancas. Estepona of 192,7 kilometres, stage 12 Ronda – Montilla, 171 kilometers, stage 13 Montoro – Sierra de La Pandera 160,3 kilometers, stage 14 Martos – Sierra Nevada 152,6 kilometers, stage 15 Sanlúcar de Barrameda – Tomares of 188,9 kilometres, stage 16 Aracena – Monasterio de Tentudía of 160 kilometers, stage 17 Trujillo – Alto del Piornal 191,7 kilometers, stage 18 Talavera de la Reina – 132,7 kilometer Talavera de la Reina, stage 19 Moralzarzal – Puerto de Navacerrada of 175,5 kilometers, stage 20 Las Rozas – Madrid, 96,7 kilometers, stage 21
El Pozo Alimentación – Cabo de Gata of 193 kilometers, stage 11 Salobrena – Penas Blancas. Estepona of 192,7 kilometres, stage 12 Ronda – Montilla, 171 kilometers, stage 13 Montoro – Sierra de La Pandera 160,3 kilometers, stage 14 Martos – Sierra Nevada 152,6 kilometers, stage 15 Sanlúcar de Barrameda – Tomares of 188,9 kilometres, stage 16 Aracena – Monasterio de Tentudía of 160 kilometers, stage 17 Trujillo – Alto del Piornal 191,7 kilometers, stage 18 Talavera de la Reina – 132,7 kilometer Talavera de la Reina, stage 19 Moralzarzal – Puerto de Navacerrada of 175,5 kilometers, stage 20 Las Rozas – Madrid, 96,7 kilometers, stage 21
A time trial that weighs
Stefano Garzelli warned us: "Be careful of the Alicante time trial." The Vuelta has never been as stingy with kilometers against the clock as you might think, but there was always at least a small climb in between, an undulating course... routes where the climber could defend himself. Here, however, there is only plains and whoever goes fast can make the difference, and not a little.
A time trial of almost 31 kilometers will also affect the tactical progression of the race. We are thinking about Joao almeida or at the same time Primois Roglic. If they are not at their best they will be able to run for cover. While Hindley, carapaz…they will be forced to attack.
The central section also tends to descend: It's for pure specialists. And Allied Products he's in the running!
Sprinters, there is space
It's not true that there's no room for sprinters. On paper, there are at least seven sprints, Madrid included. The final sprint is what will keep many sprinters racing until the end. And they'll be even more motivated to do so with the World Championship course so close to their hearts.
Overall, it's a really nice course: complete, tough… that leaves room for many types of riders. And then the intermediate stages are interesting, also for the regions in which they are located.
For example the fourth fraction, that of Laguardia, the first on Spanish soil, is no laughing matter. There are several climbs, two categorized climbs, one second and one third, and a tense finale. And if it rains in the Basque Country, it could be a disaster.
We talked about the news first: we must not forget the classics such as the Pandera, the Sierra Nevada and the Navacerrada. Happy Vuelta to everyone!
